4.  Lock

John Eales

 

It is unbelievable to consider that in his formative years he was considered to be a better cricketer than Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden.  It wasn’t until the age of twenty that he focused in on rugby union but boy did he make up for it!  2nd row players need the size and genuine jumping ability to dominate and not just compete in the line outs.  John Eales did this and had the immense strength to power the props into the scrum.  The whole front five should engage as one tight unit not as five individuals, under his tutorship this was always the case.  He was also mobile enough to get quickly around the pitch.  

 

Undisputedly one of the best locks of his generation; I place him higher and would have him dine at rugby union’s ‘top table.’  He is the highest points scorer for a forward in rugby union test history.  This was mainly due to his fantastic goal kicking ability that is unusual for a forward.  If a penalty kick was too far out for the great Michael Lynagh and a conversion was required for victory; step forward John Eales.