Sir Graham Henry coached some of the greatest players in rugby history, but one All Blacks legend earned particularly extraordinary praise from the former New Zealand boss.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup-winning coach worked with Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu and Kieran Read during a golden era for New Zealand rugby.

Henry guided the All Blacks to their first World Cup triumph in 24 years, defeating France 8-7 in a dramatic final at Eden Park.

But while Carter was widely regarded as one of the finest fly-halves in history, Henry reserved some of his strongest praise for his captain.

And his comments about McCaw left little doubt about how highly he valued the legendary flanker.

Graham Henry's ultimate All Blacks legend

Henry's admiration for McCaw was clear during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Speaking ahead of the final against France, the coach praised his captain's intelligence, bravery and natural ability.

"He's very, very bright, he's brave and he's talented," Henry said.

"It's not a bad combination."

Those qualities helped McCaw become one of the most successful captains in rugby history.

He made 148 appearances for New Zealand, winning two Rugby World Cups before retiring in 2015.

“The best leader this country has ever had”

Henry delivered perhaps his greatest tribute to McCaw after New Zealand's narrow victory over France.

The captain had been struggling with a serious foot injury throughout the tournament.

He had barely trained in the weeks leading up to the final, yet somehow completed the match.

Henry was amazed by his determination.

"He can hardly walk and how he played today I just don't know," the coach admitted.

He went on to describe McCaw as the finest leader New Zealand had produced.

The comments highlighted just how important McCaw had become to the All Blacks.

A captain you cannot replace

Henry also explained why finding another leader like McCaw would be almost impossible.

"You can't just go down to the chemist's and get a captain over the counter," he said.

For Henry, leadership was something developed through experience, difficult moments and the trust of teammates.

McCaw had endured the disappointment of New Zealand's shock 2007 World Cup exit before helping the team recover four years later.

His leadership proved crucial as the All Blacks finally ended their long wait for another world title.

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