RWC minnows XV

With the minnows out of the RWC now I think it would be a good chance to think of some of their best moments and possibly think of making a XV of the lot of them.

Personally I loved watching the Tongan's beat the French, I think the Japanesse against the French also was a great game. There were some fantastic moments of play from the Russian back 3. The Samoan's in general were great.

So what are other peoples favourite moments and can we start getting suggestions for a minnows XV.

I'd like the Samoan 10 and 15 with the Russian 11. Tongan 1 and 2. USA 7 and 13. Any one else?

Georgia's Gorgodze at lock. He's an excellent player and performed well against England.

Yeah remember him doing well actually. I don't know which 9 I'd want between the tongan or japanese.

Cudmore in as the other lock too?

Tis obvious... but Parisse is a No.8 that would make almost any team in the tournament.

aye but are italy really minnows anymore?
in that case ud throw in a few italians IMO

Depends on your definition of minnows, but if you want to exclude Italy as third in group, you should exclude Tonga too. Difficult. It also means we should potentially include Scotland, although calling them minnows is a little harsh!

I would say minnows are Canada downwards. However there's not much in the world rankings between Italy and Canada now. In fact, can Italy go below Canada based on their loss today? There was only 0.14 in it before the game.

Georgian or Samoan 9

Well isn't it a bit patronizing to keep on treating Samoa and Tonga as minnows but have Scotland and Italy as permanent contenders.

I'd say the only PC way is to have a team from all those who went out in the first round.

Take Van Der Merwe from Canada at 13.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Esterhuize (Namibia)
6. Jaque Burger ( Namibia)
7. Todd Clever (USA)
8.
9.
10. Pisi (Samoa)
11. McKenzie (Canada)
12.
13. Van Der Merwe (Canada)
14. Lemi ( Samoa)
15. Williams (Samoa)

15 Denis Simplikevich / Russia
14 Vasily Artemiev / Russia
13
12
11 Alesana Tuilagi / Samoa
10 Tusi Pisi / Samoa
9 Kahn Fotuali'i / Samoa
8 George Stowers / Samoa
7 Jacques Burger / Namibia
6 Tinus du Plessis / Namibia
5
4
3 Deacon Manu / Fiji
2 Mahonri Schwalger / Samoa
1 Sergey Popov / Russia

Nos na Gaoithe wrote:Well isn't it a bit patronizing to keep on treating Samoa and Tonga as minnows but have Scotland and Italy as permanent contenders.

I'd say the only PC way is to have a team from all those who went out in the first round.

Quite possible we should only pick from teams who failed to make the quarters, though I doubt any Scottish players would still make it!

Minnows would probably refer to all tier 2 nations, ie not the 6 Nations, Tri-Nations or Argentina.

I wonder whether Italy have gone backwards. That French result apart (and let's face it anyone can beat them if they can't be bothered these days) they seem to be getting worse.

I think Canada would give Italy an extremely good test. Samoa would probably beat them.

Biltong/Alyn
I would have exepcted a frew more Japs in there. Their SH was a bit useful and his service was really quick (something that a lot of 6N SH's can learn from).
How about the Tongan front-row for giving the French front-row/entire pack the verbals at the end of the game the other day?

Yeah I think the Japanese showed up really well and deserve some lads in there.

Surprised to see so many Namibians in there tbh

Well the namibians I have in there are deserved in my opinion.

There has been no better line out winner amongst the minnows than esterhuyse, at 6ft 9" this man is a monster.

Jaque burger has been playing for saracens and was one of the top tacklers in our pool.

As for the Japanese players, Their right wing was good, and their number 10, but wouldn't take Pisi out, he was excellent.

Surely the Tongan No.8, Mafi or Mafu has to be in there. He was class.

The Fijians had a great lock also scored a try in the Namimbia game

15.Chris Wyles (USA)
14.Vasily Armitiev (Russia)
13.Van Der Merwe (Canada)
12.Seilala Mapusua (Samoa)
11.Alesana Tuilagi (Samoa)
10.Pisi (Samoa)
9. Fotualili (Samoa)
8.Ma'afu (Tonga)
7.Gorgodze (Georgia)
6.Jacques Burger (c) (Namibia)
5.Leone Nakawara (Fiji)
4.Hayden Smith (USA)
3.Census Johnston (Samoa)
2.Marius Tincu (Romania)
1.Tongahuia (Tonga)

What about some favourite moments from the minnows guys? Any gems you wanna rehash?

Got to say I like that team Beshocked, that backrow would be immense. I'd have Tincu at hooker as he brings more to the set piece than Schwalger and not sure on the second row, I'd ditch Cudmore the man really is a thug and a walking yellow card.

Fotuali'i has got to be pretty close to the 9 shirt, he was awesome for Samoa.

Very true Sam. Forgot about Tincu. You are absolutely correct. Ok I will edit.

