2. New Zealand – 2015
In a global game, it is incomprehensible how a nation of four million people can produce such a dominant and untouchable team.
What ranks the 2015 team above England? They achieved the unprecedented by winning back-to-back World Cups, with the second coming with almost dissatisfying ease as they beat Australia at Twickenham.
It was also the last game that legends such as Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Richie McCaw and Conrad Smith played for the All Blacks.
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1. British & Irish Lions – 1971
The only Lions team to have returned triumphant from New Zealand. Coached by the visionary Carwyn James and captained by John Dawes, this was a team with Welshmen at its core.
There was JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, Gareth Edwards, Mervyn Davies and, above all, Barry John, who remains an icon among Kiwis for the rugby he played on that tour.
But there were also greats from the other home nations in Mike Gibson, Gordon Brown, Willie John McBride, David Duckham and Fergus Slattery.
Going into the final Test in Auckland 2-1 up, the Lions clinched the series victory with a 14-14 draw, courtesy of the only drop goal of JPR’s career.