He was one of ours and then went north to the dreaded enemy. McCaw grew up in Hakataramea Valley and then boarded at Otago Boys' High School. After leaving school he headed up the road to Lincoln University to study for a degree in agricultural science, and made national age group sides.
He was lost to Otago, and though no one man can be blamed, is it too much of a coincidence that Otago started tailing off around the time McCaw went to red and black country?
After just a few minutes for the Crusaders and one full season for the Canterbury side - where McCaw scored three tries in one game against Otago - he was picked for the All Blacks for an end-of-year tour.
That led to former All Black flanker Josh Kronfeld saying "you might as well just give All Black jerseys to everybody. The fact they picked guys off one NPC season is bloody incredible".
The much-lampooned John Mitchell must have seen something that few others at the time did. McCaw, just 20, earned his first cap against Ireland and with his first touch of the ball promptly dropped it.
But he impressed as the game wore on and played the other two tests of the tour.
FIXTURE
From then on, McCaw became a certain selection, winning out over the likes of Marty Holah and Kupu Vanisi.
He played well in 2002, although the All Blacks could not wrest the Bledisloe Cup off the Wallabies. In Durban, he managed to wrestle Pieter van Zyl off referee David McHugh, after the South African fan had run on to the field, upset about the official's rulings.
McCaw played in every game of the 2003 Rugby World Cup, but could not stop the side losing in the semifinal to Australia.
SOFT SWEDE
In 2004, McCaw took a knock to the head and that led to a lengthy spell on the sideline. He missed all of the Tri-Nations that year but made it back for the end-of-year tour. He captained the All Black team against Wales in Cardiff as regular skipper Tana Umaga took a break. He had another head scare the next year but decided to get back on the field and has been all right since.
SUBLIME
In racking up 99 tests, McCaw has obviously played one or two good games. You do not get to that number by being average.
In 2006, against Australia in Brisbane, McCaw was dynamite, as the All Blacks squeaked to a 13-9 win. He was all over the paddock and never bent on defence as Australia put the pressure on.
Last year, in the cauldron of Soweto, inside a stadium which could almost hold the population of Dunedin, he was inspired, leading a mighty All Black fightback.
Right through the 2010 season he was, at times, brilliant and looked to have the game on a string. He scored a try to get his side back in the game at Soweto, and never stopped all night.
He was magic against the Lions in 2005 and part of a great effort against the French in 2004, which set the team up for years to come.
LOWLIGHTS
There are a couple of distinct dampeners and we all know what they are.
In 2003, losing to Australia was bad. But to be beaten by France in the quarterfinal of the World Cup in 2007 was 10 times worse.
McCaw's captaincy was criticised and he did not harass referee Wayne Barnes enough.
The side played poorly that day and was an obvious example of a team which had not played together enough.
Now, four years on, the chance of revenge looms large.
BUMPY BUILD-UP
So this is the chance for McCaw to go down in folklore.
The first All Black to crack 100 tests, and if he holds up the Webb Ellis Cup next month, he will have rights to sit at the very top of the All Black tree with Colin Meads, Brian Lochore and possibly Sean Fitzpatrick.
This year has not gone all that smoothly for him. He had a niggly foot injury which hindered his super 15 campaign, while some have suggested he is not playing anywhere near the same level as last year.
But the real examination has yet to come.
He may get a century of caps but it is a cup that he, and four million others, want so badly, that will define his career.
Players, after all, do not play for numbers. They play for trophies.
Richie McCaw
The centurion
Born: Oamaru, December 31, 1980
Physical: 1.87m, 106kg
Educated: Otago Boys' High School
Test debut: v Ireland, November 17, 2001, Dublin
Played 99 tests, 62 as captain
Scored 95 points for All Blacks