The five players in my block of our greatest World Cup players are legends in South Africa and Australia. Two Queenslanders, a foundation Brumby, a set-piece legend from Pretoria, and a Durban beach boy.
What unites them? All played the game with supreme focus, none had the perfect power athlete body, and they all played in multiple Cups. They all had the knack of making their teammates better; a couple were big talkers, a couple were almost mute, and one was almost the perfect combination.
John Smit was virtually a coach on the field. Victor Matfield changed the way all locks line up and read calls. Tim Horan never failed to break any line in any Test. Michael Lynagh won cups at every level and went out on top. George Gregan defines longevity.
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If you wanted to start a team to beat the All Blacks, build it around these Bok tight forwards and Wallaby backs; a robust thinking hooker, a cerebral lineout disruptor, a nippy chippy halfback, a calm operator at 10, and a line breaker at 12.
15. Michael Lynagh (Australia)
Michael Lynagh was a prodigy, but stood the test of time. He scored most of the Wallabies’ points on the way to winning the 1991 World Cup. But his greatest contribution was silencing Dublin in the quarters.
Yes, his boot was the margin of victory in Llanelli over the Pumas, he scored all the points in the Pontypool squeaker over Samoa, and took 18 points from Wales in Cardiff. But captain Nick Farr-Jones went off in the first half at Landsdowne Road and Lynagh had to lead.
“We felt we had their measure the whole game,” Lynagh remembers. “But then you look up at the scoreboard and they’re just gnawing away at you. The Irish were always in touch.”
The stands were a seething green cauldron after the Irish scored the go-ahead try with five minutes to go. The Wallabies had to score or fly home. Lynagh gathered the team. A drop goal would draw, and the Wallabies had the tie-breaker. Horan urged Lynagh to take the drop after a scrum in the Irish 22, but Lynagh ignited a Campo break to the right corner and never stopped running.
“There I was. For one of Campo’s better passes.”
He fell over the line, and heard “deathly silence.”
The next week, Lynagh’s masterful grubber set Campese free to scoop and flip to Horan and hand the All Blacks their first World Cup loss. Wins over Wales, Ireland, New Zealand and England, three in their fortresses: that’s a Grander Slam.
(Photo by Simon Bruty/Getty Images)
14. John Smit (South Africa)
Springboks skipper is one of the trickiest roles in elite sport: part politician, polyglot mediator, cultural ambassador, dartboard, hero or scapegoat. Richie McCaw was John Smit’s roommate for a Barbarians match; listening to Smit negotiate with the minister of sport, McCaw was stunned.
Smit was never universally loved by the Republic’s maniacal fandom. “Fat” (he often played tighthead). “Old.” “Slow” (actually, he was nimble; a top junior tennis player). And always, the comparisons to Bismarck du Plessis, which was a backhand way of highlighting his Englishness.
But Smit had the last laugh: a 72 per cent win rate, three World Cups, most capped Bok captain, and a survivor of four coaches. He led the nation to a Lions series win and a 2009 sweep of New Zealand en route to the Tri-Nations, but the pinnacle was the 15-6 Cup final over England in 2007.
He commanded respect: a durable tight forward who carried and scrummed hard but had soft hands and approach that won his teammates over. He spoke softly, but his words carried weight.
13. Victor Matfield (South Africa)
Victor Matfield was a better young cricketer than rugby player, because he was not a ruck mongrel or a bouncer, and in Pretoria, if you are a tight forward who can’t move railway cars or clear a bar, you don’t crack the first XV.
Luckily for rugby, he stopped bowling and discovered lineouts.
A late bloomer, but built for the lineout: sprinter’s calves, lighter than listed, agile, quick off the ground, easy to lift, with massive hands.
When South Africa hoisted the Cup in 2007, their dominance was built on the lineout, stealing 29 lineout throws. Matfield was thief-in-chief, but he also caused bad throws (32 per cent of opponents’ lineouts failed). The majority of the Boks’ 33 tries came from Matfield-won or called ball.
South Africa built a massive 192-point differential using an average of only 15 minutes of possession per game because they won good attack ball in the red zone. Matfield studied tendencies, read calls, and was able to palm the ball. Never intimidating physically; he dominated mentally. No opposition hooker felt safe.
(EPA/DAVID JONES)
12. George Gregan (Australia)
George Gregan was the optimal scrumhalf: omnipresent, a valiant cover tackler, chief chirper, and a sniper with a long, true pass.
He started in four World Cups. England broke his heart in 1995 in Cape Town in a quarter-final. England did Australia again in 2003, in an extra-time final, after Gregan’s immortal taunt to Byron Kelleher in the semi: “Four more years! Four more years!” In 2007, England again, 10-12.
