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The greatest of rugby greats - the best team and the No.1 player
Sportingo author James Mortimer selects his top rugby union line-up of all time...and former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick stands head and shoulders above them all.
by James Mortimer on 11 April 2008
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In 1871 England and Scotland played the first recorded international game, and after 12 years of “friendlies” the inaugural Home Unions championship was formed. In 1886, the International Rugby Board was formed by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland - and so began the beginnings of the great game we know today.So who is the greatest player of all time? A near impossible question to answer, but I shall attempt to do so – first by assessing the second most unachievable target, the greatest XV of all time.BACKS15 - Fullback: Serge Blanco (France, 93 caps): Serge was the greatest attacking fullback of all time, and a gentleman on the field. Scored 38 tries, most of them from deep; not as defensively brilliant as some 15s, he made the game look effortless. Runner-up: Gavin Hastings (Scotland).14 – Wing: David Campese (Australia, 101 caps): Campo's goose step and desire to attack at all costs caused him to be a average defender and mistake-maker – but when it worked did it work, as he dazzled his way to a world record 64 Test tries. Runner-up: John Kirwan (New Zealand).13 – Centre: Philippe Sella (France, 111 caps): An attacker so stunning that few realised his defensive strength. A weaving magician who had the “strength of a bull and the touch of a piano player” – a Five Nations superman with 50 appearances. Runner-up: Tana Umaga (New Zealand).12 – Centre: Tim Horan (Australia, 80 caps): Two World Cups and was 1999’s player of the tournament. Had the lightest feet even seen. A great defender, Horan had brilliant pace and was a great decision maker. Runner-up: Will Carling (England).11 – Wing: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand, 63 caps): Youngest man to wear the black jersey and the most unstoppable force ever seen in rugby. Became the first global rugby sensation – and single-handedly ran through entire teams. Terrifying. Runner-up: Gerald Davies (Wales).10 – Fly-half: A four-way tie between Hugo Porta (Argentina, 58 caps), Grant Fox (New Zealand, 46 caps), Mark Ella (Australia, 25 caps) and Jonny Wilkinson (England, 70 caps).
9 – Scrum-half: Gareth Edwards (Wales, 53 caps): Edwards was regarded by many as the greatest player of all time, and the catalyst for the Welsh golden age. Won 10 caps for the Lions with series victories over both the All Blacks and Springboks. Runner-up: Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)FORWARDS8 – Number Eight: Mervyn Davies (Wales, 38 caps): Played all of his matches consecutively and was the figurehead of the Welsh pack of the 1970s. Played in two victorious Lions tours, won two Grand Slams and three Triple Crowns. Runner-up: Brian Lochore (New Zealand).7 – Flanker: Michael Jones (New Zealand, 55 caps): The Iceman revolutionised this position, following the ball religiously – while his faith famously prevented him playing on Sundays. Regarded by purists as the finest flanker in the game's history. Runner-up: Wavell Wakefield (England).6 – Flanker: Francois Pienaar (South Africa, 29 caps): Captained Transvaal to be Super 10 and Currie Cup champions in 1993 before making an international impact by winning the 1995 World Cup. A man far beyond a rugby player with his global impact. Runner-up: Graham Mourie (New Zealand).5 – Lock: Colin Meads (New Zealand, 55 caps): Pine Tree was the most devastating forward of his era, and visions of him with ball in one hand would still haunt many ex-players. A monster who could not be stopped, he is “the” iconic All Black. Runner-up - Willie-John McBride (Ireland).4 – Lock: John Eales (Australia, 86 caps): The most successful Wallaby captain – and the highest points-scoring forward in history. The iconic Queensland lock was the lynchpin of the Australian golden age from 1999 into the new millennium. Runner-up: Martin Johnson (England).3 – Prop: Jason Leonard (England, 114 caps): The most durable prop of all time with three series appearances with the Lions, and responsible for anchoring what became the world’s strongest scrum leading up to a World Cup win in 2003. Runner-up: David Sole (Scotland).2 – Hooker: Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand, 92 caps): The most-capped captain of New Zealand - 51 times. Fitzy stands alongside Meads as the most influential All Black ever. The key to Auckland’s and New Zealand’s complete supremacy in the late 1990s. Runner-up: Keith Wood (Ireland).1 – Prop: Wilson Whineray (New Zealand, 32 caps): One of the most enduring All-Black captains, with 25 wins as leader. Probably the first rugby prop who could run with the pill, and play both sides of the scrum. An enduring Kiwi icon. Runner-up: Os du Randt (South Africa).So who of these 15 demi-gods is the greatest player of all time? Sean Fitzpatrick, that's who... the most-capped All Black and most-capped captain of the greatest rugby team throughout more than a century of rugby union. Fitzy chalked up 74 wins in his Test career, more than any other player in history. He also led Auckland to two consecutive dominant Super 12 titles, despite extremely strong African and Australian opposition.
A World Cup winner, a British Lions conqueror, he captained a series win over a World XV. And he whitewashed the Wallabies and Springboks as captain in the '96 and '97 Tri Nations series. Rated the second most influential All Black of all time after Meads, Fitzpatrick has to be the best player of the finest game.
