Richie McCaw and his family had an unpleasant experience last summer when a fellow passenger’s bare foot encroached on their personal space during a flight.
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All Blacks legend Richie McCaw and former Black Sticks hockey star Gemma McCaw were traveling to France for the Rugby World Cup with their three daughters, Charlotte, Grace, and Ella.
Gemma, who played hockey at the 2008,2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, posted a video on her Instagram Stories, giving a glimpse of their long journey in what appeared to be the economy cabin. The camera panned to reveal a passenger's foot propped up on her daughter's armrest.
"Lovely pedi colour but I think I'll have to put my foot down for this one," she captioned the video, showing Richie shaking his head in disgust from across the aisle.
In a subsequent update, the Olympian showed her eldest daughter writing a polite note in her notebook: "Please put your foot down."
"I don't want to put my foot in it, so Charlotte thought of trying this approach," Gemma wrote.
However, a few hours later, she shared that a flight attendant had intervened to resolve the situation.
"Update on the foot gate: hostess stepped in and asked her to kindly remove her foot from the seat. All is well."
McCaw ranks his five toughest opponents
Sourcing several Q&A’s from down the years, including one with Rugby World, here is his top five:
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
4. David Pocock (Australia)
- Position Flanker
- Height 6 ft 0 in
- Weight 227 lb
- Caps 80
The Zimbabwe-born openside flanker, who made his debut for the Wallabies in 2008 and played at his first Rugby World Cup in 2011, was widely considered one of the best players in his position.
Richie McCaw said: "Ever since I started playing rugby I've looked forward to games against other No7s who are highly rated," he said. "Pocock was one of the best."
DID YOU KNOW? Pocock and his friend Luke O’Keefe run a not-for-profit organisation, Eightytwenty Vision, which has the aim of helping the less fortunate people of Zimbabwe.
3. Richard Hill (England/Lions)
- Position Back-row
- Height 6 ft 2 in
- Weight 224 lb
- Caps 76
Hill played 288 times for Saracens and 71 times for England making him one of the modern greats of the English game. He also played five Tests for the British and Irish Lions between 1997 and 2005.
McCaw said: “Extremely gifted player who had all the ability in the world to play and run the ball. When England needed someone to dig in he was your man. He had the full tool bag and quietly got on with it.”
DID YOU KNOW? On his mother's side, Hill is a second cousin removed of film director Peter Jackson
2. 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."
DID YOU KNOW? When not playing rugby, Burger lives and works with his family on the Welbedacht Wine Estate near Wellington, Western Cape.
1. George Smith (Australia)
- Position Back-row
- Height 5 ft 11 in
- Weight 233 lb
- Caps 111
Smith was a great contributor to Australian rugby in the modern era, playing in 111 tests across 13 years donning the green and gold jersey. 24 of those tests were against the All Blacks, of which Smith triumphed in seven – but only three in which McCaw also played.
McCaw said: Speaking in a Q+A with World Rugby, McCaw's revealed former Wallabies flanker George Smith as the one he feared most on the field, saying Smith "was always pretty tough".
“I remember playing him when I was in the under 19s against Australia and remember then thinking just what a good player he is.”
DID YOU KNOW? He was easily recognised on the field by his dreadlocked hair style until late 2006 – when he decided
