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Cape Town - Legendary All Black skipper Richie McCaw retires with an impressive Test record, having been on the winning side in 131 of his record setting 148 internationals.
It’s an impressive 88.51% win percentage for the double World Cup winning loose forward, who finally called it a day at the age of 34 on Thursday.
During a stellar international career, McCaw only lost to four countries - South Africa, Australia (both 6), England (2) and France (1).
McCaw’s record against the Springboks is impressive, however, Bok fans can take solace from the fact that his record against South Africa is worse than against any other nation.
McCaw played 26 Tests against the Springboks, winning 20 and losing six for a 76.92% win ratio.
In 37 encounters against trans-Tasman rivals, Australia, McCaw won 29 times including two draws for a 78.38% win ratio.
The two losses against England were offset by 12 wins (85.71%), while the solitary loss to France at the 2007 World Cup is made better by 12 victories, including a 62-13 hammering at the recent World Cup.
McCaw will go down as one of the best - if not the best ever - rugby players. His statistics prove as much and the All Blacks will feel the void left by his presence.
Perhaps rival teams can in future take heart from a line in Thursday’s Sydney Morning Herald: “Without McCaw, the All Blacks lose their cloak of invincibility, such was his presence on the field," the newspaper said.
Richie McCaw's Test record v Springboks (losses in bold):
Wellington, July 20, 2002: won 41-20
Durban, August 10, 2002: won 30-23
Pretoria, July 19, 2003: won 52-16
Melbourne, November 8, 2003: won 29-9
Cape Town, August 6, 2005: lost 22-16
Dunedin, August 27, 2005: won 31-27
Wellington, July 22, 2006: won 35-17
Pretoria, August 26, 2006: won 45-26
Rustenburg, September 2, 2006: lost 21-20
Durban, June 23, 2007: won 26-21
Christchurch: July 14 2007: won 33-6
Cape Town: August 16, 2008: won 19-0
Bloemfontein: July 25, 2009: lost 28-19
Durban, August 1, 2009: lost 31-19
Hamilton, September 12, 2009: lost 32-29
Auckland, July 10, 2010: won 32-12
Wellington, July 17, 2010: won 31-17
Soweto, August 21, 2010: won 29-22
Wellington, July 30, 2011: won 40-7
Dunedin, September 15, 2012: won 21-11
Johannesburg, October 6, 2012: won 32-16
Johannesburg, October 5, 2013: won 38-27
Wellington, September 13, 2014: won 14-10
Johannesburg, October 4, 2014: lost 27-25
Johannesburg, July 25, 2015: won 27-20
London, October 24, 2015: won 20-18
