{"id":299901,"date":"2025-07-29T01:13:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T01:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/299901\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T01:13:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T01:13:10","slug":"all-blacks-legend-dan-carter-named-his-toughest-opponent-page-2-of-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/299901\/","title":{"rendered":"All Blacks legend Dan Carter named his toughest opponent – Page 2 of 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

4&5.<\/strong> Brian O\u2019Driscoll & Paul O\u2019Connell (Ireland)<\/p>\n

Brian O\u2019Driscoll 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\u2019Driscoll was known for his elusive running, vision, and ability to score crucial tries, finishing as Ireland\u2019s all-time top try-scorer. He played a key role in Ireland\u2019s Six Nations Grand Slam in 2009 and helped Leinster win multiple European titles. A natural leader, O\u2019Driscoll was celebrated for his consistency, longevity, and extraordinary skill set over a career that spanned more than 15 years.<\/p>\n

Paul O\u2019Connell is an iconic former Irish rugby union player, renowned for his leadership, physicality, and line-out expertise. Playing primarily as a lock, O\u2019Connell 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\u2019s Six Nations successes, including the Grand Slam triumph in 2009. O\u2019Connell 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\u2019s greatest rugby players, admired for his leadership, discipline, and consistent excellence on the field.<\/p>\n

Carter said:<\/strong> \u201cTwo giants of the game that have worn the green jersey were Paul O\u2019Connell and Brian O\u2019Driscoll. Their work rate and how they conducted themselves on and off the pitch was exemplary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Brian O\u2019Driscoll facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. He is devoted to\u00a0Manchester United\u00a0and his boyhood hero was Mark Hughes<\/li>\n
  2. O\u2019Driscoll\u2019s father, Frank, played two games for Ireland and an uncle, Barry, won four caps<\/li>\n
  3. His final appearance for Leinster, and for any team, was in the\u00a02014 Pro12 Grand Final\u00a0on 31 May in Leinster\u2019s home ground, the RDS in Dublin, in which Leinster defeated the Glasgow Warriors 34-12<\/li>\n
  4. His most oft-quoted line was delivered at a press conference at Croke Park before an England match in 2009: \u201cKnowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n
  5. O\u2019Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009\u00a0RBS Six Nations\u00a0Championships.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    3.<\/strong> Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)<\/p>\n

    Jonah Lomu (1975\u20132015) was a legendary New Zealand rugby union player who revolutionized the sport with his size, speed, and power. Standing 6\u20195\u201d and weighing over 260 pounds, Lomu redefined the role of the winger, becoming rugby\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

    Carter said:<\/strong> \u201cHe 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. <\/p>\n

    \u201cI actively stayed away from him after that. He changed the game of rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \"\"\/<\/p>\n

    Jonah Lomu Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. He weighed 120\u00a0kg and was 1.96 metres tall, but could run 100 metres in 10.8 seconds<\/li>\n
    2. In 1996,\u00a0McDonald\u2019s\u00a0New Zealand named a burger after Lomu<\/li>\n
    3. He\u2019s the only rugby player ever to feature on the front cover of TIME magazine<\/li>\n
    4. According to the Telegraph, Leeds\u00a0were ready to make a third bid to\u00a0attract All Blacks giant Jonah Lomu to England in 2001<\/a><\/li>\n
    5. He played 63 tests as an All Black, scoring 37 tries<\/li>\n
    6. In 2001 he helped New Zealand win the Rugby World Cup Sevens.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      2.<\/strong> Schalk Burger (South Africa)<\/p>\n

      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\u2019 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\u2019s most respected and beloved players.<\/p>\n

      Carter said:<\/strong> \u201cA 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

      \"\"\/<\/p>\n

      1.<\/strong> Jonny Wilkinson (England)<\/p>\n

      Jonny Wilkinson is a former English rugby union player, best known for his pivotal role in England\u2019s 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\u2014a 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.<\/p>\n

      CARTER SAID: <\/strong>\u201cProbably 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,<\/p>\n

      \"\"\/<\/p>\n

      \u201cIt was a wild, windy test match down in Wellington, I was on the bench and I hadn\u2019t 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\u2019ve never seen anything like it.<\/p>\n

      \u201cI got the best seats in the house on the bench. Part of me was going, \u2018Man, do I really want to get on here because he\u2019s just completely dominating this game\u2019.<\/p>\n

      \u201cThankfully I didn\u2019t. I made my test debut the following week, which was a much better game to remember, but I just remember sitting there going, \u2018If I ever do play 10\u2019 \u2013 I was playing 12 a lot then \u2013 \u2018this is how you need to control a game\u2019.<\/p>\n

      \u201cI had a huge amount of respect for him and playing against him.\u201d<\/p>\n

      Jonny Wilkinson facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Wilkinson\u2019s brother,\u00a0Mark, was also a Newcastle player who made 16 appearances in the Premiership for the side between 2002 and 2005, predominantly as a centre.\u00a0His father, Phil, was a rugby player and cricketer, and his mother, Philippa, played squash at county level. \u00a0His grandfather, Phil, also played football for Norwich.<\/li>\n
      2. When former England centre Jeremy Guscott walked into the dressing room on the day of Wilkinson\u2019s international debut, he thought the 18-year-old had won a competition to spend the day with the national team.<\/li>\n
      3. Wilkinson followed\u00a0Buddhist\u00a0principles and teachings to help control his perfectionist tendencies, according to an interview he gave with\u00a0The Times\u00a0newspaper in 2009.<\/li>\n
      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.<\/li>\n
      5. Wilkinson is currently a studio pundit for\u00a0ITV Sport, working on their coverage of the\u00a0Six Nations Championship,\u00a0Rugby World Cup\u00a0and other rugby events.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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