Austin Healey controversial opinion on Carter vs Wilkinson debate has caused a stir and offended fans
Rugby NewsMonday, 15 April 2024 at 13:00
Austin Healey's unexpected stance in the Dan Carter versus Jonny Wilkinson debate has raised eyebrows, as the pundit took a jab at his former England teammate.
Speaking to BT Sport, Healey said: "I'd pick Dan Carter. I think he's got a better all-round game, a better running game. He's played more games than Johnny Wilkinson, so he's had longevity.
"They've both dropped a goal in a World Cup final, but unlike Wilkinson, Carter didn't miss five other kicks in the final. He was on his money 100%."
Writing about the same debate, Sir Clive Woodward had a different point of view.
He said: “Jonny Wilkinson or Dan Carter? That is the question I often get asked. It’s almost an impossible choice. They were, by some distance, the two pre-eminent fly-halves of their era — both incidentally natural left-footers.
“They were both tough and enduring — fly-halves are targeted in all levels of rugby, doubly so when they are world-class goalkickers. I would score Jonny and Dan about equal as the best goalkickers we have seen, Dan was the best attacking 10 I ever saw while Jonny was far and away the best defensive 10 I ever witnessed.
“So where does that leave us? If I was forced into a corner I would go with Jonny. Just. I was lucky enough to coach him for six years and knew his game intimately. With Dan I just admired from afar.”
50 best British & Irish Lions of all-time (via The Guardian)
50. Robert Jones (Wales) - Scrum-half - 1989 - P3 W2 D0 L1 - 73
49. Tom Smith (Scotland) - Prop - 1997, 2001 - P6 W3 D0 L3 - 75
48. Matt Dawson (England) - Scrum-half - 1997, 2001, 2005 - P7 W2 D0 L5 - 76
47. David Sole (Scotland) - Prop - 1989 - P3 W2 L1 - 90
46. Rhys Williams (Wales) - Lock - 1955, 1959 - P10 W5 L5 - 94
45. Neil Jenkins (Wales) - Fly-half - 1997, 2001 - P4 W2 D0 L2 - 99
44. Jason Robinson (England) - Fullback/Wing - 2001, 2005 - P5 W1 D0 L4 - 105
43. Roger Uttley (England) - Back row - 1974 - P4 W3 D1 L0 - 107
42. Bobby Windsor (Wales) - Hooker - 1974, 1977 - P5 W3 D1 L1 - 109
41. Jonny Wilkinson (England) - Fly-half - 2001, 2005 - P6 W1 D1 L4 - 110
40. Rob Andrew (England) - Fly-half - 1989, 1993 - P5 W3 D0 L2 - 110
39. Paul O'Connell (Ireland) - Lock - 2005, 2009 - P6 W1 D0 L5 - 114
38. Peter Wheeler (England) - Hooker - 1977, 1980 - P7 W2 L5 - 119
37. David Duckham (England) - Centre - 1971 - P3 W1 D1 L1 - 128
36. Jack Kyle (Ireland) - Fly-half - 1950 - P6 W2 D1 L3 - 147
35. Finlay Calder (Scotland) - Back row - 1989 - P3 W2 D0 L1 - 149
34. Dean Richards (England) - No. 8 - 1989, 1993 - P6 W3 D0 L3 - 174
33. Dickie Jeeps (England) - Scrum-half - 1955, 1959, 1962 - P13 W4 D1 L8 - 191
32. Bill Beaumont (England) - Lock - 1977, 1980 - P7 W2 D0 L5 - 191
31. Graham Price (Wales) - Prop - 1977, 1980, 1983 - P12 W2 D0 L10 - 204
30. Jim Telfer (Scotland) - No. 8 - 1996, 1968 - P8 W2 D1 L5 - 204
29. Syd Millar (Ireland) - Prop - 1959, 1962, 1968 - P9 W2 D2 L5 - 219
28. Lawrence Dallaglio (England) - No. 8 - 1997 - P3 W2 D0 L1 - 219
27. Fergus Slattery (Ireland) - Flanker - 1971, 1974 - P4 W3 D1 L0 - 232
26. Mike Teague (England) - Flanker - 1989, 1993 - P3 W3 D0 L0 - 238
25. Ieuan Evans (Wales) - Wing - 1989, 1993, 1997 - P7 W4 D0 L3 - 258
24. John Dawes (Wales) - Centre - 1971 - P4 W2 D1 L1 - 258
23 Cliff Morgan (Wales) - Fly-half - 1955 - P4 W2 D0 L2 - 272
22. Richard Hill (England) - Back row - 1997, 2001, 2005 - P5 W3 D0 L2 - 286
21. Tony O'Reilly (Ireland) - Wing - 1955, 1959 - P10 W5 D0 L5 - 287
20. JJ Williams (Wales) - Wing - 1974, 1977 - P7 W4 D1 L2 - 300
19. Scott Gibbs (Wales) - Centre - 1993, 1997 - P5 W3 D0 L2 - 305
18. Ian McGeechan (Scotland) - Centre - 1974, 1977 - P8 W4 D1 L3 - 315
17. Keith Wood (Ireland) - Hooker - 1997, 2001 - P5 W3 D0 L2 - 325
16. Gavin Hastings (Scotland) - Fullback - 1989, 1993 - P6 W3 D0 L3 - 337
15. Gordon Brown (Scotland) - Lock - 1971, 1974, 1977 - P8 W5 D1 L2 - 346
14. Andy Irvine (Scotland) - Fullback/Wing - 1974, 1977, 1980 - P9 W3 D1 L5 - 346
13. Jeremy Guscott (England) - Centre - 1989, 1993, 1997 - P8 W5 D0 L3 - 362
12. Fran Cotton (England) - Prop - 1974, 1977 - P7 W4 D1 L2 - 375
11. Ian McLauchlan (Scotland) - Prop - 1971, 1974 - P8 W5 D2 L1 - 382
10. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) - Centre - 2001, 2005, 2009 - P6 W1 D0 L5 - 399
9. Phil Bennett (Wales) - Fly-half - 1974, 1977 - P8 W4 D1 L3 - 411
8. Mervyn Davies (Wales) - No. 8 - 1971, 1974 - P8 W5 D2 L1 - 448
7. Mike Gibson (Ireland) - Centre - 1966, 1968, 1971 - P12 W2 D2 L8 - 489
6. Gerald Davies (Wales) - Wing - 1968, 1971 - P5 W2 D1 L2 - 495
5. Barry John (Wales) - Fly-half - 1968, 1971 - P5 W2 D1 L2 - 501
4. JPR Williams (Wales) - Fullback - 1971, 1974 - P8 W5 D2 L1 - 529
3. Martin Johnson (England) - Lock - 1993, 1997, 2001 - P8 W4 D0 L4 - 535
2. Willie John McBride (Ireland) - Lock - 1962, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1974 - P17 W5 D3 L9 - 546
1. Gareth Edwards (Wales) - Scrum-half - 1968, 1971, 1974 - P10 W5 D3 L2 - 574
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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