"World-class all over" - Richie McCaw selects stunning all-time XV - Ruck

“World-class all over” – Richie McCaw selects stunning all-time XV

Richie McCaw’s dream team of players he’s coached could compete with any team from any generation of rugby.

Looking back through the archives, the 40-year-old saves his praise for only the players he truly admires.

BACK-THREE:

  • 15. Christian Cullen (New Zeland)
  • 14. Julian Savea (New Zealand)
  • 11. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

McCawon Lomu: “When 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.

“He is one of the absolute superstars of rugby. If you go to somewhere where rugby is perhaps not well known then the one guy they do know is Jonah. It’s really sad that he’s passed away at age 40. He was a legend of the All Blacks and a legend of rugby.:


CENTRES:

  • 13. Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
  • 12. Jonny Wilkinson (England)

McCaw on Wilkinson: “He’ll go down as one of the greats of world rugby.”

HALFBACKS:

  • 10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
  • 9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)

McCaw on Carter: “There are a lot of good players but the guys who did it for a long time and that I’ve been lucky to play with is Dan Carter. In the final, he was sensational and he’s been great for a long time. So to be able to play with him for the years I’ve been playing was pretty cool.”

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