New Zealand legend Richie McCaw was asked by Supersport to name his top five toughest opponents from his stellar career. Here’s who he picked:
He earned a world-record 148 caps for the All Blacks, winning 131 of those games and captaining his country 111 times.
ifting 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.
It was to be a perfect ending not just to his international career but also his playing career, as he confirmed his retirement from the game immediately afterwards.
Since then, McCaw has revealed the five toughest players he came across during his legendary career:
5. Thierry Dusautoir (France)
- Position Back-row
- Height 6 ft 2 in
- Weight 218 lb
- Caps 80
Dusautoir made his international debut against Romania in 2006 before making a name for himself the following year when France stunned New Zealand 20-18 in the World Cup quarter-finals.
The former France skipper also scored a try and was named man of the match in the 2011 World Cup final when New Zealand avenged their defeat of four years earlier with an 8-7 win in the final.
Richie McCaw said: “Over the years I’ve played him a few times and you always know he’s there,” said McCaw of Dusautoir. “He was always pretty big defensively and in the breakdown area. A menace”
DID YOU KNOW? He broke the record for most tackles in a match, making 38 tackles against the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup