With Rugby World Cup fever gaining momentum I found myself thinking about the great finals since 1987 and the great players that entertained us all. No doubt this year will see some more heroes made in rugby’s premier event, but can we ever forget the previous greats that took the field? And just who was the best of the best?
I revisited the finals since 1987 and had a look at all the great players that managed to write their names in rugby history by playing in a World Cup Final. I am also lucky enough to have all the finals on video so I also had a look at some of the moments and boy there were some great moments – and of course great players.
It got me thinking who the very best was in the 20 years we played the Rugby World Cup and with that, I picked my best Rugby World Cup XV of all time!
Their was only one condition I worked around and it was very simple, every player considered had to play in a Rugby World Cup FINAL.
No doubt some selections will not be popular amongst some readers and some of them were pretty tough to call – others again, was very easy.
There are a couple of players that just missed the cut in my team, but I tried to look at the total influence the player or players had in the tournament(s) and on their respective teams they played in and not just the final.
The most controversial of my decisions will probably be leaving a certain South African out for a New Zealander and leaving a certain Frenchman out for a South African, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves and get to the nitty gritty.
PA’s Rugby World Cup XV of All Time (1987 – 2003)
1. Os du Randt (South Africa 1995)
2. Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand 1995)
3. Olo Brown (New Zealand 1995)
4. Martin Johnson (England 2003)
5. John Eales (Australia 1999)
6. Ruben Kruger (South Africa 1995)
7. Michael Jones (New Zealand 1987)
8. Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand 1995)
9. David Kirk (New Zealand 1987)
10. Michael Lynagh Australia 1991)
11. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand 1995)
12. Philippe Sela (France 1987)
13. Frank Bunce (New Zealand 1995)
14. David Campese (Australia 1991)
15. Andre Joubert (South Africa 1995)
Like I said, certain players pick themselves but others were a bit more difficult to select ahead of other great players and even legends of the game.
Of course there are quite a few rugby greats that never competed in a World Cup Final but I had to draw the line somewhere on who can be selected or not.
Below is a list of all the teams that contested in the finals of the Rugby World Cup since 1987 if you want to see who I had to pick from – and even if you want to challenge my team and pick your own…
Final 1987
All Blacks:
J.A. Gallagher, J. Kirwan, J.T. Stanley, W. T. Taylor, C.I. Green, G. Fox, D. E. Kirk, W. T. Shelford, M.N. Jones, A. J. Whetton, G.W. Whetton, M.J. Pierce, J.A. Drake, S. Fitzpatrick, S.C. McDowell
France:
S. Blanco, D. Camberabéro, D. Charvet, P. Sella, P. Lagisquet, F. Mesnel, P. Berbizier, L. Rodriguez, D. Erbani, E. Champ, J. Condom, A. Lorieux, J. P. Garuet, D. Dubroca, P. Ondarts
Final 1991
England:
Jon Webb; Rory Underwood, Jeremy Guscott, Will Carling, Simon Halliday; Rob Andrew, Richard Hill; Jason Leonard, Brian Moore, Jeff Probyn; Paul Ackford, Wade Dooley; Mickey Skinner, Peter Winterbottom, Mike Teague
Australia:
Marty Roebuck; Bob Egerton, Jason Little, Tim Horan, David Campese; Michael Lynagh, Nick Farr-Jones; Tony Daly, Phil Kearns, Ewen McKenzie; John Eales, Rod McCall; Willy Ofahengaue, Simon Poidevin, Troy Coker
Final 1995
South Africa:
A. Joubert, C. Williams, J. Mulder, H. le Roux, J Small, J. Stransky, J. van der Westhuizen, M. Andrews, R. Kruger, F. Pienaar, H. Strydom, K. Wiese, B. Swart, C. Rossouw, O. du Randt
All Blacks:
G. Osbourne, J. Wilson, F. Bunce, W. Little, J. Lomu, A. Mehrtens, G. Bachop, Z. Brooke, J. Kronfeld, M. Brewer, R. Brooke, I. Jones, O. Brown, S. Fitzpatrick, C. Dowd
Final 1999
France:
Xavier Garbajosa; Christophe Dominici, Emile Ntamack, Richard Dourthe, Philippe Bernat-Salles; Christophe Lamaison, Fabien Galthie; Cedric Soulette, Raphael Ibanez, Franck Tournaire; Abdelatif Benazzi, Fabien Pelous; Marc Lievremont, Olivier Magne, Christophe Juillet
Australia:
Matthew Burke; Ben Tune, Tim Horan, Daniel Herbert, Joe Roff; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan; Andrew Blades, Michael Foley, Richard Harry; John Eales, David Giffin; Matt Cockbain, David Wilson, Toutai Kefu
Final 2003
Australia:
M Rogers, W Sailor, S Mortlock, E Flatley, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan; B Young, B Cannon, A Baxter; J Harrison, N Sharpe; G Smith, P Waugh, D Lyons.
