This past week, media pundits have hailed him as the most powerful person in world rugby, a possible head of state and even a future global leader. Mediawatch looks at some of over-the-top the pre-tournament tributes for Richie McCaw, and how his greatness didn't quite translate into French.
This week, the media here reported that a top UK newspaper rated the All Black captain "the most powerful figure in world rugby".
New Zealand Herald sports writer Chris Rattue was surprised.
"Really? As great as McCaw is, he is hardly the most powerful figure in world rugby."
But depending on which 'Rugby Power 50' list you look at this week, he might not be. It was a panel of eight notable former British players and officials which put Richie McCaw at number one in the Daily Telegraph special supplement sponsored by Toshiba.
The same company also sponsored a 'Power 50' list in Paris-based paper Le Figaro this week, and this one was topped by the only Frenchman who got his hands on the World Cup at Eden Park last time round - IRB president Bernard Lapasset.
The jury that picked Le Figaro's 'Rugby Power 50' Photo: screen shot
Number 2 in Le Figaro's list wouldn’t give Richie McCaw any trouble in a ruck either – octagenarian media mogul Rupert Murdoch, founder of Sky TV. And in joint third place were two media men few New Zealanders could name: Bertrand Méheut and Vincent Bolloré, bosses of European media companies Canal Plus and Vivendi, which are huge in televised sport in Europe.
Franck Mesnel Photo: @FranckMesnel
The first New Zealander crops up in Le Figaro's list only at number 7 - Dan Carter. (No coincidence presumably that he’ll soon be in France again to play out his last well-paid years in rugby there.) The All Back captain only just makes the first 15, in behind the president of the French Rugby Federation Pierre Camou and the NZRU's Steve Tew.
Clearly, a very different notion of rugby power was at play here, and the final spot in the Le Figaro list was reserved for "French flair."
"Inspiration française qui effraye encore les adversaires du XV de France". (French inspiration which still scares the opponents of the French 15.)
One final irony: one of Le Figaro's judges was Franck Mesnel, the cravat-wearing former Les Bleus first-five who founded the successful fashion label . . . Eden Park.
Over-the-top tributes
Here in New Zealand though, there's no doubt who the pundits rate as top man. Broadcaster Mike Hosking reckons he could be the first head of state if we become a republic in the near future.
But perhaps the most over-the-top tribute has come from right-leaning political pundit Matthew Hooton. In the National Business Review last weekend, he said Richie McCaw is the one of the greatest footballers the world has ever known. And not just rugby football:
Had he been born in Bavaria rather than North Otago, we may know him as the winning captain of the FIFA World Cup.
Big call. Germany’s a nation of more than 80 million people, and the football World Cup is contested by almost 200 countries, whereas rugby is played seriously in fewer than 20. Matthew Hooton went on to say Richie McCaw will do great things when he retires from rugby, in whatever field he chooses.
He is going to be world famous. He's got the talents to be the CEO of a major US, European or Chinese company if he wished. He could go into medicine and be a world-leading medical person.
The only other World Cup-winning All Black captain, David Kirk, was already a qualified doctor in 1987. He was also a Rhodes scholar who later became a prime ministerial advisor and the leader of a major Australasian media company.
Richie McCaw may well go on to make a mark in the world after rugby too, though becoming a world leader in medicine might be tough from a standing start at the age of 35.
No pressure then, (Sir) Richie.
