Historically the No 7 jersey has been the most revered in the New Zealand game and openside flanker is a position where the All Blacks have set the standards.
Think of just the modern era to justify those claims: Waka Nathan, Kel Tremain, Ian Kirkpatrick, Graham Mourie, Michael Jones and Josh Kronfeld gained legendary status in our national game through their tireless and extraordinary work. McCaw is justifiably in the same league, operating a position that requires a massive workload in the loose and the tight.
Yet New Zealand's stocks in specialist openside flankers are now worryingly low.
The unnecessary departures of Marty Holah (Wales) and Josh Blackie (Japan) have highlighted this. Frustrated at having a converted blindside/No 8 in Chris Masoe ranked above them they have taken their games offshore.
Look around the Super 14 teams for further evidence of the problem.
The Chiefs have taken a two-man approach to replacing Holah, with Tanerau Latimer and Tom Harding, producing mixed results.
Tim Boys and Alando Soakai have shared similar duties at the Highlanders in taking over from Blackie.
The Hurricanes have Scott Waldrom backing up Masoe while the Blues preferred veteran Justin Collins to Onosai'i Tololima-Auva'a before the much-needed return of 2007 New Zealand player of the year Daniel Braid.
It's fair to say hardly any of these flankers are household names around the country let alone names to strike fear in an opposing team.
Could it be that Braid, who played the last of his three tests in 2003, could be back in favour in a season that could feature 15 internationals for the All Blacks including a grand slam tour tipped to include midweek matches? Maybe.
But don't look for another openside out of Crusaders country just yet. They couldn't find one themselves to replace the consistent Johnny Leo'o, who went to France at the end of last year.
Not that they are doing too badly with their makeshift backups to McCaw, who has shouldered a massive load over the first half of the Super 14 campaign, starting all seven matches.
They have asked young No 8 Nasi Manu to finish off some of their matches, giving McCaw an early breather when appropriate. Blindside flanker Kieran Read played half a game against the Cheetahs at No 7 while George Whitelock, a No 8 who can play openside, hasn't made an appearance yet.
Again, these are hardly names to jolt the memory banks.
When the Sunday Star-Times asked Crusaders forwards coach Mark Hammett if the cupboard was getting alarmingly bare in terms of quality No 7s, he had no hesitation in confirming this.
"You're dead right," he said. "We had a really solid look around to get another seven and bring someone down. But there was just no one out there in terms of proven talent and being able to play at this level. It's not a level you just want to take a guess at.
"It's an interesting time," Hammett continued when asked about the bigger picture. "It will be great to see who is prepared to put their hand up next and have a real crack at it because it's open isn't it."
Maybe I'm doing Masoe a disservice but his versatility - as opposed to his growing No 7 skills - have clearly been his attraction to the All Blacks selectors.
Of his 20 tests over the past three years only nine have been on the openside. He has played at No 8 eight times and as blindside three times. Half of his test appearances have come off the bench.
That's a fact of life operating in the shadow of McCaw who is streets ahead of any other specialist No 7 in the country.
Part of Masoe's appeal has been his sheer physical presence. Add him to the likes of McCaw, Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo and Sione Lauaki and the All Blacks have been able to field back rows of frightening dimensions.
Whether that continues to be the case may depend on whether the experimental rules continue. Under the ELVs a more traditional No 7 such as Braid has growing appeal.
With the added space at scrum time it is critical to have agility and speed and the traditional stealing of the ball has returned as opposed to driving players off the ball.
It might force teams to have specialist cover on their bench once again.
This isn't a panic situation and New Zealand has a history of uncovering rare talent in this position. It will be intriguing to see what unfolds over the second half of the Super 14.
While McCaw is there everything is sweet. But as we know, the All Blacks skipper does have a history of untimely absences because of the bumps and bruises that come with operating in the most demanding job in the game.
The Crusaders have been operating him with a mix of crossing their fingers and also managing his time late in games. The All Blacks might have to do something similar.
