The 5 Greatest Locks Of All Time Have Been Named And Ranked

Friday, 02 September 2022 at 12:03

byRugby Rucker

Here we pick our top five best locks of all time. We’ve used a number of stats to quantify our rankings, as well as a player’s overall contribution to the game. So who makes it into our top five?

All stats come from ESPN.com and are correct as of the publish date.

5 Best Second-Row's Of All Time

Honourable mentions: Maro Itoje (England), Bakkies Botha (South Africa), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales),

#5. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)

Talismanic Ireland and British Lions Skipper Paul O’Connell has been one of the most consistent players in Northern Hemisphere rugby in the last ten years.

The veteran warrior has won in the emerald green of Ireland three Six Nations titles including a Grand Slam triumph in 2009 as well as winning the four Triple Crowns in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009.

O'Connell retired from international rugby following Ireland's elimination from the 2015 World Cup before hanging up his boots all together due to injury.

Did you know? He supports English Premier League football team Everton F.C

Paul O'Connell of Ireland seen during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Italy v Ireland at The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Oct 4th 2015 in London - Photo mandatory by-line: Graeme Truby/Pinnacle - Tel: +44(0)1363 881025 - Mobile:0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 183700120 - SPORT - International Rugby

#4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)

Etzebeth was seen as the Springboks’ ‘enforcer’ as they romped to the 2019 Rugby World Cup title, with the second-row famed for his physicality.

Did you know? Etzebeth’s biceps have a circumference of 19 inches… 48.26cm.

Eben Etzebeth of South Africa during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

#3. Colin Meads (New Zealand)

One of the legends of a golden era of amateur rugby, powerful lock Meads' international career with New Zealand spanned an impressive 14 years between 1957 and 1971.

During that time, he won 55 caps and played a major part in series wins over all the major Test nations, as well as the British Lions. Meads has received a number of honours for his contribution to the game, which includes being inducted into the International Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Sporting Hall of Fame.

He was then in 1999 voted the Player of the Century at an NZRU awards dinner.

Did you know? Despite his fame and iconic status in New Zealand, Meads remains a humble sheep farmer who is typified by a bygone era in New Zealand and rugby

#2. John Eales (Australia)

Perfect is a hard word to describe someone as but John Eales was not far off and that is why we have ranked him at no.1. He had practically every skill the modern-day rugby player requires and was a born match winner.

A true Australian sporting legend, Eales won two World Cups in 1991 and 1999 and played 86 times for his country, 55 times as captain. Rarely for a forward he was also a goal-kicker, with his most memorable strike being a sideline penalty goal in the final minutes of a Test to win the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand in 2000.

Did you know? He also played first-grade cricket for Queensland University in the Brisbane QCA cricket competition

#1. Martin Johnson (England)

Iconic England legend Martin Johnson is widely regarded as one of the greatest locks and captains to have ever played the game. He famously led England to glory at the 2003 Rugby World Cup and also skippered the British & Irish Lions in 1997 and 2001.

He is also the only player to have ever led the elite tourists twice, winning three of his six tests as Skipper. In a glittering career, Johnson also was a part of two Grand Slam-winning England sides in 1995 and again in 2003.

Did you know? Johnson was awarded an OBE by The Queen in 1997 but later honoured with a CBE in the aftermath of England's Rugby World Cup triumph in 2003