"Nobody could hit you harder" - All Blacks legends Carter and McCaw select their three toughest opponents - Page 3 of 3 - Ruck

“Nobody could hit you harder” – All Blacks legends Carter and McCaw select their three toughest opponents

#1. Schalk Burger (South Africa)

  • Position Back-row
  • Height 6 ft 4 in
  • Weight 242 lb
  • Caps 86

MCCAW SAID: “You can come up against another tough team but never feel like you have had a tough match against your opposite. But with Burger you knew where they are going to be and how hard they play near the ball.”

CARTER SAID: “I kept looking at my All Black jersey wondering if I had a target like in the middle of the jersey or something because he kept coming for me. He was having a huge battle with our big forward pack. He just kept going. He didn’t stop. He was physical and just his leg drive was incredible. A real competitor and absolute top bloke off the field as well. His mindset was a little bit different when he was out there competing. That just made him such a tough opponent to come up against.”

DID YOU KNOW? Burger was a member of the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning team, has twice been named South African Rugby Player of the Year (in 2004 and 2011), and was named IRB Player of the Year in 2004, among other accolades

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