Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Johnson have both opened up about the toughest players they respectively faced in their illustrious playing careers.
The 2003 World Cup-winners, along with three of their teammates from that triumph in Sydney, snubbed a number of top stars.
Martin Johnson: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
JOHNSON SAID: “A guy like Jonah Lomu could do things that nobody could do and change games. Nobody else on the field would have scored that try and they went on to win the game. But even he needed his teammates… sometimes he didn’t.”
Phil Vickery: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Lifting the 2011 World Cup in his backyard was a fitting tribute to one of the greatest ever All Blacks, but he went on to secure true legendary status as he continued for four more years, breaking record after record and uniquely hoisting the Webb Ellis trophy for a second time.
VICKERY SAID: “Played against him a few times for England.We spent our whole week just preparing to play against him, let alone the other guys. I wish I had the chance to play with him.”
DID YOU KNOW? McCaw was appointed a member of New Zealand’s highest honour, the Order of New Zealand, in the 2016 New Year Honours
Richie McCaw facts:
- McCaw’s great-great-grandfather immigrated to New Zealand from the Scottish Borders in 1893. As tribute to his roots, the legendary All Black has learned how to play the bagpipes
- He has won the World Rugby player of the year award a joint record three times and was the most capped test rugby player of all time from August 2015 to October 2020
- McCaw was awarded World Rugby player of the decade (2011–2020) in 2021
- It was revealed at his retirement announcement in 2015 that McCaw would work at Christchurch Helicopters, where he is a Director and Shareholder, and was obtaining a commercial helicopter licence
- In December 2011, then Prime Minister John Key revealed that he had asked McCaw about the possibility of a knighthood in the 2012 New Year Honours, but that McCaw had turned it down