A great scrum-half can run a game. A great fly-half can win one. Put them together, and magic can happen.
Rugby has seen some truly great half-back pairs.
Some won World Cups. Others changed the sport forever. A few made even the best teams look helpless.
But which pair deserves top spot?
We've ranked the 10 best in rugby history. We've looked at their skill, success, teamwork and time spent playing together.And remember, this is about the pair, not just two famous names.
Some big stars have missed out.
10. Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer (Ireland)
Peter Stringer was a nightmare for rival teams. He was small, quick and always ready to cause trouble. His passing was sharp. His speed kept defences guessing. And he never backed down from a fight.
Outside him stood Ronan O'Gara. The Irish fly-half had one of the best kicking games in rugby. He could turn a match with one swing of his boot.
Together, they helped Munster win European titles in 2006 and 2008.They also played a key role in Ireland's rise.
RUCK verdict: They knew each other's game inside out. They weren't always flashy, but they knew how to win.
O'Gara And Stringer As Childhood Team-Mates
9. Grant Fox and David Kirk (New Zealand)
The first World Cup winners had to make our list.
David Kirk and Grant Fox weren't known for wild tricks.
They didn't need them.
Kirk was a smart leader who kept his team calm.
Fox was a master with the boot. He could punish teams from almost anywhere.
Together, they helped the All Blacks win the first Rugby World Cup in 1987.
Fox scored 126 points during the tournament.
He also kicked 17 points in the final against France.
RUCK verdict: They weren't the most exciting pair. But when the pressure was on, they got the job done.
8. Joost van der Westhuizen and Joel Stransky (South Africa)
Few rugby pairs have played in a match as famous as the 1995 World Cup final.
South Africa needed heroes.
Joost van der Westhuizen and Joel Stransky stepped up. Van der Westhuizen was huge for a scrum-half. He was strong, quick and loved a big tackle.
Stransky was the calm head outside him. He could control a match with his boot and rarely lost his cool. His famous drop goal against New Zealand won the World Cup.
Nelson Mandela watched from the stands.It was a moment that went far beyond rugby.
RUCK verdict: Their time together was short. But their place in rugby history is secure.
7. Faf de Klerk and Handré Pollard (South Africa)
One looked ready to start a fight in an empty room.
The other looked ready to calm him down.
Somehow, it worked.
Faf de Klerk brought fire, speed and a love of winding up rival players.
Handré Pollard brought a cool head and a deadly boot.
Together, they helped South Africa win the 2019 World Cup. They also played key roles in the 2023 triumph.
They weren't always pretty to watch. But when matches got tight, they were hard to beat.
RUCK verdict: Two World Cup wins say plenty. Faf brought the chaos. Pollard brought the calm.
Faf de Klerk and Handré Pollard share a light-hearted moment. The Springboks half-back duo played key roles in South Africa's 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup triumphs. - IMAGO/Action Plus
6. Matt Dawson and Jonny Wilkinson (England)
One drop goal.
One World Cup.
And a moment England fans will never forget.
Matt Dawson and Jonny Wilkinson were the heart of England's greatest team.
Dawson was smart, brave and loved getting under the skin of rival players.
Wilkinson was in a class of his own. He tackled like a forward and kicked like a dream.
Their finest hour came in Sydney in 2003. Dawson helped set up the chance for Wilkinson to land that famous drop goal against Australia. England were world champions. And the pair became legends.
RUCK verdict: England's greatest half-back pair. Sixth place might upset some fans, but the five above them were special.
Matt Dawson and Jonny Wilkinson embrace during England's golden era. The half-back duo helped England win the 2003 Rugby World Cup - IMAGO/Panoramic by PsnewZ
5. Nick Farr-Jones and Michael Lynagh (Australia)
Australia had some great players in 1991.
David Campese. Tim Horan. Jason Little.
But two men helped make it all work.
Nick Farr-Jones was a born leader.
He was calm, smart and knew how to get the best from his team.
