PAUL O’CONNELL’S TOUGHEST OPPONENTS:
#5. Victor Matfield
- Position: Lock
- Country: South Africa
- Caps: 127
O’Connell said: “I tried not to fear any opponent, but any international second-row will tell you that Matfield had the ability to destroy your lineout. He’s the best lineout operator I played against. He very rarely made any mistakes.”
![](https://www.ruck.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/1703348.jpg)
#4. Jonny Wilkinson
- Position: Fly-half
- Country: England
- Caps: 91
O’Connell said: “I played against him when he was with Toulon at the end of my career, and his ability to punish you with drop-goals, with his penalties, with his territory kicking game, it was so hard to get a foothold in his game. He could beat better teams almost on his own.”
![](https://www.ruck.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1812403-1.jpg)
#3. Martin Johnson
- Position: Lock
- Country: England
- Caps: 83
O’Connell said: “He had a presence. He was a fabulous player, absolutely someone to be admired.”
![](https://www.ruck.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2232148-4.jpg)
#2. Jerry Collins
- Position: Flanker
- Country: New Zealand
- Caps: 48
![](https://www.ruck.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Jerry-Collins-All-Blacks-2007.jpg)
#1. Bakkies Botha
- Position: Lock
- Country: South Africa
- Caps: 85
![](https://www.ruck.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1597646-2.jpg)
DID YOU KNOW? Botha is regularly listed in ‘greatest ever’ sides, and coach Bernard Laporte said he was the greatest player he ever coached