#3. Martin Johnson
Towering figure in English rugby, revered for his imposing presence and uncompromising style as a lock forward. Johnson’s leadership propelled England to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, solidifying his status as one of the game’s greatest captains and inspiring generations of players.
BARNES SAID: “I was always petrified of him because he was coming to the end of his career when I started in the Premiership. 2003 was my first [season] and obviously that was towards the end of his career and I remember I had to sin-bin him once and I actually apologised as I did it.
“I said ‘I’m very sorry I have to do this’ because he’s such a big personality. I guess he was always someone who scared me witless!”
DID YOU KNOW? Under his management England won the 2011 Six Nations Championship, their first since 2003