Jonny Wilkinson named England's greatest ever Six Nations player - Page 2 of 3 - Ruck

Jonny Wilkinson named England’s greatest ever Six Nations player

Wales – Alun Wyn Jones

It is close at the top for Wales, as Alun Wyn Jones and Shane Williams both present the right to be considered their country’s greatest Six Nations player. However, as magical it was to watch Williams score magnificent tries in a Welsh jersey, Alyn Wyn Jones just edges him for the top spot. The lock’s longevity and accomplishments for his country in the Six Nations have been insurmountable, and at 37-years-old, he still isn’t finished.

Alun Wyn Jones has been at the heart of the Wales squad throughout their tremendous accomplishments, since the turn of the millennium. A five time winner of the Six Nations, Jones is also the countries leading appearance holder, and their most capped captain. He is a truly generational talent that instils fear into his opponents, and courage into his brothers around him. Alun Wyn Jones began his international career in 2006, following on from a victorious U21 Six Nations Championship the year prior.

Just four Six Nations caps behind all-time appearance holder Sergio Parisse, Alun Wyn Jones is expected to eclipse the great Italian atop of the record’s list. O’Driscoll has just one more cap the Jones, with the second rower looking to equalise the Irishman against his own nation, in Wales opening match of the 2023 tournament. The 2019 Six Nations Player of the Championship, Jones was the fierce Welsh leader that breathed the fire into his teammates, for the monumental Grand Slam success.

The 2019 Grand Slam was Jones’ third, completing a hat-trick of unbeatable tournaments for Wales, and solidifying him as his country’s greatest Six Nations player. A 2021 Championship and Triple Crown has only elevated Jones’ already mighty high pedestal. It will be exciting to see the legacy he leaves behind, after the 2023 Championship is etched into the history books.

DID YOU KNOW: Alun Wyn Jones has a Law degree, and is a graduate of Swansea University.

Scotland – Chris Patterson

The toughest decision out of any nation. Chris Patterson or Stuart Hogg. There are polarising debates for the inclusion of either man, yet for anyone to deny a two-time Six Nations Player of the Championship the top spot for his country, they must stake an undeniable claim. Chris Patterson does just that, with 381 points he is the leading scorer for Scotland in the competition. Patterson is Scotland’s overall Six Nations star… for now.

There is time yet for Hogg to overtake Patterson as Scotland’s finest, as the Exeter Chiefs fullback has certainly still got enough time to solidify his legacy. Yet for now, Patterson is the best to ever wear the thistle in the Six Nations. A Scottish centurion with 109 caps, just one shy of Ross Ford’s 110 cap record, Patterson is part of an elite few. Hogg is just a margin short with 96, and will hope to reach the one hundred club this tournament, as his injury concerns are reportedly improving. He is just two shy off Patterson’s 53 Six Nations cap record, and will too look to pass this in the coming weeks.

Patterson was a versatile back, shining on the wing, fullback and even at fly half. Patterson ran the Scottish backline from 1999 to 2011, and dominated the point scoring from the tee. Scotland’s all-time point scorer with 809, he also holds the kicking consistency record, scoring 36 in a row from 2007 to 2008. Hogg holds the try scoring record with 27, surpassing Patterson’s 22 tries.

The two are so well-matched, boasting an equal skill-set and two decorated CV’s in Scotland jerseys. Scotland have historically struggled at the Six Nations, frequently finishing in the bottom half of the table. Neither Patterson or Hogg has lifted the Six Nations trophy, with Scotland’s last triumph being the 1999 Five Nations, just months before Patterson’s debut. Patterson narrowly bests Hogg to the top spot for now, but an unexpected Six Nations Championship win would certainly solidify Hogg as Scotland’s greatest.

DID YOU KNOW: Soon after retirement, Chris Patterson took on an ambassador role for Scotland’s national team.

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