"Dream Match" - Who Wins Between the All Blacks and Wallabies All-Time Greatest XV's?

This age old rivalry will enter its newest chapter with Eddie Jones back in charge, as he takes on New Zealand for the first time in his second stint as Australia Head Coach. The Wallabies desperately need a victory, after a heavy loss to South Africa and a souring defeat to Argentina.

A winless Rugby Championship campaign would be a total set-back, just over a month away from the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The All Blacks see this weekend as an opportunity to reinforce their status, as one of the favourites to take home the Web Ellis Trophy from France. Ian Foster's side recently shocked a re-enforced Springboks side with a 35-20 triumph, and reminded the rugby world of their ability to come good in the biggest matches.

Ahead of the Bledisloe Cup clash, we decided to pick the all-time XV's for New Zealand and Australia. These two squads contain some of history's greatest ever players, in what has sized up to be an ultimate clash for the ages.

Who do you think would win this match between the All Blacks and Wallabies dream teams?

One of the most exciting players of his time, Cullen was a true entertainer in the black jersey. Known best for his speed, agility and fleet-footedness, Cullen could sidestep his opponents in a phone box. With 46 tries in 58 All Blacks tests, he is worthy of taking the number 15 jersey becoming the first name on this all-star XV.

The All Blacks all-time top try scorer, flying winger Doug Howlett takes up the right wing in this dream XV. Howlett scored 49 tries for New Zealand, with his unmatched speed taking him to the top of his game for club and country. Starring most prominently for the Blues, Howlett scored 59 tries in 114 Super Rugby matches, before taking the Northern Hemisphere my storm with Munster.

Rugby's first superstar that is regarded in the conversion for the greatest player of all time. Jonah Lomu took rugby into the global media spotlight, with his dominant performances for the All Blacks at the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups. He scored 15 tries in 2 RWC tournaments, which is a record that still stands to this day.

Tana Umaga captained the All Blacks from 2004 to 2005, with an impressive international record of 74 tests and 36 tries. Coupled with the rare skillset of powering crashing lines and delicate passing accuracy, Umaga could go it alone through the heart of the opposition, or use his expert awareness to create space for his teammates to exploit.

Finishing off his All Blacks career at the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final, Nonu scored his final international try with a sublime solo effort against age old rivals Australia. Still tearing up the domestic game at 41-years-old, Nonu stars for San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby over in the United States. An undoubted All Blacks great, Nonu partners Umaga to form a formidable centre duo.

Joining Lomu in the conversation for 'Greatest Rugby player of All Time', is legendary All Blacks fly half Dan Carter. Slotting a crucial drop goal to secure the All Blacks momentum, to eventually win the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final, 'DC' has done it all in the game. Carter holds the record for most points in a test match career, as he made a phenomenal 1,598 points across 112 All Blacks caps.

Heading to Japan after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, this upcoming competition may well be the farwell for Aaron Smith in the black jersey. Having already said his goodbyes to his beloved Highlanders, Smith is a scrum half great that has stood the test of time. With 114 All Blacks caps and counting, Smith holds the mantle in the number nine jersey for New Zealand.

A workhorse prop with the engine of a back-rower, Tony Woodcock was amongst the five All Blacks legends who hung up their international boots after the 2015 Rugby World Cup glory. Woodcock was unfortunately injured for that final, but he scored the All Black's only try in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, and is one of only 20 men to have won the Web Ellis Trophy twice.

Widely regarded by rugby historians as the greatest hooker of all time, Fitzpatrick played a key role in the front row for New Zealand's success in the 1980s and 1990s. Just shy of the century mark with 92 test match caps, Fitzpatrick scored 14 tries for the All Blacks, and even captained the side from 1992-1997.

The human battering ram Owen Franks was a revered foe in the All Blacks scrum. The bulldozing tight-head prop was a powerful ball carrier, but also implied the old-school tricks of the trade to gain the upper hand in the scrum. Throughout his 108 test matches for the All Blacks, Franks won the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups, partnering up with Woodcock in this iconic front row.

Amongst the best locks in the world, Retallick made his breakthrough into the New Zealand U20s side which won the 2011 World Championship, in line with the senior team's World Cup success. The Chiefs legend has played over 100 test matches for the All Blacks, with his tally set to increase at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He was an integral pillar in the scrum, that dominated Australia in the 2015 RWC Final.

Hoping to become the first player in history to win three Rugby World Cups, Sam Whitelock has had a decorated career in the black jersey. A stalwart of the 2011 and 2015 RWC success, and countless dominant years in the Tri Nations and Rugby Championship, Whitelock is the last of an era. His longevity is encapsulated as being the most capped All Blacks lock with 143 appearances and counting.

Michael Jones had an unmatched work-rate in the black jersey, and was pivotal to the All Blacks success during the 1980s and early 1990s. He was a key leader on the pitch, and a figurehead for New Zealand's 1987 Rugby World Cup triumph. Regarded as one of the hardest hitters of the late amateur era, Jones slots in this squad at blindside flanker.

The third man in this All Blacks starting XV who is regarded as the best to ever play the game, McCaw has recently received the experts choice for the status as the G.O.A.T. The only man in history to captain a side to two Rugby World Cup triumphs, McCaw's accomplishments sees pundits and fans regard him as the greatest ever All Black. The most capped New Zealand international with 148 test caps, his record stood for all of international rugby before he was surpassed by Alun Wyn Jones.

