Bakkies Botha names All Black legend as toughest opponent

Often described as the "hardest of hard men," Botha never shied away from confrontation on the field, and in Hard Men of Rugby by Luke Upton, he candidly reflects on the players who tested him the most.

Here are Bakkies Botha top three:

Bio:
The Welsh warrior, Alun Wyn Jones, is the world’s most-capped rugby player with more than 150 Test appearances. Known for his unmatched endurance, physicality, and inspirational leadership, Jones captained Wales to Six Nations titles and represented the British & Irish Lions on four tours.

Botha said:
“I like Alun-Wyn Jones, he’s a good fighter. We had some epic battles down the years and I have a lot of respect for what he's gone onto achieve."

Jones on Botha:
"He revelled in it didn't he. Physically he has to be up there. Let's just say he was able to keep the tradition going of the hardest of South African second rows."

Bio:
A towering figure in Irish rugby, Paul O’Connell earned 115 caps for his country and captained the Lions on their 2009 tour of South Africa.

Renowned for his line-out brilliance and sheer work rate, O’Connell was the heartbeat of Ireland’s pack and one of the most respected forwards of his generation.

Botha said:
"He's a world-class player and it's always great to play against world-class opposition. A phenomenal leader and player. He brought something to a team that’s special.”

Bio:
Widely regarded as the greatest player in rugby history, Richie McCaw captained the All Blacks to back-to-back World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015. With 148 Test caps, his intelligence at the breakdown, relentless drive, and leadership made him a nightmare opponent for any forward.

Botha said:
“They were always the hardest opponents we faced and there was no better player than Richie McCaw that I came up against. My role was clear when playing against them: make the breakdown brutal.

“If McCaw or any of the New Zealand boys had to take a moment to look out for me, then I knew I was winning.

"When I played them, I always wanted them to know I was coming for them, and the biggest compliment I ever received was from (South Africa coach) Jake White, who said he could see they had fear in their eyes during the game.”