Machine.

As far as Test captains go they don’t really get much better than former All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw.

McCaw led New Zealand to back-to-back World Cups in 2011 and 2015, representing his country 148 times, with 110 of them coming as captain.

The 2011 World Cup win was a big one for the All Blacks, winning their first Webb Ellis Cup since 1987 – in front of their home fans with McCaw leading the charge throughout the tournament.

And now former boss Steve Hansen has revealed an incredible bit of McCaw info from 2011 that makes their win and his performance all the more remarkable.

Hansen knew McCaw was injured early on in 2011 but despite this, he let his skipper play through the pain barrier. Little did he know, McCaw played the majority of the 2011 World Cup with two broken bones in his foot.

Most mortals would have been sidelined for a number of weeks but McCaw had a World Cup to win for his country.

“Our skipper had two broken bones in his foot. We didn’t know they were broken because we didn’t ask. We didn’t want to know and he didn’t want to say,” Hansen told WalesOnline

“What he did in that tournament was phenomenal. Mentally, he would be the toughest bloke I have had anything to do with in my coaching career.

“I think he’s the best rugby player the world has ever seen.

“We won the next one by the skin of our teeth under some tough mental issues, with not having won one for 24 years.

“The whole nation was desperate to win it; we were desperate to win it.”