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
