Jonny Wilkinson names the five players he hated facing most — and why they defined his career
Jonny Wilkinson didn’t just play rugby — he defined an era. Across 97 caps for England and appearances for the British & Irish Lions between 1998 and 2011, the World Cup-winning fly-half squared up against some of the most feared names the sport has ever produced.
From unstoppable power to razor-sharp game intelligence, these were the opponents who pushed Wilkinson to his limits — and, in his own words, made life on the pitch as difficult as it gets.
DID YOU KNOW? Off the field, Wilkinson famously embraced Buddhist principles to manage his intense perfectionism, something he spoke about in a 2009 interview with The Times.
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#5 — Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
Few players have ever changed rugby union the way Jonah Lomu did. Standing at 6ft 5in and weighing over 18 stone, yet moving with the pace of a sprinter, Lomu was a once-in-a-generation force who redefined what a winger could be.
His breakout performance at the 1995 Rugby World Cup — particularly his devastating display against England — turned him into a global superstar almost overnight. Defenders didn’t just try to stop him; they braced for impact.
Wilkinson recalled the aura that surrounded him:
“One of the most recognisable characters in world rugby and a man who sparked fear in the eyes of opposition defences. No list would be complete without him.”
Lomu’s influence extended far beyond stats. He became rugby’s first true global icon, inspiring a new audience and leaving a legacy that still shapes the modern game.
DID YOU KNOW? Lomu scored 15 World Cup tries across the 1995 and 1999 tournaments — a record at the time.
