Martin Johnson, lock 1993-2003
England: 84 caps, 10 points
Lions: 8 caps
Very probably England's best-ever lock and definitely his country's finest captain, Johnson's career is as glittering as they come.
Johnson is the only man to lead the Lions on two tours, including the series victory over the Springboks in 1997.
His finest hour came in 2003 as he captained England to World Cup success in Australia with a nerve-shredding victory in Sydney.
But his highlight as a player may well have been in leading a six-man pack's heroic defence against New Zealand as England held on for victory in Auckland in 2003.
'Beetle Brows' was a ferocious competitor, inspiring almost as much fear in his own teammates as he did in the opposition. He was immensely admired by both.
Also highly successful at club level with Leicester, leading the Tigers to back-to-back Heineken Cup triumphs in 2001-2.
Richard Hill, flanker 1997-2008
England: 71 caps, 60 points
Lions: 5 caps
Hill is one of the true greats of the professional era - just ask his peers.
Largely unsung among the public and media 'the Silent Assassin' could not be more highly-rated within the game and many experts credit him with a greater influence on England's 2003 World Cup win even than the much-vaunted Johnson and Wilkinson.
He was the only member of Clive Woodward's England side never to be dropped by the head coach, testament to his hugeimportance to the team.
Aggressive, abrasive, massively effective, Hill was the king of the breakdown, feared and revered in equal measure.
It is to the regret of England (and Saracens) fans that his career post-2003 was blighted by injuries and he never regained the glorious peak form he enjoyed in the early years of the century.
David Duckham, winger/centre 1969-76
England: 36 caps, 36 points
Lions: 3 caps
A shining light in a very mediocre England side, Duckham is widely regarded as one of his country's best-ever backs.
He started as a centre but quickly converted to wing, where his attacking flair stood out, even amongst the Welsh back-line legends of his era.
The highlight of his career came in a Lions shirt as he played 16 times in the successful tour of New Zealand in 1971, scoring 11 tries. He also played in three Tests as the Lions secured a series victory over the All Blacks for the first time.
He was also the only English back to play in the legendary Barabarians side that beat New Zealand in Cardiff in 1973.
Born in Coventry, Duckham was a key member of the Coventry side which dominated English club rugby in the 1970s, playing for his home-town club for 12 seasons.
Bill Beaumont, lock 1975-82
England: 34 caps
Lions: 7 caps
Beaumont captained England 21 times and was a truly inspirational leader.
He was also a powerful workhorse in the loose and remarkably mobile for such a big man.
He took over as captain in 1978 after a miserable decade for England and led the side to a first Grand Slam for 23 years in 1980.
But his finest hour may well have come a year earlier as he led North of England to victory over the touring All Blacks.
He was named captain of the Lions touring party in 1980 which lost 3-1 in South Africa.
Played all his club rugby for Fylde in Lancashire until injury ended his career in 1982.
Will Carling, centre 1988-97
England: 72 caps, 54 points
Lions: 1 cap
The former army officer was England's youngest ever captain at the age of 22 and until Martin Johnson the most successful ever.
Carling led England to back-to-back Grand Slams in 1991-2 (after missing out in the Grand Slam decider to Scotland in 1990) and again in 1995.
In between he also skippered England to the World Cup final in 1991.
Despite his colourful life (and remarks) off the field and his ability to polarise opinion, Carling's single-mindedness played a major part in making England a dominant force in world rugby after years in the doldrums.
A powerful centre, Carling was a fine defender and his combination with Jeremy Guscott provided the fulcrum of England's midfield, although his sides' successes were largely built on a powerful forward pack and the kicking skills of fly-half Rob Andrew.
