Editor
It’s official: Jonah Lomu is the greatest player to have graced the Rugby World Cup. According to The Roar’s rugby experts, at least.
Over the past ten days, we’ve counted down the 50 best players in the tournament’s history, starting with Springboks flyhalf Jannie de Beer and finishing with the immense All Blacks winger.
With the final list revealed, it’s time to look into the finer details of the top 50.
A reminder, first, about the process we went through to get our rankings. Eight of The Roar’s most prolific rugby writers – experts Brett McKay, Geoff Parkes, Will Knight and Jack Quigley, live blogger Olly Matthews, and tipping panel regulars Diggercane, Nobrain and Harry Jones – and I put together our own personal top 50s, considering players’ overall impact, performances, success and longevity at the Rugby World Cup (but nothing from outside the tournament).
Points were awarded based on where a player finished on each list; 50 points for first place, 49 for second, 48 for third and so on and so forth.
Those points were tallied up, with Lomu beating out Richie McCaw for top spot by just a single one.
We’ll start with breaking it down by country. With more tournament wins than any other nation, it’s no surprise that New Zealand contributed the most players, with 16 All Blacks making the cut.
The Springboks and Wallabies were next with 11 and ten players respectively, while England were the best of the northern hemisphere nations with six. It’s worth noting that two of those Englishmen, Martin Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson, cracked the top five – just as many as New Zealand.
France were the only other side to get multiple players into the top 50 – Christophe Lamaison, Thierry Dusautoir and Serge Blanco giving Les Blues a trio of representatives. Scotland, Wales, Samoa and Ireland each had the one.
That left South American powerhouses Argentina without a single player to make the cut, a surprising result given the Pumas have made multiple semi-final appearances. Juan Martin Hernandez was their strongest performer, finishing four spots and 18 points adrift of de Beer in 50th.
Hernandez was one of seven Argentinians to appear on at least one of our individual lists, more than Ireland, Scotland and Samoa and level with Wales, each of whom had a representative in the top 50.
The top 50 by country
New Zealand: 16
South Africa: 11
Australia: 10
England: 6
France: 3
Scotland: 1
Wales: 1
Samoa: 1
Ireland: 1
Next, it’s time to look at which positions were best represented.
Unsurprisingly, more flyhalves were picked than any other position, with nine first-fives making the top 50. Eight selections made flankers the next most popular bunch.
Wingers came in equal third alongside centres, with six from each picked, followed by the group of five scrumhalves and four number 8s.
There wasn’t much appreciation for the tight-five positions, with only four locks, three hookers and just two props making their way into the top 50.
Perhaps surprisingly, only four fullbacks – Gavin Hastings, Matt Burke, Jason Robinson and Blanco – were voted in (Robinson actually played just as many games at the World Cup on the wing as he did at the back, but given one of his matches out wide came as a substitute, I decided to count him as a 15 for the purposes of this wrap-up article).
By position
Fullbacks: 4
Wingers: 6
Centres: 6
Flyhalves: 9
Scrumhalves: 5
Flankers: 8
Number 8s: 3
Locks: 4
Props: 2
Hookers: 3
And if we were to group up the positions into broader categories, they look like this:
Outside backs: 10
Inside backs: 15
Scrumhalves: 5
Back-rowers: 11
Tight forwards: 9
One more exercise before getting to everyone’s individual votes: an all-time Rugby World Cup XV, created by taking the highest-rated player in each position.
Eight of the top ten players make their way into the side, only Dan Carter (8) and Bryan Habana (10) missing out to Jonny Wilkinson at flyhalf and Lomu and David Campese on the wings respectively.
John Smit was the top-ranked hooker in the op 50, giving him the no.2 jersey in the side, while Scotland’s Gavin Hastings gets the nod at fullback. Tim Horan easily claimed the inside centre opening, while Conrad Smith at no.34 was the best-ranked outside centre (Ma’a Nonu did finish higher than Smith but only played a fraction of his World Cup rugby at 13).
