The finest players in the world sometimes don’t quite manage to produce their best on the biggest stage of all.
Others seem fired up by the global attention, playing in ways they never could for their club to become one of the Greatest Players.
Here are 20...
Rugby World Cup Greatest Players:
20. Michael Jones (New Zealand)
Arguably the best No. 7 to ever play the game, Michael Jones seemed to save his best for World Cups. In 1987 he burst onto the scene and was arguably the best player at the tournament. He was a skilful player, while also possessing the abilities required by an openside flanker, making for a deadly combination.
19. Brian Lima (Samoa)
Lima's contribution to Samoan rugby was perhaps greater than that of any player to their respective country. He appeared in five World Cups (1991-2007), reaching the quarterfinals twice, toppling some top opposition along the way. Without a doubt one of the Rugby World Cup Greatest Players.
18. John Kirwan (New Zealand)
Kirwan was to the 1987 tournament what Campese was to the 1991 tournament. It was here that the speedster cemented his name not just amongst World Cup greats, but amongst all-time greats, proving to be at times virtually unstoppable.
17. Matt Burke (Australia)
The Aussie was considered one of the best fullbacks and goal kickers of his era, and these skills were on full display for the world to marvel in during the 1999 Rugby World Cup final. While hardly a classic match it was one in which Burke’s goal kicking, positional play and defense were phenomenal.
16. Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand)
If you were building an ideal midfielder, it would most likely end up being something like Ma’a Nonu. Big, strong, explosive, with a great support game and rock solid on defence are the key to Nonu’s game, and all these attributes were on show in both his Rugby World Cup finals in 2011 and 2015.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Ma'a Nonu of the New Zealand All Blacks is tackled by Handre Pollard (l) and Francois Louw (6) of South Africa during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match between South Africa and New Zealand at Twickenham Stadium on October 24, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chris Lee - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
15. Francois Pienaar (South Africa)
The fearless captain of South Africa, who at a time when the country needed a hero, delivered a performance worthy of a Hollywood movie. The 1995 final was more than just the occasion, “it became a story about us, new South Africa finding its identity through sport” Pienaar would later say. He epitomises what a Rugby World Cup-winning Captain should be; he led from the front with staunch bone-crunching defense, he put his body on the line constantly getting over the ball for turnovers or just to stop the All Blacks from getting quick, clean, ball.
14. David Campese (Australia)
A true entertainer on the wing, ‘Campo’ had every magic trick in his arsenal and they were all on show during Rugby World Cup 1991. The RWC leading try scorer, player of the tournament and RWC winner, Campo’s name could not be left off this list.
13. Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)
This man took some stopping. One of the game's greatest ever forwards.
12. Od du Randt (South Africa)
Included as much for his longevity as his ability, du Randt won two RWCs, despite missing a tournament when he should have been in the prime of his career. A total of 12 years separate the Springbok’s two titles and though in 2007 du Randt didn’t physically resemble the fresh-faced youth that won the tournament in 1995, his powerful scrummaging and tireless defensive work were unmistakable.
11. Richard Hill (England)
Perhaps the most important cog in England’s illustrious back row of 2003, Hill performed every dirty job that England thrust upon him with aplomb. The blindside was a ferocious rucker and tackler, often paving the way for Neil Back’s success, whilst he provided the hard-fought metres around the fringes that set up Lawrence Dallaglio for his big canters through retreating defences.
10. Tim Horan (Australia)
He was immense at the 1991 tournament, although had to take a back seat to Campese, but was able to fully flourish and was the best player at 1999. Capable of cutting teams to bits on attack, putting in solid hits on defence and creating chances for others, Horan was the complete player and World Cups, it seemed, brought out the best in him..
9. Serge Blanco (France)
In 1987 he was in his pomp, even though he was getting through a couple of packets of cigarettes a day, and got France to the final. In the semi-final against Australia Blanco finished off the move, in injury time, that condemned the Wallabies to a 30-24 defeat in Sydney.
8. Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
A powerful player, standing 6ft 2in, the South African had an eye for a gap, a bullet pass and an appetite for defending. The scrum-half pulled off one of the tackles of the 1995 World Cup final when he hauled down Jonah Lomu as the Springboks edged to a 15-12 extra-time win over New Zealand.
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South African captain Joost van der Westhuizen (L) clears a kick around the tackle of Australian scrumhalf George Gregan during their Tri-Nations Test match August 14. South Africa, who had lost their last four internationals, won the game 10-9.
MH/KM - RTR125HP
7. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
He finished up with 67 tries in 124 Tests for South Africa and was part of the Bok team, in 2009, which held every trophy they could win.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 07: (Re-transmission of #491690038 with alternative crop) Bryan Habana of South Africa goes over for their third try during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and USA at Olympic Stadium on October 7, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
6. Martin Johnson (England)
If Jonny Wilkinson was the driver of the 2003 England team, Martin Johnson was the brains and the grunt. He wasn't a flash player by any sense of the word. What he was, was a tough, reliable worker. After the final, John Eales exclaimed that he thought Martin Johnson's performance was the best ever by a lock.6
5. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Dan Carter of New Zealand takes a penalty during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham Stadium on October 31, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
4. John Eales (Australia)
Some say he's Australia's greatest ever player. And they may very well be right. Nicknamed "Nobody,"—because, as they say, "nobody's perfect"—Eales became the most dominant lock of his era and was part of two World Cup-winning teams, being captain for the second one.
3. Jonny Wilkinson (England)
The legend will forever be remembered for his extra-time drop goal that won the 2003 World Cup for England. But he was much more than this. He made his first World Cup appearance as a 19-year-old in 1999. The World Cup wasn't a successful one for England but served as a learning curve for the youngster and the rest of the team. He then played in 2007 and 2011, again being one of his sides better performers. Could not be left out of a list of the Rugby World Cup Greatest Players.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 19: Jonny Wilkinson of England looks on during the Cook Cup Test Match between the Australian Wallabies and England at ANZ Stadium on June 19, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
2. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
Never has there been a player as dominant as him. Rugby’s first global superstar had a unique combination of size, speed and power which saw him close to unstoppable at his best. Within weeks he took over the rugby world and became the face of the 1995 and 1999 World Cup.
1. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Possibly the best ever rugby player on the best ever rugby team, the flanker almost gets in on his pedigree alone, but this article is about picking the best performances from the Rugby World Cup-winning team. Playing the 2011 final with a fractured foot, McCaw led from the front with a game-high 18 tackles, producing a ‘captain’s knock’ to inspire his troops to victory. In the 2015 Rugby World Cup final there was not a man on the pitch who worked harder than McCaw. He was the everywhere man.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Richie McCaw of New Zealand lifts the trophy after victory during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham Stadium on October 31, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
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