All Blacks welcomed home
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Thousands of people welcomed the Rugby World Cup champion All Blacks back to New Zealand this week, with captain Richie McCaw already looking to another one in four years’ time.
Last week, the All Blacks became the first country to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups, and the first to hold the trophy three times after beating Australia 34-17 in last week’s final.
Mr McCaw, a 148-test veteran widely expected to retire, told a packed out Victoria Park in Auckland on Wednesday it was “pretty cool” to be able to smile for the next four years and say “we’re world champions.”
“We had some great support while we were away but we heard that this country was going pretty nuts on Sunday morning, and I’ve got to say coming back and seeing you all come out today, it’s just great.
“Why not bring on another one in four years’ time.”
Coach Steve Hansen, who has hinted he will step aside at the end of 2017, told those gathered in Auckland it was an honour and a privilege to be a part of the All Blacks.
He says he was comfortable the All Blacks would win, although fullback Ben “Bender” Smith’s yellow card in the second half did create a few nerves.
Mr McCaw says the coaching team’s influence on the side could not be understated, with Mr Hansen quickly telling the 2011 World Cup-winning side to put a “full-stop” on the result the following year.
“If we’re going to call ourselves world champs, we’ve got to carry on playing like that,” was Mr Hansen’s advice.
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Hamish McNicol
Fri, 06 Nov 2015
Fri, 06 Nov 2015
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All Blacks welcomed home
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