But in the middle, 1999. Crushing Ireland 23-3 in Dublin in the pool and Wales 24-9 in a Cardiff quarter-final where Gregan broke blind from a ruck, fed Joe Roff, backed him up, and broke Gareth Thomas’s tackle to score the first of two tries.
He and his mates then saw off the Springboks 27-21 at Twickenham, before rolling over France 35-12. Much of the credit for how fast his team played must go to the little man at the base, born in Africa, full of joy, and always ready to play.
He always offered help to referees. When Craig Joubert felt he was getting too much assistance, he told Gregan there were 15 referees on the field and too much talking, Gregan retorted “Yeah mate, and you’re not even in the top ten.” Gregan was top ten; in caps, and rugby.
(AAP photo Dean Lewins)
11. Tim Horan (Australia)
Full of Queensland swagger and impervious hair, Tim Horan was the world’s best centre in the ’90s. Not big, but difficult to bring down with deceptive pace, uncanny vision, and a smooth swerve. He won two World Cups.
He was the 1999 Player of the Tournament. One moment from that tournament stands out, and it wasn’t even a try.
Twenty minutes into the semi-final at Twickenham against South Africa and only three points on the board. The teams defend like Trojans. The Wallabies win a lineout on halfway. Stephen Larkham delivers a flat pass to Horan. Five big Boks are in a cordon ahead of him, acres of space outside.
Horan is in one mind: he is through four Boks in a flash, and sits Andre Venter down like a fallen statue, with an inside-out step. Using the referee as a shield from the cover, he reached the Bok 22 in seconds. His break scared me, because it came from nothing.
He cut us to shreds, forcing offsides calls in a tussle which came down to the Larkham miracle in extra-time. It was Horan, time and again, depleted by a virus, carrying both ball and team.
(David Rogers/Allsport)
Related
The Roar’s 50 greatest players in Rugby World Cup history
50. Jannie de Beer (South Africa)
49. David Kirk (New Zealand)
48. Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)
47. Richard Hill (England)
46. Jason Robinson (England)
45. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)
44. Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
43. Andrew Mehrtens (New Zealand)
42. Jason Little (Australia)
41. Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
40. Brian Lima (Samoa)
39. Christophe Lamaison (France)
38. David Pocock (Australia)
37. Chester Williams (South Africa)
36. Shane Williams (Wales)
35. Matt Burke (Australia)
34. Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
33. Keven Mealamu (New Zealand)
32. Kieran Read (New Zealand)
31. Schalk Burger (South Africa)
30. Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
29. Os du Randt (South Africa)
28. Thierry Dusautoir (France)
27. Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
26. Serge Blanco (France)
25. Nick Farr-Jones (Australia)
24. Fourie du Preez (South Africa)
23. Grant Fox (New Zealand)
22. Stephen Larkham (Australia)
21. Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
20. Gavin Hastings (Scotland)
19. Jason Leonard (England)
18. Joel Stransky (South Africa)
17. Michael Jones (New Zealand)
16. John Kirwan (New Zealand)
15. Michael Lynagh (Australia)
14. John Smit (South Africa)
13. Victor Matfield (South Africa)
12. George Gregan (Australia)
11. Tim Horan (Australia)
10. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
9. Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
8. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
7. David Campese (Australia)
6. John Eales (Australia)
5. Francois Pienaar (South Africa)
4. Martin Johnson (England)
3. Jonny Wilkinson (England)
2. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
1. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
Tuc Du Nard
Roar Rookie
Carlos The Argie- you have a point and here's why. The Argies simply don't have as much support by the "panel" as all the other rugby countries. And by extension, the world. Let me explain. Rugby is an Anglofile centric game so naturally a Sth American country/players are/ is totally off the radar. We really love the way you play btw. But... Suck it up. It hurts but it's just a sample of 9 of the most obvious rugby lovers on an Aussie site. If I was you I'd get some more mates. It always helps. Love em.
Harry Jones
Expert
Agreed. Totally.
sheek
Roar Guru
Harry, It's a lot easier, & appropriate tho, when you compare apples with apples, & oranges with oranges, etc.
