#4 — Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
If Lomu was raw power, Brian O’Driscoll was pure rugby intelligence. Widely regarded as one of the greatest centres in history, the Irish captain combined footwork, vision and leadership into a near-perfect package.
O’Driscoll’s ability to read the game set him apart. Whether it was a perfectly timed interception, a slicing break, or a moment of individual brilliance, he could flip a match in seconds.
Wilkinson summed it up perfectly:
“The ability to change the game in a heartbeat — with his movement, his skill, his game reading but also his leadership.”
Over a glittering career, he became Ireland’s all-time leading try scorer and captained his country a record number of times, guiding them to a Grand Slam and multiple Triple Crowns.
DID YOU KNOW? O’Driscoll still holds the Six Nations record for most tries, underlining his consistency at the highest level.
#3 — Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
Every great team needs an enforcer — and Bakkies Botha was exactly that for South Africa. A towering presence in the second row, Botha brought aggression, physical dominance and an uncompromising edge to every match.
But there was more to him than brute force. Teammates and coaches often spoke about his intelligence and commitment to the team ethic, qualities that made him indispensable to the Springboks.
Wilkinson’s assessment captures that balance:
“Someone incredibly fierce but very, very down to earth… at times he’s exactly what a team needs.”
Botha’s confrontational style made him one of the most intimidating forwards of his era — the kind of player you’d love in your team but dread lining up against.
DID YOU KNOW? Former France coach Bernard Laporte once described Botha as the greatest player he ever coached.