England:
J Lewsey, J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall, B Cohen; J Wilkinson, M Dawson; T Woodman, S Thompson, P Vickery; M Johnson, B Kay; Richard Hill, N Back, L Dallaglio.
There you go, choose your own World Cup XV of all time.
As a footnote, it was a really tough choice between the legendary Serge Blanco and Andre Joubert, I just feel Joubert had a huge influence in the 1995 campaign, more so than the great Blanco. And of course, not many will agree with my choice of scrumhalf…
July 17th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Ja i can liked to not just say leave one for this or that
The Bok team of 1995 was much larger than the sum of its parts
I would not have too many players from it in my team.
For my cash
15. Serge THE MIGHTY SMOKING CORSICAN Blanco
14. David Campese the most tries
13. Stirling Mortlock
12. Tim Horan (probably the most influential player of the 1999 RWC)
11. There can be only 11 Jonah Lomu
10. Gotta be li’l Johnny Wilko
9. Joost Van Der Westhuizen unquestioningly
8. Zimzam Magic boot Brooke
7. Josh Kronfeld the original Richie McCaw
6. Francois Pienaar the best leader of men
5. John Eales John Eales and John Eales
4. Vuilgat Martin Johnson
3. Phil Vickery
2. Vuilgat Fitspatrick
1. Os Du Randt
July 17th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Issues may be red cards for Johnson and Fitzpatrick but as individuals those are the players that stood out for me in world cups
I didn’t get to see the 1987 edition so can’t really comment on it
July 17th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Far too difficult to pick but zi did like that first team,
Patrick.
July 17th, 2007 at 11:29 am
The Teams for Sat are out
Do your job
July 17th, 2007 at 11:40 am
C’mon Patrick
You’re old enough to recall version 1.0
Tell us which players?
I rated
Kirwan, Fox, Kirk, Micheal Jones, the Whettons.
That was not a abd French team either with the likes of Charvet, Masnel, Camarabiero, Berbizier and Sella
July 17th, 2007 at 11:49 am
PA
7 from NZ, 5 from NZ in ’95, I dont know mate.
July 17th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Patrick sounds old enough to tell us how William Webb Ellis was as a player.
July 17th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Pat will probably claim he has some Kiwi blood in him too
Or that there were at least four Kiwis who were running with a ball under the arms long before Mr Webb-Ellis
July 17th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I wouldnt have included Joubert.
Not above the likes of Latham and Cullen.
Not even in the same class.
Reuben also wouldnt have made my side above the like of McCaw.
I would have selected Joost though to my great disgust.
At his best he eclipsed everyone. Just a pity he decided to try play for his pension.
ALthough I liked Sella I would probably have played Bunce and Little together as that was what made them special. Bunce was anyway an inside centre with Little on the outside.
My team as follows:
1. Os du Randt
2. Sean Fitzpatrick
3. Richard Loe
4. Martin Johnson
5. John Eales
6. Richie McCaw
7. Laurent Cabannes/Jerry Collins
8. Zinzan Brooke/Buck Shelford
9. Joost van der Westhuizen
10. Johnny Wilkinson/Mark Ella
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Frank Bunce
13. Walter Little
14. Danie Gerber
15. Christian Cullen/Chris Latham
We could argue about this all day though… think it largely depedns on your age and nationality.
I hate lisitng Jonah Lomu there as he was not the most skilled player.
Think there were loads more talented players.
Bryan Habana will take his place one day.
July 17th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Patrick, in our days when men were men and jobs counted not money. Lets call it the pre- historic world cup.
Surely we will clean up these youngsters.
15 J P R Williams
14 Jannie Engelbrecht / Tony O’Reiley
13 Geoff Butterfield
12 John Gainsford
11 Hennie Muller
10 Cliff Morgan / Hugo Porta
9 Gareth Edwards
8 Zinzan
7 Basie van Wyk
6 Piet Greyling
5 Colin Meads
4 Frik du Preez
3 Chris Koch
2 Fitzpatrick
1 Mof Myburgh
A bit of license here and their, and many more I can’t spell or can’t remember…old age
July 17th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Ah crumbs I see the guys need to ahve been selected from WC sides.
