England's all-time XV: Here's the team fans selected
Top 10s/ListsWednesday, 05 December 2018 at 13:57
With the 2020 Six Nations in the rearview mirror, England fans have kept themselves busy by voting for their favourite XV of all time.
Fullback: Jason Robinson - 76%
Known as Billy Whizz, this former rugby league star proved a hugely successful convert to Union. A lethal runner from full-back or wing, he was a nightmare to mark in one-on-one situations. Had a knack of scoring memorable tries on the big stage.
Winger: Rory Underwood - 57%
England’s highest try scorer, with 49, and a player of undeniable attacking class. Many of his tries for England are classics of the game. Give him the ball, point him in the direction of the try-line, sit back and applaud.
Centre: Jeremy Guscott - 58%
The Prince of Centres,’ was how Guscott was described by Clive Woodward. And he wasn’t wrong.
Centre: Will Greenwood - 70%
A tall, stylish and astute centre who had a particular penchant for scoring tries against Wales. At 6ft 4ins, Greenwood had a physical presence himself but it was the judgement he brought to the field of play that marks him out. Everything you could want in a modern day inside centre and more. He is sorely missed.
Winger: Ben Cohen - 45%
'Big Ben' brought beef to England's backs in the Clive Woodward era, and was a reliable finisher. Cohen scored 31 tries in 57 appearances and won the World Cup in 2003.
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Fly-half: Jonny Wilkinson - 96%
ho else could it have been? There’s little to say about this man that hasn’t already been written. One of the greatest defensive fly halves to have ever played the game, and a physical embodiment of rugby as a professional sport. One of a kind.
Scrum-half: Matt Dawson - 80%
A sniper and an absolute pain for defences, Dawson caused havoc on the 1997 Lions tour when he dummied half of South Africa’s pack and headed for the corner to help seal the first test. Although never the greatest of distributors, Dawson’s competitive edge and ability to spot the gap puts him in ahead of many other contenders.
Prop: Jason Leonard - 60%
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 - 45%
‘To be or not to be’ was a question answered by this William Shakespeare fan. 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 - 80%
As one of the hardest hitters in rugby, “Raging Bull” is never far from a Dream XV list. The former captain played every game of the 2003 campaign, coming back from a series of injuries.
Lock: Martin Johnson - 85%
A player who led by example and the kind of man you would always want alongside you in the trenches when the chips are down. Would never ask someone to do something he wouldn’t do himself. The stats themselves – 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%)
The 25-year-old 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.
Flanker: Richard Hill - 78%
The flanker was “first on the team-sheet,” according to Johnson and Sir Clive Woodward. Praised by Jeremy Guscott for his “work rate”, it is no wonder the forward scored so many points.
Flanker: Neil Back - 51%
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. Notably small in a pack full of giants, Back made up for his lack of size through his cunning and forethought on the pitch.
Number 8: Lawrence Dallaglio - 64%
Went from being a schoolboy chorister to one of the most formidable physical presences in the game of rugby. Had it all in his prime - pace, power, aggression, pride and a steely mind-set. A Lions series winner, a World Cup winner and a trophy magnet with Wasps.
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