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The Independent has released its greatest 100 players in World Cup history, ranked according to our team of expert rugby writers.
It will come as no surprise to learn that the Pienaar, Wilkinson, and McCaw all feature high up the list.
Players from Georgia, Samoa, Argentina and beyond are also all included, and as the global expansion of rugby union continues, this list should get more diverse as the years go by.
Check out their full ranking below:
100 greatest rugby players (Rugby World Cups)
#100 Michale Leitch (Japan)
#99 Lewis Moody (England)
#98 Ben Franks (New Zealand)
#97 Diego Dominguez (Italy)
#96 Toutai Kefu (Australia)
#95 Vaaiga Tuigamala (Western Samoa/ New Zealand)
#94 Sebastien Chabal (France)
#93 Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)
#92 Mickey Skinner (England)
#91 Stephen Donald (New Zealand)
#90 Takudza Ngwenya (USA)
#89 Thierry Lacroix (France)
#88 Karne Hesketh (Japan)
#87 Andrew Sheridan (England)
#86 Josh Lewsey (England)
#85 Will Genia (Australia)
#84 Will Greenwood (England)
#83 Gavin Hastings (Scotland)
#82 David Pocock (Australia)
#81 Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa)
#80 Israel Dagg (New Zealand)
#79 Wayne Shelford (New Zealand)
#78 Jeremy Guscott (England)
#77 Serge Betsen (France)
#76 Brian Lima (Samoa)
#75 Tony Daly (Australia)
#74 Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
#73 Brad Thorn (New Zealand)
#72 Jannie de Beer (South Africa)
#71 Fourie du Preez (South Africa)
#70 Mils Muliaina (New Zealand)
#69 Thierry Dusautoir (France)
#68 Owen Franks (New Zealand)
#67 Mike Tindall (England)
#66 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand)
#65 Glen Osbourne (New Zealand)
#64 Rory Underwood (England)
#63 Josh Kronfeld (New Zealand)
#62 Brian ODriscoll (Ireland)
#61 Willie Ofahengaue (Australia)
#60 Dan Crowley (Australia)
#59 Emile Ntamack (France)
#58 Shane Williams (Wales)
#57 Daniel Herbert (Australia)
#56 Nick Farr-Jones (Australia)
#55 Jason Leonard (England)
#54 Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)
#53 Ben Kay (England)
#52 Neil Back (England)
#51 Abdelatif Benazzi (France)
#50 Andrew Merhtens (New Zealand)
#49 Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji)
#48 Phil Vickery (England)
#47 Sam Warburton (Wales)
#46 Joe Roff (Australia)
#45 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)
#44 Juan Martin Hernandez (Argentina)
#43 Matt Burke (Australia)
#42 Ayumu Gorumaru (Japan)
#41 Matt Giteau (Australia)
#40 Phil Kearns (Australia)
#39 George Smith (Australia)
#38 Ruben Kruger (South Africa)
#37 Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)
#36 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
#35 Percy Montgomery (South Africa)
#34 Jason Little (Australia)
#33 Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
#32 Christophe Lamaison (France)
#31 Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
#30 Schalk Burger (South Africa)
#29 Joel Stransky (South Africa)
#28 Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
#27 John Smit (South Africa)
#26 Victor Matfield (South Africa)
#25 Richard Hill (England)
#24 Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)
#23 Maa Nonu (New Zealand)
#22 Serge Blanco (France)
#21 Kieran Read (New Zealand)
#20 Os du Randt (South Africa)
#19 Stephen Larkham (Australia)
#18 Francois Pienaar (South Africa)
#17 Chester Williams (South Africa)
#16 George Gregan (Australia)
#15 Jason Robinson (England)
#14 John Kirwan (New Zealand)
#13 David Campese (Australia)
#12 Michael Lynagh (Australia)
#11 Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
#10 Tim Horan (Australia)
#9 Bryan Habana (South Africa)
#8 Martin Johnson (England)
#7 Michael Jones (New Zealand)
#6 John Eales (Australia)
#5 Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
#4 Jonny Wilkinson (England)
#3 Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
#2 Dan Carter (New Zealand)
#1 Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world aint all sunshine and rainbows. Its a very mean and nasty place and I dont care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it aint about how hard ya hit. Its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. Thats how winning is done! Now if you know what youre worth then go out and get what youre worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you aint where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that aint you! Youre better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
list doesn't go back very far,does it?
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world aint all sunshine and rainbows. Its a very mean and nasty place and I dont care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it aint about how hard ya hit. Its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. Thats how winning is done! Now if you know what youre worth then go out and get what youre worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you aint where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that aint you! Youre better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
You can just squeeze them into a pretty handy XV...
1 #75 – Tony Daly (Australia)
2 #40 – Phil Kearns (Australia)
3 #60 – Dan Crowley (Australia)
4 #96 – Toutai Kefu (Australia)
5 #6 – John Eales (Australia)
6 #39 – George Smith (Australia)
7 #82 – David Pocock (Australia)
8 #61 – Willie Ofahengaue (Australia)
9 #16 – George Gregan (Australia)
10 #12 – Michael Lynagh (Australia)
11 #13 – David Campese (Australia)
12 #10 – Tim Horan (Australia)
13 #34 – Jason Little (Australia)
14 #46 – Joe Roff (Australia)
15 #43 – Matt Burke (Australia)
16 #19 – Stephen Larkham (Australia)
17 #41 – Matt Giteau (Australia)
18 #56 – Nick Farr-Jones (Australia)
19 #57 – Daniel Herbert (Australia)
20 #85 – Will Genia (Australia)
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
And yet no Ella brothers either!
Fitzpatrick at 5???
Japan and the Pacific Islands for Aussie Super 9's!
Let's have one of these in WA! Click this link: Saitama Super Arena - New Perth Stadium?
Stephen Donald? No Freddy Michalak? Gus Pichot?
Mario Ledesma? Probably more weird ones. But just someone's opinion......