Fans rank the top 10 England players amid Johnson vs Itoje debate

Well, that’s the question on many Rugby fans’ lips at the moment as a fascinating debate about the two England icons is currently unfolding on social media.

Following an office debate, we asked fans to select who was better in their prime with over 2,000 fans responding. The results? About even.

So, to help unpick the raging Johnson vs Itoje debate, be sure to check out where they rank amongst England’s 20 greatest ever players in the opinions of thousands of supporters.

We can do that by taking a peek at the interactive list titled: “The Best Rugby Players From England” over at Ranker, which allows fans to vote for who they think is the nation’s best ever male footballer.

With over 40,000 votes from more than 5,000 voters, it really is one of the closest ways we can get to fairly and objectively proclaiming the finest ever stars 

For some reason, Farrell divides opinion like no other player. Personally I’m a huge fan. We think he embodies the competitiveness and professionalism which drives teams to great heights, although we accept that others have different views.

From becoming, at 21, the youngest prop to play for England in Argentina in 1990 to his key role as a replacement in the World Cup final 13 years later, the boy from Barking was an immovable rock for his country. 8

England’s all-time record try scorer with 49 tries in 85 games.

Very underestimated. I think some of the off-field stuff distracted from what a good player and captain he was.

A talent like no other who, according to numerous team-mates, could “sidestep you in a phonebox” and who scored England’s try of the 2003 final. 

Ball carrier, spoiler, competitor, excellent line-out operator, and very good hands as well. Also a natural leader. 

The only member of the 2003 squad to play every minute of every match, he had the game of his life in the semi-final against France, having blubbed his way through the anthem. Part of a back row that had everything, providing the dynamism to Neil Back’s breakdown work and Richard Hill’s tackling.

England’s Silent Assassin and the one man Clive Woodward refused to drop. His former team-mates will line up to tell you that Hill’s true value was only recognised when he was not on the pitch.

It seems incredible that for all his injury problems, Wilkinson made it to four World Cups while no one has scored more points in the tournament. Cemented his place as an English national treasure with the winning drop goal against Australia in 2003. 

The Leicester lock played in three World Cups and never took a backward step in any of them. By the time he retired from Test rugby he had won 84 caps for England, as well as playing 362 times for the Tigers.