Steve Hansen, the New Zealand coach, believes that his captain, Richie McCaw, is "probably our greatest rugby player ever".

McCaw will become the first player to captain his country in 100 Tests when New Zealand face Wales at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow. He has led the world champions to 87 victories and Hansen has no doubt how brightly 33-year-old McCaw features among the all-time galaxy of rugby stars.

"We are all very proud," said Hansen, speaking at the All Blacks' central Cardiff base "He is a straight up and down bloke, who's probably our greatest rugby player ever.

"It's nice to be here to share that moment with him. But he will be the first to tell you this game is not about him, but about the team playing well enough to walk off the park and be very proud of our performance in getting the win.

I saw him play in a school game in a tournament in Christchurch. He was about 17. Richie's not a natural athlete. When he first arrived he had four feet and couldn't catch a cold. But what he did have was a massive capacity to learn and want to learn and want to be better.

"He was very, very good over the ball. You could run him over with a tractor and he would still get up and have another go, so there is courage there. But the thing that has made him the great player he is, outside of his mental strength which is phenomenal, is his ability to want to get better.

"And even now, with 136 Tests, he wants to get better. That is phenomenal for an athlete who has been around as long as he has . . . He has evolved his game over time, and that is why he's probably, if not the greatest player, then one of them."