George Gregan and Jason Leonard are the two ‘winningest’ players in the history of the Rugby World Cup, with both involved in 16 wins for the Wallabies and England respectively.
Jason Leonard, the big England prop, is the most experienced player in Cup history, playing 22 matches from 1991 to 2003. He finished his World Cup career on a high, helping England secure ‘Bill’ with a thrilling extra-time win against the Wallabies.
Gregan played two fewer matches than Leonard for his 16 wins. Despite his small stature, Gregan announced himself to the world with his try-saving tackle on Jeff Wilson in 1994. He gained selection for his first World Cup a year later, and by 1999 was a big part of the Wallabies’ road to glory at Millennium Stadium against France.
Gregan’s last World Cup match was also his last appearance for the Wallabies – a quarter-final loss to England in 2007.
16 wins is a lot for a World Cup career, but Gregan and Leonard’s efforts are likely to be overtaken by New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, who sits on 14 wins before the 2015 tournament.
The Roar’s World Cup Countdown:
30. Grant Fox’s record 30 conversions from the 1987 World Cup
29. All Blacks claim the 1987 World Cup, 29-9
28. Tonga stun Italy with Sateki Tuipulotu’s boot, winning 28-25
27. 27 per cent of tries came from scrums in 2003 with Canada showing the value of the set piece
26. David Pocock made 26 tackles in a fantastic performance against South Africa in the 2011 quarter-finals
25. South Africa’s 25 wins from 29 matches at the World Cup
24. Wales scores 24 points in the first half against New Zealand but still lose in 2003
23. Nick Farr-Jones 23 wins as Australian captain including an historic 1991 World Cup win against England
22. The Wallabies notch a cricket score with 22 tries in a 142-0 thumping of Namibia in 2003
21. Georgia’s David Dadunashvili becomes the youngest (21) to start at hooker in a World Cup match
20. The first World Cup classic finishes 20-all between Scotland and France in 1987
19. 19-year-old George North becomes youngest World Cup try scorer in 2011
18. Since their first and only win Japan has gone 18-straight World Cup games without victory
17. New Zealand coaching staff present 17 alleged refereeing errors to explain 2007 loss
16. George Gregan and Jason Leonard involved in 16 wins each at World Cup level
15. Jonah Lomu’s 15 tries in 11 matches
14. Jonny Wilkinson’s 14 World Cup drop goals including his most famous one in England’s 20-17 win over the Wallabies
13. Philippe Sella’s fantastic career at No.13 with 13 starts for France at Rugby World Cups
12. The Wallabies record 12-game winning streak from 1999 to 2003
11. Fiji win 11 out of 11 lineouts against Wales during a stunning 38-34 win in 2007
10. David Campese’s 10 tries for the Wallabies at Rugby World Cups
9. Matt Burke’s 9 points per game average after an amazing 1999 tournament
8. Diego Ormaechea, at age 40, was the oldest number 8 to play at a World Cup
7. No.7 Michael Jones scores the first ever World Cup try
6. Marc Ellis’ record six tries in a match against Japan
5. Jannie de Beer’s five drop goals in a match against England in the 1999 quarter-finals
4. Michael Lynagh’s four tries in World Cup matches including his match-winner against Ireland
3. Cardiff has hosted World Cup matches for three tournaments and will make it a record four in 2015
2. Christophe Lamaison’s two drop goals in semi-final blinder
1. The Webb Ellis Cup.
Birdy
Guest
Jason Leonard is a legend. How could you not like a guy whose nickname is 'the Funbus'. Apparently, on tour in the old days before professionalism really kicked in, the punishment for indiscretions was to be sent out for a night to drink with Leonard with orders to match him drink for drink. A former carpenter from the Eastend of London (as far from the Twickenham elite as you could possibly get) his new role is spreading the game in English inner cities. He was instrumental in England winning the RWC in 2003. Although he was mostly on the bench for the tournament, he played a big part in the final. The ref, Andre Watson, had taken against the England scrum and Phil Vickery in particular. Although Vickery was smashing his opponent, Watson kept pinging him leading to probably the only instance I've ever seen of a prop having to be substituted because he was too dominant. The story goes that Leonard trots on to replace Vickery in a break in play, puts his arm round Watson and says 'Don't worry Andre, mate, I'm on now so all this nonsense will stop'. Result? I don't think England conceded another penalty at the scrum. Never heard a bad word said against him by team mates, opposition, fans, officials or anyone.
Taylorman
Guest
How many of those oz and SA caps didnt feature in sxv this year harry?
Joe Frost
Editor
I think 'coining' can also mean to repurpose a phrase. Anyway, it was a messy opener, so we got rid of it. And never shy away from being a grammar nazi - this emoji-polluted world needs more of them.
Harry Jones
Expert
Experience does tend to help, up until it makes you too old (timing is everything). Here's the rank of caps in this year's RWC squads, per NZ Herald: 1. New Zealand 1,484 caps 2. South Africa 1,297 3. Georgia 1,253 4. Australia 1,243 5. Italy 1,153 6. Romania 1,151 7. Ireland 1,024 8. Wales 1,013 9. Japan 984 10. France 979 11. Scotland 901 12. Argentina 845 13. Uruguay 833 14. England 761 15. Canada 673 16. Fiji 592 17. USA 552 18. Namibia 512 19. Tonga 501 20. Samoa 483
austrartsua
Guest
Don't want to be the grammar nazi here, but I'm going to anyway. Surely you mean: to use an American term? You didn't coin it, it already existed. And while on the subject, how aweful is the word in question?