Richie McCaw rates his five most challenging rivals

XchangeTickets April 3, 2023

10 min read

Richie McCaw, a rugby star from New Zealand and a two-time RWC champion, has chosen his top three back-row rivals throughout his illustrious journey. Over his illustrious career, the famous flanker earned a remarkable 148 caps for the All Blacks between 2001 and 2015. Rugby supporters can book Australia Rugby World Cup Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.

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He faced off with some of the best athletes always to lace up a pair of feet. Here are his top five, compiled from interviews he's given over the years, among them one with us:

1. George Smith (Australia)

Position Back-row

Height 5 ft 11 in

Weight 233 lb

Caps 111

Smith played in 111 tests over the course of 13 years while sporting the green and gold, making him a vital contributor to Australian rugby in the current period. Only 3 of those 24 matches, in which McCaw also participated, were versus the All Blacks, whom Smith defeated in 7 of them.

George Smith, a previous Wallabies flanker, was named by McCaw as the player he dreaded the most on the ground. McCaw stated Smith "was always very difficult. When I played for the U19 squad against Australia, I remember confronting him and also being impressed by what a phenomenal talent he is."

2. Schalk Burger (South Africa)

Position Back-row

Height 6 ft 4 in

Weight 242 lb

Caps 86

Robald Burger was chosen for the national South Africa squad at the Rugby World Cup in 2003 after competing for the U21 Springbok team that took the U21 Rugby World Cup in 2002. In 2007, he played for the Vodacom Stormers. He led the Stormers to victory over the Chiefs in the 2007 Super 14 season. When the Springboks overcame England 15-6 to win the Webb Ellis medal for the 2nd time in four tries.

Burger made a triumphant comeback and was crucial to South Africa's Rugby World Cup victory. Burger was chosen to compete in the Rugby World Cup in 2011. He participated in South Africa's opening match versus Wales, which they won 17-16. He participated in every game in Group D.

However, South Africa was eliminated by Australia in the Quarterfinals. His injury prevented him from participating in South Africa's summer England trip. Burger became the fifth Springbok to get the honour more than once when he was crowned SARU Player of the Year.

Rugby World Cup 2015 Bronze Medalist

Schalk was chosen to be a member of the Springbok team for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The Springboks advanced to the semifinals, losing to defending winners New Zealand (18-20), and then defeated Argentina to earn the bronze medal (24–13). Burger contributed Fourie du Preez's touchdown in their win over Wales in the Quarter Finals. Burger earned tries versus Samoa and Scotland in the group stages.

Schalk concluded the competition with the same second-most RWC tournament appearances (4), the equal third-most RWC victories (16), and the equal second-highest number of RWC contests (20), only surpassed by Jason Leonard and Richie McCaw (22). Burger was selected to play as an openside flanker for the 2015 Rugby World Cup sponsors. Burger had proposed starting his global retirement after the 2015 Rugby World Cup Bronze Final.

"You may compete against another challenging team, but you never feel as if you performed a hard game against your rival, McCaw said. Burger, though, was predictable as to their location and level of intensity when playing close to the ball."

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3. Richard Hill (England/Lions)

Position Back-row

Height 6 ft 2 in

Weight 224 lb

Caps 76

Hill, one of the current superstars of the English match, performed 288 games for Saracens and 71 matches for England. Between 1997 and 2005, he also took part in 5 Trials for the British and Irish Lions. Hill had been selected for England's 2003 RWC team, but his spot seemed to be in doubt after he strained his hamstring the day before the competition. Coach Clive Woodward thought that keeping Hill on the squad was worth the risk.

McCaw said: "Amazingly skilled player with the boundless capacity to compete and carry the ball. He was the man to turn to when England required somebody to dig in. He discreetly carried out the task with the tool bag fully loaded."

4. David Pocock (Australia)

Position Flanker

Height 6 ft 0 in

Weight 227 lb

Caps 80

The openside flanker participated at his first RWC in 2011, earned his Wallabies appearance in 2008 and was largely regarded as one of the top performers in his role. Pocock was a member of the Force, where he earned his professional debut in Durban in 2006 against the Sharks. In 2007, Pocock played for Australia winning many men of the match awards during the competition.

Then, on December 3, 2008, he entered the game for Australia as a replacement versus the Barbarians. He was then selected for the Wallabies Team in 2009. He participated in 13 Super Rugby matches. In the 2009 Tri-Nations, he took George Smith's spot, and in 2010, he received the John Eales Medal.

He received recognition on a global scale after being shortlisted for the 2010 IRB Player of the Year along with five other players. He signed the ACT Brumbies in 2013 after taking over as Wallabies leader in 2012. He underwent a second knee surgery in 2014 after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament. He participated in the 2015 Rugby Championship and took home the trophy.

He qualified to represent Australia at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. After the 2019 RWC in Japan, where he would then finish his Japanese deal in 2019–20, he declared his resignation from the global tournament.

Richie McCaw said: "I've enjoyed playing versus other No7s who are well regarded ever since I began playing rugby, he remarked. Pocock was among the very best."

5. Thierry Dusautoir (France)

Position Back-row

Height 6 ft 2 in

Weight 218 lb

Caps 80

After France defeated New Zealand 20-18 in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals the subsequent year, Dusautoir established himself. He began playing for France versus Romania in 2006.

At the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, where New Zealand defeated France 8-7 to avenge their loss from four years earlier, the former French captain not only scored a try but was also awarded player of the game.

Richie McCaw said: Dusautoir actor McCaw stated, "I've performed him some few times in the past, and you constantly realize he's present." He was always a rather large defensive and disruptive player. A threat"

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