Richie McCaw names the rugby player he had 'no respect' for

 podcast. “But on a footy field, things happen. My mistake was not admitting it. I later apologised to Richie.”

But greatness never exists in a vacuum—it invites resistance. McCaw’s uncompromising style put him at the centre of rugby’s fiercest rivalries, where every breakdown became a battleground and every contest carried an edge.

From controversial calls to heated on-field flashpoints, his career was shaped as much by confrontation as it was by triumph. Yet time and again, McCaw answered with resilience, composure, and an unshakable will to win.

This is the story of the clashes that forged his legacy—and the moments that cemented him as one of rugby’s ultimate competitors.

Aussie icon Stephen Larkham was no pushover, and when he clashed with McCaw, sparks flew. The Wallabies fly-half matched McCaw’s ferocity, proving he could dish it out as well as take it.

The infamous spear tackle. Tuqiri’s shocking hit on McCaw somehow escaped the referee’s attention, but it left fans stunned. It’s remarkable that McCaw walked away without serious injury. Then again, he wasn’t nicknamed Captain Courageous for nothing.

The man Kiwis loved to hate.

During the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Cooper became public enemy number one in New Zealand after appearing to knee McCaw in the head during a Bledisloe Cup clash. Although he beat the charge, Cooper’s reputation was tarnished.

New Zealanders weren’t quick to forgive, booing him relentlessly throughout the World Cup and long after. Years later, Cooper admitted the knee was intentional but said he regretted not owning up earlier.

“Yeah, it was on purpose,” Cooper confessed on The Ice Project

McCaw, for his part, made it clear there was no love lost between them during their playing days.

A cameo to forget.

South African prop Dean Greyling’s substitute appearance in the 2012 Rugby Championship is remembered for all the wrong reasons. In a reckless moment, Greyling charged into a ruck and delivered a forearm smash to McCaw’s face, leaving the All Blacks skipper writhing in pain.

The crowd at Forsyth Barr Stadium erupted in boos as Greyling was shown a yellow card. Many believe the act would warrant a straight red in today’s game. McCaw, bruised but unbowed, got up and led the All Blacks to yet another victory, cementing his status as one of rugby’s toughest players.

We’ve given you FIVE minutes to see, with the number of appearances each nation has made given as a clue.

Note: this list and the total number of appearances is up to and including the 2018 World Cup – but not any of the national teams that have qualified for the 2023 tournament, which includes Chile.

The score from the geography whiz in the RUCK office to beat is 23/25. Getting 100% is achievable if you really put your mind to it.