Completing the All Blacks starting XV is arguably the best number eight of the modern era. Rivalled only by the great Italian Sergio Parrise, Kieran Read's leadership, ball-carrying and tackling sets him apart from the pack. A foundation for the All Blacks success in the 2010s, Read retired after his 127th cap, when the All Blacks took bronze at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Now, onto the Wallabies...

The Wallabies' flying fullback who starred in the 1999 Rugby World Cup triumph, Matt Burke commences the team-sheet for Australia's greatest ever XV. Scoring over 800 points for the Wallabies, Burke simply could not be stopped when he hit top gear. Also a renowned place kicker, Burke slotted seven penalties and two conversions in Australia's triumphant Rugby World Cup Final victory over France.

The great entertainer. When David Campese set off with the ball in hand, Wallabies fans sat up and got to the edge of their seats. The tantalising ability to weave in and out of the opposition, Campese is regarded as the best winger Australian rugby has ever produced. Despite never winning the RWC, Campese has a Lomu-esque outing at the competition, as he shone in 1987, and won Player of the Tournament in 1991.

Roff nailed his name to the number eleven jersey during Australia's 'Golden Era', and had a phenomenal tournament in the 1999 coronating year. Explosive pace, he made up a terrifying trio across the back-three with Ben Tune and the aforementioned Matt Burke.

Few men had the ability to instill fear into the world's best rugby players, Mortlock was one of those men. The bruising centre made sure that every tackle he made, the unfortunate ball carrier would remember his name. Mortlock's thunderous crash ball strength took the Wallabies to topple the All Blacks come the turn of the new Millennium, and clinched his side the 2000 and 2001 Tri Nations Championships.

Regarded by Australian rugby fans and pundits as the best centre the Wallabies have ever seen, Tim Horan was a marked man by any side he lined up against. Simply put, the tactics often enforced would be to the extent of 'don't let Horan get going'. However, many teams failed to do so, which in turn took Horan to Rugby World Cup glory with Australia in 1991 and 1999, and he was also voted player of the tournament in '99.

Famously making the transition from fullback to fly half, Larkham positional change is considered one of the most influential moves in Wallabies rugby history. He became the first choice fly half for Australia from 1997 to 2007, playing in three Rugby World Cups in the process, and leading the victory in '99. However, Larkham's crowning moment came in that year's semi-final, with his fabled 48m drop goal sending the Springboks out of the competition.

The Wallabies' longest serving captain, Gregan led from the front for Australia for the majority of his time at scrum half. The most capped Wallaby to ever wear the famous gold and green, Gregan made 139 test match appearences for the land down under, and ended his tenure just one point shy of a century with 99. Considered amongst Australian rugby royalty, Gregan led the Wallabies to their best successes of the early professional era.

Today co-captaining the Wallabies alongside back-rower Michael Hooper (more on him later), James Slipper is at the top of his game, and is writing his application to be considered amongst the greatest Australian props. With unmatched technical prowess in the front row, Slipper often comes up with the plaudits when the Wallabies turn the ball over at scrum-time.

The revered on-field arch-nemesis of Sean Fitzpatrick, but the pair are reportedly good friends off the pitch. Who would not want to see Phil Kearns lock horns with his age-old rival one last time in the Aussie-Kiwi front row. Kearns made 67 appearance for the Wallabies, with his most important and celebrated contributions coming in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, which Australia came away as victors.

Ewen McKenzie is selected to slot in the tight-head prop role, as he has had significant influence over the Wallabies during his time as a player and coach. McKenzie hung up his international boots in 1997, win the 1991 RWC winners medal sitting nicely in his collection. He then made a career of introducing the next generation of Aussie stars as a coach of Queensland Reds, before returning to the Wallabies side-lines.

The former Wallabies captain was none for his 'Mr. No Days Off' attitude, earning respect through his undying work rate and will to succeed. Sharpe played 116 test matches for the Wallabies, over a decade stretching from 2002 to 2012. Starring in an era that failed to reach the heights of the 1990s glory days, Sharpe still captained his side to silverware, including the 2000 and 2001 Tri Nations.

Back to the Wallabies' golden era, with John Eales representing one of a trio of crown jewels along with Campese and Horan. The captain of Australia's 1999 Rugby World Cup winning side, he is regarded the world over as one of the greatest locks rugby has seen, this side of the professional era. With 86 test match caps stretching from 1991 to 2001, his influence is best summed up in the annual award for the best Australian rugby union player, which is known as The John Eales Medal.

A shining beacon in Australia's darker days after their Golden generation faded away, George Smith is a tried and tested back-row battler. His head-down, push forward approach won him the hearts of the Wallabies fans, as well as a trio of Tri Nations titles in 2000, 2001 and 2011. His longevity is portrayed in how hard he continued to hit, even after making over 100 test match caps for the Wallabies.

The man who would be awarded the honour of captain be it not for the presence of Eales, Michael Hooper has led the Wallabies throughout the majority of the 2010s, and into the 2020s. If Hooper had a Rugby World Cup winners medal in his trophy cabinet, he would be hailed as the Greatest Australian player of all time. However, success is measured in gold, with Hooper's crowning moment so far coming in the 2015 Rugby Championship. Maybe the 2023 Rugby World Cup can bring him the long awaited Web Ellis trophy.

Instantly spotted on a pitch from an early age, Toutai Kefu towered over his opponents, with a hulking presence that could rarely be contained. A feared ball-carrier in the late 90s and early 2000s, Kefu was a fan favourite of the world-beating Wallabies who won the 1999 Rugby World Cup. A well-utilised weapon at the back of a scrum, it was a wingers nightmare to see Kefu pick blind and charge down their channel.