The ultimate all-time world XV: Picked by 20 legends of the game

byRugby Rucker

We've taken the selection of 20 legends and collated their picks to form what is undoubtedly the ultimate all-time World XV.

The selection will be made up of the players who were selected by the most legends.

The list of legends who contributed to this selection are:

*Click on the players name to see their selection

Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand), Sam Warburton (Wales), Ian McGeechan (Scotland), Martin Johnson (England), Lawrence Dallaglio (England), Jonny Wilkinson (England), Neil Back (England), Jonah Lomu (New Zealand), Martin Bayfield (England), Francois Louw (South Africa), Will Carling (England), Nigel Owens (Referee), Os du Randt (South Africa), David Campese (Australia), Phil Vickery (England), Adam Jones (Wales), Bill Mclaren (Commentator), Jeremy Guscott (England), Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand), and Mike Tindall (England).

BACK-THREE:

FULLBACK: Jason Robinson (England)

Neil Back: "Billy the Wizz proved if you’re good enough you’re big enough with his acceleration, twirling feet and match-winning mentality."

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Jeremy Guscott: "Robinson was a superstar in Rugby Union and Rugby League, but it took him half the time to become a household name when he came over to the fifteen-a-side code. He left as one of the true greats, and as the biggest cross-code success in professional Rugby Union."

Phil Vickery: "One of my favourite memories was Jason scoring the first try in the first Lions Test in 2001. He was great fun to be around, he worked hard and he loved his rugby."

WINGER: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

Sir Ian McGeechan: “Illness and injury ultimately slowed him down. But his performances at the 1995 World Cup, just as the game was turning professional, will never be forgotten. The game needed a superstar, and it got one in Lomu. He was brilliant for rugby.”

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Lawrence Dallaglio: “If only for the matches he played against England, he would get in, but Lomu played plenty of other great matches.”

Jonny Wilkinson: “The guy is quite a remarkable rugby legend and deserves to be so. No Rugby World cup team would be complete without him.”

Martin Bayfield: "I remember holding on to his leg, and it was like putting your arm around somebody's chest."

WINGER: David Campese (Australia)

Lawrence Dallaglio: “Wasn’t always generous in his comments about England but he was a great player and, really, he walks into the team.”

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Will Carling: "He was well ahead of his time. His anticipation and vision was way ahead of what everyone else was attempting, and 99 per cent of it came off. He took running lines no one else could fathom and made passes no one could see were on.

Jeremy Guscott: "For pure talent and instinct he is up there with Gareth Edwards and Jonah Lomu – that is how much impact he had on the game. Campo did not have exceptional pace, but his timing, running lines and skill, in terms of passing and kicking, were extraordinary."

CENTRES:

OUTSIDE-CENTRE: Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)

Neil Back: "Pace, great feet and fearless, but above all humble as best demonstrated in his non-selection for the final Test for the Lions in 2013."

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Sir Ian McGeechan: “His ability to get back on his feet after tackling to compete for the ball was extraordinary, and ensured he always had an impact on the game, whatever type of game it was. He was such a natural talent.”

Jonny Wilkinson: "The ability to change the game in a second, a heartbeat, with his movement, with his skill, his game reading but also his leadership.”

Nigel Owens: "Not only is he one of the greatest centres in the history of rugby union but he’s a fantastic man off the field as well. O’Driscoll has been a wonderful ambassador for the sport and a real leader.

INSIDE-CENTRE: Phillipe Sella (France)

Sir Ian McGeechan: “Sella and O’Driscoll were powerful men. They could stop a forward in his tracks. I think as a pair they would dominate any midfield and I like the thought of them together.”

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David Campese: "Epitome of French flair. Excellent link between the inside and outside backs."

Martin Johnson: “I used to watch him as a kid on TV and think he was brilliant; and then ten years later I played against him and he was still brilliant. He still looks as if he could play for France today. One of the best backs I’ve ever seen. If you hit him it was like running into concrete.”

HALFBACKS:

FLY-HALF: Dan Carter (New Zealand)

Sir Ian McGeechan: "He really was the complete 10. His defence was immaculate, he could break himself, he could bring others in to play, his kicking from hand and from tee was incredibly accurate. He also changed the way the game was played with his kicking from his own 22m and his kicking to compete. The greatest of the modern era in my opinion.’’

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SCRUM-HALF: Gareth Edwards (Wales)

Sir Ian McGeechan: "My favourite scrum-half of all time happens to be my favourite player of all time. Gareth Edwards was and always will be the master. The Greatest.’’

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Martin Johnson: "“The Welsh have put mythical status on Edwards and their 1970s players, but Rob Howley was almost as good and scored some great tries. Joost van der Westhuizen was the best scrum half I played against.”

Will Carling: "It’s hard to compare generations yet Edwards is the one guy I can say that would have been great whenever he played. He was a supreme athlete with supreme skills, the complete package.

