Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Dylan Clever outlines the reasons why Richie McCaw should be a clear winner for New Zealand's sportsperson of the decade.
"He has twice this decade been officially recognised as the best rugby player in the world, and even that seems stingy on reflection.
"For most of the past decade he has been recognised as the undisputed best openside flanker in the game. So effective is he that breakdown laws have been changed to reduce his influence. He is not just consistent, he is consistently brilliant.
"He is the captain of New Zealand's most successful sports team and the only iconic sports "brand" this country possesses, and the difficulties of 2009 seemed to bring out a hitherto unseen Whineray-like streak. He is, in short, a national treasure. He's a hero to untold thousands of kids and, as facile as the term might be, not a bad role model either."
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