Paul O'Connell Reveals the 5 Rugby Players He Respected Most

Paul O’Connell names the 5 rugby players he respected most. Who took the top spot, and why wasn’t it the hardest hitter? Paul O’Connell captained the British and Irish Lions into South Africa in 2009 and later said he tried not to fear any opponent. So which players earned his respect? In this video we count down the five rugby players he rated most, from the fly-half who controlled territory with his boot to the enforcer he faced in the 2009 Lions series. You’ll hear why presence, impact, nerve and mastery mattered to a Lions captain, and how the respect ran both ways between legends. Featuring Jonny Wilkinson, Martin Johnson, Jerry Collins, Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, with a look at the Springboks second row and the art of the lineout. Make your guess for number one before the reveal, then tell us in the comments if you agree. Subscribe for new rugby legend stories. Who would you have put at number one? Tell us below. #rugby #PaulOConnell #RugbyEchoes