Michael Lynagh was the perfect partner.
He had a great boot, a sharp rugby brain and nerves of steel.
Together, they helped Australia win the 1991 World Cup.
The Wallabies beat England at Twickenham in the final.
RUCK verdict: A dream pair for any coach. They had brains, skill and the nerve to win the biggest matches.
4. Gareth Edwards and Phil Bennett (Wales)
Now we're talking.
Some Wales fans might think fourth place is an insult. They may have a point.
When Barry John quit rugby in 1972, Wales had a huge gap to fill.
Then Phil Bennett stepped up.
The Welsh star had magic in his boots. He could beat defenders with a sidestep, a burst of speed or a clever pass.
Gareth Edwards was the perfect man beside him.
Together, they helped Wales win Grand Slams in 1976 and 1978. They also toured South Africa with the Lions in 1974. And who could forget that famous Barbarians try against New Zealand in 1973?
Bennett started the move. Edwards finished it.
More than 50 years later, fans still watch it.
RUCK verdict: Pure rugby magic. Few pairs have ever made the game look so easy.
3. Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack (France)
This one might cause a row.
Some fans will say it's too soon to rank these two so high.
We don't agree.
Antoine Dupont is already one of the best scrum-halves rugby has seen. He is quick, strong and can spot a gap before anyone else.
Romain Ntamack is the perfect man outside him. He plays with style, skill and a cool head.
Together, they helped France win the 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam. They have also won major titles with Toulouse.
And here's the scary part. They could still get better.
RUCK verdict: The best modern pair on this list. They still need a World Cup win, but their skill is hard to match.
2. George Gregan and Stephen Larkham (Australia)
Seventy-eight Tests together.
That's some record.
George Gregan and Stephen Larkham were a huge part of Australia's success.
Gregan was quick, tough and loved to lead.
Larkham was the quiet genius outside him.
He could spot a gap, draw in defenders and find a pass nobody else could see. Together, they helped Australia win the 1999 World Cup. They also beat the Lions in 2001.
Then came another World Cup final in 2003.
They knew each other's game so well that they often seemed one step ahead.
RUCK verdict: Few pairs have been so good for so long. They have a strong case for top spot.
1. Gareth Edwards and Barry John (Wales)
There could only be one winner.
Gareth Edwards and Barry John didn't just play rugby. They made it look like art.
Edwards had it all. He was quick, strong, brave and could turn a match in a flash.
Barry John and Gareth Edwards formed a formidable ‘double act’ for Cardiff, Wales, the Barbarians and British Lions
Barry John was the master outside him. The Welsh fly-half was known as 'The King'. He had a gift for making defenders look lost. He didn't need great speed.He just seemed to know what would happen next.
Together, they helped Wales win the 1971 Grand Slam. They then played key roles in the Lions' famous series win over New Zealand that same year. It remains one of the Lions' finest feats.
John quit rugby in 1972 at just 27. That brought their time together to an early end.But what a mark they left on the sport.
RUCK verdict: The greatest half-back pair rugby has seen. Edwards brought the power and pace. John brought the magic.
Five great pairs who missed out
Some huge names didn't make the cut.
And we know a few fans won't be happy.
Dan Carter and Aaron Smith (New Zealand): Two all-time greats who helped the All Blacks win the 2015 World Cup. Their time together was too short to make our top 10.
Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett (New Zealand): A superb pair. But Barrett also spent much of his career at full-back.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton (Ireland): A smart and tough pair who helped Ireland beat the world's best teams.
Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones (Wales): Two key men in Wales' 2008 Grand Slam win. Phillips brought power, while Jones ran the game.
Fourie du Preez and Morné Steyn (South Africa): A pair who could win matches with smart kicks and pure control.
Have your say
We've made our picks.
Now it's your turn.
Were Edwards and John the best ever? Should Gregan and Larkham be number one? Or have we been too harsh on England's World Cup winners?
Tell us your top pair in the comments.
