Jerome Kaino on Richie McCaw: 'I thought he was actually going to cry'

Reporter·NZ Herald·

17 Aug, 2015 01:26 AM3 mins to read

Richie McCaw isn't a man given over to emotional scenes but admitted he left the Eden Park pitch with a lump in his throat as the crowd stood as one to applaud him tonight. His last test in New Zealand, his 142nd to create a world record, a thumping Bledisloe Cup victory after the disappointment of last weekend - it was nearly all too much for the man who must be considered one of the greatest All Blacks ever.

All Black Jerome Kaino says he will be working his hardest to try and secure a spot in the Rugby World Cup line up, announced at the end of the month.

Talking to Radio Sport this morning, the All Black veteran talked about his World Cup 2011 memories and what Richie McCaw means to the team.

Kaino, who has played 59 tests for All Blacks and 100 Super Rugby games for the Blues, said the locker room was a "very happy" one after Saturday's Bledisloe Cup win.

"The boys were quite stoked [not only to win], but also in the manner that we won: sending six legends off in their last game at Eden Park it was quite special so it was a very happy changing room."

Jerome Kaino on the DRS

The typically humble McCaw downplayed his milestone 142nd test match, which saw him become the most capped rugby player in the world, instead focusing on the team as a whole, Kaino said.

"Richie didn't want it to be about individuals he wanted the team to improve on our performance in Sydney."

Emotions were running high after the win, including McCaw's.

"I thought he was actually going to cry in his speech but he didn't," Kaino said.

"It was quite special running on for him and the standing ovation he got, he fully deserved it and I can't say enough about the man.

"As a captain I think he does a lot of work above what he should be doing... the influence he has on this team is going to be missed in the years ahead.

"The legacy he's left for the players is going to be around for a while. He's set a standard for the captains ahead."

Five weeks from today the All Black's will play their first World Cup match in England and Kaino thinks the team is on track to winning it.

"We're in a different place than we were after the Sydney game ... After the weekend's performance, although it's easy to brush over some mistakes ... we're happy where we're at."

With the 31-man squad named at the end of the month, Kaino said not knowing who would make the cut was challenging.

"We're all quite close mates [and] knowing some of us are going to miss out, it's tough."

But he said the pressure to make the team raises the bar and makes the team better.

"Although you feel sorry for whoever is going to miss out and you want to make it you've just got to try your best and put your best foot forward."

Kaino said he was doing whatever he could to make sure he received "that positive phone call" when the line-up announcement was made.

Kaino played in the All Blacks squad for their 2011 World Cup win and said the last ten minutes of the final match were seared into his memory.

"I remember all the support we had ... that final I think I can remember every single thing I did in that last ten minutes when we were under the pump."