Think of just the modern era to justify those claims: Waka Nathan, Kel Tremain, Ian Kirkpatrick, Graham Mourie, Michael Jones and Josh Kronfeld gained legendary status in our national game through their tireless and extraordinary work. McCaw is justifiably in the same league, operating a position that requires a massive workload in the loose and the tight.
Yet New Zealand's stocks in specialist openside flankers are now worryingly low.
The unnecessary departures of Marty Holah (Wales) and Josh Blackie (Japan) have highlighted this. Frustrated at having a converted blindside/No 8 in Chris Masoe ranked above them they have taken their games offshore.
Look around the Super 14 teams for further evidence of the problem.
The Chiefs have taken a two-man approach to replacing Holah, with Tanerau Latimer and Tom Harding, producing mixed results.
Tim Boys and Alando Soakai have shared similar duties at the Highlanders in taking over from Blackie.
The Hurricanes have Scott Waldrom backing up Masoe while the Blues preferred veteran Justin Collins to Onosai'i Tololima-Auva'a before the much-needed return of 2007 New Zealand player of the year Daniel Braid.
It's fair to say hardly any of these flankers are household names around the country let alone names to strike fear in an opposing team.
Could it be that Braid, who played the last of his three tests in 2003, could be back in favour in a season that could feature 15 internationals for the All Blacks including a grand slam tour tipped to include midweek matches? Maybe.
But don't look for another openside out of Crusaders country just yet. They couldn't find one themselves to replace the consistent Johnny Leo'o, who went to France at the end of last year.
Not that they are doing too badly with their makeshift backups to McCaw, who has shouldered a massive load over the first half of the Super 14 campaign, starting all seven matches.
They have asked young No 8 Nasi Manu to finish off some of their matches, giving McCaw an early breather when appropriate. Blindside flanker Kieran Read played half a game against the Cheetahs at No 7 while George Whitelock, a No 8 who can play openside, hasn't made an appearance yet.
Again, these are hardly names to jolt the memory banks.
When the Sunday Star-Times asked Crusaders forwards coach Mark Hammett if the cupboard was getting alarmingly bare in terms of quality No 7s, he had no hesitation in confirming this.
"You're dead right," he said. "We had a really solid look around to get another seven and bring someone down. But there was just no one out there in terms of proven talent and being able to play at this level. It's not a level you just want to take a guess at.
"It's an interesting time," Hammett continued when asked about the bigger picture. "It will be great to see who is prepared to put their hand up next and have a real crack at it because it's open isn't it."
Maybe I'm doing Masoe a disservice but his versatility - as opposed to his growing No 7 skills - have clearly been his attraction to the All Blacks selectors.
Of his 20 tests over the past three years only nine have been on the openside. He has played at No 8 eight times and as blindside three times. Half of his test appearances have come off the bench.
That's a fact of life operating in the shadow of McCaw who is streets ahead of any other specialist No 7 in the country.
Part of Masoe's appeal has been his sheer physical presence. Add him to the likes of McCaw, Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo and Sione Lauaki and the All Blacks have been able to field back rows of frightening dimensions.
Whether that continues to be the case may depend on whether the experimental rules continue. Under the ELVs a more traditional No 7 such as Braid has growing appeal.
With the added space at scrum time it is critical to have agility and speed and the traditional stealing of the ball has returned as opposed to driving players off the ball.
It might force teams to have specialist cover on their bench once again.
This isn't a panic situation and New Zealand has a history of uncovering rare talent in this position. It will be intriguing to see what unfolds over the second half of the Super 14.
While McCaw is there everything is sweet. But as we know, the All Blacks skipper does have a history of untimely absences because of the bumps and bruises that come with operating in the most demanding job in the game.
The Crusaders have been operating him with a mix of crossing their fingers and also managing his time late in games. The All Blacks might have to do something similar.
Last edited:
