Scrum of the Earth /

Nicknamed ‘Nobody.’ As in ‘Nobody’s Perfect,’ Eales is part of a unique bunch of rugby titans. One of only five blokes to win two world cups, it was a fitting moment for all rugby men when Eales, arguably one of the greats of the modern game, lifted the Williams Webb Ellis trophy in 1999. Seen as the archetypal lock, combining the skills of a back with the brutal strength of a forward, the gentle giant skippered Australia on 52 occasions, scoring a record 173 points. But who are his favourite five second-rows?

Ian Jones (New Zealand)

We had some great battles over the years. His formidable partnership with Robin Brooke was a large feature of my career. Their consistency was admirable and they were just as important as each other, such was their differing qualities. He wasn’t the most physical bloke, but to play 79 Tests was a remarkable achievement and a New Zealand record for his position. But what really made Ian stand-out was his skills with ball in hand and he could score a try or two as well.

Neil Francis (Ireland)

What made Neil such a great was that his performances belied Ireland’s stature in the game. He never played in one of the great teams such as All-Blacks, but he was always difficult to come up against. He played on the edge of the law and always difficult to jump against. He certainly was one of the most talented second-rows of his generation and was a real fighter. You could rarely find a bloke who could take a cleaner catch from the messiest of line-outs.

Martin Johnson (England)

He is one of most influential locks of all time - Winning the World Cup defined his career - Johnno was a winner and a great captain. He had a no nonsense approach and would always lead from the front. He always presented one of the toughest challenges I faced. We had great respect for one another and he had such a big presence and a great rugby brain. Martin would do the basics very well and was a cool customer.

Rod McCall (Australia)

He is probably the most important Australian lock of my generation. He was the second row when I came into team and he really skilled me a lot and looked after me with the Wallabies. He was so dedicated and would never give in, that’s why he was such a great partner to have. He was a world-class jumper and extremely aggressive at the breakdown.

Mark Andrews (South Africa)

Mark was a very physical lock and a very fierce competitor. He didn’t give you too much breathing space and you always knew you were in a contest. He played fair, but he found ways around the law to make sure you knew he was there.

Click here to check out John Eales' career in pictures