#2. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
- Major teams New Zealand
- Position Wing
- All Tests 63
The giant All Blacks wing was rugby’s first global star. He burst on the scene at the 1995 World Cup with some of the most destructive performances the rugby world had ever seen and with professionalism in its infancy Lomu became rugby’s first millionaire.
Weir said: “He took the 1995 World Cup by storm. There were plenty of players who were six foot five and nearly nineteen stone, but none I knew who could run the 100m sprint in 11 seconds.”
DID YOU KNOW? Lomu scored tries against every major test playing nation in World Rugby except South Africa (12 matches) and Wales (3 matches)
#1. Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
- Major teams Blue Bulls, Bulls, South Africa
- Position Scrum-half
- All Tests: 89
Regarded as one of the greatest scrum-halves the game has ever seen, Van der Westhuizen was capped a total of 89 times during a 10-year international career and was a key member of the Springboks side that lifted the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Weir said: “From a rival who almost single-handedly ended my career as an international number 8, to a standard-bearer in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease, and, eventually, a victim of this cruel disease. He was unstoppable on his day.”