McCaw, Carter top Welsh poll of 50 greatest rugby players

Filling in the hours ahead of the 7.30pm kick-off for the All Blacks against England by moping around wondering what you can do to move the clock along a little quicker until match time in Auckland?

Ponder the Western Mail's, that's the Cardiff newspaper, effort at deciding who are the 50 greatest rugby players of the modern era.

There're some interesting choices. Would you believe French captain Thierry Dusautoir is only ranked No.40 while Italian captain Sergio Parisse is No.6? Would you believe there is no place for Sean Fitzpatrick? Do you think Percy Montgomery and Jason Robinson were better fullbacks than Christian Cullen?

Where is Kieran Read? This is surely an oversight given he was named last year's IRB player of the year.

No surprise that Richie McCaw is named the greatest player, nor that Dan Carter is ranked No.2.

There is always a regional bias in these sorts of teams but there are plenty of points for debate. And you would have to ask, even if on a regional basis where is Jerome Kaino, the player of the 2011 Rugby World Cup?

And Australians might wonder why David Pocock doesn't rate a mention.

50 - Scott Quinnell (Wales)

49 - Yannick Jauzion (France)

48 - Carl Hayman (NZ)

47 - Mils Muliaina (NZ)

46 - Gary Teichmann (SA)

45 - Martyn Williams (Wales)

44 - Rob Howley (Wales)

43 - Ma'a Nonu (NZ)

42 - Bakkies Botha (SA)

41 - Will Greenwood (England)

40 - Thierry Dusautoir (France)

39 - Tana Umaga (NZ)

38 - Jean de Villiers (SA)

37 - Conrad Smith (NZ)

36 - Augustin Pichot (Agrentina)

35 - Adam Jones (Wales)

34 - Schalk Burger (SA)

33 - Joe Rokocoko (NZ)

32 - Stephen Larkham (Australia)

31 - Fourie du Preez (SA)

30 - Juan-Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Argentina)

29 - Justin Marshall (NZ)

28 - Matt Giteau (Australia)

27 - Will Genia (Australia)

26 - Scott Gibbs (Wales)

25 - Richard Hill (England)

24 - Gethin Jenkins (Wales)

23 - Doug Howlett (NZ)

22 - Christian Cullen (NZ)

21 - Lawrence Dallaglio (England)

20 - George Smith (Australia)

19 - John Smit (SA)

18 - Jason Robinson (England)

17 - Zinzan Brooke (NZ)

16 - Percy Montgomery (SA)

15 - Paul O'Connell (Ireland)

14 - George Gregan (Australia)

13 - Victor Matfield (SA)

12 - Bryan Habana (SA)

11 - Martin Johnson (England)

10 - Jonny Wilkinson (England) 

9 - John Eales (Australia)

8 - Shane Williams (Wales)

7 - Tim Horan (Australia)

6 - Sergio Parisse (Italy)

5 - Joost van der Westhuizen (SA)

4 - Jonah Lomu (NZ)

3 - Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)

2 - Dan Carter (NZ)

1 - Richie McCaw (NZ)

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