The greatest England rugby XV ever as public vote results announced

Saturday, 02 October 2021 at 13:04

byRugby Rucker

The results are in and you have chosen your greatest England rugby XV of all time.

There was a huge response to our poll, with around 20,000 people making their selections in each position from our shortlist.

Some legends were runaway winners, while in other areas of the team it was a real close call.

The two players who were well clear of the chasing pack were Martin Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson, who both received 97 per cent of the vote at fly-half and lock respectively.

So here it this then below, your chosen side

Greatest England rugby XV:

BACK-THREE:

Fullback: JASON ROBINSON (94% of the vote) - The speedster was a menace whatever number was on his back, a bewildering opponent, a man seemingly able to sidestep in mid-air, with pace and nerve and vision, tough in the tackle, intelligent in his use of angles and selfless when it came to creating openings for teammates.
Winger: JOSH LEWSEY (56%): His physical prowess was matched with a determination to constantly improve and a wonderful ability to read the game in front of him
Winger: RORY UNDERWOOD (55%) - England’s highest try scorer, with 49, and a player of undeniable attacking class

CENTRES:

Centre: JEREMY GUSCOTT (69%) - The Prince of Centres,’ was how Guscott was described by Clive Woodward. And he wasn’t wrong.
Centre: WILL GREENWOOD (66%) - Everything you could want in a modern day inside centre and more. He is sorely missed.

HALFBACKS:

Fly-half: JONNY WILKINSON (97%) - Who else could it have been? There’s little to say about this man that hasn’t already been written.
Scrum-half: MATT DAWSON (83%) - Although never the greatest of distributors, Dawson’s competitive edge and ability to spot the gap puts him in ahead of many other contenders

FRONT-ROW:

Prop: JASON LEONARD (69%) - The most enduring, the most accomplished and, as his ‘Fun Bus’ nickname would suggest, one of the most faithful and inspirational team-mates to have alongside you
Hooker: BRIAN MOORE (43%) - He played in three World Cups for England and won three Grand Slams, earning World Rugby’s Player of the Year award in 1991
Prop: PHIL VICKERY (82%) - As one of the hardest hitters in rugby, “Raging Bull” is never far from a Dream XV list

SECOND-ROW:

Lock: MARTIN JOHNSON (98%) - 84 caps for England across a decade, 39 of them as captain, culminating in that World Cup victory, three tours for the British and Irish Lions as well
Lock: MARO ITOJE (59%) - He would have excelled no matter the time or style of game, be it tight and relentless, a bare-knuckle exchange as often used to be the case, or, as he does now, as an all-purpose player, as at ease in the open spaces as he is doing the grunt work at the coal-face

BACK-ROW:

Flanker: RICHARD HILL (85%) - The flanker was “first on the team-sheet,” according to Johnson and Sir Clive Woodward
Flanker: NEIL BACK (56%) - A genuine openside and a genius at the breakdown, Back added an extra dimension to the England side that is so sorely lacking from them now
Number 8: LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO (70%) - Dallaglio has always been a singular figure, one never daunted by any situation which is why he was such a long-standing captain with Wasps