Are these the 15 greatest Rugby Union players of all time?

Scott Who??????? Scott, You must have been watching Cricket between 1978 & 1987 ! With due respect! tOPO

To be honest I was barely alive during that period so am only going on research. Who would you include? Admittedly the pyjama game did take cricket to a whole new level during that period. There is a tendency to not choose current players but instead choose those from the glory days, although the game has changed since then. I actually believe currently there are a lack of superstars in the game. It is hard to know if it is because the overall level of player has improved so it is more difficult to stand out. Anyone want to name their XV it is really difficult.

15 Christian Cullen 14 Bryan williams 13 Tana Umaga 12 Frank Bunce 11 Jonah Lomu 10 Steven Bachop 9 Graham Bachop 8 Totai Kefu 7 Michael Jones 6 Jerry Collins 5 Charlie Reichleman 4 Radiki Samo 3 Olo Brown 2 Kevin Mealamu 1 Neemia Tialata A pacific Island XV

15-Cullen, 14-Campese, 13-Frank Bunce, 12-, 11- Lomu, 10-Ella, 9-Marshall??, 8-Brooke, 7-McCaw, 6-M.Jones, 5-Eales, 4-Johnson, 3-Carl Hayman, 2-Fitzpatrick (C), 1-Olo Brown

15-Blanco, 14-Campese, 13 - Cullen or O'Driscoll, 12-Carter, 10-Wilkinson 11-Rokofoko, 9 -Farr-Jones 8-Brooke 7-McAaw, 6-Collins 5 - Eales (C) 4-Martin Johnson 3-Hayman 2-Fitzpatrick 1-Olo Brown

Thanks for those interesting sides. I notice Martin Johnson named his just after I wrote this article, very similar to mine. Harshan nice apart from Ella who played in the early 80s. Otherwise what about Gregan? Sole- It is great how loyal you are to the Pacific Islanders and it is amazing how many of those guys played for a variety of countries. I question Christian Cullen's heritage. John - very astute. More of a modern day side with no one before the 1980s. I question if Rokocoko is good enough for this, what a Sivivatu, Jonah, Jeff Wilson, Rupeni. Cullen is a huge call at centre. I feel he never really got enough space in that position. Still that is the beauty of opinion.

15:Blanco 14:Kirwan: 13:Gerber 12:Little 11:Lomu 10:Barry John 9:Edwards 8:Brooke 7:Jones 6:Rives 5:Meads 4:Johnson 3:Olo Brown 2:Fitzpatrick 1:Hayman

How did this guy get to use so much prime space? "Ask Mike Catt"! Scaredy Catt ran away from more tackles than he had good breakfasts. Shame, couldn't make the grade in SA, went to join Her Majesty's pale-legs. Better ask MEN like Joost vd Westhuizen and Breyton Paulse (about one-third the size) howcome they flattened Lomu? A "good" wing is judged by how many men he can bulldoze through? Ella and Naas Botha in the same breath as (gasp).... Bennie Osler? Zinzan over the brilliance of Morne? Jason Leonard was good in the English team, no more. Nick Popperwell?? Who was he ever up against in the big league? Fitzy rates for his dirty play and ability to intimidate the ref. Hard as nuts, you can not possibly rate the other two in his league.

Scott, 2 small points I cant come to terms with the older players and the modern game (some would shine no doubt) but i never saw enough of it. You are right about Cullen - In my opionion maybe rock solid Umanga at Centre (or a Frenchman)

David, Anyone can write articles, they aks for articles expressing opinion. Scott does a good job. You can publish articles if you want and post your opinion. It's good to be able to express an opinion - free speech mate.

Thanks for your feedback guys. David I assume you are South African by your comments. It is difficult to try and remain neutral especially with legends of the game from your home country, when the coverage for outsiders is so limited. I am thinking of some of those South African legends like Morne, Du Preez and Botha. It is difficult to argue with Fitzpatrick at hooker. He won a World Cup in 1987 and lead the All Blacks all conquering 1996 Incomparable tour. His gamesmanship was frustrating for the opposition, but that is what made him so good, he backed it up with amazing lineout accuracy, scrummaging and around the field play. Fly half was so difficult between Botha and Porta also, but I believe Ella had such an all round game and had the ability to cut the opposition to threads with his running game. I picked Lomu for his impact on the game. He really stood out against the opposition of his time. While he may struggle these days, in his era his ability to score tries and fend off tacklers made him so

How bout these guys as the best of the professional era so far... 15)Cullen, 14)Roff, 13)O'driscoll, 12)Horan, 11)Lomu, 10)Carter, 9)Gregan, 8)Brooke, 7)Mcaw, 6)Jones 5)Johnson, 4)Eales, 3)Hayman, 2)Fitzpatrick, 1)Leonard. Bench: Umaga, Wilkinson, Marshal, Kefu, Matfield, Du rant, Wood

Yeah that would be pretty much on the money. I reckon Jeff Wilson and Stirling Mortlock were close.

Brian Williams would run rings around the overrated Lomu. Lomu ran over a englishman, Brian was made an honorary white man in South Africa.

