Who are the greatest rugby players to have played the game? After much deliberation with David Flatman, England legend Mike Tindall has selected his XV.
Plenty of fans were not happy with one angry Welshman commenting: “I knew before watching this that not a single welshman would get a pick. Alun Wyn Jones closest with a mention.”
Another added: “No Gareth Edwards, no Barry John, no JPR, no Alan Martin, no Gerald Davies… This guy is off his chump!”
Hiram Richards commented: “goodness me trevor woodman? no eales? no edwards? no dan carter? no campese? ridiculous team.”
MIKE TINDALL’S DREAM XV
#BACK-THREE:
- 15. Christian Cullen (New Zealand)
- 14. Jason Robinson (England)
- 11. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
Jonah Lomu Facts:
- He weighed 120 kg and was 1.96 metres tall, but could run 100 metres in 10.8 seconds
- In 1996, McDonald’s New Zealand named a burger after Lomu
- He’s the only rugby player ever to feature on the front cover of TIME magazine
- According to the Telegraph, Leeds were ready to make a third bid to attract All Blacks giant Jonah Lomu to England in 2001
- He played 63 tests as an All Black, scoring 37 tries
- In 2001 he helped New Zealand win the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
#CENTRES:
- 13. Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
- 12. Tim Horan (Australia)
Brian O’Driscoll facts:
- He is devoted to Manchester United and his boyhood hero was Mark Hughes
- O’Driscoll’s father, Frank, played two games for Ireland and an uncle, Barry, won four caps
- His final appearance for Leinster, and for any team, was in the 2014 Pro12 Grand Final on 31 May in Leinster’s home ground, the RDS in Dublin, in which Leinster defeated the Glasgow Warriors 34-12
- His most oft-quoted line was delivered at a press conference at Croke Park before an England match in 2009: “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”
- O’Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 RBS Six Nations Championships.