"Viscous ba**ard" – Richie McCaw ranks his top 5 back-rowers

Wednesday, 19 October 2022 at 09:29

byRugby Rucker

Ireland hero Peter O’Mahony has recalled some of the toughest players he has come up against throughout his career.

The 32-year-old, who we included in our 2022 World XV, was a star performer as Ireland recorded a historic first away series win in New Zealand this summer.

Interestingly, a trio of toughest ever opponents, which you can see below, all played for the All Blacks.

This interview was done prior to the 2022 tour.

PETER O'MAHONY: TOUGHEST OPPONENTS:

#3. Kieran Read (New Zealand)

Age: 36
Position: Number 8
Caps: 128

O'Mahony said: "Read was probably the most skilful I’ve come up against whether it was backs or forwards – he’d be well up there as well.”

HRH Prince Harry shares a laugh with Kieran Read of New Zealand - Photo mandatory by-line: Gareth Davies/Pinnacle - Tel: +44(0)1363 881025 - Mobile:0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 183700120 - 31/10/2015 - SPORT - RUGBY UNION - RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 FINAL - New Zealand v Australia - Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London, England.

DID YOU KNOW? Read was a talented cricketer, representing Northern District age-group teams and being selected for the New Zealand Under-17 tournament side in 200

Super Rugby

Super Rugby Centurion
Super Rugby Champion - 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019

Individual

New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year
- Winner: 2010, 2013
World Rugby Player of the Year
- Winner: 2013
Test Rugby Centurion
All Black Captain: 2013 - 2019
100 Test starts

In the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, Read was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby.

#4. Sam Underhill (England)

Age: 26
Position: Flanker
Caps: 27

Sam Underhill of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

#3. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

Age: 41
Position: Flanker
Caps: 148

O'Mahony said: One of my heroes. I feel very privileged to have played against him. The All Blacks have never replaced him."

DID YOU KNOW? McCaw's great-great-grandfather immigrated to New Zealand from the Scottish Borders in 1893. As tribute to his roots, the legendary All Black has learned how to play the bagpipes.

#2. Schalk Burger (South Africa)

Age: 39
Position: Flanker
Caps: 86

Scorer of the winning try Fourie du Preez (South Africa, captain, 9) celebrates at the final whistle with Schalk Burger (South Africa). South Africa v Wales. Quarter Final 1. Rugby World Cup 2015. Twickenham Stadium. London. England. UK. PHOTO: Mandatory by-line: Garry Bowden/SIPPA/Pinnacle - Tel: +44(0)1363 881025 - Mobile:0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 183700120 - 171015

#1. Jerry Collins (New Zealand)

Age: Passed away 5 June 2015 (aged 34)
Position: Flanker
Caps: 48

O'Mahony said: “In games, I remember for some reason that Ospreys team when I first started off. They had a back-row of Jerry Collins, [Filo] Tiatia and Marty Holah would have been playing in the back-row as well. I was only probably just out of my teens. It was a nasty enough back-row to be coming up against. Collins was a viscous bas***rd but a real gentleman off the pitch."

DID YOU KNOW? Collins was a cousin of former All Blacks captain and Hurricanes teammate Tana Umaga.

Death: Collins and his partner Alana Madill, aged 34, died on the morning of 5 June 2015, after Alana fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of their car and collided with a bus on the A9 autoroute near Béziers in southern France. His three-month-old baby daughter, Ayla, survived, largely due to Collins attempting to take the brunt of the force away from Ayla by enveloping her in his own body

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