![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1703035.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. Schalk Burger (South Africa)<\/p>\n
Position\u00a0Back-row<\/p>\n
Height\u00a06 ft 4 in<\/p>\n
Weight\u00a0242 lb<\/p>\n
Caps 86<\/p>\n
One of the most physical flankers in the game, he was dubbed a \u201cthreshing machine\u201d by former Springboks coach Nick Mallett. Came back from injury and life-threatening illness to enjoy an immense international swansong at the 2015 World Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n
McCaw said: \u201cYou can come up against another tough team but never feel like you have had a tough match against your opposite. But with Burger you knew where they are going to be and how hard they play near the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
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DID YOU KNOW? When not playing rugby, Burger lives and works with his family on the Welbedacht Wine Estate near\u00a0Wellington, Western Cape<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1. George Smith (Australia)<\/p>\n Position\u00a0Back-row<\/p>\n Height\u00a05 ft 11 in<\/p>\n Weight\u00a0233 lb<\/p>\n Caps 111<\/p>\n Smith was a great contributor to Australian rugby in the modern era, playing in 111 tests across 13 years donning the green and gold jersey. 24 of those tests were against the All Blacks, of which Smith triumphed in seven \u2013 but only three in which McCaw also played.<\/p>\n McCaw said: Speaking in a Q+A with World Rugby, McCaw\u2019s revealed former Wallabies flanker George Smith as the one he feared most on the field, saying Smith \u201cwas always pretty tough\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember playing him when I was in the under 19s against Australia and remember then thinking just what a good player he is.\u201d<\/p>\n DID YOU KNOW? He was easily recognised on the field by his\u00a0dreadlocked<\/a>\u00a0hair style until late 2006 \u2013 when he decided to sell his dreadlocks for charity.\u00a0They were given to a charity for younger people with cancer.<\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2224366.jpg\")
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