In the final instalment of a seven-part series, SA Rugby magazine’s writers pick their best World 23 of the past 25 years.
JON CARDINELLI: My World XV largely comprises of southern-hemisphere greats. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given that New Zealand and South Africa combined for five out of a possible seven World Cup wins between 1995 and 2019. The All Blacks have bossed both the Tri-Nations and Rugby Championship, and have lost very few matches against northern-hemisphere opposition.
My bench does acknowledges some of the northern-hemisphere giants of the period, though. Martin Castrogiovanni featured for a battling Italy side but in his prime was recognised as the premier scrummager in world rugby. Alun Wyn Jones has been a standout performer for Wales and the Lions for nearly 150 Tests.
Thierry Dusautoir was a consistent performer for a largely inconsistent and lacklustre France side. England sharpshooter Jonny Wilkinson edges Stephen Larkham for a place on my bench. Brian O’Driscoll, a devastating runner in that outside centre channel, also makes the cut.
There’s space for three more southern superstars among the reserves. Keven Mealamu wasn’t the best lineout exponent, but gave the opposition plenty of headaches at the scrum and breakdown. Bok strongman Os du Randt – who won two World Cups with the Springboks – edges England’s Jason Leonard for the loosehead berth. Wallabies scrumhalf George Gregan had the competitive edge to match his outrageous skill and vision.
CARDINELLI’S WORLD TEAM – 15 Christian Cullen (New Zealand), 14 Bryan Habana (South Africa), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Tim Horan (Australia), 11 Jonah Lomu (New Zealand), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa), 6 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 5 Victor Matfield (South Africa), 4 Martin Johnson (England), 3 Owen Franks (New Zealand), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Beast Mtawarira (South Africa).
Subs: 16 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), 17 Os du Randt (South Africa), 18 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy), 19 Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 20 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 21 George Gregan (Australia), 22 Jonny Wilkinson (England), 23 Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland).
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CRAIG LEWIS: Considering there were so many players that it pained me to leave out of my World XV, I’m grateful to include some of those in my selection of the substitutes here.
At hooker, I’m opting for the abrasive Irishman Keith Wood, while Tony Woodcock and Owen Franks would add further firepower off the bench as my prop replacements.
Also among the forwards, the versatile Schalk Burger is a superb option to cover all three back-row positions off the bench.
Then finally, I’ve also found a spot for my first Australian picks, with legendary Wallabies lock John Eales certainly someone who deserves selection in any World 23. Tenacious Aussie scrumhalf George Gregan is another obvious pick after I chose Fourie du Preez in my starting side.
For my flyhalf replacement, I’m suddenly going to keep this former Wallabies trend going, allowing Gregan to partner the brilliant Stephen Larkham in a hypothetical substitutes situation.
I’ll round off my bench team with a left-field selection, and go for Cheslin Kolbe, who would be a perfect impact player who can cover fullback and wing.
LEWIS’ WORLD TEAM – 15 Christian Cullen (New Zealand), 14 Jeff Wilson (New Zealand), 13 Jaque Fourie (South Africa), 12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Jonah Lomu (New Zealand), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 6 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 5 Victor Matfield (South Africa), 4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy), 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand), 1 Beast Mtawarira (South Africa).
Subs: 16 Keith Wood (Ireland), 17 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand), Owen Franks (New Zealand), 19 John Eales (Australia), 20 Schalk Burger (South Africa), 21 George Gregan (Australia), 22 Stephen Larkham (Australia), 23 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa).
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WADE PRETORIUS: Again, we have to look to Rassie Erasmus’ blueprint when it comes to picking a bench. You need a front row as good as your starting selection, some bruising options, a player capable to grab the odd turnover and game-breaking players who offer versatility amongst the backs.
With that in mind, my second front row is Gethin Jenkins, Keith Wood and Martin Castrogiovanni – all of whom I made cases for in my original front-row selection piece.
Paul O’Connell is my tough-as-nails lock option with another player South Africans, and many other nations, loved to hate – George Smith – on my bench. The Australian was at the top for over a decade and proved himself to be far more than a specialist fetcher over the course of his career. A ball player in his own right, he would be the best alternative should Read or McCaw go down.
I have to sway from the 6-2 split, only because I cannot, when put on the spot think of a player who can play scrumhalf and another position in the backline. My backline has Jonny Wilkinson, who most northern observers would be tempted to have included in the starting XV, as the perfect 10-12 replacement. Justin Marshall is my No 9 replacement and now that I think about it, maybe should’ve started ahead of Gregan in my side. He left the international scene with 24 tries and 81 caps and was a handful for defenders with his strong running game.
Completing my 23 was no easy feat, but it goes to a player with 64 tries in a 101 appearances, a love of all-things attacking rugby and someone able to break a game wide open. He just fits the criteria considering he retired in 1996 … David Campese.
