What I've learned from Richie's Book

Been reading our king and leader's book during the holidays; Richie McCaw - The Real McCaw. Here's what I've learnt:

-Not much about Richie as a youngster.
-He writes everything down in a Warwick exercise book.
-It was always a plan to be a GAB (Great All Black).
-In 2007 there was no Plan B, the players were under-done, not match fit, played out of position, etc. There were massive selection problems. All of which was denied by the powers that be during and after that tournament. It's finally good to hear someone say it.

Richie from the Deviant Artist,
Space for Thought

-Richie gets hacked off with poor refereeing just as much as the rest of us. Special attention is paid to Stu Dickinson, Bryce Lawrence and of course everyone's most detested human on earth, Wayne Barnes.
-The best bit in the book is when Richie and other leaders in the team attend a motivational seminar after 2007 and some Aussie bloke takes the piss out of them for losing.
-He's brainy as (Proxime Accessit at his school, scholarship, etc.). and considered a nerd.
-He doesn't like social media ('I'd as soon eat my own entrails as tweet')
-I know nothing about any of his lady friends - he refers to a Hayley about twice but then only says a bit later that he seems to attract the wrong sort of girl, one that wants to be in the spotlight.

Richie's signature on a young lady's chest - 'the wrong
sort of girl?' Read more about this great story here

-One of the repeated themes of the book is how important Dan Carter is to the team, how he guides the team and it is him and Dan together that lead.
-The second most referred to theme in the book is how Dan is having an off day.
-His foot really was absolutely fucked in the final having been broken in three different places, once in each of the previous three games. What is even more amazing is that no-one knew.
-He did get eye-gouged in the final. Rougerie should die.
-The Aussie rugby team really are complete wankers, not just appear to be when we play them. They refuse all after game contact and never go for a beer with our boys.
-That move from the lineout which we used in the RWC final with Woodcock scoring is called the 'Teabag.'
-It is a bit difficult dealing with the constant fame of being All Black Captain.
-Richie lost the plot in the final at one point and had to get slapped back into shape by Andrew Hore.
-The book is also called 'The Open Side' in NZ.

It's a good read and probably as close to knowing what it's like to be an All Black as us from the outside are ever going to find out. Richie is pretty guarded and there isn't a lot of personal stuff in there, but after all, the guy is still playing and can't really afford to upset anyone at the moment.

A Warwick Exercise Book - Get one and start the road to being an All Black