New Zealand legend and two time Rugby World Cup winner Richie McCaw has ranked his three toughest back-row opponents from his incredible rugby career.
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The legendary flanker, who won a record 148 caps for the All Blacks between 2001 and 2015, went toe-to-toe with some of the greatest players to ever lace up a pair of boots during his stellar career.
Still not on speaking terms, McCaw didn’t even mention the controversial fly-half Quade Cooper when listing his five toughest opponents during his stellar career.
For reasons the New Zealand-born star has not yet divulged, he played McCaw off the ball then later in the same game, whacked him on the head deliberately.
A few months later he kneed the All Blacks skipper in the head, creating a bitter rivalry between himself and the whole of New Zealand.
RICHIE MCCAW: TOUGHEST OPPONENTS
#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