2. Schalk Burger (South Africa)
Schalk Burger is a former South African rugby player known for his toughness, ferocity, and incredible work rate on the field. Playing predominantly as a flanker, Burger was a key part of the Springboks’ squad that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He earned a reputation for his relentless tackling, physicality, and ability to dominate breakdowns. Burger was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2004 and was one of the most feared forwards in world rugby throughout his career. Despite battling serious injuries, including a life-threatening illness in 2013, Burger returned to top-level rugby and became one of South Africa’s most respected and beloved players.
Carter said: “A real competitor and absolute top bloke off the field as well. His mindset was a little bit different when he was out there competing. That just made him such a tough opponent to come up against.”
1. Jonny Wilkinson (England)
Jonny Wilkinson is a former English rugby union player, best known for his pivotal role in England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup victory. Renowned for his impeccable kicking skills, Wilkinson kicked the famous drop goal in extra time to win the final against Australia, cementing his place in rugby history. Throughout his career, Wilkinson was a precise and reliable fly-half, amassing over 1,200 points in international rugby—a record for an English player. His meticulous preparation and work ethic made him one of the greatest players of his generation. Wilkinson retired in 2014 after a stellar club and international career with England and Toulon.
CARTER SAID: “Probably because I held him in such high regard and had a huge amount of respect for him, it was Jonny Wilkinson. He was an absolute student of the game,
“It was a wild, windy test match down in Wellington, I was on the bench and I hadn’t played a test match for the All Blacks, and he just took that game and, as a 10 that wants to control a game, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“I got the best seats in the house on the bench. Part of me was going, ‘Man, do I really want to get on here because he’s just completely dominating this game’.
“Thankfully I didn’t. I made my test debut the following week, which was a much better game to remember, but I just remember sitting there going, ‘If I ever do play 10’ – I was playing 12 a lot then – ‘this is how you need to control a game’.
“I had a huge amount of respect for him and playing against him.”
Jonny Wilkinson facts:
- Wilkinson’s brother, Mark, was also a Newcastle player who made 16 appearances in the Premiership for the side between 2002 and 2005, predominantly as a centre. His father, Phil, was a rugby player and cricketer, and his mother, Philippa, played squash at county level. His grandfather, Phil, also played football for Norwich.
- When former England centre Jeremy Guscott walked into the dressing room on the day of Wilkinson’s international debut, he thought the 18-year-old had won a competition to spend the day with the national team.
- Wilkinson followed Buddhist principles and teachings to help control his perfectionist tendencies, according to an interview he gave with The Times newspaper in 2009.
- Jonny and Shelley became parents for the first time in late 2018. They keep their private life pretty much on lockdown, but according to reports, they had a little boy called James while they were still living in France.
- Wilkinson is currently a studio pundit for ITV Sport, working on their coverage of the Six Nations Championship, Rugby World Cup and other rugby events.