The careers of George Smith and Richie McCaw almost travel along the same paths, they were even born in the same year, 1980.
Smith made his rugby Test debut slightly earlier in 2000, compared to McCaw in 2001, Smith went on to become the second most capped flanker, behind guess who?
Both had outstanding provincial careers, in line with the theme, McCaw made 145 Crusaders appearances and Smith 142 matches for the Brumbies. The pair alternated between flanker and Number 8 throughout their career and captained their countries.
Remarkably, Smith and McCaw made their Test debuts in the same year of their provincial debuts, both going on end of season tours.
I am not sure who was the forerunner of the breakdown proficiency, maybe it was coincidental that they were both acknowledged as the finest in the art. There are videos available of George Smith instructing his fellow players into the dark secrets of legally securing the ball at the breakdown.
It takes great skill and strength to stay on your feet while pilfering the tackled ball, both McCaw and Smith were experts at it. They were the foragers, the thieves in the night, the burglars who “stole” the prized possession. The breakdown being unique to rugby, compared to all the other winter sports.
It is like the one on-one-strip in rugby league but takes place on the ground. Turnover ball can be invaluable in defensive and attacking situations.
McCaw spent his career swotting away claims of “cheating” at the breakdown, with some of his fellow New Zealand players admitting he was an “infuriating opponent.”
A young George Smith alongside Shane Warne and Wendell Sailor. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
The one major difference between Richie McCaw and George Smith, is that Smith was somewhat of a rugby nomad, plying his trade in France, England and Japan.
Whereas McCaw was interested in only playing for the Crusaders and All Blacks. His solution for keeping players at home was “You’ve just got to make it really hard for guys to make that decision to go overseas, through team culture, history and success,” reported 1 News.
Smith appears to have established a fine reputation amongst the overseas clubs he played for including Toulon, Stade Francais, Lyon, Wasps and the Bristol Bears.
In 2011 he became the highest paid Australian rugby player when he signed a three year deal worth 3.3 million dollars with Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath.
Bristol Bears Head coach Pat Lam said: “George remains one of the most physically impressive and intelligent flankers in the world. His qualities are obvious: tremendous leadership, excellent decision making, dedication to the team and unrivalled experience.”
Bristol Bears Academy tweeted how Smith continued to work tirelessly in training in his final week as a professional player.
They said, “Young players trying to be the best they can – be like George!”
If Richie McCaw had moved overseas would he have been the dominant player he was with the formidable Crusaders and All Blacks?
He was surrounded by tremendous players in both sides and obviously benefitted from that. Smith by venturing overseas showed he could be a class player in a variety of sides and cultures.
He had an all-round game that included bone crunching tackles, a deft kicking game, good speed and athletic ability. Smith showed his running ability and ball skills in Japan, because of the fast rugby played there.
George Smith was signed to the ACT Brumbies by Eddie Jones in 1999, with his dreadlocked hairstyle a feature. He was named the Brett Robinson Players Player eight times for the Brumbies.
Smith retired from all rugby at the age of thirty-eight with a massive 111 Test caps for the Wallabies.
George Gregan said he was “an iconic Number 7” and Stephen Moore praised him by saying, “he was a consistent player, always playing at eight, nine or ten out of ten.”
Richie McCaw lifts the 2011 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Smith recalls his Brumbies debut, ”the day I rocked up to sign my first Brumbies contract with dreadlocked hair, board shorts and thongs [flip-flops], I think back and shake my head as to why coach Eddie Jones didn’t just turn me away right there and then.” Eddie Jones labelled the loose forward as, “the greatest player he ever coached.”
One intriguing statistic from George Smith, was when he was recalled to the Wallabies in 2013 for the series against the British and Irish Lions.
He was named as the starting flanker for the third and deciding Test in Sydney and broke Colin Meads record of 4382 days between his first Test against the Lions and his last Test against them.
George Smith is a Wallabies legend, highly skilled, an inspirational leader, who altered the breakdown concept in Australia. Did Richie McCaw learn from Smith, was it vice versa or were both just fortunate to learn at the same time?
George Smith, a favourite Wallaby.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Thorn denied George a last game for the Reds. Unforgiveable.
Jimmyjam
Roar Rookie
IMO best wallaby player ever... any position any era..
