When Richie McCaw is asked a question like this, you expect a considered answer. Maybe a few names. A diplomatic nod to several greats.
Nope.
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The former All Blacks skipper needed barely a second before naming Dan Carter as the most inspiring teammate he ever played alongside.
The pair shared the field in 96 Tests — and it clearly left a mark.
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The standard-setter everyone followed
Speaking during a Q&A with World Rugby, McCaw pointed to Carter’s relentless preparation as the key difference.
“The amount of work he used to put in to make sure he was right to play on Saturday meant everyone around him made sure they were doing their little bits.”
It’s the kind of influence you don’t measure in stats — but every teammate feels it.
Making life easier at No.7
Carter wasn’t just putting in the hours — he was running the show.
And for McCaw, that made a big difference.
“Having him direct things around the field made things pretty easy as a No 7.”
Not a bad luxury to have.
No shock, really
Carter setting the standard. Smith bringing the fight.
And McCaw right in the middle of it all.
Some picks just make sense.
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Rugby World Cup 2027 Full Draw: England and Wales meet again
England’s recent emphatic win over Wales adds extra spice to their upcoming meeting at the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, where the old rivals have been drawn together once again in the pool stage.
The expanded 24-team tournament will be played across Australia from 1 October 2027, with six pools of four teams and a new round-of-16 knockout phase. With fixtures and venues now confirmed by World Rugby, attention quickly turns to how each group will unfold.
Pool A — New Zealand, Australia (H), Chile, Hong Kong China
Group summary
Pool A features tournament hosts Australia and three-time champions New Zealand, making it one of the headline groups of the opening phase. Chile and Hong Kong China will be targeting historic results, while the trans-Tasman clash between Australia and New Zealand is expected to be one of the most watched pool matches of the tournament.
Fixtures
- 1 October 2027 — Australia vs Hong Kong China
Perth Stadium, Perth - 2 October 2027 — New Zealand vs Chile
Perth Stadium, Perth - 9 October 2027 — New Zealand vs Australia
Stadium Australia, Sydney - 9 October 2027 — Chile vs Hong Kong China
North Queensland Stadium, Townsville - 15 October 2027 — New Zealand vs Hong Kong China
Docklands Stadium, Melbourne - 16 October 2027 — Australia vs Chile
Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Pool B — South Africa, Italy, Georgia, Romania
Group summary
Defending champions South Africa headline Pool B and begin their campaign against Italy. Georgia continue to establish themselves as a consistent World Cup presence, while Romania return aiming to challenge for third place and possible qualification via rankings.
Fixtures
- 3 October 2027 — South Africa vs Italy
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide - 3 October 2027 — Georgia vs Romania
North Queensland Stadium, Townsville - 10 October 2027 — South Africa vs Georgia
Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane - 11 October 2027 — Italy vs Romania
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney - 17 October 2027 — Italy vs Georgia
Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle - 17 October 2027 — South Africa vs Romania
Perth Stadium, Perth