Harry Jones
Expert
Sheek, I suppose this list is “The 50 Most Influential Players in the 8 Cups.” And I suppose in the modern game, props are half-the-match players. Also, scrums are lessening steadily from 1987-2015: down from 25+ to 15 to 10 or so a match. (Still vital, because each wobble potentially 3 points or a corner maul). The pace of play has quickened; just as the size and musculature requirements to scrum longer in each engagement and lift bigger locks mandates massive power. Props are busy! This Cup, I’m hoping Kitshoff lifts and shows his all-round game. But it’s tough to compare his influence against Pollard’s, for example.
ojp
Guest
Postal Plebiscite is the preferred option these days I think Ben :thumbup:
dazell
Roar Rookie
I was going to comment on Tunes almost reckless fearlessness. I remember at least twice and maybe once on his debut him taking the ball up and the collision at contact was brutal. He ended up on the ground and I thought my god he's dead!!!! Then up he just pops with that damn mischievous smile!!!! :stoked: Yeah I remember being shocked when O'Connor defected!!!! :crying:
Taniwha
Roar Rookie
Tuc Du Nard, i think it was more than reputation regarding Pocock v Michael Jones. Do you remember in the semi final how the ABs took Pocock out of the game? ''How the All Blacks Nullified David Pocock'' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiSm_a1etsM
Ben Pobjie
Expert
I demand a royal commission!
sheek
Roar Guru
Dazell, O'Connor only played 12 times for the Wallabies 1979-82 (sad, sad, sad, sad) before defecting to league (grumble, grumble, grumble, grumble). On 10 occasions (only 10) O'connor was at centre with Moon on the wing. On the other two occasions, O'Connor played on the opposite wing to Moon (1981/82 tour of UK & Ireland). Moon was technically the most excellently proficient Wallaby winger I've seen. Fast, long stride, superbly balanced, equally strong in attack & defence, always consistent. Tune was a brutally tough runner, almost maniacal. Campo & Roffy were magicians, although sometimes forgetting about defence. :laughing:
dazell
Roar Rookie
Burke was mostly mister consistency as well in all aspects of his game which is an added bonus. It almost feels sacrilegious to put Gregan ahead of Farr-Jones!!!! :silly: Moon was a superb player, fast and give him a sniff and he'd generally score. Was O'Connor at outside centre when he was playing?
Matt
Guest
2011 France won that final. Joubert cheated them out of a win.
Matt
Guest
Nope he was dominated by 2011 by Thierry Dussatoir.Cant have him at number 1.
Matt
Guest
Campo who ? The one who singlehandley smashed you in the 1991 RWC semi final. That Campo.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Think Ayerza, for example.
sheek
Roar Guru
Dazell, My opinion of Burke, Roff & Gregan, is as follows. Burke. After selecting your front-row & locks, the next player you should pick in your team is a recognised goal kicker, irrespective of their position. This is because of the proliferation of penalties in a rugby match. Burke would be the fullback in my all-time Wallabies XV, not only for his goal kicking, which is essential, but also his general play. Roff has the problem of being a maverick player like Campese, although they generally played on opposite wings. The best Wallaby wingers I've seen in the past 50 years are Campese & Moon, who would also be my all-time Wallaby wingers. Roff & Tune are next, certainly in the past 50 years. Gregan. The guv' gen' is a fascinating & problematic player. Although a great all-round rugby player, Gregan wasn't necessarily a technically expert scrum half. I would have Hipwell as the best Wallaby scrum half of the past 50 years, because he got a lot of experience from turning bad ball into useful ball behind so many mediocre packs. I am also softening to the idea that Gregan might be ahead of Farr-Jones.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well I have to say that despite the panels very best intentions and obviously numerous iterations of the list that we've managed to turn a good old fun exercise one might have a few beers over into a blood boiling exercise that should see us just in the right mood for the first round this week. Nicely tucked away into our own allegiance cubby holes we are ready for world cup fever to start all over again. Bring it on I say. This exercise has brought the last 8 tournaments flooding back into memory more than any other article could. Players, names and events I'd forgot about or never even knew are right there now. Thanks, (and good luck with no.1's 1 to 5!)
taylorman
Roar Guru
Kearnsey sure gets around, he's up there with Lomu elsewhere on this thread. :shocked:
taylorman
Roar Guru
Naa. But…last time I looked….dreams are free. :thumbup:
taylorman
Roar Guru
ooooh...someones off to the naughty corner... :shocked:
dazell
Roar Rookie
Sorry I forgot to comment re that point, I totally agree with the comparing Orange with Oranges. It's a tough thing making these type of rankings. The comments re Eales in the latest rankings post is a good example though (I think) of an individuals impact on their team regardless of the position they played and of what you are saying but also that he was a great individual player that had a better than others impact on the teams performance. I think that's why I'd have Burke and Roff ahead of Gregan, they played their position better than most and also contributed to the whole team effort in so many other ways as well regardless of their specific position. Not that Gregan didn't but I thought they did it more often and better. Specifically to your point you can argue, sure Gregan had to be there to get the ball to the wing/fullback but it also works the other way. The winger/fullback has to be there to get a result and do there part. And so hence yes it's a team sport but an individual regardless of their position can still have a greater impact and lead a team to a better outcome but of course it also depends on the other parts of the machine doing their job. Hope that makes some kind of sense!!!!!