2. Schalk Burger (South Africa)
Schalk Burger is a former South African rugby union player renowned for his ferocious tackling, relentless work rate, and leadership on and off the field. Born on April 13, 1983, in Port Elizabeth, Burger was a key figure in the Springboks’ back row for over a decade.
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He earned 86 caps for South Africa between 2003 and 2015, playing a pivotal role in their 2007 Rugby World Cup triumph and being named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2004. Known for his fearless physicality and tireless competitiveness, Burger also represented the Stormers and Western Province with distinction, later playing for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan and Saracens in England.
Beyond rugby, he’s admired for his resilience, particularly his remarkable comeback from a life-threatening illness in 2013.
Carter said: “A real competitor and absolute top bloke off the field as well. His mindset was a little bit different when he was out there competing. That just made him such a tough opponent to come up against.”
1. Jonny Wilkinson (England)
Jonny Wilkinson (born May 25, 1979, in Frimley, England) is one of the most celebrated figures in rugby union history — revered for his precision, discipline, and unrelenting pursuit of excellence. A fly-half of rare composure and technical mastery, Wilkinson became synonymous with England’s golden era in the early 2000s.
He made his international debut in 1998 and went on to earn 91 caps for England, scoring 1,179 points, one of the highest tallies in Test rugby history. Wilkinson’s defining moment came at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, when his dramatic extra-time drop goal against Australia in the final secured England’s first — and only — World Cup triumph.
Beyond his kicking accuracy and tactical control, Wilkinson was renowned for his defensive commitment, work ethic, and meticulous preparation. His club career saw immense success with Newcastle Falcons and later Toulon, where he helped the French side win back-to-back Heineken Cup titles (2013, 2014) before retiring.
Off the field, Wilkinson has become a respected thinker and mentor, known for his humility and openness about the mental and emotional challenges of elite sport. His influence continues to shape rugby culture — embodying professionalism, integrity, and the relentless pursuit of self-improvement.
CARTER SAID: “Probably because I held him in such high regard and had a huge amount of respect for him, it was Jonny Wilkinson. He was an absolute student of the game,
“It was a wild, windy test match down in Wellington, I was on the bench and I hadn’t played a test match for the All Blacks, and he just took that game and, as a 10 that wants to control a game, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“I got the best seats in the house on the bench. Part of me was going, ‘Man, do I really want to get on here because he’s just completely dominating this game’.
“Thankfully I didn’t. I made my test debut the following week, which was a much better game to remember, but I just remember sitting there going, ‘If I ever do play 10’ – I was playing 12 a lot then – ‘this is how you need to control a game’.
“I had a huge amount of respect for him and playing against him.”
Jonny Wilkinson facts:
- Wilkinson’s brother, Mark, was also a Newcastle player who made 16 appearances in the Premiership for the side between 2002 and 2005, predominantly as a centre. His father, Phil, was a rugby player and cricketer, and his mother, Philippa, played squash at county level. His grandfather, Phil, also played football for Norwich.
- When former England centre Jeremy Guscott walked into the dressing room on the day of Wilkinson’s international debut, he thought the 18-year-old had won a competition to spend the day with the national team.
- Wilkinson followed Buddhist principles and teachings to help control his perfectionist tendencies, according to an interview he gave with The Times newspaper in 2009.
- Jonny and Shelley became parents for the first time in late 2018. They keep their private life pretty much on lockdown, but according to reports, they had a little boy called James while they were still living in France.
- Wilkinson is currently a studio pundit for ITV Sport, working on their coverage of the Six Nations Championship, Rugby World Cup and other rugby events.