British & Irish legend and respected rugby scribe Sir Ian McGeechan has selected his top 10 greatest wingers to have ever graced the game...
10. Rory Underwood (England)
McGeechan said:"Maybe not quite as clever as some of the others but a lethal finisher who was exceptionally quick and very, very strong." wrote McGeechan.
9. Shane Williams (Wales)
McGeechan said: "Defied convention because he was so small, but he was powerful and sharp. Wales have not been the same attacking force since he finished. He could raise their game on his own."
8. Ieuan Evans (Wales)
McGeechan said: "Always one of my favourites because of my experiences with him as a British and Irish Lion. Like all the Welsh wingers, he had such a good sidestep but could combine acceleration with that. He was a superb finisher, especially in tight situations."
7. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
McGeechan said: "Equal record-holder with Lomu on number of RWC tries. Very powerful and if you get him to within 5m of the line, he probably scores more tries than anyone else."
6. John Kirwan (New Zealand)
McGeechan said: "Made such an impression at the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. He was one of the first big wingers but he could also score tries from 60m out. He maybe did not have a great sidestep but his running angles were superb."
5. Jason Robinson (England)
McGeechan said: "He made such an impact on the game when moving from rugby league. He had dazzling feet that meant he so often beat the first defender and, like most top wingers, you could play off him as well as him being such a devastating finisher."
4. Jeff Wilson (New Zealand)
McGeechan said: "Just a brilliant rugby player with vision and skill. I really enjoyed watching him. He played international cricket too and it backs up my belief that so many of the best players play different sports."
3. Gerald Davies (Wales)
McGeechan said: "He was so skilful, and could play centre as well, and had a wonderful sidestep. You knew that if you provided him with some space he would beat not just one defender, but two or three."
2. David Campese (Australia)
McGeechan said: "He was another game-changer: different but clever. He won games for Australia on his own and often gave his country a confidence about their rugby that they did not always have before."
1. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
McGeechan said: "He simply changed the game and drew non-rugby people to watch the sport. He arrived at a time when professionalism was imminent and his impact, both on the field and off it as a rugby superstar, is still felt now."
Jonah Lomu facts:
- Playing on the wing Lomu finished his international career with 63 caps and 37 tries
- He became the youngest ever All Black when he played his first international in 1994 at the age of 19 years and 45 days
- Lomu was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame on 9 October 2007, and the IRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011
- In 1996, McDonald’s New Zealand named a burger after Lomu, temporarily rebranding the McFeast burger line (called “Mega Feast” in New Zealand) as the “Jonah Burger”
- On 9 April 2007, Lomu appeared on New Zealand’s version of
This Is Your Life, in which he was reunited with long time friend Grant Kereama, who had donated a kidney to Lomu when he underwent a kidney transplant in July 2004
- Lomu lent his name to various video games including Jonah Lomu Rugby
