The All Blacks skipper's career will be defined on whether he finally gets his hands on the Webb Ellis Cup, writes Marc Hinton in The Dominion Post.
"Do you know that Richie McCaw has never even touched the Rugby World Cup?
"He doesn't think he's earned that right, so he's only ever glimpsed the gleaming trophy from afar. Tonight he has the chance to do something about that in a match that will define what may be the greatest All Black career of them all.
"It's almost cruel to think that McCaw, who will play his 103rd test in tonight's World Cup final against France, could be characterised as anything but a raging success.
"For the last 11 years he has been one of test rugby's consummate performers on the openside flank, showing courage, skill and commitment whenever he has worn that black jersey. He is a three-time winner of the IRB's player of the year award and, quite simply, there is no more respected figure in the game.
"But he has also been part of two failed World Cup campaigns and a third would create a permanent stain on his career that no amount of scrubbing could remove. There is just no way to soft-sell it. Tonight the McCaw legacy goes on the line."
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