Richie McCaw has indicated that he plans to remain in New Zealand after the World Cup. Photo / Getty Images
Richie McCaw has indicated that he plans to remain in New Zealand after the World Cup. Photo / Getty Images
All Black captain Richie McCaw has rejected the idea of tampering with tradition, including changing the silver fern to red for the World Cup in tribute to the people of Canterbury.
McCaw told Britain's Daily Mail winning the World Cup would be a more appropriate tribute to those affected bythe February earthquake.
He doubted that the red fern idea, which has gained momentum in recent days, was an appropriate way of demonstrating solidarity with the people of Christchurch.
"I don't think that's a goer at all," McCaw said of the red fern.
"The silver fern has a lot of history. I wouldn't say no to a game before the Tri-Nations, but Canterbury people don't expect things like that.
"They realise people are thinking of them and there are other ways of showing they are in our thoughts.
"We have to be careful not to mess with traditions too much. Winning the World Cup would be enough of a tribute to them."
Not that McCaw thinks the events of the past month will have added any more motivation, or indeed pressure, on the All Blacks to win the World Cup. If anything, rugby's place in the greater scheme of things has been given some clarity in a country where the 15-man code often clouds judgment.
"If that motivates guys in the team, that will be good [but] I would like to think we've got enough motivation as it is. This [earthquake] has put rugby in perspective," McCaw said.
"We didn't play the weekend after the quake ... We were too busy worrying about friends and family and houses that had been damaged or destroyed. The event put rugby in perspective for the people of New Zealand, but when the World Cup starts a lot of time will have passed."
McCaw gave his clearest indication yet that he was going to stay on in New Zealand after the World Cup, rather than joining an expected exodus to cash-rich clubs in Europe and Japan.
"I'm talking with the New Zealand Rugby Union about the next couple of years," he said.
"I've never ruled out playing overseas, but for the next little while they [the Rugby Union] have indicated they are keen for me to carry on here.
"[I] haven't made my decision, but I like playing for the All Blacks and while I can do that I want to carryon."
