"A fantastic talent" - Phil Vickery ranks his five toughest opponents - Ruck

“A fantastic talent” – Phil Vickery ranks his five toughest opponents

England legend and Rugby World Cup winner Phil Vickery has ranked his five toughest opponents from his incredible rugby career.

He was a member of England’s World Cup winning squad in 2003, playing in all seven matches in the tournament, and is a former England captain. Vickery ended his club rugby career at Wasps, joining the London side in 2006 after eleven years with Gloucester Rugby. 

Given the nickname “Raging Bull”, he played in three Rugby World Cups, including as England captain in the 2007 tournament, and toured Australia and South Africa with the British and Irish Lions

Here are the players he named as his toughest opponents when selecting his all-time XV.

DID YOU KNOW? Phil Vickery won the 2011 series of Celebrity Masterchef beating Kirsty Wark and Nick Pickard in the final

5. Keith Wood (Ireland)

VICKERY SAID: “A bit of a kamikaze hooker so it was as difficult playing with him for the Lions as it was to play against him! But his work rate and carrying ability were phenomenal.”

DID YOU KNOW? He was nicknamed ‘The Raging Potato’ because of his bald head

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