Rugby World Cup 100 greatest players: 60-41 – Shane Williams, Sonny Bill Williams, Juan Martin Hernandez
The third of The Independent’s five-part series unveiling the 100 greatest players of the Rugby World Cup
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Your support makes all the difference.The greatest Rugby World Cup players of all-time enters part three with the countdown reaching positions 60-41 in the list, with the household names of rugby union now coming thick and fast.
After the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Brian O’Driscoll and Mike Tindall featured in the last batch of players, the list takes a decidedly southern hemisphere turn to it, with plenty of Kiwis, Springboks and Wallabies featuring throughout this 20-player segment.
It is hardly a surprise that the big Rugby Championship nations begin to dominate the list, given that between them they have won seven of the eight World Cups so far.
However, they are not along, as a smattering of players from England, Wales, France, Argentina, Fiji and even Japan feature to give the list a global blend throughout.
As we cross the halfway stage of the 100-player countdown, the question now becomes what separates the good from the great, and the great from the truly great?
Click through the gallery below to see players 60-41.
Read part one of the countdown here, and part two here.
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