Two of the greatest All Blacks \u2014\u00a0Dan Carter\u00a0and\u00a0Richie McCaw\u00a0\u2014 sat down to lift the lid on the\u00a0hardest opponents\u00a0they faced during their glittering careers.<\/p>\n
\u2b50 Save us to your Google Favourites <\/a>for nonstop RUCK content!<\/p>\n Now both retired, the legendary fly-half and iconic skipper linked up for the first of a two-part interview that dives into everything from McCaw\u2019s pre-match rituals to Carter\u2019s early bruisings at the hands of the best.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get stuck into their\u00a0top five toughest opponents\u2026<\/p>\n \ud83d\udca5 #5. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)<\/p>\n Position:\u00a0Winger \ud83e\udde8 The Human Bulldozer<\/p>\n Dan Carter said: Richie McCaw 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:\u00a06 ft 5 in
Weight:\u00a0262 lb
Caps:\u00a063
Years Active:\u00a01994\u20132002<\/p>\n
\u201cHe bowled me over about 5m when I tried to tackle him in one of my first games. A superstar. Gutted I never played with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I first became an All Black he was in the team. To play alongside a guy you have watched as a young fella was pretty amazing. He made me look silly in training more than once.\u201d<\/p>\n
New Zealand sevens star\u00a0Eric Rush\u00a0once played a game of touch with a 14-year-old Lomu \u2014 and invited him to a sevens tournament in Singapore the next day.<\/p>\n
Jonah Lomu changed rugby forever. Bursting onto the scene at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, he was a one-man wrecking ball, blending terrifying pace with raw power. At just 20, he was already an international superstar. Off the field, he remained humble, admired for his grace and courage battling a rare kidney disease. Lomu\u2019s influence transcended sport \u2014 he became the game\u2019s first global icon and remains rugby\u2019s most enduring legend.<\/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