Richie McCaw
John Eales
Stat by stat
Bars are scaled to the leader in this list.
The verdict
Richie McCaw leads 2 of 3 categories. Our all-time ranking places Richie McCaw at #1 and John Eales at #7.
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The case for Richie McCaw
The most successful player in the history of the game, and the defining openside flanker of the professional era. McCaw captained New Zealand to back-to-back World Cups in 2011 and 2015, won a record three World Rugby Player of the Year awards (2006, 2009, 2010), and finished with 148 Test caps — a world record for a forward at his retirement. He led the All Blacks a record 110 times and won 131 of his Tests, an astonishing win rate near 89 percent. His genius lay at the breakdown, where his mastery of the jackal and his reading of the referee's tolerance let him win turnovers and slow opposition ball more effectively than anyone before him, so much so that opponents and lawmakers alike shaped their thinking around him. Durable, ruthless and relentlessly competitive, he combined statistical dominance with two of the sport's biggest prizes — the twin pillars, peak and achievement, that make his case for the top spot.
The case for John Eales
One of only a handful of players to win the World Cup twice, and a lock so complete his team-mates nicknamed him 'Nobody', because nobody's perfect. Eales won the 1991 tournament as a 21-year-old and captained Australia to a second title in 1999, a rare feat of sustained excellence at the pinnacle. He was a supreme lineout forward and athlete, but his signature was almost unheard-of for a second-rower: he was a reliable goal-kicker, amassing 173 Test points and famously slotting a last-minute touchline penalty to beat New Zealand in 2000. He captained the Wallabies 55 times through their most successful era, leading with a calm authority that made him one of the sport's most respected figures. Two World Cups, the leadership of a golden Australian side, and a versatility no other great lock has matched place him firmly among the game's elite forwards.