Richie McCaw is rugby royalty. 148 Test caps. Two Rugby World Cups. Fifteen years of dominance in the All Blacks’ No.7 jersey.
So when the greatest openside flanker of all time is asked who really pushed him to the limit, the answers carry serious weight.
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Speaking in a Q&A with World Rugby, McCaw revealed the four back-row forwards he hated coming up against the most during his glittering career – and despite their reputations, Michael Hooper and Sam Warburton didn’t make the cut.
Instead, McCaw named four men who combined physicality, intelligence and sheer menace at the breakdown.
#1. George Smith (Australia)
Position: Back-row
Height: 5 ft 11 in
Weight: 233 lb
Test caps: 111
If there was one man who truly mirrored Richie McCaw’s breakdown mastery, it was George Smith.
The Wallabies legend debuted for Australia at just 19 years old and went on to become one of the most tactically astute openside flankers the professional era has ever seen. Smith wasn’t the biggest or the fastest, but his reading of the game was exceptional. He always seemed to arrive first, lower, and smarter than anyone else.
Smith earned 111 Test caps across 13 years, a remarkable achievement given Australia’s constant regeneration during that period. He faced the All Blacks 24 times, winning seven of those encounters – an impressive return against one of the most dominant teams in rugby history.
McCaw admitted Smith stood out early.
“He was always pretty tough. I remember playing him when I was in the under-19s against Australia and thinking just how good a player he was.”
Expanded bio:
Smith was a two-time winner of the John Eales Medal, Australia’s highest individual honour, and starred for the Brumbies during their golden Super Rugby era. After leaving Australia, he extended his career with Toulon in France and Suntory in Japan, proving his class translated across leagues and styles.
Even into his late 30s, Smith remained good enough to earn Wallabies recalls – a testament to his rugby IQ and conditioning.
Did you know?
Smith was instantly recognisable for his dreadlocks, which he famously sold in 2006 to raise money for a charity supporting young people with cancer.
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