Iconic England flyhalf and drop-goal hero Jonny Wilkinson includes two World Cup-winning Springboks in his Dream XV.
Selecting his best of the best for Ruck.co.uk, Wilkinson’s lineup includes multiple fellow World Cup winners and former World Player of the Year winners.
A 2007 World Cup hero and Bok enforcer, Bakkies Botha slots into the second row alongside Englishman Martin Johnson.
Commenting on Botha’s inclusion, Wilkinson said: “Someone incredibly fierce but very very down to earth and at times he’s exactly what a team needs.”
Joel Stransky, who kicked the winning drop goal against the All Blacks to secure the Boks their first World Cup crown in 1995, is one of five flyhalf options – Michael Lynagh, Dan Carter, Grant Fox and Stephen Larkham the others – who were so influential that Wilkinson was unable to settle on one.
He said: “This is the key position for any World Cup winning team. You need guys that are going to lead and continue to do so right to the final seconds when it gets very, very tough. I can’t just pick one.”
Scotsman Gary Amstrong completes the halfback pairing.
Former Ireland and British & Irish Lions skipper Brian O’Driscoll and Wallabies legend Tim Horan, and All Black GOAT Richie McCaw, Englishman Richard Hill and Samoan Pat Lam, make up the midfield and loose trio combinations, respectively.
Ex-Ireland captain Keith Wood, Kiwi Craig Dowd and Englishman Jason Leonard are down to start in the front row, while All Blacks icon Jonah Lomu, Englishman Jason Robinson and Frenchman Serge Blanco complete the back three.