PRETORIUS’ WORLD TEAM – 15 Christian Cullen (New Zealand), 14 Jason Robinson (England), 13 Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), 12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Jonah Lomu (New Zealand), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 George Gregan (Australia), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 6 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 5 John Eales (Australia), 4 Martin Johnson (England), 3 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand), 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand), 1 Owen Franks (New Zealand).
Subs: 16 Keith Wood (Ireland), 17 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy), 18 Gethin Jenkins (Wales), 19 Paul O’Connell (Ireland), 20 George Smith (Australia), 21 Justin Marshall (New Zealand), 22 Jonny Wilkinson (England), 23 David Campese (Australia).
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MARIETTE ADAMS: I thought selecting a bench would be easier than picking the starting XV, but it was not. I had to overlook so many (too many) world-class athletes and it doesn’t sit well with me. One thing I learned from compiling these composite, hypothetical lineups, is that I’d never want to be a coach in any team sport.
I decided on Bismarck du Plessis as the replacement hooker, flanked by Beast Mtawarira and Owen Franks as the reserve props. Between the trio, they boost four World Cup-title wins and more than enough experience to rival any other combination for the title of most physically dominant front row in the world.
Brodie Retallick comes in as second-row cover because how can he not? He is the best lock in the world at the moment and actually has a case to be considered the best ever.
For many years France’s talisman, Thierry Dusautoir just pips legendary duo Schalk Burger (Springboks) and George Smith (Wallabies) for a spot on the bench. He is also the only northern hemisphere-based player to make the cut among the substitutes list and the second in the match 23.
Backline lineup options consist of three players from the old Tri-Nations Test teams. Imagine seeing Gregan go off, only to be replaced by the great Fourie du Preez. It would spark fear in any opposition.
Stephen Larkham beats Jonny Wilkinson for a place in my team, because of his versatility. Apart from having a wonderfully accurate kicking game – tactically and at goal – Larkham covers three positions: flyhalf, centre and, if absolutely necessary, fullback.
Ben Smith rounds off my team. He plays wing and fullback and is equally at ease and influential in both positions.
ADAMS’ WORLD TEAM – Christian Cullen (New Zealand), 14 David Campese (Australia), 13 Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), 12 Tim Horan (Australia), 11 Jonah Lomu (New Zealand), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 George Gregan (Australia), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 6 Jerry Collins (New Zealand), 5 Victor Matfield (South Africa), 4 John Eales (Australia), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy), 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand), 1 Os du Randt (South Africa).
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 17 Beast Mtawarira (South Africa), 18 Owen Franks (New Zealand), 19 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 20 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 21 Fourie du Preez (South Africa), 22 Stephen Larkham (Australia), 23 Ben Smith (New Zealand).
DYLAN JACK: On my bench, I will opt for another legendary South African hooker in John Smit.
As my loosehead replacement, I am going to be a bit controversial and opt for Martin Castrogiovanni’s Leicester Tigers teammate Marcos Ayerza. The Argentinian was a major part of the legendary ‘bajada’ scrum for Los Pumas. Nicknamed ‘El Toro’ or ‘The Bull’, Ayerza was a nighmare for tighthead props to deal with at scrum time. He certainly played his part in the 2007 World Cup, helping Argentina finish in third place – a massive achievement when one considers where they were at that stage. He certainly would have become a centurion if it had not been for his club commitments.
Phil Vickery rounds off my front-row replacements. While his career was unfortunately harmed by injury, ‘The Raging Bull’ is one of the finest props from the northern hemisphere.
The active great that is Alun Wyn Jones provides backup at lock. With nearly 150 Tests to his name, it was difficult to leave him out of my starting lineup.
Danie Rossouw may not have been the flashiest player, but he was a coach’s dream in the way that he never stopped working and almost always made his presence felt in the physical exchanges. His ability to play lock, flank and No 8 certainly helped him and he is one of the most succesful players to come out of South Africa.
George Gregan was irrepressible on the field, in the best of ways. His competitive spirit certainly gave him an edge to go with his incredible talent. The man who broke Australian hearts in 2003, Jonny Wilkinson provides backup at flyhalf. While he will always be known for his kicking, Wilkinson was among the new breed of flyhalves who did not shirk defensive responsibilities and could certainly take a hit.
Rounding off my team is All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu. He is another who I found tough to leave out of the starting lineup, but I certainly could not leave him out of my squad.
JACK’S WORLD XV – 15 Christian Cullen (New Zealand), 14 Shane Williams (Wales), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Bryan Habana (South Africa), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 6 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 5 Victor Matfield (South Africa), 4 John Eales (Australia), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Beast Mtawarira (South Africa).
Subs: 16 John Smit (South Africa), 17 Marcos Ayerza (Argentina), 18 Phil Vickery (England), 19 Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 20 Danie Rossouw (South Africa), 21 George Gregan (Australia), 22 Jonny Wilkinson (England), 23 Jonah Lomu (New Zealand).
Photo: David Davies/ PA Images/Getty Images
