Richie McCaw didn’t even blink when asked who his toughest opponent was 

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The two-time World Cup winner and record 148-cap All Black has revealed the five toughest back-row opponents he ever faced.

From World Cup final heartbreakers to breakdown nightmares, these are the players who pushed McCaw to his limits.

Position: Back-row
Height: 6 ft 2 in
Weight: 218 lb
Caps: 80

If there was one player who tormented the All Blacks on the biggest stage, it was Thierry Dusautoir. The French flanker led his nation to one of the biggest World Cup shocks ever in 2007, before putting in a heroic shift in the 2011 final—scoring a try and earning Man of the Match despite defeat.

McCaw on Dusautoir: “You always knew he was there. He was a menace at the breakdown and a massive presence defensively.”

DID YOU KNOW? Dusautoir made a record 38 tackles in one game—against the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup.

Position: Flanker
Height: 6 ft 0 in
Weight: 227 lb
Caps: 80

Born in Zimbabwe, David Pocock became one of the best openside flankers of his generation. A relentless breakdown specialist, he was a key figure in Australia’s 2011 and 2015 World Cup campaigns.

McCaw on Pocock: “I always looked forward to battles against other No7s, and Pocock was one of the best.”

DID YOU KNOW? Off the field, Pocock co-founded Eightytwenty Vision, a non-profit supporting underprivileged communities in Zimbabwe.

Position: Back-row
Height: 6 ft 2 in
Weight: 224 lb
Caps: 76

A rock in England’s 2003 World Cup-winning pack, Richard Hill was the ultimate team player. He played 288 times for Saracens, featured in three Lions tours, and was universally respected by teammates and opponents alike.

McCaw on Hill: “Gifted with all the tools. When England needed someone to dig in, he was the man.”

 Hill is a distant cousin of 

Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson.

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

A World Cup winner in 2007, Schalk Burger was the definition of an enforcer. Hard as nails and relentless at the breakdown, he gave McCaw some of his most bruising battles.

McCaw on Burger: “Some games you don’t feel like you’ve had a battle with your opposite, but with Burger, you always knew he was there.”

DID YOU KNOW? Burger runs the Welbedacht Wine Estate in South Africa’s Western Cape.

Position: Back-row
Height: 5 ft 11 in
Weight: 233 lb
Caps: 111

With 111 caps and a career spanning 13 years, George Smith was a master at the breakdown. The Wallaby flanker faced McCaw 24 times, winning seven of those encounters.

McCaw on Smith: “Even at under-19 level, I knew he was special. He was always tough to play against.”

DID YOU KNOW? Smith’s iconic dreadlocks were sold for charity in 2006, raising money for young cancer patients.

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