FRONT-ROW:

LOOSEHEAD-PROP: Jason leonard (England)

Sir Ian McGeechan: "Completely unflappable, Jason was never in any trouble. Technically, he was superb and temperamentally he was sound, a huge character on and off the pitch."

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Martin Johnson: “Solid as a rock, was regularly asked to play on both sides of the scrum and never moaned. His record of four World Cups and two finals says it all.”

HOOKER: Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)

Sir Ian McGeechan: "He was outstanding, not just as a player but as a captain, and as a man. His consistency was unbelievable in an international career that spanned 12 years: 92 Test appearances, including a world record 63 consecutive Test matches and 51 as captain."

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Martin Johnson: "Played for the All Blacks for ten years, a fantastic competitor and a great captain.”

TIGHTHEAD-PROP: Olo Brown (New Zealand)

Lawrence Dallaglio: "When the All Blacks had Dowd, Fitzpatrick and Brown in their front, they only ever went in one direction, forward. Brown was an awesome player, a truly brilliant scrummager.”

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SECOND-ROW:

LOCK: Martin Johnson (England)

Sir Ian McGeechan: "I think he defined an era, both for forward play and for the performances of the teams he represented."

Neil Back: “Leader. Warrior. Engine. Furrowed brow. Ferengi. Winner. Friend. Would obviously be the captain of my team.”

David Campese: "Few players demanded respect on the field like him. A great leader and my team’s captain."

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Martin Bayfield: "You do not need to say much about Johnno, he was that influential for England. Boring as hell with his American football, but intelligent."

Will Carling: "Inspirational leader, formidable player, competitive in every situation. The example he set in every tight situation in every game led the way.

Phil Vickery: "A big hulk of a man, fearless and passionate and one of the best captains I ever played for – he just had the right brain for it. The way he put his body on the line was immense."

LOCK: John Eales (Australia)

Lawrence Dallaglio: "He could dominate the lineout, make plenty of tackles, maintain an unbelievable workrate, kick goals and remain the calmest person on the pitch. Great forward and great leader.”

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Martin Bayfield: "We made our debuts two days apart, but, boy, was there a gulf between us. He made me look at how I played my game."

Jeremy Guscott: "No-one thought that such a lanky string-bean of a bloke could become one of the world’s best, and he was famously called “the arty farty student” by Wade Dooley. What he lacked in weight, he made up for by being a great athlete with a huge appetite for hard work – and, if that wasn’t enough, he also took over the goal kicking."

BACK-ROW:

BLINDSIDE-FLANKER: Richard Hill (England)

Sir Ian McGeechan: "One of the easier selections, if I’m honest. Hill seemed to know almost instinctively where to be and when."

Martin Johnson: “It was a difficult choice but Hill, a quiet guy, very understated, was the pick. When he was with the Lions teams, if he didn’t play, we didn’t win. He would be embarrassed to be in this side, but he deserves it.

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Lawrence Dallaglio: “It is unusual not to have a Springbok in my World XV but was Francois Pienaar better than Hill? Not in my opinion. The thing about Hill is that even at the highest level, he didn’t make mistakes.”

Phil Vickery: "Extremely gifted player who had all the ability in the world to play and run the ball. When we needed someone to dig in he was your man. He had the full tool bag and quietly got on with it."

OPENSIDE-FLANKER: Michael Jones (New Zealand)

Martin Johnson: “Sean Fitzpatrick says he was the greatest player he ever played against, a mythical figure.”

Lawrence Dallaglio: “He had everything. Quick, athletic, skilful, brave, and a great team player. There have been some great No 7s; Winterbottom, Back, George Smith, Richie McCaw but none as good as Jones.”

David Campese: "Rugby’s original ‘Iceman’. He was an unbelievable player."

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Will Carling: "He had great acceleration and pace and could have played for most international midfields. Yet he was a no 7 who read the game brilliantly and was devastating in defence. He was the first multi talented openside."

Jeremy Guscott: "He was one of those remarkable athletes who did everything supremely well and made it look easy. He is one of the all time great openside flankers, and it was fitting when he scored the first ever try in a Rugby World Cup in the opening game of the 1987 tournament against Italy.

NUMBER 8: Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)

Sir Ian McGeechan: "His ability to bring others into the game, his ability to stay connected in the game himself, popping up repeatedly through different phases; all exemplary. And he dropped goals of course. A true original."

Will Carling: "A number 8 who could drop a goal from the 10 metre line. For a forward his skills were outrageous. As comfortable playing 7s as 15s, he had better kicking and handling skills than some fly halves playing international rugby."

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Lawrence Dallaglio: “So talented, so physical, such a great understanding of the game and so bloody competitive”

Martin Bayfield: "There was something that set him apart. I have never come across a player with so much skill."

*Click on the players name to see their selection