Richie McCaw embraces the pressures that come with being the All Blacks captain, a job New Zealanders like to say is far more important than prime minister.

But when McCaw needs a break, there’s nothing he likes better than swooping around the foothills of the Southern Alps in his glider.

McCaw was introduced to gliding by his grandfather Jim McCaw, a Second World War fighter pilot who received the Distinguished Flying Cross. When he returned from Europe after the war to the family farm in central Otago, Jim opened a gliding school and shared his love of flying with Richie’s father Don, and took his grandson up for the first time when he was 9. Richie got his pilot’s license at 21.

“It is the closest thing you have to wings on your back,” McCaw said. “I will just think about that and mix with people who are just concerned about the sport.

“I am not great at it and want to be better because each day I find out something new, and that is the key.”

The desire to keep improving himself is one of McCaw’s great strengths, a trait that has helped him to play rugby’s most rugged position for its best team at the highest level for a decade. Today he will become the first New Zealander to play 100 tests when he leads the All Blacks out against France in a sold-out Eden Park at the World Cup.

The greatest All Black of them all, Colin Meads, said he hopes McCaw has a night to remember.

“It’s a remarkable achievement and I’m pleased he’ll be the first to reach 100 because he deserves it and it’s history,” Meads said. “We’ll always remember that he was the first to 100 tests.”

Coach Graham Henry was even more effusive for the man he saluted as very special.

“He provides inspiration to New Zealanders because of his total commitment to enhancing the reputation of New Zealand through the success of the All Blacks team. He’s brave and he’s highly intelligent and he’s an inspiration to the players he plays with.”

When he was set to play his 100th test last week against Japan before withdrawing with a minor calf strain, McCaw said he was proud of the milestone.

“It is pretty special. I don’t quite know how to describe it to be honest, but I suppose when you take a moment to reflect: 100 tests ... when you first start you just want to play another one then another and to get to 100 I suppose is pretty awesome,” he said.