Richie McCaw has revealed the mistake that still bothers him about the All Blacks’ 2007 World Cup exit.

It was not only the quarter-final defeat to France. McCaw regrets that New Zealand had failed to learn from earlier World Cup campaigns.

The former captain discussed the issue in a 2023 interview with the Hoover Institution.

All Blacks failed to learn from past defeats

McCaw said the All Blacks had lessons to learn from the 1999 and 2003 World Cups. But those lessons were not properly studied before the 2007 tournament.

He admitted the team had treated those earlier campaigns as somebody else’s problem.

Looking back, McCaw called that approach “how stupid”. He said the team only faced up to the problem after losing to France in Cardiff.

The All Blacks had arrived as strong favourites. But they lost 20-18 in the quarter-final, ending McCaw’s first World Cup as captain.

McCaw said the team struggled to handle the pressure. Players began to doubt themselves when the match reached its biggest moments.

The defeat helped shape their success

The 2007 loss forced McCaw and the coaching staff to examine how the team handled pressure.

They worked on the skills, mindset and team habits needed to cope with those moments. McCaw said they could not know if the changes had worked until they faced another test.

That test came in 2011. New Zealand beat France by one point in the final to win the World Cup.

The All Blacks then became the first team to defend the trophy in 2015. McCaw lifted it again after a 34-17 win over Australia.

He later said he was glad the team had been tested in 2011. It showed them they could stay together when a final became tight.

McCaw says he retired with no regrets

McCaw’s regret about the team’s missed lessons sits alongside his pride in his own career.

When he retired in 2015, he said: “I sit here today with no regrets as a rugby player.”

His club career began with Canterbury, before he made his Super Rugby debut with the Crusaders. He stayed in New Zealand throughout his playing career, despite Toulon’s attempts to sign him.

McCaw finished with 148 Test caps and captained New Zealand 110 times. He also became the first man to lift the Rugby World Cup twice as captain.

You can follow more All Blacks news on RUCK.

Five facts about Richie McCaw

• He won 148 Test caps for the All Blacks.
• He captained New Zealand in 110 Tests.
• He won back-to-back World Cups in 2011 and 2015.
• He was named World Rugby Player of the Year three times.
• He made his All Blacks debut against Ireland in 2001.

Meta description: Richie McCaw has revealed the All Blacks mistake that still bothers him after their 2007 World Cup quarter-final defeat to France.

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