Alun Wyn Jones named the 3 best players he played against during his long career

Find your local Greene King pub and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!

The most capped player in rugby history, Jones called time on his illustrious international career last May before signing with Toulon as injury cover for the World Cup.

In November, the 38-year-old took his final bow, captaining Toulon to a dramatic 30-27 win over Clermont in the Top 14. Given a hero’s send-off, he left the field after 66 minutes, only to make a brief return at the death to play a crucial role in the winning try. A fitting end to a truly remarkable career.

But who gave Jones the biggest headaches on the pitch? The Welsh warrior has revealed the three second-row opponents who tested him the most throughout his near two-decade career.

Born: October 20, 1979, Limerick
Major teams: British & Irish Lions, Munster, Ireland
Caps: 115
Position: Lock

A titan of Irish rugby, Paul O’Connell was a leader in every sense of the word. Dominating the lineout and commanding respect in every ruck and maul, he was instrumental in Ireland’s Six Nations successes and the Lions’ triumphs.

O’Connell was a talented swimmer before taking up rugby at 16.

Born: September 22, 1979, Newcastle, Natal
Major teams: Barbarians, Blue Bulls, Bulls, South Africa A, Toulon, South Africa
Position: Lock

When you think of pure, unfiltered aggression on a rugby field, Bakkies Botha’s name is right up there. The South African enforcer struck fear into opponents with his bone-crunching tackles and unrelenting physicality. If you lined up against Botha, you knew you were in for a war.

Botha remains the only player to have won a hat-trick of Super Rugby and European rugby titles.

Born: April 20, 1974, Sydney, NSW
Major teams: Australia A, Barbarians, Bath Rugby, Brumbies, New South Wales Waratahs, Ulster, Australia
Caps: 34
Position: Lock

A towering presence in Australian rugby, Justin Harrison was as much about the mental game as the physical. Best remembered for his key role in the Wallabies’ 2001 Lions series win, he was a player who knew how to get under opponents’ skin—and loved every minute of it.

Harrison is currently the head of the Australian Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA).

You've got just 5 minutes on the clock – no pressure!