Cape Town - Best rugby player ever.
That's former Wallabies flank Phil Waugh's assessment of All Blacks No 7 Richie McCaw, who announced his retirement last Thursday.
According to the AAP, Waugh, who played 79 Tests, locked horns with two-time Rugby World Cup-winning skipper McCaw at Super Rugby and international level for more than a decade and knows him better than most.
"He came onto the scene a pretty fresh-faced young New Zealander and he finishes with such an outstanding record," said Waugh.
"I do think he's the best rugby player of all time.
"He's won more trophies and medals than any other player."
"He gets on very well with the referees ... that was an art. He's just a very, very smart player," said Waugh.
"Richie just understood the game very well.
"He always knew exactly where the ball was going to be and he would be the first one there."
McCaw, 34, announced his retirement after a record 148 Tests, of which he was on the winning side on an incredible 131 occasions with 15 defeats and two draws.
McCaw scored 27 tries for the All Blacks.