FH: Dan Carter (New Zealand) – “Should it be Carter or Jonny Wilkinson? Difficult. Each the best on his day but Carter’s Super Rugby record with his province, Canterbury, and his stand-out performances against the 2005 Lions with the All Blacks – one of the best sides I’ve ever seen – tip the argument.”
SH: George Gregan (Australia) – “Anyone who plays behind an Australia pack for so long deserves anything that’s going. Gregan survived and flourished 139 times, winning the World Cup in 1999, and was also a considerable force with the Brumbies in Super Rugby from 1996 onwards.”
LP: Os du Randt – “Winner of two World Cups – in 1995 and 2007 – which makes him special and the most capped Springbok forward when he retired after beating England in Paris.”
HK: John Smit – “Another of the 2007 Springbok front row and the inspiration for his team.”
TP: Phil Vickery – “Not too many tighthead props last the course but Vickery, despite injuries, made two World Cup finals and picked up the Heineken Cup and Premiership titles after moving to Wasps.”