Feared.

Jamie Heaslip had a hell of a professional rugby career. The former Ireland, Lions and Leinster number eight won pretty much everything he could possibly win and came up against the world’s very best.

But who’s the toughest player Heaslip has ever come up against? He was asked that very question on BT Sport’s Rugby Tonight earlier this week and there was only one man on his mind.

“The person I actually feared most in the back row was actually George Smith. I didn’t get to play against him a whole lot but, when I did, it hurt.” Heaslip said.

“I’ve never seen a guy as gifted in all facets of the game. His ability to turn over the ball, his ability to get around the field, his distribution and his skills; and he was a good bloke off the field too. He was always one guy I didn’t like going up against but I did enjoy the challenge. He was definitely top of the list for me.”

Smith is 37 years-of-age and still playing Super Rugby. His incredible ferocity and strength at the breakdown particularly has made him one of the best back-row forwards the game as ever seen.

Definitely one guy you would not like to come up against.