Who is the greatest full back of all time?

Following on from the other "greatest ever" series, we now reach the full back position.

Often the last line of defence, the fullback needs to be a good tackler with safe hands and a fair bit of pace. They also need to be able to come into the line to create space and overlaps.

Some of the greatest ever characters have played in this position, so for me at least, it will be the most interesting poll.

Lets hear your thoughts.

JPR Williams for me with Hastings 2nd. Not sure I'd have Byrne or Kearney on that list at all!

I put them on at the last minute!

I voted JPR as well - he was the first player I can remember seeing when I was a child. Those sideburns still give me nightmares running towards me!

I voted for Cullen. What a player! Not as good in defence as JPR, but he more than makes up for it with ball in hand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0945lQKP7I&feature=related

Never saw JPR Williams so couldn't vote for him although everyone I know who was lucky enough to watch that era tell me he was the best. Went for Blanco just from Cullen.

(Byrne & Kearney included? walks away muttering under his breath.....)

I never saw JPR play unfortunately, so for me it has to be between Blanco and Cullen.

Cullen takes it, just.

You can't possibly have Kearney and Byrne without Mils...this is madness!

Cullen for me.
Not just because of his legendary status for the all blacks, but this guy also scored for fun.
A great defence combined with a lethal attack makes him the best in my book.

Dusty Hare anyone?

Surely it's Isa Nacewa!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=528HoWAprvo

Never seen JPR play, but obviously know he was a great part of the legendary 70's Welsh side. As a biased Scotland fan I'll say Gavin Hastings, the record points scorer for the British & Irish Lions. 8)

Has to be Ken Scotland - he completely transformed the fullback position - he was the first fullback to actually come in to the line - seems almost laughable now, but changed the game

As, small point of order, George Nepia was being criticised (?!) for coming into the line in the '20s. It took a while to catch on.

Nepia was also taught how to spiral punt by Mormon missionaries from the US, but somehow no-one in NZ asked him to teach them how and the art disappeared from (NZ) rugby for decades

how can you have lee byrne and rob kearney on here when they are not the best fullback of their generation. Mils Muliaina is better than both of them

Sorry about the inclusion of those two - I pulled two names out of the air.

Mils should be on the list - best fullback for this generation

A close call between JPR or Serge, while Cullen was a light that shone brightly but not for long enough.

Serge Blanco gets the vote simply because he was the one that made it all look so easy - a sort of rugby version of Muhammad Ali, but without the brash showmanship off the field.

I would of gone for David Campese if he'd been on the list he played the for New South Wales and only played wing for Australia because the coach at the time loved 3 fullbacks in his team.

My Second choice would of been Englands Jason Robinson he was phenominal! Though hes not on the list either.

My third choice would of been Andre Joubert from South Africa during the early 90's. He was probably the most skillful and silky Full Back of all time. I'm assuming whomever made this poll hasnt watched rugby much because he's missed out most of the best ones!

My 4th choice is Cullen so I will pick him!

Blanco for me because I saw him play. However choosing between him and the penny muncher, what a lovely position to be in.

Cullen. Outstanding.

JPR a decent second.

Much as my heart says JPR or Serge Blanco, it is Cullen by a country mile. The guy at his best was almost incredible. Fast, strong, could tackle, kick, catch but even if he was merely World Class in these aspects of the game, his running lines were phenomenal,almost superhuman. Not just once or twice in a game but almost every time his side had the ball.

He raised the bar for every attacking fullback in the game to such a level that no-one has yet come close to equalling him.

Again matters of opinion A.C Wallace ,of the All Black Originals,Gerhard Morkel,in 1921,George Nepia 1925-28,a Legue legend as well.R.W.H "great"Scott one of THE best attacking full backs ever as well as all the others.Fergie mcCormack for a timr in the late 1960`s.Gerry Brand1930`s.
Mils Muliana currently.NO NH full back any where near THE best,i`ve seen,But JJ.P.R Williams,Gavin Hastings,John Wilcox,and Tom Kiernan would be among them.Of course there is only a matter of opinion,but I have at least watched most on the list.

Chris Cullen followed by Blanco and JPR Williams. Of today's full backs Mils Muliaina and the Rob Kearney of the Lions tour 2009 are/were world class. I also remember Terry Davies of Wales, Ken Scotland of Scotland, and Michel Vannier of France being class acts. No doubt Cullen was the greatest ever.

Terry Davies would have been right up there if he hadn't gone North. He scored a try for Llanelli on debut when he was 15. Later on, after his RL career he went to the NFL as a goal kicker. Absolute genius and a tragedy that he died so young.

I'm glad Andy Irvine was included among the candidates, even though I voted for JPR. A full back should have an eye for when a counter-attack is on - someone should remind Lee Byrne of that - and Irvine was a great counter-attacking full back.

My candidate would have to be the great Serge Blanco.

Flair, panache and unfortunate to probably be 5 years too late as he would've played with one of the best French sides ever in the late 70s or early 80s.

Andy Irvine was clas in his day and so too was Thomas Castaignede.

Can't for the life of me think why Rob Kearney is on this list.