World Cup: All-time best XV
The seventh edition of the World Cup gets underway in Auckland on Friday, when hosts New Zealand face Tonga.
The previous six tournaments produced a host of legends, many who are not just household names, but some have already been inducted on the international hall of fame.
We have decided to glance back at the previous tournaments and pick an all-time XV.
The only qualification is that they must have appeared in at least one World Cup, so no players before 1987 were considered.
Here goes!
15 – Serge Blanco (France):
Blanco is the epitome of French flair, all that is brilliant about the French game. He had the audacity to take risks that no one else would. He was daring, but he had the breathtaking ability to pull it off.
Others: You can’t ignore the claims of 1995 Springbok Andre Joubert, the Rolls Royce of fullbacks, Gavin Hastings, frequently considered one of the best, if not the best, players to come out of Scotland, and All Black Christian Cullen, a fan favourite.
14 – John Kirwan (New Zealand):
Kirwan, who set a new trend as the first of the big powerful wings with a sidestep, had exceptional ball skills and a footballing brain. When he retired in 1994 he was (then) the most capped player and highest try scorer in All Black history.
Others: There is the Welsh magician Shane Williams, English wizard Jason Robinson and mercurial Welsh flyer Ieuan Evans.
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland):
O’Driscoll is without doubt one of the most balanced centres – with pace, strength, great attacking skill and is as good in defence as attack. He is going to leave a huge hole in the Irish midfield when he retires.
Others: A very, very long list of quality players to choose from – Frank Bunce, a man of granite in the Samoan midfield, before switching allegiance to New Zealand, fellow Kiwi Tana Umaga, who could play in either centre and even on the wing, Australia Jason Little (Tim Horan’s long-time midfield partner), along with two England greats in Jeremy Guscott and Will Greenwood.
12 – Tim Horan (Australia):
Horan, a double World Cup winner and Player of the Tournament in 1999, has pace, balance, great ball skills and courage. As well as inside centre, Horan also played flyhalf and got one cap on the wing.
Others: This was a close call, so we’ll first deal with the Prince of French centres Philippe Sella, at his best untouchable. Another worth mentioning is the Samoan chiropractor Brian Lima.
11 – Jonah Lomu (New Zealand):
Lomu was a true nightmare for defenders – who can forget Mike Catt looking like a tumbleweed in the wind as the huge Kiwi bowled him over in 1995. While he never scored against South Africa in a Test and some felt his one weakness was turning around when the ball was kicked behind him, he had an impact on the game like no one before or anyone has done it since.
Others: No doubt Wallaby legend David Campese makes a strong case for our No.11 jersey, with his anticipation and vision, while Bryan Habana showed his finishing class in 2007 when he equalled Lomu’s World Cup record. There is also Australia’s Mr Dependable Joe Roff and clinical English flyer Rory Underwood.
10 – Jonny Wilkinson (England):
We know it is not a debate that will be easily settled, but we chose Wilkinson ahead of New Zealander Dan Carter purely because he won a World Cup – who can forget his sweetly-struck drop-goal in 2003. He is the ultimate kicking and defensive flyhalf.
Others: Of course the crown prince is Dan Carter (New Zealand), who will get a chance to settle the ongoing argument in the next seven weeks, Australia’s master tactician Michael Lynagh, Kiwi Grant Fox, one of the most respected goal-kickers, another World Cup-winner in Joel Stransky (like Wilkinson he won the Final with a drop-goal), Andrew Mehrtens (New Zealand), who was edged in ’95 by Stransky and Neil Jenkins (Wales).
9 – Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa):
Another debate that will not be easily settled and will probably rage on for some time. Talismanic and inspirational are just two words you associate with Van der Westhuizen, who was one of the most dangerous runners at scrumhalf, but will be better know for his fearless defending in the 1995 World Cup Final. When he retired in 2003, after his third World Cup, he was the most capped player in South Africa with 89 Tests (a record that has since been surpassed by Percy Montgomery, Victor Matfield and John Smit). He was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Others: Two Aussies make strong claims here – George Gregan, the most capped player of all time, and Nick Farr-Jones, who led his country to success in the 1991 World Cup. And you also can’t ignore 2007 World Cup-winning Bok Fourie du Preez, Argentinian Agustine Pichot and England’s Matt Dawson.
8 – Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand):
This was a straight race between two Kiwis, Zinzan Brooke, who could drop a goal from the 10-metre line, and Wayne Shelford. We opted for Brooke, whose skills were simply outrageous. He was comfortable in any of the loose forward positions.
