All Blacks: 'Two of best' join the club

Colin Meads will always be the greatest All Black. Photo / Dean Purcell

In Sean Fitzpatrick's eyes, Colin Meads was the greatest All Black and always will be.

A couple of others are also right up there and they'll join Fitzpatrick tomorrow as the most capped All Blacks in history.

"I couldn't think of two better players and people to do it," Fitzpatrick said.

The 92-test hooker will have to wait to watch the match as he'll be at Twickenham, commentating on the England-Australia clash that kicks off a couple of hours before New Zealand meet Scotland at Murrayfield.

In the modern era, with established annual tournaments in both continents and World Cups, it was inevitable Fitzpatrick's record would be surpassed, even though there's more competition for places in New Zealand than most other nations.

"Every other [major] country has guys with a 100 caps so it was always going to happen," he said.

"The thing that's more important for me is that nearly all the caps Mils and Richie have earned have been for games they have started in, so they've earned their dues."

As a long-standing captain, Fitzpatrick had special praise for McCaw.

"He's an outstanding leader and a very, very worthy recipient of the baton for being the most capped."