Dan Carter didn't hesitate when naming his toughest ever opponent

Today at 02:47 AM

All Blacks legend Dan Carter, regarded by many as the greatest back in rugby’s professional era, has unveiled his rankings of the toughest opponents he faced during his illustrious career. The list highlights some of the best players he encountered live on the pitch.

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Carter, who holds the record as international rugby's highest points scorer with an incredible 1,598 points from 112 caps and two Rugby World Cup triumphs, offered insights that carry significant weight in the rugby world.

Drawing from various Q&A sessions, including one with The Independent, Carter shared his top five adversaries, offering fans a glimpse into the calibre of his fiercest rivals.

DID YOU KNOW? In the 2015 Rugby World Cup final against Australia, Carter was named Man of the Match after scoring four penalties, two conversions, and a drop goal.

#6. Thierry Dusautoir (France)

Thierry Dusautoir is a former French rugby union player who captained the French national team and earned a reputation as one of the best flankers in the world. Known for his exceptional defensive work and leadership, Dusautoir famously made 38 tackles in France’s upset victory over New Zealand in the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. He led France to the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, where they narrowly lost to the All Blacks. Dusautoir was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2011, highlighting his immense impact on the international stage. He retired as one of France’s most admired rugby players.

CARTER SAID: “He had some blinding games in big moments — none more so than in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup games against the All Blacks.”

DID YOU KNOW? He broke the record for most tackles in a match, making 38 tackles against the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup final

4&5. Brian O’Driscoll & Paul O’Connell (Ireland)

Brian O’Driscoll is widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby players of all time. The former Irish centre captained both Ireland and the British & Irish Lions, earning a record 141 international caps during his career (133 for Ireland and 8 for the Lions). O’Driscoll was known for his elusive running, vision, and ability to score crucial tries, finishing as Ireland’s all-time top try-scorer. He played a key role in Ireland's Six Nations Grand Slam in 2009 and helped Leinster win multiple European titles. A natural leader, O’Driscoll was celebrated for his consistency, longevity, and extraordinary skill set over a career that spanned more than 15 years.

Paul O’Connell is an iconic former Irish rugby union player, renowned for his leadership, physicality, and line-out expertise. Playing primarily as a lock, O’Connell was a towering presence on the field, captaining both Ireland and the British & Irish Lions during his distinguished career. Known for his intelligence and uncompromising style of play, he was a key figure in Ireland’s Six Nations successes, including the Grand Slam triumph in 2009. O’Connell earned 108 caps for Ireland and appeared in three British & Irish Lions tours (2005, 2009, and 2013). After retiring in 2015, he left a legacy as one of Ireland’s greatest rugby players, admired for his leadership, discipline, and consistent excellence on the field.

Carter said: “Two giants of the game that have worn the green jersey were Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll. Their work rate and how they conducted themselves on and off the pitch was exemplary.”

Brian O'Driscoll facts:

1. He is devoted to Manchester United and his boyhood hero was Mark Hughes
2. O'Driscoll's father, Frank, played two games for Ireland and an uncle, Barry, won four caps
3. His final appearance for Leinster, and for any team, was in the 2014 Pro12 Grand Final on 31 May in Leinster's home ground, the RDS in Dublin, in which Leinster defeated the Glasgow Warriors 34-12
4. His most oft-quoted line was delivered at a press conference at Croke Park before an England match in 2009: "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad." 
5. O'Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 RBS Six Nations Championships.

3. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

Jonah Lomu (1975–2015) was a legendary New Zealand rugby union player who revolutionized the sport with his size, speed, and power. Standing 6'5" and weighing over 260 pounds, Lomu redefined the role of the winger, becoming rugby’s first global superstar. He shot to fame during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where his devastating runs, particularly against England in the semi-final, earned him global recognition. Lomu scored 15 tries across two World Cups (1995 and 1999), a record that stood for many years. Despite battling a serious kidney disorder throughout much of his career, he remained one of the most iconic figures in rugby history.

Carter said: “He was the toughest player. I played against him once, I was 19-year-old and tried to tackle him, kinda woke up five metres back. He changed the game of rugby.”

Jonah Lomu Facts:

1. He weighed 120 kg and was 1.96 metres tall, but could run 100 metres in 10.8 seconds
2. In 1996, McDonald's New Zealand named a burger after Lomu
3. He's the only rugby player ever to feature on the front cover of TIME magazine
4. According to the Telegraph, Leeds were ready to make a third bid to attract All Blacks giant Jonah Lomu to England in 2001
5. He played 63 tests as an All Black, scoring 37 tries
6. In 2001 he helped New Zealand win the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

2. Schalk Burger (South Africa)

Schalk Burger is a former South African rugby player known for his toughness, ferocity, and incredible work rate on the field. Playing predominantly as a flanker, Burger was a key part of the Springboks' squad that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He earned a reputation for his relentless tackling, physicality, and ability to dominate breakdowns. Burger was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2004 and was one of the most feared forwards in world rugby throughout his career. Despite battling serious injuries, including a life-threatening illness in 2013, Burger returned to top-level rugby and became one of South Africa's most respected and beloved players.

Carter said: "A real competitor and absolute top bloke off the field as well. His mindset was a little bit different when he was out there competing. That just made him such a tough opponent to come up against."

1. Jonny Wilkinson (England)

Jonny Wilkinson is a former English rugby union player, best known for his pivotal role in England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup victory. Renowned for his impeccable kicking skills, Wilkinson kicked the famous drop goal in extra time to win the final against Australia, cementing his place in rugby history. Throughout his career, Wilkinson was a precise and reliable fly-half, amassing over 1,200 points in international rugby—a record for an English player. His meticulous preparation and work ethic made him one of the greatest players of his generation. Wilkinson retired in 2014 after a stellar club and international career with England and Toulon.

CARTER SAID: "Probably because I held him in such high regard and had a huge amount of respect for him, it was Jonny Wilkinson. He was an absolute student of the game,

"It was a wild, windy test match down in Wellington, I was on the bench and I hadn't played a test match for the All Blacks, and he just took that game and, as a 10 that wants to control a game, I've never seen anything like it.

"I got the best seats in the house on the bench. Part of me was going, 'Man, do I really want to get on here because he's just completely dominating this game'.

"Thankfully I didn't. I made my test debut the following week, which was a much better game to remember, but I just remember sitting there going, 'If I ever do play 10' – I was playing 12 a lot then – 'this is how you need to control a game'.

"I had a huge amount of respect for him and playing against him."

Jonny Wilkinson facts:

1. Wilkinson's brother, Mark, was also a Newcastle player who made 16 appearances in the Premiership for the side between 2002 and 2005, predominantly as a centre. His father, Phil, was a rugby player and cricketer, and his mother, Philippa, played squash at county level.  His grandfather, Phil, also played football for Norwich.
2. When former England centre Jeremy Guscott walked into the dressing room on the day of Wilkinson's international debut, he thought the 18-year-old had won a competition to spend the day with the national team.
3. Wilkinson followed Buddhist principles and teachings to help control his perfectionist tendencies, according to an interview he gave with The Times newspaper in 2009.
4. Jonny and Shelley became parents for the first time in late 2018. They keep their private life pretty much on lockdown, but according to reports, they had a little boy called James while they were still living in France.
5. Wilkinson is currently a studio pundit for ITV Sport, working on their coverage of the Six Nations Championship, Rugby World Cup and other rugby events.

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