The definitive list of all-time greats from former England captain Will Carling, which includes three England legends.
#BACK-THREE:
15. Serge Blanco (Full-back, France, 93 caps)
Carling wrote: “He sums up all that is brilliant about French rugby. He had the audacity to take risks that no one else would. He was daring but he had the breathtaking ability to pull it off. He turned many matches from full-back. He was the epitome of the brilliant Frenchmen. A dream to watch, a nightmare to play against.
14. David Campese (Wing, Australia, 101 caps)
Carling wrote: “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. He was an extraordinary talent – the best winger.”
11. Jonah Lomu (Wing, New Zealand, 63 caps)
Talking of nightmares, the physical impact that Lomu had on the 1995 World Cup was beyond the effect of any other player in the history of the game. He was so quick, so powerful and so strong that he changed rugby. He could singlehandedly take on four or five players – no one had done that before or has done it since.
#CENTRES:
13. Brian O’Driscoll (Centre, Ireland, 71 caps)
Carling wrote: “As a balanced centre he has everything – pace strength, great attacking skill and is as good in defence as attack. On the 2001 Lions tour, he showed his outstanding talent as the stand out back in the series. He has the ability to prise open defences that other players cannot even contemplate. With his poise, his change of speed and his closeness to the ground it is very hard to stop him. Ireland were half the side without him.”
12. Danie Gerber (Centre, South Africa, 24 caps)
Carling wrote: “I wouldn’t have liked to have played against him. With his pace, power and aggression, he was like a little rocket. He was built like a tank and had the pace of an F1 car. Although he wasn’t seen much on the international scene (because of the apartheid boycotts) he made a huge impact. With more time he would have had an incredible effect.”