"Sometimes he didn't need teammates" - Martin Johnson Names His Five Toughest Opponents
Rugby NewsMonday, 23 August 2021 at 15:35
Here are the five players England legend Martin Johnson selected as his toughest opponents in international rugby.
A giant of the game in more ways than one, the 2003 World Cup-winning captain is widely regarded as one of the greatest locks to have ever played the game.
That famous night in Sydney was Johnson's 84th and final international cap after a stellar career that included playing in three World Cups.
Below he discusses his five toughest opponents from his time on the rugby field.
MARTIN JOHNSON: TOUGHEST OPPONENTS
5. Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
Johnson said: " “Played for the All Blacks for ten years, a fantastic competitor and a great captain.”
#4. Joe Roff (Australia)
Johnson said: “You’d put David Campese up there but Roff is my choice. A fantastic all-round rugby player, and old-style wing.”
#3. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
Johnson said: "The Ireland captain was a very special player. A character on and off the field, playing against a young O'Connell in 2002 it was clear he was going to be something really special."
#2. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Johnson: “Just the way he carried himself and the way he spoke to his players, it had a big influence on players around him. A legend of the game,"
#1. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
Johnson said: "A guy like Jonah Lomu could do things that nobody could do and change games.
"We played New Zealand in a really tight pool game in 1999 and we were getting on top of them, then he ran 60 yards and scored a try.
"Nobody else on the field could've scored that try and they went on to win the game. But even he needed his teammates... sometimes he didn't."
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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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