The Real McCaw: The Autobiography

Richie McCaw, New Zealand's All Blacks rugby captain was described by Heyneke Meyer, the coach of South Africa, one of the All Black's greatest rivals, as "probably the best player who ever played rugby" In most pictures, McCaw's gaze is cheerful but the cover of his autobiography shows the intensity and the hardness he brings to the game.In The Real McCaw, The Autobiography, the first chapter tells of his foundation and the beginning of Richie McCaw's determination to be a great all black. Goal setting and visualization became a major part of his life. He figured out the preparation he needed to succeed and followed through. His preparation, even today, includes writing instructions to himself in a notebook. They begin with the words "Start again" and end with the letters G.A.B. a reminder that, ever since he was a boy, he aspired to be a Great All Black.McCaw was in charge of a side that hadn't been beaten for 15 months. In that time he also ended the losses of one World Cup after another for New Zealand when, in October 2011, he captained the All Blacks to victory. The fact that he played the last three matches with broken bones in his foot provided Paul Ackford (Sunday Telegraph) with the back cover blurb "Better on one leg during the World Cup than most players on two."The chapters leading up to, and including, the World Cup gave an inside look at a brutal contact sport and the mind of the rugby captain leading the All Blacks. Subsequent chapters touch on his love of gliding, flying in general, the love for his family and the heartache after the earthquake in Christchurch, his home.If you're looking for an expose'of his love life you won't get it in this book. This is not a tell all book on the people he knows or the women he's dated. It is a book about a humble man at the top of his sport who has achieved all of his rugby goals. Also, it's about a man who believes in the morality of following rules. He is a G.A.B 24-7. I would recommend this book to anyone, not just to rugby fans.

Enjoyed reading this autobiography from Richie McCaw and have a better understanding of All Black rugby. Just a pity it ends in 2011.

A superb story beautifully told. Richie McCaw and the All Blacks since 2011 went on to retain the rugby World Cup in England in 2015. There will me many books and hopefully films made about this truly spectacular achievement. McCaw from a small town in New Zealand is very much a super hero. What a great contribution he has made to New Zealand and the All Blacks brand.

McCaw is a "Star" in the eyes of the rather small world of Rugby "followers" and "fanatics". His story reveals what it takes in world-level competition to "tough it out" to ultimate and persistent success. He is one of the "great" forwards of the game, and in his story he reveals the self doubt, the struggles against injury, and a surprisingly high level of self understanding. His tales of sailing in a glider over the Southern Alps of New Zealand add more "spice to an adventurous life. The core of the story he tells is the self-examination of what it is like to struggle and ultimately win by a narrow margin against a strong French team in the World Cup finals of 1911.

I know very little about rugby since I come from a non-rugby country. I discovered the All Blacks because of the Haka and then I discovered their Captain and he intrigued me. This book gives great insight to what goes on in the head of a great rugby player. It is mostly about his rugby life and not so much private stuff. Still a very nice book.

Kind of a typical autobiography but after getting to attend the recent Rugby World Cup in the UK and getting to see New Zealand play--not in the finals unfortunately--I was interested in learning more about this man that the New Zealand fans were raving about. Pretty interesting guy on and off the field. Good read for anyone and especially us old former club rugby players.

As a South African that was in New Zealand for the RWC11 that booked my tickets for all seven games a year up front it was such a proud moment to see the cup being lifted by Richie and the All blacks. A team that I admired and hated many times giving the bokke a hard time but special memories watching the bokke clashing against the all backs on tv with my dad in the eighties as a laaitie. Well deserved and great book on Richie's life and a inside look at the All Black machine.

This is a great book. It's exciting, honest and sensitive. I really enjoyed reading about all the rugby matches or interviews I'd watched on tv and reading things from a different point of view, say from perhaps the Australian media. I remember watching the All Blacks quarter final against France in 2007 and being shocked and devastated for them but this really illuminates all the plays and thoughts of every minute of the game, which I found really fascinating.This is obviously for rugby enthusiasts but I really enjoyed it as an autobiographical tale too.Such a passion for life, his family, flying and rugby make Richie not just a G.A.B but seemingly also an incredibly decent and lovely human being. New Zealand are lucky to have him on their team. A great uplifting, inspiring read!

The Greatest All Black. The Greatest of All Time.Awesome Book. I am sure there were some massive stories left out !! A great read

If you love rugby are a fan of the All Blacks, then it's a must read.

Buen producto

La biografía incompleta de un deportista, abarca hasta la RWC de 2011 y no nos habla de los ultimos años de Richie McCaw como All Black hasta ganar la RWC de 2015 y su posterior retiro.Un gran libro de motivación, tanto para los amantes del rugby como para cualquier persona. Buen precio, presentación muy cuidada y envío rápido. Una buena compra.

Very clear insight of a player's real life and an interesting view point of the All Blacks Environment in the Professional rugby era