Cudmore is a thug agreed. Pretty good player though. Will swap with the fijian 2nd row pete is talking about. Leone Nakawara is his name I believe.

I will edit my team to add those players.

Bias is of course my middle name.

Yep I think the team I picked looks really good. Nice mix of pace and power.

I would go for Taumalolo ahead of Tonga'Uiha for the team. Also, Kalamafoni, the blindside for Tonga was excellent in all the games he played.

What about Emerick or Clever?

MBTGOG and Pete you should name your minnow XVs.

Mine is of course just my personal opinion. Obviously I have taken into consideration what you guys have said though.

I just can't see Clever or any other backrow displacing the ones I picked.

I had to fit in a Canadian somewhere.

The day has arrived where there's a good arguement to call Scotland a "minnow"

Put Gorgodze into lock ahead of Nakarawa, Burger to 7 and Kalamafoni in.

Gorgodze is an openside flanker....

MBTGOG this is what makes it so interesting. Personal favourites.

It's great how competitive the backrow in the so called minnows is.

Pete also is this the minnows players in the best form or simply the best ones?

Gorgodze is not an openside flanker. He started his career as a lock who could also play at 8. He has played on the flank for Georgia as they are not as strong there.

MBTGOG fair enough. I am basing my selection on where he has been at his best in the RWC.

I think it's based on their displays at the RWC.
Mine would be

15.Vasily Armitiev (Russia)
14.Simplikeivich (Russia)
13.Emerick (USA)
12.Seilala Mapusua (Samoa)
11.Alesana Tuilagi (Samoa)
10.Pisi (Samoa)
9. ?(Japanese) sorry can't remember name
8.Ma'afu (Tonga)
7.Gorgodze (Georgia)
6.Jacques Burger (c) (Namibia)
5.Leone Nakawara (Fiji)
4.Hayden Smith (USA)
3.Census Johnston (Samoa)
2.? (Tonga)
1.Tongahuia (Tonga)

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:What about some favourite moments from the minnows guys? Any gems you wanna rehash?

Pete, a great moment was the Namibia try against Wales. We messed up in midfield, threw an interception, and the 2nd row (I think) sold an outrageous dummy and then had to sprint for the corner from not far from the half way line, with only our hooker in chase. Second row vs Hooker. It was like a slow motion horse race! Great try!

I think James Arlidge, OH for Japan, deserves a mention. Scored most of their points including a few tries. He used to play for Gwent Dragons but didn't really show a great deal of promise, left for Nottingham, and then here he is at a World Cup tearing things up! Funny old world.

Griff wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:What about some favourite moments from the minnows guys? Any gems you wanna rehash?

Pete, a great moment was the Namibia try against Wales. We messed up in midfield, threw an interception, and the 2nd row (I think) sold an outrageous dummy and then had to sprint for the corner from not far from the half way line, with only our hooker in chase. Second row vs Hooker. It was like a slow motion horse race! Great try!

Yeah, for me a beautiful moment for a brave team lacking in most departments.

Also the two tries canada scored vs NZ.

My alltime favourite moment from a minnow team was when the Tongan front row were smiling and taunting the French 5 meters from their line in the last moments before the match ended.

their facial expressions said it all.

Yeah those mocking smiles weren't quite so big when the French went an scored in the corner though.

didn't matter much they still won.

15. Botha (Namibia)
14. Goneva (Fiji)
13. van der Merwe (Canada)
12. Lovobalavu (Fiji)
11. Tuilagi (Samoa)
10. Pisi (Samoa)
9. Tanaka (Japan)
8. Stowers (Samoa)
7. Clever (USA)
6. du Plessis (Namibia)
5. Nakawara (Fiji)
4. Cudmore (Canada)
3. Johnston (Samoa)
2. Tincu (Romania)
1. Tongahuia (tonga)

16. Manu (Fiji)
17. ??
18. Smith (USA)
19. Burger (Namibia)
20. Fotuali'i (Samoa)
21. Mapasua (Samoa)
22. Williams (Samoa)

Didn't catch all of the games, but from what i saw, this team would be pretty competitive.

biltongbek wrote:My alltime favourite moment from a minnow team was when the Tongan front row were smiling and taunting the French 5 meters from their line in the last moments before the match ended.

their facial expressions said it all.

You could hear them whooping and everything, lifted my heart I gotta say!

The Russian who scored two tries vs Australia when he scored that was a great moment too!

Loved the Japanese 10 I gotta say he scored 2 tries vs France! Awesome!

As something of an aside; I thought the minnows were much better in this RWC than ever before en masse, I know that there are none in the 1/4 finals this time but in general they all played better, particularily in attack.

Well you just need to look at their skill sets and the percentage of possession, that immediately tells you that they are capable of retaining possession for longer periods of time and are capable of scroing tries, even against top opposition.

Yeah definitely Biltong, it's their defence that leaves them as minnows and set piece in some cases.