If you hadn't noticed already, the rugby world cup is taking place in New Zealand right now. England and Scotland are both taking part although that might change at the weekend. For New Zealand though, their participation in the latter stages is now assured, which means that Richie McCaw may get to lift the trophy as the All Blacks captain. On Saturday, he won his 100th cap and was presented with a special silver cap to mark the occasion. The Times had this to say about it today:

"For all the plaudits that were heaped upon McCaw before winning his 100th cap on Saturday, it was the humility of the manner in which he accepted the presentation that stood out. McCaw thanked his team-mates for being great team-mates and he thanked the crowd for being a great crowd. And there was plenty that was moving about the occasion, which was partly because of the emotion crackling in his voice, but also because he refused to recognise his own greatness. The All Blacks are certainly captained by a man who has his values right."

On the field he comes across as hugely competitive and combative yet he combines those values with a humility of spirit that is generally agreed to be admirable. What a combination for a top sportsman in an era of prima-donna footballers thinking that immorally high salaries are their right. It was heartening to see him in action against France but even more encouraging to read about Richie McCaw, the real man, in the paper today.