Dan Carter and Richie McCaw \u2014 two All Blacks icons, two double World Cup winners, and two of the greatest ever to lace up their boots.<\/p>\n
Join RUCK\u2019s Instagram broadcast channel\u00a0<\/a>and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n Carter, the silky fly-half, was the creative heartbeat of New Zealand for more than a decade. With 1,598 Test points in 112 appearances, he retired as rugby\u2019s all-time leading scorer and the master of game management.<\/p>\n McCaw, meanwhile, redefined leadership as the ultimate openside flanker. With a record 148 Test wins from 148 caps, he captained the All Blacks to back-to-back World Cup glory in 2011 and 2015, and earned respect worldwide for his relentless drive and composure under pressure.<\/p>\n So when these two giants of the game were asked to name their\u00a0toughest ever opponent, their identical answer spoke volumes.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd98 #5. George Smith (Australia)<\/p>\n Position:\u00a0Flanker \ud83d\udcaa The Breakdown King<\/p>\n Richie McCaw said: Dan Carter said: DID YOU KNOW? BIO: \ud83e\uddf1 #4. Thierry Dusautoir (France)<\/p>\n Position:\u00a0Flanker \ud83d\udee1\ufe0f The French Tackling Machine<\/p>\n Richie McCaw said: Dan Carter said: DID YOU KNOW? BIO: CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n
Height:\u00a05 ft 11 in
Weight:\u00a0233 lb
Caps:\u00a0111
Years Active:\u00a02000\u20132013<\/p>\n
\u201cSmith was always pretty tough. I remember playing him when I was in the under 19s against Australia and remember then thinking just what a good player he is. I\u2019ve never seen a guy as gifted in all facets of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to hate playing this guy because he was so bloody good. A true legend of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith won the\u00a0John Eales Medal\u00a0twice \u2014 Australia\u2019s highest rugby honour \u2014 in 2002 and 2008.<\/p>\n
George Smith was a generational talent \u2014 a master at the breakdown with unmatched anticipation and skill. Debuting at just 20, he went on to earn over 100 caps for the Wallabies, becoming a mainstay in the back-row for over a decade. Renowned for his offloading, jackaling, and vision, Smith redefined what it meant to be a modern openside. He also starred in Europe and Japan, proving his class on every stage he graced.<\/p>\n
Height:\u00a06 ft 2 in
Weight:\u00a0218 lb
Caps:\u00a080
Years Active:\u00a02006\u20132015<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the years I\u2019ve played him a few times and you always know he\u2019s there. He was always pretty big defensively and in the breakdown area. A menace.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had some blinding games in big moments \u2014 none more so than in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup games against the All Blacks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dusautoir made\u00a0a record 38 tackles\u00a0in a single match \u2014 against New Zealand in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n
Nicknamed \u201cThe Dark Destroyer,\u201d Thierry Dusautoir was the heartbeat of France\u2019s forward pack throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s. Best known for his World Cup heroics, including a record-breaking 38 tackles against the All Blacks in 2007, he captained Les Bleus to the 2011 final. Revered for his discipline, leadership, and tackle technique, Dusautoir\u2019s consistency and quiet aggression made him one of the most respected flankers in modern rugby history.<\/p>\n