Top 5 best ever player head to heads in rugby union
One of the most exciting parts of any game day build-up is checking out those head to heads.
Which scrum-half is going to be quicker to the breakdown? Which prop will keep his footing? Which full-back is safer under the high ball?
Below we take a look at some of the most fascinating matchups in rugby history:
1. Jonny Wilkinson vs Dan Carter
Neither player needs any introduction whatsoever. Often thought to be the greatest two fly-halves in the history of the game, their respectful rivalry spanned well over a decade.
With Jonny Wilkinson making his international debut back in 1998, he had a slight head start on his points accumulation over his southern hemisphere counterpart.
Following his 2003 world cup winning exploits it was commonly thought that Wilkinson was the greatest player in world rugby. Out from Carlos Spencer’s shadows appeared a young Dan Carter, however. After performing predominantly at inside-center for the 2003 world cup, Carter cemented the starting birth in the All Blacks at fly half the following year.
With Wilkinson falling prey to many an injury over the next few years. Carter then became the standout number ten in world rugby, epitomised by his demolition of Wilkinson’s British and Irish Lions team of 2005.
The two great friends kept each other at the highest levels of competition for years to come. By the time they had both retired, Wilkinson had 1246 international points to his name, and Carter led the world record with a huge 1598 points total.
2. Jonah Lomu vs Mike Catt
When you think of these two players, you will not find many similarities. This was not a long-running feud between two like-for-like players. What it was in fact, was a single moment of David vs Goliath magnitude, but with Goliath literally trampling over David.
The occasion was the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Where the big man on the wing, Jonah Lomu, took it upon himself not to run around Mike Catt, but to put all of his immense power right through him.
Over 25 years later, it is still thought of as one of the most bone-shattering collisions the world of rugby has ever seen.
3. Etzebeth vs Itoje
Potentially thought to be an odd inclusion considering how fresh this rivalry is, but there’s no doubting the fan hysteria behind each player.
Both intimidating locks, the South African Eben Etzebeth is well known for using his brute force to act as an enforcer for his club and national side.
Maro Itoje being a pure nuisance in and around the rolling maul, often causes spats to ensue between these two players.
Players for the big occasions, these two were box office in both the world cup final in 2019 and the British and Irish Lions tour of 2021.
Both have a huge following from their home countries, making for some truly fantastic debates over a pint between the English and South Africans.
4. Brian O’Driscoll Vs Tana Umaga
This rivalry is tainted with some seriously bad blood.
Back in the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour, Brian O’Driscoll (BOD) had laid down a challenge to the All Blacks outfit by picking up a piece of grass at the end of their traditional Haka as a sign of disrespect.
From that moment on BOD became a target for the men in black. Less than a minute into the game Kevin Mealamu and Tana Umaga picked BOD up and twisted him horizontally and then vertical in a malicious spear tackle, fracturing BOD’s shoulder and putting him out of the tour.
Both were thought to be the greatest centres in world rugby at the time, this made ripples around world rugby. It was then years before the two reconciled their differences, but have now put the past aside.
5. Manu Tuilagi Vs Mathieu Bastareaud
Centres, they’re units, powerhouses. The importance of a big centre is to break the gain line, getting your team on the front foot. There have been very few in the history of world rugby history that have achieved this quite as well as the aforementioned two.
It was a regular sight to see in the Six Nations these two lining up against each other in the England vs France fixtures. Pundits and fans alike would be hopping up and down ready to see the first collisions between these two.
With Manu Tuilagi weighing in at 110 kg, and Mathieu Bastareaud at 120 kg was like two human trains colliding. The bottled buzz of anticipation was felt in every stadium as one would line the other up for a huge hit, before the spectators would erupt with audible shock when one would inevitably crumple the other.
Comments on RugbyPass
He would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to comments