Shooter McGavin
Guest
Agree mainly but don't think Pocock ever had the all round game to sit at the table with the other 4. I've always rated Hooper higher than Pocock since he's such a hard headed grafter, the later more a show pony.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Any need to climb on Pocock, Tooly? I always considered him relatively ego free
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Thank you.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Always love reading your writeups Peter and this one no different. I think they both came into their prime as the rules allowed the breakdown to be more contestable. Both fantastic at it. Worth noting these 2 greats opposed each other in the RWC 2003, won by Australia. SMith was better that night. As the years progressed, IMO McCaw was marginally ahead, but its a very hard comparison. Certainly McCaw the better leader, not just in captaincy choices but seemed to be able to inspire those around him. Smith lasted less than 5 minutes before being knocked out when recalled for Australia in the 2013 Lions Wallabies decider. A night where everything went wrong for Australia and ended in humiliation. Smith was fantastic for the Wallabies 12 years before when they defeated the Lions, at 21 already the complete player.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Giving it a like though for the record disagree with the last sentence. Hooper about equal with all these players. Deans made some poor selection choices ... anti George Smith and after 2011 anti Quade Cooper
Tooly
Roar Rookie
I think that George was dropped by Deans as part of Nucifora’s purge of Brumbies players . Deans went to the WC in NZ without Smith and Pocock injured himself flexing in the reflective glass . We had no back up. Smith was still our best when he last played here for the Reds . Smith was a pure 7 , wasted anywhere else . The same for Pocock . McCaw could play 6 , 7 or 8 . We had Phil Waugh , David Croft and Liam Gill all far better than Hooper .
wre01
Roar Guru
Kronfeld and Jones set the bar and Smith, McCaw and Pocock followed. In my opinion there hasn’t been an open side before or since that could live with those 5. And all 5 owe part of each other’s success to the other. Neil Back, Heinrich Broussow, Warburton, Sean O’Brien, Kolisi all good but next tier for me. Worth also saying that Hooper and Cane cop a lot of grief for not being as good (more polite than O’Mahoney). But not everyone can be a world xv player or legend.
Gally
Guest
George Smith is an iconic Wallaby. Skilled, dominant and humble. Grounded. It must have been mid 2000. The Wallabies had played in NZ; another good contest, ABs winning. George had played brilliantly. Day after, Sunday morning, 11am, park rugby(league) Harbord. George was there, cheering on his mates. Sitting with a mate, cheering on his friends. Must have come straight from SYD international. Fully immersed in his rugby, community and playing for his country. One of our best!
Etepeus
Roar Rookie
Graham Mourie for me was the best - 61 caps, 57 as Captain, late 70s early 80s.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Actually Peter, he has mentioned the boy from Zimbabwe, being in that category. David Pocock.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
TBH Peter, ' the strutting general' Kirkpatrick was never in the same mix as those mentioned. As it was his captaincy skills were a shocker, as was proven on a certain UK tour, when there was possibly a team walk out, about to happen.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well Bluesfan, naturally Michael Jones was good, in fact very good, but he never received the accolades, & satisfaction Richie McCaw did. Richie captained his country, & along the way received 3 player of the year titles, & yeh, I know they weren't around in Michaels day, but IMO he was a little better than Michael. We mostly know, that Jones would never play on Sundays, as was those beliefs he had.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well McCaw the Otago born & educated player, did have it over Smith in the role of captaincy. Richie captained the AB's to two RWC titles, plus was only one of two players to ever receive the IRB ( then ) player of the year. The other being Dan Carter. As it was they were both great players, back then.
Reframe
Roar Rookie
The point is moot. If you are suggesting they studied each others play, only they know. I think they were both players who were very good at reading the game. Individually great players, playing in the same era, coincidence, did they have a choice? Both great players to watch and deserve the recognition they get.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Good point Colvin.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
The original title of article was "George Smith, breakdown innovator, or was he? which was changed by The Roar to current one. The point I was trying to make was did either of them learn from the other or was it just coincidental they were just great at the same time.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
One of the game's all time greats. Most certainly the best flanker produced by Australia. I met him one day when in an empty pub in Twickenham in 2015 watching a RC match against SA. It was about 11am. He came in and joined me as the only two customers. Humble and decent. He wouldn't buy me a return shout until he knew I wasn't driving. I asked him questions he wouldn't answer if they might break confidences (real or not) with other players. I asked him if Cheika had reached out about a spot in the WC squad later that year. He gave me nothing. Lovely bloke. Oh, the pub was The George on Twickenham Road. Named after somebody else though I believe
Reframe
Roar Rookie
I am not sure that either owe each other anything and think it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise. There is no doubt the teams behind each player helped provide the platforms but as individuals they deserve to be recognized for their skills individually. You mention humility in your appraisal of Smith but do not mention so with McCaw. In spite of repeated attacks McCaw always presented a humble assessment and as captain was gracious in both success and defeat. 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. George Smith was a great player, make no mistake. Few Australian or New Zealand players match the tenacity of Smith but it is interesting that the standard by which players in that position are measured is McCaw. They do not owe each other anything, if anything rugby owes them, for what they brought to the game.