KEY POINTS:
LONDON - The intensity of the hug when Jock Hobbs squeezed Richie McCaw goodbye rendered the words almost immaterial.
There was relief, gratitude and heartfelt thanks all encompassed by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chairman's embrace of the All Blacks captain after the 2011 World Cup pool
draw here today.
McCaw's captaincy and Graham Henry's coaching reputations have been enhanced by the All Blacks winning 13 of their 15 tests this season - success represented by the Bledisloe Cup, Tri-Nations trophy, a Grand Slam and the new Hillary Shield.
Hobbs and the NZRU board have also been left to celebrate a significant come-from-behind victory.
Panned by a bitter public after the All Blacks' quarterfinal demise at last year's World Cup, the NZRU board then took a huge punt by reappointing Henry, the man at the helm when New Zealand recorded their worst finish at a World Cup.
The defence of the Tri-Nations this season then took a nasty turn after the South Africans won in Dunedin for the first time in history and then Robbie Deans, the candidate overlooked for Henry and Hobbs' brother in law, orchestrated a 34-19 win for the Wallabies in Sydney.
Hobbs was disconsolate as he waited outside the Australian dressing room to congratulate his old Canterbury teammate in July.
Now, four months later the All Blacks appear to back on top of the world and the board chairman was a picture of contentment.
"It's been a pretty tough year," the former All Blacks openside flanker and captain admitted.
"If you look back to February and where things were at (with the coaching controversy) and obviously we didn't get off to a great start with the loss to Australia in Sydney.
"But the coaches have done an outstanding job as we always thought they would do and Richie has captained the team magnificently.
"A new squad has stood up and grown. They're a close, talented group that still has potential to do better."
Hobbs felt the NZRU had also upped its game off the field.
"We said at the very start we knew we'd have to work hard to win back the support and respect of New Zealanders and hopefully we've done that," he said.
"We've had success on the field with the All Blacks and sevens, under-20s and New Zealand Maori ... and we've done some important work off the field," he said, nominating the extension of the multi million dollar sponsorship deal with adidas through to 2019.
"We're in a far better place than where we were in January and February and through that work we've been able to earn back the respect and support of our rugby public."
It remains to be seen whether that so-called forgiveness is reflected in Super 14 and Air NZ Cup crowds next season.
But for now Hobbs is just satisfied the decision to retain Henry and his coaching assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen appears justified.
"The board felt they reached the right decision, now the record sits there this year. They (Henry, Smith and Hansen) have done a magnificent job under enormous pressure.
"They deserve a great deal of credit for their courage and their skill and commitment."
- NZPA
