15. Matt Burke - The consummate professional at the back for Australia, Burkey was the ultimate custodian with a combination of attacking flair, defensive sturdiness, safety under the high ball, prodigious boot, and the ability to punish with his goal kicking. Honourable mentions to Cullen, Gallaher, Blanco

14. David Campese - doesn't win any personality contests, due to being a complete PistonWristedGibbon, but in his heyday, he was an amazing attacking weapon. Apart from the huge number of tries he scored himself, it's often forgotten how many tries he created for other outstanding support players such as Lynagh, Horan, and Little. Honourable mentions to Rory Underwood, Jeff Wilson, Joe Rok.

13. Jason Little - there's a number of players I considered here, but you can't have salt without the pepper, and Little's combination with old mate Tim Horan, was pure synergy personified. Little was an outstanding individual player in his own right, both in attack and defence. Sadly, he was forced to play his final days as a utility player, but I always thought he was the quintessential number 13. Honourable mentions to Gerry Guscott, Phillipe Sella, Frank Bunce.

12. Tim Horan - searing acceleration, granite-like defence, the full skill set, an eye for gap, and when defences ruled the rugby world, he had the valuable ability to get his team over the advantage line even when nothing was on. I think Horan was the greatest Wallaby back I've personally ever seen. Honourable mentions to Walter Little, Will Carling.

11. Jonah Lomu - how could you not have this monster in your side?! The man was a colossus that troubled every team he came up against. The scary thing was he moved as nimbly as a man half his size, yet had the power of a mad rhino. Honourable mentions to John Kirwan, Paul Carozza, Rob Egerton

10. Mark Ella - the most complete ball playing five eighth I've seen. Sublime distribution skills, and was always bobbing up to create the extra man. Retired far too young. Honourable mentions to Michael Lynagh, Grant Fox, Hugo Porta, Paul McLean.

9. Joost van der Westhuizen - snappy service, punishing defence, strong and quick, and had a brilliant running game that constantly worried defences. Honourable mentions to NFJ, George Gregan, Justin Marshall, David Kirk.

8. Toutai Kefu - Big Toutai forever had his team on the front foot, and had an agility that belied his bulk. He was one of those rare players who was equally at home in fast open games or tough, tight arm wrestles.  Honourable mentions to Zinzan Brooke, Willie Ofahengaue, Tim Gavin

7. Richie McCaw - A freak of rugby nature. Can do everything, and sometimes I swear there are 2 of him on the field at once, because he seems to be everywhere. Knows exactly how far he can bend the rules, which seems to be further than most. Honourable mentions to Michael Jones, David Wilson, Simon Poidevin, Olivier Magne.

6. Andre Venter - I always hated seeing him named in the South African side, because it usually meant the Wallabies would be in for a bruising game. Venter was just the epitome of toughness. Grinding player without flash, but was consistently savage in defence. Honourable mentions to Eric Champ, Mick Skinner.

5. John Eales - A wonderfully gifted individual that reinvented the locks manual. Had all the skills known to rugby, including the all-too rare ability to break Kiwi hearts. Honourable mentions to Martin Johnson, Chris Jack.

4. Ian Jones - His aerial battles with Eales were a highlight of Bledisloe Tests past, and considering how much of a fixture Jones was in the black jersey, it's little wonder that the All Black lineout was a tough nut to crack for so long. Honourable mentions to Garrick Morgan, Gary Whetton.

3. Stan Pilecki - a madman who not only could scrummage with the best of the Kiwis and Argentines, but frequently found himself flying up the field with the ball, skittling defenders like a wagon wheel out of control.

2. Keith Wood - another complete nutter, a quality that I like in a front rower. Wood gave the impression he'd happily die for his country. A huge contributor all over the field, yet did the simple things well. Honourable mentions to Kearns, Fitzpatrick, Tom Lawton.

1. Os du Randt - man mountain who's put just about every tighthead through a world of pain for what seems like the last 15 years of international rugby.