Andrew Mulligan: McCaw certainly our GCOAT

Richie McCaw and AJ Venter come to the rescue of Irish referee David McHugh. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

Captain's winning record and discipline remarkable.

Given that Sir Richie's winning percentage as a captain will end up being close to 90 per cent, how does this compare to captains across other sporting codes, and does this mean he is a candidate to be the GCOAT (Greatest Captain of all Time)?
Ted

Undoubtedly so if you're talking international sport, Ted. If you're going to factor in length of tenure in the role which is 10 seasons beginning in 2006 and a winning percentage that only Darren Lockyer can come close to in a two-horse international league world. The Broncos legend captained the team 38 times but had a winning percentage of around "only" 81 per cent. GCOAT sounds like Max Key's DJ name.

Richie has played 142 tests and I have probably watched all of them. I have never seen him throw a punch - have I missed something or is this just another superb feature of this great player?
Bob

Maybe Richie is the most disciplined man as well as the most successful captain in international sport. He's won 123 test matches and never thrown a punch. Even when Pieter van Zyl attacked referee David McHugh in South Africa in 2002, Richie showed remarkable restraint.

Why are the selectors' persevering with Sonny Bill? He's never ever performed for the ABs against top international teams. He's prone to error and giving away penalties in closely contested test matches. We have many contenders for the spot who perform consistently at the top level.
Doug

It wouldn't be New Zealand without an SBW doubter. Ma'a Nonu doesn't make you feel safe? Sonny Bill has a skill set that many a coach, promoter and media member have fallen for over the years and Steve Hansen said he could be the best ever. I believe the regularity of a Super Rugby or an NRL season is where the best of him is seen week-in, and week-out. He gives the All Blacks options and that is great to have. So is a gold medal next year in the sevens

Who has spent more minutes on the field in the black jersey - Richie McCaw or Colin Meads?
Karl

I love the idea of "minutes played" for rugby because it shows how much time the player has endured contact or how fresh they could be coming off a Super Rugby campaign. Sam Cane is an example as he would arguably be fresher after Super Rugby when he shared the 7 jersey with Tanerau Latimer at the Chiefs but this year he's barely played for the All Blacks. I'd go McCaw but only just with his 137 starts and 6 substitute appearances over Meads' 133 total All Blacks games.

Who do your think will be the backup first-five to Dan Carter?
John

As in "who do you think offers more to the bench"? Slade is the better kicker, percentage wise and has the utility option like Beauden Barrett but the X-factor of the Taranaki first-five has been missing recently. Unless they had Barrett's hip and knee right I'd go Slade but only just. Sorry Lima.

Will Steve Hansen follow through with his idea of taking only three specialist locks to the World Cup and who will they be?
Dave

The flirtation of a blindside as lock cover worked at Eden Park but would it work in say a semifinal? Against a more competitive pack if a starting lock went down in the first half to injury would that be a risk worth taking? I don't think he would, but it would be Jeremy Thrush for me.