All Blacks legends Dan Carter and Richie McCaw have both opened up about the toughest players they respectively faced in their illustrious playing careers.
Carter and McCaw have now both hung up their boots so they can speak a little more openly than they may have during their long and successful careers.
Having both previously picked their own XV’s, we take a look at the team their combined team would make.
BACK-THREE:
- 15. Christian Cullen (New Zealand)
- 14. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
- 11. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
Carter on Lomu: “He was the toughest player. I played against him once, I was 19-year-old and tried to tackle him, kinda woke up five metres back. He changed the game of rugby.”
McCaw on Lomu: “When I first became an All Black he was in the team. To play alongside a guy you have watched as a young fella was pretty amazing. He made me look silly in training more than once.
“He is one of the absolute superstars of rugby. If you go to somewhere where rugby is perhaps not well known then the one guy they do know is Jonah. It’s really sad that he’s passed away at age 40. He was a legend of the All Blacks and a legend of rugby.”
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CENTRES:
- 13. Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
- 12. Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
Carter on O’Driscoll: “Two giants of the game that have worn the green jersey were Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll. Their work rate and how they conducted themselves on and off the pitch was exemplary.”