Lawrence Dallaglio comes into the side at number 8, while the only two props in the entire top 50, Jason Leonard and Os du Randt, pick themselves. Yes, they were both looseheads (hey, there aren’t many other options in the final list) but given the Englishman was capable of playing tighthead, he’ll slot in at no.3 while du Randt will wear his preferred no.1 jersey.
The top 50 first XV
15. Gavin Hastings
14. Jonah Lomu
13. Conrad Smith
12. Tim Horan
11. David Campese
10. Jonny Wilkinson
9. Joost van der Westhuizen
8. Lawrence Dallaglio
7. Richie McCaw
6. Francois Pienaar
5. John Eales
4. Martin Johnson
3. Jason Leonard
2. John Smit
1. Os du Randt
Then there’s the part you’re probably all here for: how each of our panel voted individually. Everyone’s lists are in the table below, complete with the 115 players who got a mention from at least one of us.
You can order the table by each author’s votes, by player in alphabetical order, or you can search for specific players to see how your personal favourites were treated.
Have a squiz, and then be sure to let us know what you thought of everyone’s selections – as well as who you would have picked in your own top 50.
Player | Brett | Geoff | Will | Jack | Dan | Harry | Digger | Nobes | Olly | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | J Lomu | 04 | 01 | 01 | 02 | 02 | 03 | 01 | 05 | 04 | 436 |
02 | R McCaw | 01 | 03 | 02 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 02 | 12 | 01 | 435 |
03 | J Wilkinson | 07 | 02 | 03 | 09 | 04 | 06 | 05 | 06 | 03 | 414 |
04 | M Johnson | 06 | 07 | 06 | 04 | 07 | 05 | 07 | – | 06 | 360 |
05 | F Pienaar | 03 | 09 | 05 | 10 | 13 | 39 | 03 | 09 | 09 | 359 |
06 | J Eales | 02 | 10 | 04 | 05 | 03 | 18 | 04 | 43 | 13 | 357 |
07 | D Campese | 17 | 16 | 07 | 11 | 05 | 27 | 23 | 04 | 11 | 338 |
08 | D Carter | 11 | 12 | 29 | 08 | 06 | 26 | 16 | 22 | 02 | 327 |
09 | J van der Westhuizen | 13 | 04 | 11 | 24 | 18 | 04 | 06 | 33 | 26 | 320 |
10 | B Habana | 09 | 17 | 08 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 07 | 37 | 308 |
11 | T Horan | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 08 | 34 | 11 | 28 | 12 | 305 |
12 | G Gregan | 12 | 31 | 13 | 27 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 39 | 280 |
13 | V Matfield | 19 | 32 | 19 | 41 | 15 | 07 | 17 | 11 | 21 | 277 |
14 | J Smit | 10 | 11 | – | 06 | 09 | 02 | 33 | – | 16 | 270 |
15 | M Lynagh | 08 | 25 | 18 | 34 | 12 | 32 | 29 | 02 | 36 | 263 |
17 | M Jones | 22 | 30 | 15 | – | 11 | 21 | 08 | 29 | 20 | 252 |
16 | J Kirwan | – | 06 | 41 | 35 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 01 | 22 | 252 |
18 | J Stransky | 21 | 22 | 12 | 40 | 32 | 16 | 20 | 37 | 31 | 228 |
19 | J Leonard | 27 | 18 | 23 | 16 | 37 | 12 | – | 38 | 10 | 227 |
20 | G Hastings | 24 | 05 | 28 | 44 | 47 | 20 | 28 | 30 | 08 | 225 |
21 | L Dallaglio | – | 21 | 17 | 12 | 23 | – | 24 | 20 | 17 | 223 |
22 | S Larkham | 20 | – | 20 | 07 | 10 | – | 15 | 15 | – | 219 |
23 | G Fox | 23 | 13 | 33 | 23 | 31 | 35 | 21 | – | 15 | 214 |
24 | F du Preez | 15 | – | 24 | 45 | 29 | 14 | 22 | – | – | 157 |
25 | N Farr-Jones | 05 | 33 | 37 | 42 | 24 | – | 09 | – | – | 156 |