I hate the WC so I’m not even goign to say sorry.
Mine is a best ever side. Well best ever from what I’ve seen and experienced.
July 17th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
JJ,
To me our guys did not come close as individuals or guys with immense impact on the tournament(s) those okes played in – but thats the beauty, its just my opinion.
Personally I struggled NOT to pick Gregan.
July 17th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
yip would go with PA’s worldcup XV, except for halfbacks:
9. Joost/Gregan 10. Wilkinson
July 17th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Wilkinson actually had a poor’ish world cup in 2003, which is why I did not pick him.
Plus, how can you pick him ahead of Fox, Lynagh, Mehrtens???
July 17th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Wilkinson won the World Cup
Punt klaar
Not the same as Stransky, but he was THEE player of RWC 2003 that everyone wanted to see, wanted to perform, wanted to fail, had the most pressure on him… and came through
July 17th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Wilkinson actually had a poor’ish world cup in 2003, which is why I did not pick him.
Plus, how can you pick him ahead of Fox, Lynagh, Mehrtens???
Comment by PissAnt — July 17, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Yip but he did the damage to win the world cup.
I was anyway picking a greatest ever side, not a world cup side.
And I could never ever bring myself to pick an ozzie flyhald as the greatest ever. Just cant do it. But then I remembered seeing Ella playing on odl tapes my old man had.
That oke was a genius. So I amde an exception and if I was to pick an ozzie flyhalf it would be him above all others.
For me Mehrtens was always fragile and I never rated him.
He looked like he needed to get some sun or soemthign to make him look healthy enough to play rugby.
Personal biased opinion. Just didnt like him.
But wilkinson almost single-handedly won the world cup and was a flyhalf in the classical mould. Good kicking plus his defence was superb.
No contest in my book.
July 17th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Nah Davids, cannot agree, Wilkinson had a poor World Cup as per his usual standards.
The drop goal did win the World Cup (as in 1995) – but just think if he missed it…
Just think, Stransky might never have been offered a commentating contract if he missed his…
6 of one I suppose…
Take the good with the bad…
July 17th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
yes, u may have a point, catch actually believe i picked wilkinson. has to be the most accurate kicker ever and he could tackle, but yeah i prefer the more creative flyhalves.
July 17th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I would love to get my hands on copies of those finals. I can only remember from 95 onwards and even then my understanding of the game was lacking.
Who would your captain be PA? Mine would Zinzan purely because Eales would already have the kicking duties (can you believe it!!!)
July 17th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Another interesting observation would be how many test caps those players had at the time?
Maybe Jake White was onto something….
July 17th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
middles,
For met the captaincy would have been very easy.
Fitzy!
If not him then Martin Johnson and next in line would have been John Eales.
Zinzan was a great player, probably the best #8 we will see in our lifetime, but as cappy Fitzy just takes it hands down for me.
As for the backs, my captain would have been Kirk.
July 17th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Oh and Jake has always been onto something (I wanted to add).
Problem is, we will only realise or figure out exactly what he was on about the day he is gone…
July 17th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Except for the 1995 Boks all those teams were heavily capped
The 1991, 1999 and 2003 winners especially
July 17th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
pa
I’d rate Zinzan with Merv the swerve.
Why has nobody mentioned Willie O’? The guy was a fucking wrecking machine.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
last night on ESPN Classics they had the following team:
1. Tom Smith (Scotland)
2. Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand 1995)
3. Jason Leonard (England)
4. Martin Johnson (England 2003)
5. John Eales (Australia 1999)
6. Francios Pienaar (SA)
7. Michael Jones (New Zealand 1987)
8. Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand 1995)
9. Joost vd Westhuizen (SA)
10. Jonny Wilkinson (Eng)
11. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand 1995)
12. Tim Horan (Aus)
13. Philippe Sela (France 1987)
14. David Campese (Australia 1991)
15. Serge Blanco (France)
July 17th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Tim horan is a MUST at inside centre. He won 2 WC’s and was player of the tournament in 1999.
Is he the only player to have won 2 World Cups?
July 17th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
I would also have Michael Jones at 6 instead of Ruben Kruger.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
@wpw: Os will be the next
July 17th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
I certainly hope so JT.
Just got this article off the silver fern:
End of Boer v Black rivalry
Written by Scorz
Friday, 13 July 2007
The true measure of just how much has been lost due to the watering down of the 3N can be seen in the loss of camaraderie and banter on this website right now. What a fucking tragedy for the game of rugby that tomorrow the New Zealand All Blacks will line up against South Africa’s Springboks possibly for the last time as political wrangling and posturing robs us of yet another tradition.
