World Cup icons among new blindside flankers inducted into RugbyPass Hall of Fame
The sixth wave of inductees into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame have been revealed as the finest blindside flankers ever to grace the game were recognised on Monday.
Home to the greatest rugby players of all-time, the RugbyPass Hall of Fame acknowledges and recognises the outstanding efforts of the trailblazers from the amateur era through to the global stars who light up the sport to this day.
The amalgamation of rugby’s top players from the amateur and professional eras has been reflected in the Rugby Pass Hall of Fame’s first-ever induction announcement, from which 12 of rugby’s best blindside flankers have been unveiled as inductees.
Among the headline names include World Cup-winning captain Francois Pienaar, who created won of sport's most iconic moments when he was presented the Webb Ellis Cup by Nelson Mandela after steering the Springboks to their first-ever world title in 1995.
Pienaar joins Australian icon John Eales, English legend Martin Johnson and compatriot John Smit as the fourth World Cup-winning captain to be inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame.
As a two-time winner of rugby's greatest prize, former All Blacks enforcer Jerome Kaino has also been included after helping guide New Zealand to back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2015.
Pienaar and Kaino are two of five new World Cup-winning inductees, alongside former All Black Alan Whetton, English great Richard Hill, and ex-Springbok Juan Smith, all of whom became world champions in 1987, 2003 and 2007, respectively.
Kaino and Whetton are joined by fellow Kiwis Ian Kirkpatrick and the late Jerry Collins among the new additions to the RugbyPass Hall of Fame, while Hill has been added with his fellow countryman Mike Teague.
There are also three French inductees, spearheaded by inspirational ex-captain Thierry Dusautoir, who was crowned 2011 World Rugby Player of the Year for his exceptional performances at that year's World Cup in New Zealand.
Dusautoir is accompanied by two other former Les Bleus teammates in the form of Serge Betsen and Oliver Magne as new RugbyPass Hall of Fame inductees.
The other new inductee is former Scotland international Jason White, who played at two World Cups for his country and toured with the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand in 2005.
Of all those included in the RugbyPass Hall of Fame, only the players with the most votes in each position will make the Fan 1st XV, a team made up of only the best players ever to have played rugby.
The door remains open for other players to become RugbyPass Hall of Famers, so register now to have your say and vote for your favourite inductee in the Fan 1st XV.
Current RugbyPass Hall of Fame Fan 1st XV
1. Os du Randt (South Africa, 1994-2007)
2. Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand, 1986-1997)
3. Owen Franks (New Zealand, 2009-2019)
4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa, 2012-present)
5. Victor Matfield (South Africa, 2001-2015)
6. Jerome Kaino (New Zealand, 2004-2017)
7. N/A
8. N/A
9. N/A
10. N/A
11. N/A
12. N/A
13. N/A
14. N/A
15. N/A
Coach: N/A
Referee: N/A
Stadium: N/A
Latest Comments
It might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
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