26 | S Blanco | – | – | 14 | 15 | 38 | – | 34 | 03 | 47 | 155 |
27 | M Nonu | – | 15 | – | 25 | 25 | – | 12 | – | 29 | 149 |
28 | T Dusautoir | 31 | 27 | 22 | – | 26 | 25 | 32 | – | 45 | 149 |
29 | O du Randt | – | 23 | 48 | 19 | – | 09 | 26 | – | 34 | 147 |
30 | J Kaino | 40 | 20 | – | – | 14 | 10 | 31 | – | – | 140 |
31 | S Burger | 46 | 26 | 21 | 43 | – | 28 | 39 | 18 | – | 136 |
32 | K Read | 26 | – | 10 | 03 | 41 | 49 | 45 | – | – | 132 |
33 | K Mealamu | 18 | 49 | 43 | – | 30 | 11 | – | – | 28 | 127 |
34 | C Smith | 38 | – | – | 22 | 22 | 48 | 38 | – | 14 | 124 |
35 | M Burke | 25 | 36 | – | 13 | 45 | 40 | – | 36 | 40 | 122 |
36 | S Williams | – | 28 | 36 | 30 | 33 | – | 47 | 17 | – | 115 |
37 | C Williams | – | 08 | – | – | 49 | – | 10 | – | 24 | 113 |
38 | D Pocock | 43 | – | – | 37 | 19 | 38 | – | 27 | 43 | 99 |
39 | C Lamaison | – | 19 | – | – | 42 | – | 25 | 24 | – | 94 |
40 | B Lima | 36 | 35 | 31 | 33 | 40 | – | 43 | – | 46 | 93 |
41 | B O’Driscoll | 42 | – | – | 28 | – | – | – | 13 | 32 | 89 |
42 | J Little | – | – | 30 | 26 | – | – | – | 42 | 19 | 87 |
44 | S Fitzpatrick | – | – | 34 | – | 28 | 24 | 50 | – | 33 | 86 |
43 | A Mehrtens | 16 | – | – | – | – | 15 | 36 | – | – | 86 |
45 | S Whitelock | – | – | – | – | – | 46 | 19 | – | 05 | 83 |
46 | J Robinson | – | – | – | – | 27 | – | 37 | – | 07 | 82 |
47 | R Hill | – | – | 26 | – | – | – | 27 | – | 18 | 82 |
48 | Z Brooke | – | – | 25 | 49 | – | – | 48 | 32 | 23 | 78 |
49 | D Kirk | – | – | 09 | 48 | 21 | – | 49 | – | – | 77 |
50 | J de Beer | 30 | 46 | – | – | – | 29 | – | 25 | – | 74 |
– | P Montgomery | 32 | 37 | – | – | 39 | 43 | – | 45 | 38 | 72 |
– | G Smith | 35 | – | – | 18 | – | – | 35 | – | – | 65 |
– | W Shelford | – | – | 32 | – | 35 | 22 | – | – | – | 64 |
– | JM Hernandez | 33 | – | – | – | 46 | 33 | 41 | 46 | – | 56 |
– | N Back | 29 | 34 | – | – | – | – | 40 | – | – | 50 |
– | S Parisse | 34 | 45 | – | – | 36 | – | – | – | 41 | 48 |
– | J Smith | – | – | – | – | – | 42 | – | 16 | – | 44 |
– | J Davis, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 08 | – | 43 |
– | K Wood | – | 29 | 35 | – | – | – | 46 | – | – | 43 |
– | O Brown | – | – | – | – | – | 08 | – | – | – | 43 |
– | D Howlett | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 10 | – | 41 |
– | T Lacroix | – | 40 | 42 | – | – | – | – | 34 | 48 | 40 |
– | B Botha | – | – | – | – | – | 41 | – | 21 | – | 40 |
– | F Contemponi | – | – | 40 | 46 | – | – | – | – | 30 | 37 |
– | O Franks | – | – | – | 14 | – | – | – | – | – | 37 |
– | P Sella | – | – | 38 | – | – | – | 44 | 35 | – | 36 |
– | A Pichot | – | – | 27 | 39 | 34 | – | 42 | – | – | 62 |
– | F Steyn | 37 | – | – | – | – | 31 | – | – | – | 34 |
– | P Kearns | – | – | – | – | 43 | – | – | – | 27 | 32 |
– | R O’Gara | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 19 | – | 32 |
– | M Giteau | 41 | – | – | 29 | – | – | – | – | – | 32 |
– | T Woodcock | – | – | 49 | 50 | – | 50 | – | – | 25 | 30 |
– | P O’Connell | – | – | – | 21 | – | – | – | – | – | 30 |
– | J Rokocoko | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 23 | – | 28 |
– | J Small | – | – | – | – | – | 44 | 30 | – | – | 28 |
