ALL BLACKS legend Richie McCaw has named the most hated players he faced on the pitch.
He earned a then world-record 148 caps for the All Blacks, winning 131 of those games and captaining his country 111 times.
Lifting the 2011 World Cup in his backyard was a fitting tribute to one of the greatest ever All Blacks, but he went on to secure true legendary status as he continued for four more years, breaking record after record and uniquely hoisting the Webb Ellis trophy for a second time.
It was to be a perfect ending not just to his international career but also his playing career, as he confirmed his retirement from the game immediately afterwards.
Get your tickets for the 2024 Six Nations at viagogo, the world’s leading ticket marketplace. Ticket start from £27.
#1. Lewis Moody (England)
Position Back-row
Height 6 ft 3 in
Weight 225 lb
Caps 71
Moody was known for the enthusiasm with which he plays the game, his willingness to chase down opponents and his ability to compete for possession at restarts, earning him the nickname “Mad Dog” from teammates and supporters.
Richie McCaw said: “I had got a lot of respect for the way he played, he threw himself into a lot of it.
“Moody was a little bit different to most flankers – he was also a ball carrier and he could put a lot of pressure on backlines.”
DID YOU KNOW? n August 2014, Moody was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September’s referendum on that issue