Others: Wayne Shelford, who was at his peak in the World Cup Final in 1987, and also had some sublime skills. Some way behind are Lawrence Dallaglio (England), Pat Lam (Samoa) and Dean Richards (England).
7 – Michael Jones (New Zealand):
In the days before the breakdown madness that marks the modern game, Jones stood out amongst his pierce with his exceptional skills, great acceleration and pace. In fact he was good to have played in most international midfields. And it has to remembered that he missed out on a good number of Tests because of his devout religious believes that meant he never played on a Sunday.
Others: Richie McCaw will probably not take kindly to playing second fiddle to another Kiwi (or any No.7 for that matter), but he is well ahead of other great openside flanks like Francois Pienaar (South Africa, ’95 World Cup-winning captain), Peter Winterbottom (England) and George Smith (Australia).
6 – Ruben Kruger (South Africa):
Although he played in the No.7 jersey, he was a true blindside flank, because in South Africa – unlike the rest of the World – the openside wears No.6. Carrying the moniker of ‘The silent assassin’, Kruger was an old school loose forward and definitely the rock around which South Africa build their World Cup-winning side.
Others: There may be other candidates, but next in line on our list are Australian Simon Poidevin, a durable and consistent player, England’s Richard Hill, with his great work rate, and New Zealander Alan Whetton, who was a vital part of the New Zealand pack that dominated the 1987 World Cup.
5 – John Eales (Australia):
A double World Cup-winner, Eales had the moniker of ‘Nobody’. It was given to him by his teammates, because they said nobody’s perfect, although Eales came pretty close. Not only a line-out masterclass, but also a quiet leader. Eales joined Nick Farr-Jones as an Australian World Cup-winning captain when his Wallabies took hold of the Webb Ellis Cup in 1999.
Others: Top of this list is another World Cup-winner, Springbok legend Victor Matfield – currently the most capped Bok of all time and a line-out maestro, with some sublime skills of his own. Add to this Wade Dooley (England) and Ian Jones (New Zealand).
4 – Martin Johnson (England):
Now back as coach/manager of England, Johnson was a hard-nosed and inspirational leader when he took England to glory in 2003. His mere presence seemed to loft England back then, but he has had less success as a coach. However, it is as a player that we rated him.
Others: He may have had some disciplinary issues, but Bakkies Botha still appears to be at the top of his game – aggressive and uncompromising. Then there is Gary Whetton (New Zealand) and Pedro Sporleder (Argentina).
3 – Jean-Pierre Garuet (France):
This was another close call, but we eventually went with another 1987 giant, Garuet, a legend from the amateur era … the old school of scrummagers. Not only did he play in the 1987 Final, but this nuggety Frenchman was a fierce opponent.
Others: Phil Vickery is a close second, having appeared in three World Cups and was a finalist twice. A member of Martin Johnson’s 2003 World Cup-winning squad, he also captained England in a losing Final against South Africa in 2007. Then there is Patricio Noriega, who switched his allegiance from Argentina to Australia in 1998 – after starring for the Pumas at the 1991 and 1995 World Cups. However, injury cruelly ruled him out of the 1999 tournament, which Australia went on to win.
2 – John Smit (South Africa):
At a time when the biggest debate is whether he should start for South Africa, we feel he deserves credit for his achievements over a long and illustrious career. You may disagree with us, but Smit is the most capped captain of all time, led the Boks to World Cup glory in 2007, and his captaincy will be a significant factor at NZ 2011. His inspiration and calmness under pressure have seen him rack up numerous records.
Others: First there is legendary All Black skipper Sean Fitzpatrick, widely regarded as one of the greatest players to grace the game, Wallaby No.2 Phil Kearns, one of Fitzpatrick’s greatest rivals, and Argentinean legend Mario Ledesma.
1 – Os du Randt (South Africa):
There is no doubt in our minds about number one at No.1. With two World Cup-winner’s medals, Du Randt was one of the most powerful scrummagers. Apart from being a Trojan in the scrum, which saw him help the Boks to glory in 1995, he also overcame major knee surgery and after a lay-off almost three years made a dramatic comeback to be even more impressive in South Africa’s 2007 victory. For many years he was regarded as the best prop forward in the world and no doubt deserves a spot in the Hall of fame.
Others: First there is Jason Leonard, who was at the centre of the dominant England pack during the 1990s and 2000s, and then there is Steve McDowell, a tough and uncompromising All Black. But no ‘best-ever’ front row collection would be complete without an Argentinean, and we give you Rodrigo Roncero, a key component in the Argentine pack which drove the South American side to the 2007 World Cup semifinal.
By Jan de Koning