– | R Kruger | – | – | – | – | – | 23 | – | – | – | 28 |
– | R Underwood | – | 24 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 27 |
– | D Mitchell | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 26 | – | 25 |
– | O Finegan | 28 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 23 |
– | J Savea | – | – | – | 32 | – | – | – | 50 | 49 | 22 |
– | R Ibanez | – | – | – | 47 | 44 | – | – | 40 | – | 22 |
– | J Burger | 50 | – | – | – | – | 30 | – | – | – | 22 |
– | J Webb | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 31 | – | 20 |
– | G Quesada | – | 41 | – | – | – | – | – | 41 | – | 20 |
– | S Warburton | – | – | – | 31 | – | – | – | – | – | 20 |
– | J Roff | – | – | 44 | 38 | – | – | – | – | – | 20 |
– | S Donald | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 35 | 16 |
– | W Ofahengaue | – | 42 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 44 | 16 |
– | A Wyn Jones | – | – | – | – | – | 36 | – | – | – | 15 |
– | W Greenwood | – | – | – | 36 | – | – | – | – | – | 15 |
– | M Gorgodze | – | – | – | – | – | 37 | – | – | – | 14 |
– | L Nakarawa | – | 38 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 13 |
– | F Galthie | – | – | 46 | – | – | – | – | 44 | – | 12 |
– | J Kronfeld | – | – | 39 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 12 |
– | A Ashley-Cooper | – | 39 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 12 |
– | G Jenkins | 39 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 12 |
– | T Umaga | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 42 | 09 |
– | B Smith | 47 | – | – | – | – | 47 | – | – | – | 08 |
– | M Dawson | – | 43 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 08 |
– | C Charvis | – | 44 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 07 |
– | R Caucaunibuca | 44 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 07 |
– | N Sanchez | – | 48 | – | – | – | – | – | 48 | – | 06 |
– | B Retallick | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | – | – | – | 06 |
– | L Halfpenny | – | – | 45 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 06 |
– | F Michalak | 45 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 06 |
– | M Steyn | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 47 | – | 04 |
– | M Andrews | – | – | 47 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 04 |
– | D Cambarabero | – | 47 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 04 |
– | M Ledesma | – | – | – | – | 48 | – | – | – | – | 03 |
– | M Bergamasco | 48 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 03 |
– | G Laidlaw | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 49 | – | 02 |
– | A Goromaru | – | 50 | – | – | 50 | – | – | – | – | 02 |
– | N Little | 49 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 02 |
– | JM Fernandez Lobbe | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 50 | 01 |
– | J Cudmore | – | – | 50 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 |
To finish, a quick thanks to everyone who’s followed along with the countdown over the past couple of weeks, and to the eight other panel members and Nick Bishop for bringing it to life.
Now, enjoy the World Cup!