"I can’t just pick one." - Jonny Wilkinson names Sexton amongst top six fly-halves

“This is the key position for any World Cup winning team," revealed Wilkinson

"You need guys that are going to lead and continue to do so right to the final seconds when it gets very, very tough.

"I can’t just pick one.”

The group boasts four Rugby World Cup winners, and between them the five have amassed 553 points.

Each individual played their part in their countries’ successes and all possessed the qualities to take the pivotal spot in the team.

For a decade from his debut in 1984 to his international retirement in 1995, former Wallaby Skipper Lynagh was one of the most distinguishable players in World Rugby. After 72 internationals, he had set a new point-scoring record of 911, which is still an Australia record. He was an important member of the side that won the 1991 World Cup in England, but retired from International Rugby after Australia’s loss to England in the quarter-final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Did you know? His son, Louis Lynagh, currently plays for Harlequins academy and has represented England U20

The double World Cup-winner has established himself as one of the greatest players in history, being near faultless in every department: he can attack, break the line and kick accurately tactically or at goal. He was named the World Player of the Year in 2005, 2012 and 2015 and has won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, and nine Tri-Nations and Rugby Championships with the All Blacks.

Did you know: In 2008, American Cable Channel E! judged Carter to be 11th on its list of the world’s sexiest men.

Fly-half Stransky cemented his place in the hearts and minds of the nation by kicking the drop goal that saw South Africa claim the sport's biggest prize in 1995. He also wrote his name in the history books in the opening match of the tournament when he became the first Springbok to score a try, a conversion, a penalty and a drop goal in the same game - a 27-18 win over defending champions, Australia.

Did you know: He is of English and Czech descent and Jewish on his father's side

While we in England will never tire of Wilkinson’s drop goal in the 2003 World Cup Final, Aussie nostalgia freaks prefer Larkham’s 48-metre effort against South Africa in the 1999 semi-final. A converted full back whose kicking was supposedly so errant that a triumphant TV ad poked self-mocking fun at it, Larkham celebrated his World Cup success by having laser treatment to correct his dodgy vision. 

Did you know: Larkham was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2012

Despite not being a great player with the ball in hand the former All Black Grant Fox was one of the games greatest ever kickers in history. It only took Fox six games to amass 100 Test match points, and two years later he won the inaugural World Cup on home soil in 1987. During the tournament, he scored 126 points from six matches finishing the tournament as the top points scorer.

Did you know: In December 2011 he was named as an All Blacks selector in Steve Hansen’s new coaching set-up.

The fly-half captains both Leinster and Ireland. He also previously represented the British & Irish Lions in both 2013 and 2017 and has scored over 900 points in his international career, making him one of the highest points-scorers in rugby union history. Sexton was the winner of World Rugby Player of the Year in 2018, having previously been a nominee for the award in 2014.

Wilkinson said: "He's become established in global terms as being a star and a commanding presence. I think he's still one of the best in the world and I was really surprised he missed out on the Lions.