Comments (16)
by jonathon dempsey on April 12, 2008
You have managed to omit the greatest player ever to grace the international rugby stage; an irishman by the name of Mike Gibson. I suggest you go back to the drawing board. If you were to do a similar exercise for boxing presumably you would omit Muhammad Ali too?
by Brian White on April 12, 2008
This has to be one of the worst "Best Team Ever" lists ever No Barry John or Phil Bennett, no JPR Williams. Leoanrd as an all time great, you're having a laugh.
by Cobus Basson on April 13, 2008
Each country's own supporters will be biased towards their own great players and want to see more of them in this team. As a South African, I would also not have picked Francois Pienaar, what about Rob Louw and others. Where is our own Frik du Preez? Anyway, I am more upset that New Zealand can be called the greatest rugby team throughout more than a century of rugby. The rest of the world had to prevent South Africa from playing rugby for more than 10 years for them to stop SA's domination of the game. Up to the start of the years of isolation, the Springboks had the best record of all teams, even comfortably ahead in the won vs lost stats against New Zealand. New Zealand won their first (and only) series in SA against the Springboks shortly after we were readmitted back into world rugby and only turned around the stats against the Springboks in the post apartheid years.
by All Blacks far greater on April 13, 2008
Cobus, you are a bit delusional. Yes, Boks are World champs, but compare your record against the worlds best teams (NZ, Aust, Fr, Eng, Arg) vs All Blacks records against same teams and Afrikans are well behind. Had to prevent SA from playing rugby - check the history of your country - it was a small affair called apartheid. Also, SA was only country not to have neutral referee's so decisions were very biased. Can you honestly say that the five all blacks in the fifteen don't deserve their spots? All Blacks should dominate the team.
by Irish locks on April 13, 2008
Mike Gibson better than Willie John, not a chance in hell - and I'm Irish. But must concede that Meads and Eales are histories best locks. But where is Syd Millar, surely deserves a mention.
by ashlee utley on April 22, 2008
you suck
on April 29, 2008 on April 29, 2008
nice line up. well written.
on May 03, 2008 on May 03, 2008
great page u were spot on about all of the players - John Eales, Pianaar and Johnny Wilkinson would have to be the best players in history
by james pitnet on May 03, 2008
great page definatly got the greatest players of all time in there. i have to say that John Eales, Pianaar and Johnny Wilkinson were the best of the best. congrats
by andrew tamanui on May 05, 2008
im kiwi there should have been,m.gibson(ire),d.gerber(safr),r.louw(safr)n.botha( safr),r,paparemborde(fra),m.du plesis(safr)and a few from wales selected especially out wide dont no who selected this team but g.mourie chosen out of position?a joke,and b.lachore better than z.brooke?never,so yes for me horan,pienaar and leonard very lucky to be in this team.
by Greg Smith on May 09, 2008
Yes ... some great POPULAR players and legends. Often those touted as GREATS are not, it grows to MYTHICAL proportions especially within the minds of kiwi's. The media is partly to blame but history as also played its part. World history has favoured the kiwi's where Springbok fans have had to endure a more 'active' political mindfield leaving its scars in the sporting history of SA greats. Naas Botha, Uli Smit, Rob Louw, Frik Du Preez, Moaner Van Heerden, Divan Serfontein, Morne Du Plessis, Schalk Burger(snr), Danie Gerber, Andre Joubert and others have like other South Africans in other sporting codes lost ground when building HERO's and STARS of sport. I'd also think George Greegan needs a mention at 9.
by Theo Oberholzer on May 14, 2008
Excellent backline choice, but I do think Danie Gerber was slightly better than Sella or Horan. Francois Pienaar should be replaced by Frik du Preez, who was by far a better player, & Zin-Zan should be at no 8. Best player - Lomu by a million miles - not Fitz.
by Lemon Squeezer on May 22, 2008
Colin Meads, the epitome of a rugby man and greatest player of all time.
by mitch drewson on May 25, 2008
its an awsome team bt mine would be: 1:os du randt 2.sean fitzpartrick 3.jason leonard 4.martin johnson 5.john eales 6.jean pierre-reeves 7.richie mcaw 8.mervin davies(captain) 9.gareth edwards 10.barry john 11.jonah lomu 12.tim horan 13.brian o'driscoll 14. shane williams/gerald davies/david campanese 15.jpr williams
by Willy Nakatua on June 03, 2008
Interesting choices, best ever for me 15 JPR Williams (but boy was Blanco great) 14 John Kirwan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (Mike Gibson close behind, Sella was great but not as dominant during his era), 12 Tim Horan (no one else close in his position, could move Gibson here but thought that would be cheating), 11 Jonah Lomu (dominating but ratshit on defense) 10 Mark Ella (best attacking first 5 of all time, Naas Botha next off the rack), 9 Joost van der Westhuizen (more power than Edwards no where near as skillful but defined by his rivals, dominant in an era that included Gregan (Aus), Marshall (NZ), Howley (Wales) just to name a few) 8 Buck Shelford (great All Black Captain - dominant in the AB pack, during the era that it dominanted the World, career cut short because of politics with Auckland. Better go forward than Zinny) 7 Jean Pierre Rives (no better flanker than the frenchman, workrate was unbelivable as was his ability to get the ball, Michael Jones was overated had a free ride on dominant AB pack 1987 RWC) 6 Ben Clarke Great for the Poms and Lions, allround workhorse, lineout jumper, great ball runner. 5 John Eales - best lock of all time. 4 Victor Matfield (dominant at lineout time). 3 Olo Brown (dominant scrummager of his era, McKenzie was also close to this one, Leonard no way), Keith Wood (pips Fitzpatrick (better around the field) and Uli Smit (Extra Vitamins scandal ruled him out for me but would have been the best if not a drug cheat). Nick Popplewell (only scrummager to control Olo Brown, Pips Os Durant in scrummaging but not around the field).
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