Ranked! The eight best International Rugby teams of ALL-TIME
Rugby NewsMonday, 27 November 2017 at 16:17
We've had our arguments, and now bring you our list of the greatest teams – international – of all time.
We’ve been thinking about running down the greatest sides of all-time for some time on
RUCK.co.uk.
So, each armed with our personal favourites, we gathered in a darkened room one evening to narrow things down. Deliberations continued long into the night.
As ever, let us know what you think on Twitter (@ruckrugby) or our Facebook page. Let the arguing commence!
RUCK POLL:
8. New Zealand - 1987
They were head and shoulders above anything the world had seen. It was the amateur age – professionalism has since allowed others to close the gap. They were by spirit, if not in the wallet, professionals so they had a clear advantage over players who were doing it for love.
It was the New Zealand of John Gallagher, John Kirwan, Grant Fox, Wayne Shelford and Sean Fitzpatrick - they were the masters of the game at that time.
7. South Africa - 1995
Francois Pienaar’s South Africa achieved something extraordinary in the way they united a nation at such a delicate time in the country’s history.
They also showed huge resolve as they defied the odds to beat huge favourites New Zealand in extra time of the final.
6. Barbarians - 1973
On 27 January 1973, seven men combined to create the most famous, and some say the greatest, score in rugby history, during the Barbarians' 23-11 victory over the All Blacks.
5. Wales in the 1970s
It’s hard to know which particular Welsh side of this golden era to pick out as the greatest because it was a run of success that lasted for a decade, taking in three Grand Slams - in 1971, 1976 and 1978 - and six outright Five Nations titles.
4. British & Irish Lions - 1974
It was a tour of South Africa that began against Western Transvaal on May 15 in Potchefstroom and ended more than two months and 22 games later on July 27 with the final Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg. Along the way, no-one but no-one was able to get the better of Willie John McBride’s men.
3. England - 2003
Everyone remembers Jonny’s drop goal which kicked England to World Cup glory in Sydney in 2003 and it was a huge achievement by history-making Clive Woodward’s side to become the first - and still only - northern hemisphere team to lift the Webb Ellis trophy.
But if anything, they were even better in the build-up to that tournament. In the autumn of 2002, they beat all three southern hemisphere giants, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, ahead of completing the Six Nations Grand Slam in the spring.
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.
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.
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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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