New Zealand’s flanker and captain Richie McCaw (R) and New Zealand’s head coach Steve Hansen pose with the Webb Ellis Cup at a press conference in Bagshot, west of London, yesterday, (AFP)

AFP/London

The world champions All Blacks have been praised as the greatest of all time by former rivals, but captain Richie McCaw is reluctant to put them ahead of his disastrous 2007 side.
In the aftermath of New Zealand’s comprehensive 34-17 disposal of Australia in Saturday’s World Cup final, tributes have flooded in from around the world.
Former Springbok coach Nick Mallet said it capped a phenomenal four years for the All Blacks in which they won 49 of 54 games, lost three and drew two.  
“People are saying is this the greatest team? I wonder why we are still asking that question,” Mallett said.  
“They’ve retained the World Cup and found ways to win games they should lose. When they get it right they hammer teams.  
“This was 34-17 in a final, it was a tough game, but they still won by that margin. That’s some achievement.”
Former England coach Clive Woodward, writing for the Mail Online website, also praised the All Blacks who have become the first side to win the World Cup three times having previously triumphed in 1987 and 2011.  
“To win one World Cup is amazing but to win back-to-back tournaments is off the scale and I can only congratulate everybody in the New Zealand party from coach Steve Hansen downwards,” Woodward wrote.  
McCaw, however, the most experienced Test player in the world with 148 caps, and a veteran of four World Cups, was not willing to rate the 2015 champions ahead of the 2007 side which was bundled out in the quarter-finals.
“I always said the 2007 team that went to the World Cup was one of the most talented teams I’ve been in, but the results show we didn’t achieve our potential,” he said.
“This team’s had a real core of guys for four years together who have been able to do the job. There’s no doubt it’s right up there with one of the best.”  
McCaw said the balance of young enthusiastic players with the old hands in the 2015 squad “makes this a pretty special team but it is hard to compare because everything’s a bit different but there’s no doubt it’s right up there.”
McCaw, who was also captain when the 2007 side achieved New Zealand’s worst performance at a World Cup and again in 2011 when they won, said the significance of winning back-to-back trophies was still sinking in.
“It’s just that we got the job done,” he said. “It was a job we came here to do and when you achieve what you want to do you just sit back with a bit of pride and satisfaction rather than jumping around.  
“I’ve heard from home about how much excitement there is back in New Zealand and perhaps that’s when it will hit—how much of an impact winning this thing again has had for everyone at home.
“So I’m looking forward to that opportunity when we get home on Wednesday.”

Hansen favours new All Blacks coach in two years
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Sunday he is unlikely to take his champion team through to the next World Cup.  
Hansen who directed New Zealand to their 34-17 record-breaking victory over Australia in Saturday’s final at Twickenham is currently contracted through to 2017.  
From being assistant coach when the All Blacks won in 2011, Hansen has enhanced his reputation since taking over as head coach four years ago.
Under his guidance they have won 49 of 54 games and the win over Australia made the All Blacks the first side to defend the World crown and the first to win it three times.
But Hansen said the time is fast approaching for someone else to take over the prestigious coaching role.  
“There’s a reason why it only goes to ‘17, because I’m not sure about that,” he said of his contract.
“I wouldn’t say no but I’m certainly not saying yes either.
“I like the idea of changing the guard halfway through a four-year cycle which has the World Cup in the middle of it.
“When people come in it’s easy to get some real dramatic shift early and it’s a lot harder to keep that momentum going.
“I’d probably say it’s more likely I won’t be there after ‘17, than being there.”
The 56-year-old former policeman has one of the toughest jobs in New Zealand, a rugby-obsessed nation where the form of the All Blacks can sway the mood of the country.
The country partied hard on Sunday after their three tries to two victory in England. But with his four year goal achieved, Hansen said he had a few drinks and then went to bed.
On reflection the following day he talked about the strains of the job and why it could be good for the team to have an injection of fresh ideas.
“Also for a long time we’ve put everything on the World Cup as centre and unless you’ve got some real strength of character you can be tricked into making decisions that are right for your survival rather than what is right for the team,” he said having been with the All Blacks as either assistant or head coach for 12 years.