At school i am doing a report on the best ever rugby team and i was wondering if anyone could give a site/book where i could find some info/statistics thankyou for your help

1.Bill Young; 2.Jeremy Paul; 3.??; 4. John Eales; 5. David Giffin; 6. Owen Finnegan; 7. Willie Ofahengaue; 8. Toutai Kefu; 9. George Gregan; 10. Stephen Larkham; 11. Joe Roff; 12. Tim Horan; 13.??; 14. David Campese; 15. Matthew Burke Reserve: 16. Phil Kearns; 17. Dan Crowley; 18. Justin Harrison; 19. George Smith; 20.Steve Merrick; 21.Elton Flatley; 22. Chris Latham Oh looks...they're all Wallabies. Whoops.

Hi, I go to the best rugby school in aust. and am doing an assigment on the best ever rugby team. Help me please.

Scott, Most of your selections, & backups, are commendable. Some are downright lunacy! Jason Leonard, like George Gregan, may have played over 100 tests, but I seriously doubt either is among the top 2 in their position since 1970, or top 3-4 ever! I also think it's a viper's nest trying to select best ever XVs. At least in cricket, stats provide a gauge, but no such equivalent exists in rugby. It's hard enough selecting individual country XVs. Also, everyone has different opinions on what type of player is required for each position, depending on the style of rugby you prefer. Finally, a prop mate of mine who is a Sydney Easts stalwart, & who played against Whineray in club rugby in Auckland in the late 60s, didn't rate him at all. His opinion certainly cuts against the grain, doesn't it! Here's just my best Wallaby XV since 1970: 15-M.Burke, 14-D.Campese, 13-M.O'Connor, 12-T.Horan, 11-B.Moon, 10-M.Ella, 9-J.Hipwell(vc), 8-M.Loane, 7-G.Smith, 6-G.Cornelsen, 5-J.Eales(c), 4-D.Vickerma

Mine may not be the greatest on paper but this is the team that I would have loved to see play together. Front Line: 1-Peter Fatialofa (WS), 2-Keith Wood (IRL), 3-Martin Castrogiovanni (ITA); Second Row: 4-Abdelatif Benazzi (FRA), 5-John Eales (AUS); Loose Forwards: 6-Jean Pierre Rives (FRA), 7-Michael Jones (NZ) 8-Sebastian Chabal (FRA); Halfbacks: 9-Agustin Pichot (ARG), Diego Dominguez (ITA); Backs: 11-Patrice Lagisquet (FRA), 12 13-Phillipe Sella (FRA), 14-Phillipe Bernat-Salles (FRA), 15-Serge Blanco (FRA). Obvious apologies Jean-Pierre Garuet, Sean Fitzpatrick, Os Du Randt, Colin Meads, Marco Bortolami, Francois Pienaar, Willie Ofahengaue, Zinzan Brooke, Nick Farr Jones, Michael Lynagh, Jonah Lomu, Tim Horan, Stirling Mortlock, David Campese & Gavin Hastings, this might argueably be better but mine would be more entertaining.

I forgot my no 12-Cristian Stoica ITA.

My selection Cullen, Kirwan, gerber,Horan,campese, Edwards, John, Lohore, Jones (the best player ever), Kirkpatrick, Eales, Johnson,Brown, Fitzpatrick, Welsh prop of the 80's?

1 Jason Leonard ENG 2 Sean Fitzpatrick NZ 3 Wilson Wineray NZ 4 Colin Meads NZ 5 John Eales AUS 6 Morne Du Plessis SA 7 Michael Jones NZ 8 Zinzan Brooke NZ 9 Gareth Edwards WAL 10 Hugo Porta ARG 11 Jonah Lomu NZ 12 Danie Gerber SA 13 Philippe Sella FRA 14 David Campese AUS 15 Serge Blanco FRA 16 Olo Brown NZ 17 Keith Wood IRE 18 Martin Johnston ENG 19 Josh Kronfield or George Smith? NZ and AUS 22 Joost van der Westhuizen SA 21 Gavin Hastings SCO 20 Naas Botha SA

1-leonard 2- fitzpatrick 3-Du Rant 4- Eales 5- Meads 6-Smith 7- Jones 8-Brooke 9- Farr-Jones 10- Carter 11- Lomu 12-O'Driscoll 13- Umaga 14-Campese 15- Cullen

i have been working on the best australian team at school (yes i am the same person doing the world XXII it was too hard). my best australian team in the past 20 years is 1) Ewan McKensie, 2) Phil Kearns, 3) Tony Daley, 4) Dan Vickerman, 5) John Eales, 6) David Wilson, 7) Simon Piodevin, 8) Totai Kefu,(forgive if it is spelt wrong) 9) Nick Farr-Jones, 10) Michael Lynagh, 11)David Campese, 12) Tim Horan, 13) stirling Mortlock, 14) Joe Roff, 15) Chris Latham, 16) George Smith, 17) David Giffin, 18) Andrew Blades, 19) Jeremy Paul, 20) Steven Larkam, 21) Ben Tune, 22)Matt Burke. the people who came close were George Greegan, Jason Little and Jeff Miller

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