Best International Rugby Players

Which one will you choose take your pick. Pick wisely my friends!!:)
The Top Ten
1 Brian O'Driscoll

The ultimate. Mastered every facet of his position and set the standard for everyone else. As his body changed with age, he adapted and found new skill-sets and kept himself in the top flight for 15 years. Retired on his own terms.

His greatest asset was his ability to read the game, at times making it seem like he could see into the future.

He would lead from the front and shied away from no challenge - the first man into battle and the last man standing who could make that game-saving tackle inches from his own line.

We are privileged to be the ones alive to witness his greatness.

2 Jonah Lomu

If every rugby fan voted with honesty, Jonah would win without a doubt. He crushed almost every team during the world cup when he was only 20 yrs old with two caps. The South African team before the final 1995 RWC changed all their game plans to stop one player and worked. The All Black team was poisoned just to make sure they wouldn't succeed. Jonah was nowhere near his best when diagnosed with his illness. Most rugby star were still playing school boy rugby at twenty years of age. Jonah was heavier than most forwards, stronger than any rugby player on the planet but could sprint sub 11 secs in 100m, could side steps like rugby 7 backs, could swat aside or bump big forwards heavier than himself, flying backyards. He played rugby sevens and according to NZ rugby 7 coach for the 1998 commonwealth game, Jonah almost single handedly won them a gold medal. Normally it takes a decade for someone to come close to achieving one quarter of what Lomu achieved as young man.

3 Dan Carter

Based on the players listed, DC is by far the most accomplished player. His versatility in the back line means he can play anywhere from 10-12 and most probably 15. Near perfect when tasked with kicking goals (Please refer to his record if unsure - outstanding) he is by far the most complete 1st 5 8th in the history of the game played in heaven. Another attribute DC brings to a team is his defense strength which is normally a downfall in fly halves (Grant Fox or Quade Cooper are perfect examples). Brian O'Driscol is unlucky not to take the prize as he has shown in his illustrious career how good he is, and Jonah well he speaks for himself. But when you talk about an all round gifted player who contributes to a team in nearly every aspect of the game, DC is the man. Why isn't Richie McCaw or George Gregan there I don't know? Definitely should be

4 Gareth Edwards

Quite simply the complete scrum half. I mean try finding a weakness in his game. He was physically strong quick, could handoff, had the best box kick in history & was unstoppable from 5 meters out. More than that however he could do things other scrumhalves, indeed other rugby players could only dream & on top of all that he had the professional attitude of always asking himself 'how can I get better? ' In short he was special the greatest of all time, though was too modest to say so himself.

Not famous for 1 kick, points racked up or physical size unlike others..He is here based on pure skill, pace and insight in the game... The mere fact he is being discussed decades on in the company of professionals and with his skills still impressive in comparison to them is testimony to just how good he was... Just imagine how good he would be in today's game with all the resources and training technology available... Simply the best...

5 Jonny Wilkinson

Dan the man is so much better. Johnny was a one dimensional player. He was good in defense and protected heavily by his team mates. Johnny's strength in kicking was also a complete embarrassment to the English rugby reputation. All the opposition team had to do to win was control Johnny. He had one good game which as the World Cup and kudos to him. If you watch southern hemisphere rugby then you would know he is probably around number 10 in the world (only because he won England a world cup).

The only Englishman praised by the French, in his honor God save the Queen was heard during the top 14 final. The most committed player of all time, the man was injured manny times and overcame his injuries,he then statistically became the best player of all time... what else do I have to write?

6 Richie McCaw

When you look at Ritchie's record it is staggering considering he was the best player on field so often, and most of the games he played were against, wallabies and springboks, who, were mostly for his period of playing ranked top 3 sides. So keeping that in mind he was the best playing the best. Unfortunately there are players in this top 10 who constantly played teams well below the level of the Southern Hemisphere rugby so to have them in the top 10 Is wrong. Not many northern hemisphere players would even get to keep the bench warm in a Southern Hemisphere team. 1 Ritchie, 2 Dan Carter, then the fight over the next 8. I'd consider George gregan, Stirling mortlock, josh kronfeld

7 Brian Habana

Never has there been a greater wing in world rugby. Never.

The best with Lomu. The rest are miles away!

