Last week, we chose the fifteen greatest All Blacks from our generation - and so this week, we thought we'd select the greatest rugby players from around the world, excluding the All Blacks.

Although, let's be honest - without any All Blacks, how great can the team be??

Remember, again, that these players are the guys we've grown up watching:


1. Os du Randt: A mountain of a man. Os, which translates as Ox in Afrikaans, is without a doubt one of South Africa's greatest forwards. Os played in eighty Tests for the Springboks, including the 1995 and 2007 World Cup finals won by South Africa. He retired at the end of 2007, which is a huge loss for the Springboks.

2. Keith Wood: While not the most technically sound hooker in the game, "The Raging Potato" was a great leader and a fierce competitor, best known for his strong running game. Wood played 58 Tests for Ireland, and 5 caps for the British Lions. In 2001, Wood was named the IRB's International Player of the Year. He also holds the record for the most Test trys by a hooker - 15.

3. Jason Leonard: Jason Leonard makes the side purely on the fact that he played in 114 Tests for England from 1990-2004, which is a phenomenal effort for a prop. He also represented the British Lions on 24 occasions (including 5 caps). Leonard went to four World Cups, and was finally a part of a winning side in 2003, in his fourth World Cup appearance.

4. John Eales: A fantastic captain, and a world class lock. Eales could do it all - including kicking goals. He played 86 Tests for the Wallabies, and played in two winning World Cup sides (1991 and 1999) - he was captain in 1999. Eales set the benchmark for locks, not only in Australia but around the world.

5. Victor Matfield: One of the finest locks in the game today. Matfield is a strong competitor, and uses his size and strength well around the field. Not always known for his fair play, but you can't argue with his skills - and he always gives every ounce of strength he has. A great example of how Springbok forwards play the game.

6. Olivier Magne: A key member of the French side throughout the late 90's and through to 2006. Magne was a versatile loosey known for his speed around the field, and his skills at the breakdown. Magne played 89 Tests for France, including the 1999 World Cup match against the All Blacks (sigh).

7. George Smith: Not the most popular Australian on our side of the Tasman, but when it comes to the breakdown there aren't many who can match him. Smith is a key weapon in this area, and his abilities at turning over the ball are truely world class. He's been a thorn in the side of the All Blacks on many occasions.

8. Lawrence Dallaglio: Dallaglio is one of the toughest players to come out of England, and played for England until the age of 35 - when he finally retired after the 2007 World Cup. There has often been controversy surrounding Dallaglio's selection in the English side, but he has never failed to bring his best to the field.

9. George Gregan: The guy you love to hate. One of the greatest halfbacks to play the game, and one of the most competitive. As a captain, he was always in the refs ear, yapping away like a good captain should. Gregan holds the world record for Tests, with an incredible haul of 139. Love him or hate him, Gregan is all class.

10. Johnny Wilkinson: When not injured, Johnny is one of the finest players to ever play rugby. He has played 70 Tests for England, but that number would be a lot higher if he wasn't so injury prone. He helped guide the English to the 2003 World Cup, and slotted the winning drop goal to beat the Wallabies. He has scored 1032 points for England.

11. Rory Underwood: A speed machine, Underwood played for England from 1984-1996, in which time he chalked up 85 Tests and 49 trys. Underwood played in three World Cups (1987, 1991, 1995), and went on two tours with the British Lions, where he made 6 caps.

12. Tim Horan: Horan was a fantastic inside center, who had speed and strength. He was instrumental in helping the Wallabies win the 1999 World Cup, when he turned on a fantastic performance against the Boks in the semi-final, despite the fact he had severe food poisoning the day before. Horan played in 80 Tests for Australia, and was a part of the winning World Cup sides in 1991 and 1999.

13. Brian Lima: "The Chiropractor". Best known for his brutal defence, which would send the opposition crashing to the ground. He has played for Samoa 70 times between 1990 and 2007, and is one of the only players we have ever seen smash Jonah Lomu in a tackle.

14. David Campese: In his prime, he was near unstoppable on attack - his famous "goose step" would leave the opposition lying on the ground as he sped away. He held the record for trys scored in Tests (64), until 2006 when Daisuke Ohata (a Japanese winger) overtook him. Campese is without a doubt one of the greatest wingers of all time.

15. Chris Latham: Another player whose career has been disrupted due to injury - but when Latham plays, he's devastating. His attacking play can be amongst the best in the world, as can be his defence. Latham is one of those guys that can do anything, and can pull out the match winning play from nowhere.

Reserves: Pieter de Villiers, Phil Kearns, Fabien Pelous, Schalk Burger, Joost van der Westhuizen, Daniel Herbert, Gavin Hastings.