Cape Town – All Blacks greats Dan Carter and Richie McCaw have traded the rugby field for one of Cape Town’s most famous challenges.
The two former New Zealand stars, joined by fellow All Blacks flyhalf Stephen Donald, took on Table Mountain on Sunday morning as they prepare to feature in the star-studded Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry event in South Africa.
Despite being retired from international rugby, the trio showed that their competitive instincts remain intact as they made their way up the iconic Cape Town landmark.
Carter, 44, appeared to have found the climb tougher than expected, joking afterwards that calling it a “run” may have been optimistic.
“It seemed like a good idea at the bottom,” Carter said.
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McCaw, 45, took a more relaxed view of the outing, describing it simply as a “great morning for a walk up Table Mountain”.
The former All Blacks captain remains one of the most decorated players in rugby history. He earned 148 Test caps for New Zealand and won 131 of those matches, helping the All Blacks secure consecutive Rugby World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015.
Carter was also central to those World Cup triumphs and finished his international career with 112 Test appearances. He remains the highest Test points scorer in rugby history, having accumulated 1 598 points for the All Blacks.
Donald, 42, played 25 Tests for New Zealand and scored 116 points. His most memorable contribution came at the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, when he kicked the decisive penalty against France at Eden Park to secure New Zealand’s first World Cup title on home soil.
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The former rivals are now in South Africa as part of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, which brings together some of the biggest names from the All Blacks and Springboks.
For Carter, McCaw and Donald, however, Sunday’s climb offered a different kind of contest one without a rugby ball, but with plenty of familiar competitive spirit.
And judging by Carter’s reaction at the finish, Table Mountain may have provided a tougher challenge than expected.
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Picture: Instagram/ Dan Carter
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
