Rugby has all the time been a key pillar of England’s sporting panorama. From Martin Johnson to Fran Cotton and Jonny Wilkinson to Owen Farrell, the nation has produced some true greats of the sport.
However because the nation celebrates Saint George’s Day, who tops the record as the most effective participant ever to return from England?
Right here, Mail Sport’s ALEX BYWATER dons his arduous hat and ranks his high 10 England male rugby stars of all time…
10. Jason Leonard
Phil Vickery pushed the person they name ‘Enjoyable Bus’ very arduous for a spot on this record however Leonard kicks us off for his extraordinary longevity within the entrance row.
From his debut in 1990 till his final England worldwide in 2004, Leonard propped up the England scrum with aplomb and stays the second most capped males’s participant within the nation’s historical past. Solely Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs is forward of him.
Jason Leonard (centre) was a stalwart in England’s entrance row for 14 years after making his debut
9. Will Carling
England’s youngest ever captain on the age of twenty-two in 1988, Carling led his nation for 59 Checks, profitable 44 of them. He’s the longest serving and most profitable skipper in England’s historical past. He ended his Check profession with 72 caps.
His management qualities ensured England dominated what was then the 5 Nations within the first half of the 1990’s. Carling’s facet received Grand Slams in 1991 and 1992 and once more in 1995.
He led England to the ultimate of the 1991 World Cup. The Harlequins centre was chosen for the 1993 Lions Tour and performed in a single Check.
Will Carling stays essentially the most profitable captain in England’s historical past – profitable 44 of 59 Checks
8. Jason Robinson
Robinson’s transfer from rugby league to union is one among only a handful of profitable cross-code switches. His electrical pace and dazzling footwork rapidly made him a agency favorite with England followers and he went on to turn into one of many nation’s key males of their run to profitable the 2003 World Cup.
Robinson scored England’s solely strive of their remaining win over Australia that 12 months and went on to turn into captain within the years to return. Additionally received a Premiership title with Sale and excelled on the 2001 Lions tour of Australia.
The person often known as ‘Billy Whizz’ used to offer opposition defenders nightmares. There have not been many, if any, gamers like him since.
Jason Robinson scored a strive throughout England’s sole Rugby World Cup remaining triumph in 2003
7. Fran Cotton
Evaluating rugby’s previous and current eras is like contrasting chalk and cheese. Gamers from novice occasions akin to Invoice Beaumont might nicely have made this high 10. However few might argue in opposition to former prop Cotton’s place amongst such gilded firm.
He was forward of his time by way of conditioning and he grew to become a legend within the white of England and the crimson of the Lions. Cotton’s means to prop either side of the scrum on the highest stage was an asset that might have been extremely prized right this moment.
6. Owen Farrell
If Farrell has performed his final England Check – and that continues to be an if – he’ll finish his worldwide profession as his nation’s main factors scorer. Farrell is high of that record at present with 1,237 factors which is in itself a exceptional feat. With 112 he’s third on England’s all-time caps record.
The previous captain initially stepped away from representing his nation after final 12 months’s World Cup for psychological well being causes however will not be eligible for England when he strikes to play his membership rugby in France with Racing 92 from subsequent season.
It’s a crying disgrace Farrell’s extraordinary expertise was maybe not suitably acknowledged throughout his time within the white shirt as a result of his numbers present he’s greater than worthy of a spot on this record.
Owen Farrell is England’s file factors scorer however his abilities have not all the time been appreciated
5. Lawrence Dallaglio
The person who might have performed for Italy turned out to be a real England nice. A fearsome No 8, Dallaglio was a superb provider and a colossal determine. A one-club man with the now defunct Wasps, he resigned the England captaincy in 1999 after drug allegations however the scandal didn’t cease him from happening to safe his place in historical past.
Dallaglio shaped a ‘Holy Trinity’ England back-row alongside Richard Hill and Neil Again. Each of these two males have been unfortunate to not make this record, as have been numerous others!
Dallaglio began England’s 2003 World Cup remaining win and in addition appeared off the bench within the 2007 remaining defeat by South Africa.
Lawrence Dallaglio (R) shaped a chic England back-row with Richard Hill (L) and Neil Again
4. Jeremy Guscott
The very fact a expertise akin to Guscott was often sidelined on the bench through the time when he, Carling and Phil de Glanville have been competing for midfield spots have to be thought-about an enormous waste.
Guscott had all of it. He was a princely centre with tempo and an out of doors break. A World Rugby Corridor of Fame member, he scored 30 tries in 65 Checks and performed at three World Cups in 1991, 1995 and 1999.
His all-round means was maybe finest proven when he kicked the profitable drop objective for the Lions of their well-known 1997 Check victory over South Africa.
As a centre, Jeremy Guscott had all of it – demonstrating that with 30 tries in 65 Checks for England
3. Rory Underwood
With 49 tries from 85 Checks, Underwood is England’s all-time file strive scorer. Given his career was a Royal Air Power pilot throughout rugby’s novice period, it was no shock the wing was used to flying at excessive pace on the sphere in addition to off it.
Jonny Might (36) and 2003 World Cup winners Ben Cohen and Will Greenwood (each 31) are the one England gamers to get wherever near Underwood’s file however the reality is the previous Leicester Tiger is nicely out in entrance and his file will take some beating, particularly now Might’s worldwide days are over.
With 49 tries from 85 Checks, Rory Underwood stays England’s all-time file strive scorer
2. Jonny Wilkinson
He virtually redefined the position of a fly-half so fearsome was his tackling and defence. However what set Wilkinson aside from the remainder was his unbelievable place kicking accuracy and extraordinary dedication to his craft.
The No 10’s match-winning drop objective within the 2003 World Cup remaining win over Australia secured his place in English rugby folklore. He was the poster boy for the success of Sir Clive Woodward’s group which sealed international glory.
Wilkinson’s passing sport was additionally underrated and his drop objective means gave England a major weapon which was a degree of distinction in comparison with different groups.
He’s solely crushed to the title of England’s biggest by one man…
Jonny Wilkinson scored that drop objective to see England win their solely Rugby World Cup in 2003
1. Martin Johnson
As arduous as they arrive, Johnson have to be thought-about not solely England’s biggest participant, however their finest ever captain too.
He stays the one Englishman to have lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup after the extraordinary victory over Australia in 2003. Johnson skippered the Crimson Rose via their most profitable interval and his no-nonsense type of management summed up the powerful fringe of the group coached by Woodward.
Martin Johnson stays the one Englishman to have lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup
Johnson stored his cool in opposition to the Wallabies in extra-time, delivering for his nation below essentially the most immense strain and with the assistance of Wilkinson’s boot.
It is going to take some participant sooner or later to knock him off the No 1 spot.