Old Talent - Who's got the best

Like a grab a granny context who out of the home nations has got the best old talent at international level?

Wales:
Gethin and Adam are perhaps not old by prop standards but they remain our main pillars

6/10


England:
Ashton isn't an old man, he's just playing like one at the moment which doesn't count. Other than that there's Stevens who I think is passed it now, poor old Sheridan, Lee Mears and the reinvented Charlie Chargedown

6/10


Scotland

Parks has been pensioned off so we can look to Chunk who for me is passed it along with the other front row fella I can't think of. Hamilton looks old but still packs some power and the same could be said of Morrison

7/10

Ireland

The golden generation are now the golden oldies and these have to be the leaders POC, BOD, Best, Darcy and more - For me the emerald isle has the best old talent but I'm sure I've missed a few all round.

9/10

Age 30 or older. Best team I can come up with.

01 Tom Court
02 Adrian Flavin
03 Mike Ross
04 Donnacha O'Callaghan
05 Paul O'Connell
06 Denis Leamy
07 David Wallace
08 Roger Wilson
09 Eoin Reddan
10 Ronan O'Gara
11 Gordon Darcy
12 Paddy Wallace
13 Brian O'Driscoll
14 Geordan Murphy
15 Gavin Duffy

red_stag wrote:Age 30 or older. Best team I can come up with.

01 Tom Court
02 Adrian Flavin
03 Mike Ross
04 Donnacha O'Callaghan
05 Paul O'Connell
06 Denis Leamy
07 David Wallace
08 Roger Wilson
09 Eoin Reddan
10 Ronan O'Gara
11 Gordon Darcy
12 Paddy Wallace
13 Brian O'Driscoll
14 Geordan Murphy
15 Gavin Duffy

That's actually a very good team - surprised Paddy Wallace is that old. Maybe an over 30's 6 Nations section

Though I think our 25 or younger team would beat them:

01 Cian Healy
02 Sean Cronin
03 Jamie Hagan
04 Ian Nagle
05 Dave Foley
06 Peter O'Mahony
07 Dominic Ryan
08 Sean O'Brien
09 Conor Murray
10 Ian Madigan
11 Simon Zebo
12 Fergus McFadden
13 Darren Cave
14 Luke Fitzgerald
15 Keith Earls

RubyGuby - Paddy Wallace is older than Paul O'Connell. He must moisturise to stay looking so young.

1 - I Thomas
2 - M Davies
3 - A Jones (can't think of an old git)
4 - R Sidoli
5 - D Jones
6 - R Jones
7 - M Williams
8 - J Thomas

9 - D Peel
10 - S Jones
11 - S Williams
12 - G Henson
13 -
14 -
15 - L Byrne

All still playing 'top flight' rugby

Best is 29 - hardly a golden oldie.

26-29 years old:

01 Darragh Hurley
02 Rory Best
03 John Andress
04 Donnacha Ryan
05 Dan Tuohy
06 Stephen Ferris
07 Chris Henry
08 Jamie Heaslip
09 Tomas O'Leary
10 Gareth Steenson
11 Andrew Trimble
12 Jonathan Sexton
13 Tommy Bowe
14 Denis Hurley
15 Rob Kearney

Artful_Dodger wrote:Best is 29 - hardly a golden oldie.

Obviously not using a moisturiser :thumbsu

Hmmm, over 30's...

1.Gethin Jenkins
2.Matthew Rees
3.Adam Jones
4.Ryan Jones
5.Ian Gough
6.Tom David
7.Martyn Williams
8.Scott Quinnell
9.Gareth Edwards
10.Barry John (Bennett)
11.Shane
12.Gibbs
13.Dawes
14.Gerald Davies
15.JPR
Not a bad bunch.

Over 30s ABs
1 Tony Woodcock
2 Keven Mealamu
3 Carl Hayman
4 Brad Thorn
5 Tom Donnelly/Ali Williams
6 Adam Thompson
7 Richie McCaw
8 Chris Masoe/Rodney So'oialo
9 Jimmy Cowan/Byron Kelleher
10 Dan Carter
11 Rico Gear (Sivivatu turns 30 next week)
12 Nick Evans/Sam Tuitopou (Ma'a Nonu is 30 next month)
13 Conrad Smith
14 Doug Howlett
15 Mils Muliaina

Kiwireddevil wrote:Over 30s ABs
1 Tony Woodcock
2 Keven Mealamu
3 Carl Hayman
4 Brad Thorn
5 Tom Donnelly/Ali Williams
6 Adam Thompson
7 Richie McCaw
8 Chris Masoe/Rodney So'oialo
9 Jimmy Cowan/Byron Kelleher
10 Dan Carter
11 Rico Gear (Sivivatu turns 30 next week)
12 Nick Evans/Sam Tuitopou (Ma'a Nonu is 30 next month)
13 Conrad Smith
14 Doug Howlett
15 Mils Muliaina

Ouch, thats a lot of All Blacks who wont make the next WC

wales606 wrote:

Kiwireddevil wrote:Over 30s ABs
1 Tony Woodcock
2 Keven Mealamu
3 Carl Hayman
4 Brad Thorn
5 Tom Donnelly/Ali Williams
6 Adam Thompson
7 Richie McCaw
8 Chris Masoe/Rodney So'oialo
9 Jimmy Cowan/Byron Kelleher
10 Dan Carter
11 Rico Gear (Sivivatu turns 30 next week)
12 Nick Evans/Sam Tuitopou (Ma'a Nonu is 30 next month)
13 Conrad Smith
14 Doug Howlett
15 Mils Muliaina

Ouch, thats a lot of All Blacks who wont make the next WC

And that's an example of why no team has successfully defended their RWC title.

DC, McCaw, Mealamu and Hore (also 30+) are contracted to 2015, but hopefully they're no longer 1st choice by then. Woodcock may last, Smith and Nonu will likely be gone, Cowan is on the way out. Ast the moment I think the biggest gaps to replace are blindside, enforcer lock and centre. There's a fair amount of talent coming through at 7, 10 and the outside backs.