#1. Colin Meads (New Zealand)
The 55-cap second-row is widely considered one of the greatest players in history. Nicknamed ‘Pinetree’ due to his physical presence, he was an icon within New Zealand rugby, and was named the country’s Player of the Century at the NZRFU Awards in 1999.
Johnson said: “Nobody messed about with Meads. In an era of sluggers and desperadoes, gougers, biters and hitmen, his ability to rise above the skulduggery and impose his own law and order allowed him to clean the opposition up like a latter-day Wyatt Earp.”