Most explosive winger ever.. He could run

8 Jason Robinson

This guy was an amazing player. Darting through foreign defences like they weren't there. He's a great inspiration to young players. Truly magnificent

He's quick and very effective. Devastating.

9 Yannick Jauzion

He was such a great player for French rugby but not a top 10. Can you believe he is on 37 years old?

10 David Campese

His ability to out-fox his opponents was second to none. He had the most amazing ability to attack and his leg speed was amazing. He was truly the first modern player of our age. He took on all before him and won. He has won a World Cup and was the player of the tournament. His flair in attach has rarely been matched. If he played today he would still send fear into the opponents. My God he was good!

Couldn't tackle to save his life. John Kirwan would run over the top of him like a speed bump. Today he would be obsolete. Too many big strong wingers that would run through him. Very gifted runner but infortunately you must have a strong defense to play this game.

The Contenders
11 Shane Williams

Only 12 of his 60 tries were against AUS, NZ, and SA. He played an era which was dominated by the big southern hemisphere teams, and for 2 years England. He was a great player playing against school boy teams and is maybe a top 100 player. He wouldn't even get on a bad Wallabies team with his talent.

12 Christian Cullen

Nobody looked as good as Cullen with the ball. It was like he was on rails. Made Blanco look like a drunken hobo. Career destroyed by a toothless bald headed hillbilly named Mitchell. Best player ever.

Had everything and used it, lightening quick, ridiculously strong for his size and elegant to go with it. Mitchell your IQ matched the number you wore as a player!

Most athletic running fullback I have ever seen. Amazing try scoring rate and freakish ability to score in impossible situations.

13 Barry John

A fly-half even Carter and Wilkinson might struggle to emulate. There was a reason he was called 'The King'. He could drop the ball on a sixpence and had the ability to slice the opposition defense open with a single pass. Had he not retired at just 27 he would undoubtably be considered one of the best by most people.

The King. Talents stood out starkly even with Gareth inside him.

14 Colin Meads

The springboks' can tell you all about Colin Meads he mess them up with a broken arm.

15 Michael Jones

A machine, simply the most inspiring player I have ever seen. Total commitment, ball handling to match any, and more stamina than many of todays pros.

Iceman one of the greatest ever to play the game the first player in history to score back to back tries in the opening games of the world cup.

The best blind side flanker ever. Freak athlete

16 Serge Blanco

Sheer wizardry. Blanco may not be the best rugby player ever (Gareth Edwards is), but he is undoubtedly the best fullback ever.

Probably the best player I have ever seen in my life. To me, is the best ever.

17 Martin Johnson

This guy was captain when we beat Australia in Australia!

top 7 please

18 Fourie du Preez

One of the greatest scrum-halves in the world.

Without him South Africa would'nt have won the 2007 WC. Remarkable scrum half.

19 Sonny Bill Williams

Well, he was a boxer then rubgy league legend now a rugby union star what next... Rio 2016 gold in rubgy 7s? Three world cup winners medals in 4 years he can afford to give one away! Great sportsman and idol! He should be a top 10 in a few years (maybe after 2019, I'm going for another all black win! :) for me his best moment is THAT offload for ma nonus try in the world cup final tying up a third of the field! And so unselfish. He doesn't take it alone like Johnny May (who just seems to run sideways! ) he brings others into play!

He is brilliant. He has hugely influenced union. But he started in league and that's where he is now. Plenty high on this list. Gareth Edwards belongs a lot higher.

20 J.P.R. Williams

A critical part of the legendary welsh backs squad of the '70's. Crazy that Manu Tuilagi is above such a legend.

What. How can you take any list seriously with JPR so far down. Top 10

21 Manu Tuilagi

Agreed, too early to be included on the list as gets injured all the time.

Should not be on this list. Load o' bollocks

22 Byron Kelleher
23 Clément Poitrenaud
24 Paul O Connell

Who wouldn't have him on their team? A beast who could take his team by the scruff of it's neck and shove it over the finishing line. Let's face it - if you didn't pull you're weight you'd have to answer to him. You wouldn't relish that prospect.

Saw him in his last game at Twickenham. He drew the eye with his stature among the Ireland team, and the respect the all the Englisg team showed him. What an outstanding player he proved to be over the years.

25 Ma'a Nonu

This stupid guy who created this list forgot to put nonu in the top ten

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