The 50 greatest rugby World Cup players of all-time ranked – Jonny Wilkinson fourth
Rugby NewsWednesday, 06 September 2023 at 09:09
The Independent has released it's greatest 100 players in World Cup history, ranked according to their team of expert rugby writers.
It will come as no surprise to learn that the Pienaars, Williams’ and McCaws all feature high up the list.
Players from Georgia, Samoa, Argentina and beyond are also all included, and as the global expansion of rugby union continues, this list should get more diverse as the years go by.
Surprisingly, the likes of Alun Wyn Jones and Brian O'Driscoll find themselves outside of the top 50
Check out their top 50 below
#50 - Andrew Merhtens (New Zealand)
#49 - Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji)
#48 - Phil Vickery (England)
They wrote: "A World Cup winner in 2003, Vickery emerged as the somewhat surprising man to captain England to the 2007 World Cup, where an unexpected resurrection saw them come within a whisker of retaining the Webb Ellis Cup. Arguably England's best tighthead prop."
#47 - Sam Warburton (Wales)
#46 - Joe Roff (Australia)
#45 - Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)
#44 - Juan Martin Hernandez (Argentina)
#43 - Matt Burke (Australia)
#42 - Ayumu Gorumaru (Japan)
#41 - Matt Giteau (Australia)
#40 - Phil Kearns (Australia)
#39 - George Smith (Australia)
#38 - Ruben Kruger (South Africa)
#37 - Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)
#36 - Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
#35 - Percy Montgomery (South Africa)
#34 - Jason Little (Australia)
#33 - Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
#32 - Christophe Lamaison (France)
#31 - Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
They wrote; "One of the players who learned from the errors of 1999 to dazzle in 2003. Remembered for making the break that set-up Jason Robinson's try in the World Cup final, but contributed so much more to England's campaign."
#30 - Schalk Burger (South Africa)
#29 - Joel Stransky (South Africa)
#28 - Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
#27 - John Smit (South Africa)
#26 - Victor Matfield (South Africa)
#25 - Richard Hill (England)
They wrote; "Played just three matches at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, but so important was he to England's hopes that Sir Clive Woodward was happy to carry him through the tournament knowing how much they needed him in the final. However, it was his semi-final return from injury that really stood out, keeping England's World Cup hopes alive against Wales."
#24 - Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)
#23 - Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand)
#22 - Serge Blanco (France)
#21 - Kieran Read (New Zealand)
#20 - Os du Randt (South Africa)
#19 - Stephen Larkham (Australia)
#18 - Francois Pienaar (South Africa)
#17 - Chester Williams (South Africa)
#16 - George Gregan (Australia)
#15 - Jason Robinson (England)
#14 - John Kirwan (New Zealand)
#13 - David Campese (Australia)
#12 - Michael Lynagh (Australia)
#11 - Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
#10 - Tim Horan (Australia)
#9 - Bryan Habana (South Africa)
#8 - Martin Johnson (England)
#7 - Michael Jones (New Zealand)
#6 - John Eales (Australia)
#5 - Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
#4 - Jonny Wilkinson (England)
#3 - Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
#2 - Dan Carter (New Zealand)
#1 - Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
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