"I wish I had the chance to play with him" - Phil Vickery ranks his five toughest opponents

Friday, 20 August 2021 at 06:02

byRugby Rucker

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

#4. Scott Quinnell (Wales)

VICKERY SAID: "Just a fantastic talent for Wales and the Lions. His ball carrying was excellent, he was uncompromising and had so much passion."

DID YOU KNOW? Quinnell is the nephew of Wales and Lions legend Barry John, and Quinnell's godfather was Mervyn Davies

#3. Jason Little (Australia)

VICKERY SAID: "Top centre for Australia. You watched shadows for a lot of the game – you knew he was on the pitch but you never saw him, he was that good."

DID YOU KNOW? He is one of only 20 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions.

#2. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)

VICKERY SAID: "He was world class. As a young lad he was fearless and I was lucky to have played with him in 2001 for the Lions. A tremendous player."

DID YOU KNOW? O'Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 Six Nations Championships

#1. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

VICKERY SAID: "Played against him a few times for England.We spent our whole week just preparing to play against him, let alone the other guys. I wish I had the chance to play with him."

DID YOU KNOW? McCaw was appointed a member of New Zealand's highest honour, the Order of New Zealand, in the 2016 New Year Honours