But that is not the end of the sorrow, oh no, merely part of the shovelful of shit served up to the fans courtesy of the Rugby World Cup’s demands on players.
Because the real shame here, the absolute ballcutter, the razorblade to the eye of the true All Back or Bokke rugby fans, is that if indeed it is the last time we see the Springbok’s before they become something else and government controlled, is that the team that runs on in green is not the real Springboks even now – these are players who it is accepted have virtually no chance of winning this match.
We know the reasons for resting the players. The RWC is very important to NZer’s and SAn’s. And again the statistics may lie and tell us years from now that the SA rugby team played the New Zealand Rugby team in Christchurch, New Zealand, on the 14th July 2007. The game will consist of 44 players, 80 minutes, and a contest. In all probability the score will favour New Zealand. In fact the second string South African team may proudly do better than expected. I hope so.
But some of us may be left with a dark and disturbing truth: This could be the moment that international rugby lost touch with it’s fans.
Good Luck to South Africa. Good luck to the mighty All Blacks. Hopefully we’ll see a contest out there tomorrow. I know I’ll still get a rush when “Kia Mau” peels out to start the Haka. Will it be as thrilling as the last time? No.
Will we remember this? Yes.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Is he the only player to have won 2 World Cups?
Comment by wpw — July 17, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
John Eales. Surely he gets at least as much credit as Horan, and he too won two RWCs.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Hey DB!
You’re right. And it had to be two freakin Aussies.
I still can’t believe they won 2 WC’s.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Boer test review
Written by BartMan
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
So we beat the Bokke B team at the weekend, not a convincing score by any means, but when you drop the ball 23 times in a game, what the hell do you expect. That is 23 times you hand possession over to the opposition, in essence saying, “Here, you have a go at scoring some points, we don’t want to”!
Still in 20 years time when we look back, we’ll see 33-6, which in the grand scheme of things is a good win. There will be no notation beside the match saying “Boer’s rested 20 players ready for RWC”. All people will see is a 27 point win, the fifth highest winning margin over the Bokke in All Black history.
Really, who cares about these test results, nothing matter this year, not the Super 14, not the Tri Series, perhaps a little bit the Bledisloe Cup, nothing really matters but the Rugby World Cup, and that is pretty sad, hence Mickey Mouse teams turning out all over the world as teams prepare for the six weeks every four years where the champions are crowned.
But, digressing, the All Black win, slow start, plenty of errors, but also plenty of patience shown, knowing that the opposition will cracj eventually, you just have to keep hammering away. it might not be the first minute, it mioght not be the 41st, but keep the pressure on, and the points will come – just ask Australia!! A game of rugby is an 80 minute affair, and the only important minute to be leading is the last one.
There was plenty of good stuff to see though, top of the list, Keith Robinson. First, he got onto the field, more than he managed with his Tupperware calf muscle a few weeks ago against the Frogs. It got better from here on in. He seems to be the only All Black lock who can marshal his lifting pod on opposing throws to compete for their ball, and in this test match, win two off the Boer throw. Matfield like in that ability on opposition ball.
Also, I don’t know how many noticed this, but in the first half, Robinson getting up from a ruck, and ‘clumsily, accidentally’ standing on a Boer ankle. Boer cries out, and received treatment for the ‘stand’ on the ankle. Fast forward to the score 9-6 to the All Blacks, and the Boers hot on defence, receive a penalty under their posts, 10 metres out. Boer lock thinks it’s time for revenge, so does the same to Robinson, but gets seen, and obviously not as good an actor as the All Black lock. Penalty reversed, 12-6, and the match going pretty much pear shaped from there on in.
Another good think all the sour grapes and bleating from the Bokke post match about Richie McCaw. We all know what that means, the All Black captain is now back to top form, and instead of trying to beat him on the field, opposing coaches are using the media to try and subdue him. Thankfully Refs are not as dumb as we all like to think, and rule games as they see them, not as the coaching staffs and captains want them too. Although Gregan, 130+ caps behind him seem to have some magical power over officials…
Umm, struggling now for other good things!! So’oilao stating to be more prominent all the time now on attack. Finally found his feet at this level – confidence in his own ability allowing him to play his natural game. Getting through a ton of work as usual, on and off the ball, and breaching the advantage line more regularily, which takes the pressure off the McCaws and Collins’s of this world.
