Openside-flanker: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
An all-time great of rugby.
McCaw’s skill at the breakdown made opposition players feel a suffocating blanket had been placed on their game. No single player has more tries as a forward, more games as a captain and better long-term win rate than this icon of the game.
To list McCaw’s achievements and medals does the great man something of an injustice but two World Cups, World Rugby Player of Year thrice, New Zealand Sportsman of the Year, umpteen Super Rugby and Rugby Championship medals; well let’s just say his trophy cabinet splits at the seams.
Robshaw said: “The best flanker there’s been full stop.”
Richie McCaw facts:
- McCaw’s great-great-grandfather immigrated to New Zealand from the Scottish Borders in 1893. As tribute to his roots, the legendary All Black has learned how to play the bagpipes
- He has won the World Rugby player of the year award a joint record three times and was the most capped test rugby player of all time from August 2015 to October 2020
- McCaw was awarded World Rugby player of the decade (2011–2020) in 2021
- It was revealed at his retirement announcement in 2015 that McCaw would work at Christchurch Helicopters, where he is a Director and Shareholder, and was obtaining a commercial helicopter licence
- In December 2011, then Prime Minister John Key revealed that he had asked McCaw about the possibility of a knighthood in the 2012 New Year Honours, but that McCaw had turned it down