6. Richie McCaw (NZ) - He has been the best in his position for a while now, and Richie McCaw is fast becoming an All Black legend. A man-of-the-match performance on his international debut was a sign of things to come, and he is currently captain of the Kiwis.
In 2006, he was rewarded for his fantastic form with the IRB Player of the Year award.
5. Dave Gallaher (NZ) - Dave Gallaher is best known for being the captain of "the Originals", who were the first New Zealand team to be called the All Blacks. Despite a short international career (1903-1906), Gallaher became a force to be reckoned with, as he started revolutionising the role of a back-row forward.
He only played six test matches for the All Blacks, but is fondly remembered as a New Zealand rugby legend, despite actually being born in Ireland.
4. Jean Prat (FRA) - A 2001 inductee into the International Rugby Hall of Fame, Prat was a fantastic all-round player. He scored 139 points in his 51 French caps, in ways ranging from wonderful tries to conversions.
Prat also captained his French side from 1954 onwards, and is an inductee into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
3. Wavell Wakefield (ENG) - Probably the most important figure in the development of back row forwards, Wakefield used his athletic skills to change the flanker from a static player to one who constantly pressurised the opposition half-backs and supported attacks in open play, as well as the standard winning of the ball in rucks.
He won 31 caps for England, captaining them 13 times, and, had it not been for World War I, he would have added significantly to those. He was the first English inductee into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
2. Francois Pienaar (RSA) (pictured) - Arguably South Africa's most successful captain ever, Francois Piemaar's crowning glory came in 1995 when he guided the Springboks to a World Cup success in South Africa. He was greeted and awarded the trophy by Nelson Mandela.
Despite his huge success, Pienaar had a remarkably short international career, just three years. Despite this he won 29 test caps and is regarded as one of the best players the country has ever produced.
1. Michael Jones (NZ) -
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