Brendon Leonard. This lad adds more spark to the All Black backline than anyone I have seen for years – perhaps a young Kelleher, circa. 1999 would equate. But enthusiasm, bullet pass, nose for a gap, great support play, receding hairline, it’s a clone of Sid Going. Certainly deserves more game time, and with both Kelleher and Weepu playing below their usual standards, we might get a look at a new look nine come the RWC. The Carter have been ‘keeping their powder dry’ so to speak, perhaps this little keg is part of the dry store?
Dan Carter, six from seven in the kicking department, and tidier around the field too, starting to slip into form too. Combined well with McAlister (For Sale, contact Dad), and looked more confident all round. Which will be needed this coming weekend against the full of confidence Ockers!!
Reuben Thorne. The enigma. Not a flanker, not a lock, but a bit of both. Much like Troy Flavell, who is not a lock, and not a flanker. Played OK at the weekend, but by Thorne being part of the loose trio, we de power it too much. He is an adequate lock cover though, and adequate loose forward cover off the bench. But why is this a good thing? Because it means that Troy Flavell will not be part of the match day 22 when the games count. Too many brain explosions from the Blues captain for my liking. Locks do not kick. Locks do not pass to little backs to take the hit when fielding kicks. Locks tuck ball under massive bicep and run as hard as they can into the smallest defender they can find, leading into the tackle with every bony part of their anatomy that they can find. Mr Flavell does all these things wrong. He has been measured at international level again, in in mine eyes, found wanting. So Thorne proving that he is able to do the lock/flanker job is a good thing!
Bad things from the test match – handling errors. That’s it. But a bloody big thing – remove those handling errors, and a score of bloody 50+ points would have been racked up in this match. Remove errors from the All Black game, that is ‘all’ that they need to do…
July 17th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Wes, not only have they won two RWCs, they have been in the final more times than any other team.
Australia – 3 finals
New Zealand – 2 finals
England – 2 finals
France – 2 finals
SA – 1 final (although one should consider the 1999 semi as the real final which would knock France down to 1 and SA 2.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Australia is also the only team to have won the William Webb Ellis trophy twice. One each for England, New Zealand and SA.
It is amazing for someone that grew up when I did, Aus was never known for their Rugby Union prowess when I was growing up, yet since the RWC started in 1987, they have been the dominant country in the four year classic. Quite amazing really.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Ja DB, but we never played in the first two.
I am sure we wouldve won at least one of them with the talent we had at that stage.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
And they did exceptionally well after winning the WC in 99.
Didnt they win the TN in 2001 as well as that series against the British Lions?
I have to say ROd Mcqueen was a brilliant coach.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I have looked at that penalty reversal several times, even in slow motion. Can someone please tell me what big Albert did? It looked to me like his foot was caught in the pile of bodies, after the whistle, one of the ABs on the ground grabbed his ankle, Albert shakes his leg to get it free, and is penalized. Did I miss something?
July 17th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Wes, I saw some games played right after isolation, 1992/1993, and believe me, that team was not very strong. There is no chance they would have won in 1991. 1987 may have been a different story.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Wes, yes they did. I think the Aussies weakness actually ends up being a strength for them. Their lack of depth is always touted as a weakness for them, but I think the lack of depth allows their players to have longer careers (less pressure from younger players), and they can have settled combinations for lots longer than any other country (Gregan and Larkham are an example). Therefore, I think their lack of depth can actually help them in some ways.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I think we wouldve done well in the 1987 WC as you say.
The DU Plessis brothers were playing werent they?
And Naas and Ray Mordt? The older guys would be able to name a team…
July 17th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
WPW, the Du Plessis brothers were playing as was Naas in 1987. Not sure about Ray Mordt, although he did get his last cap in 1984 so it certainly is possible he was still playing in 1987.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
And Jannie Engelbrecht?
Did you ever watch Nick Mallett play for WP?
Was he any good and how come he never got selected for the Boks?
July 17th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Any of you remeber Willie du Plessies? I am uploading a try of his for WP v TVL. link to come shortly…
July 17th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWmtj_FK7Rs
July 17th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
JT
To be honest i only started watching rugby in 1992/3
When WP used to be pretty average. Tinus Linee was quite good though.
And Chester started to make a name for himself.
Then there was Laurent Cabannes, Tiaan Strauss, Keith Andrews, Tommie Loubser.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
WPW, since I left SA in 1977 and really was not able to even keep up with Rugby until 1992 or so, there is a huge gap in my rugby viewing. I never saw Mallett play for WP, so can’t help there. I can tell you about all the guys that played the All Blacks in 1976 though.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
I do know that Du Plessis is now the most capped name in Springbok history, with Jannie and Bismarck pushing them past the Morkels in the Aus test.