10 ICONIC ACTS OF NEW ZEALAND RUGBY HISTORY
10 TRIPLE HANDSHAKE
The 2011 World Cup final had been one of the most intense 80 minutes in All Blacks history. A game everyone expected them to win relatively easily went to the wire and the nations' nerves were frayed when the final whistle blew.
The All Blacks had held on to win 8-7 and as the relief swept over Eden Park there developed an iconic moment that would immortalise the second World Cup triumph. It was the threeway handshake between former Prime Minister John Key, Richie McCaw, and World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset.
It was classic. So awkward and cringe-worthy that no one could ever forget it and Key spent years having to defend himself for his role in this travesty.
“I just want to say, for the record, anyone who's interested, go and have a look at the YouTube slow motion video of it. Bernard Lapasset, he comes over the top. I'm looking into Richie's eyes, he's just won the World Cup.
“For years I've been maligned over this, and look, it is awkward.”
09 LOSING TO IRELAND CHICAGO 2016
It was going to happen one day – that the All Blacks were going to lose to Ireland. In 111 years they never had, which was kind of ridiculous
