"Carter or Wilkinson" - Owen Farrell picks his all-time Dream XV

Saturday, 11 March 2023 at 10:05

byRugby Rucker

England captain Owens Farrell has to choose between Dan Carter, Jonny Wilkinson and Johnny Sexton when discussing his toughest opponents.

BACK-THREE:

15. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
14. Jonny May (England)
11. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

Farrell on Barrett: "He’s a world-class player. World [Rugby] player of the year twice in a row, there are not many people who have done that. He’s classy, a brilliant athlete and those are the kind of people you want to play against. You look forward to coming up against them.”

Try Celebrations for Jonny May of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

CENTRES:

13. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
12. Manu Tuilagi (England)

Manu Tuilagi of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

HALFBACKS:

Fly-half: Jonny Wilkinson (England)
Scrum-half: Ben Youngs (England)

Farrell on Wilkinson: "It would have to be Jonny [Wilkinson], simple as that. The consistency he showed throughout his career was incredible, he set a new standard for flyhalves all over the world. Dan Carter is another one who has been incredible over a long period, but I’d have to stick with Jonny as my toughest opponent.”

"Sexton is also a fantastic player and even though I had respect for him before the Lions, I have even more now. I enjoyed being around him, seeing what players bring to the job day in, day out, the detail they go into. Johnny demands stuff of people, demands that they know their jobs and get it right. He’s always a really tough opponent.”

FRONT-ROW:

Loosehead-prop: Mako Vunipola (England)
Hooker: Jamie George (England)
Tighthead-prop: Vincent Koch (South Africa)

Jamie George of England celebrates after winning during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

SECOND-ROW:

Lock: Maro Itoje (England)
Lock: Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

Final whistle celebrations for Maro Itoje of England Rugby after the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

BACK-ROW:

Blindside-flanker: Schalk Burger (South Africa)
Openside-flanker: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Number 8: Billy Vunipola (England)

Farrell on Burger: "You play against some unbelievably physical players, but I’ve never seen anyone be able put their body on the line like he does time and time again. He just keeps going all day.”