Your Favorite All time XV

Lots of International and Club discussions going on at the moment.

It got me thinkin what would your favorite all time team be...NOT WHO YOU THINKS THE BEST!

Who you've enjoyed watching...for humour or aggression...he may have been a great of the international game or he might not have even been an international ...just a hero of your club....

Many of mine follow my Falcons allegiences...and i dont appologise .

1 Nick Popplewell - Falcons prop and had many a pint with the guy away from the rugby grounnd
2 Keith Wood - Just a fantastic player who entertained with his alround game.
3 Carl Hayman - Aside from his NZ exploits...watching him as a one man pack for us was bewildering...and have surfed near the guy at Tynemouth / Whitley bay
4 Norm Hadley - Just a monstrous guy...has anyone heard of his scuffle with noisy boisterous youths on the London Underground?
5 Simon Shaw - The complete second row...could do the lot...and should have had more caps.
6 Tim Rodber - Underrated...tough but quality.....
7 Pat Lam - One of the most complete alround back row players to have played the game...
8 Buck Shelford - Just epitomises strength, fearless aggression...and power.

9 Gary Armstrong - Passion, fierceness, ability, class scrum half...by Scotland produce them!
10 Johnny...need i say more
11 Caucau - He may have gone wayward...but on his day...simply breathtaking
12 Scott Gibbs - The immoveable object with skills....
13 Inga Tuigamala - What needs to be said...top drawer in both codes...
14 Jason Robinson - Just sublime...entertainment at its best
15 Cristian Cullen - See Jason Robinson...

HHmmmm alot of actual toughmen over skill ...maybe that shows the type of game i like...but this team would entertain both ferociously and entertainment...

01 Cian Healy
02 Mario Ledesma
03 John Hayes
04 Ali Williams
05 Victor Matfield
06 Serge Betsen
07 George Smith
08 Imanol Harinordoquy
09 Fabien Galthie
10 Jonny Wilkinson
11 Jason Robinson
12 Tana Umaga
13 Brian O'Driscoll
14 Doug Howlett
15 Mils Muliania

I tend to form attachements to individual players from other teams rather than my own.

GeordieFalcon wrote:10 Johnny...need i say more

Yes...give us that lad's second name.........


Ah, I'm only kidding - I knew it was Johnny Sexton all along

Thank the heavens you put Scott Gibbs in there Geordie.

If you hadn't you would have been facing a 2 day ban.

Couldnt cope with that Hersh...

Secretfly -

01 Victor Ubogo
02 Keith Wood
03 Phil Vickery
04 Martin Johnson
05 Danny Grewcock
06 Richard Hill
07 Oliver Magne
08 Laurence Bruno Nero Dayglo
9 Gus Pichot
10 Jonny Wilkinson
11 Caucau
12 Tana Umaga
13 Brian O'Driscoll
14 Jonah Lomu
15 Jason Robinson

1. Olo Brown Straightest back
2. Sean Fitzpatrick Handed the torch belatedly to Richie McCaw for most hated / respected player Honorary mention to Keith Wood for sheer entertainment.
3. Os du Randt Versatile and yet an ox of a man.
4. Ian Jones aka the Kamo kid The type of player you were sad to see the ban on lifting lifted….
5. John Eales aka Nobody. Nobody's perfect and that was an appropriate nickname.
6. Lots of choices here Juan Smith, Jerome Kaino, Stephen Ferris, Thierry Dusatoir, Jerry Collins. Had a great deal of respect for Dean Richards but only Jason Robinson for me could ever qualify as a favourite from England. So I'll go left wing and say the great white shark aka John Jeffrey.
7. Spoilt for choice from NZ with Michael Jones, Josh Kronfeld and Richie McCaw but will go for Olivier Magne.
8. I love watching Kieran Read tackle but have to plump for Willie O or Ofahengaue.
9. Graham Bachop. Van der Westhuizen and Gregan I had immense respect for but shafted us too many times to be called a favourite!
10. Andrew Merthens but we'll get Argentina on the board with Hernandez. That was my position so Stephen Larkham, Michael Lynagh, Grant Fox, Wayne Smith I all pretended to be at one point because they all taught me different ways of looking at the game. Too young for Porta or Ella to remember.
11. Lomu but have to give kudos to Dominici, that little bugger. Such a devastating runners. Shane Williams and David Campese
14. Goldie aka Jeff Wilson but every kid in NZ pretended to be John Kirwan against Italy at some stage. Emile Ntmack another honorary mention.
15. Every 10 fancies himself at 15 so another hotly contested position. Serge Blanco and Gavin Hastings were childhood heroes. Chris Latham was the complete footballer and Christian Cullen in full flight was worth the price of admission alone. But I'm going to go for the oft-overlooked Glen Osborne. Bitter sweet memories of that 95 RWC but he looked like a gangly skinny kid but boy could he run beautifully.

Good rugby memories in that team. God I love this sport. Good thread.

sirtidychris wrote:01 Victor Ubogo
02 Keith Wood
03 Phil Vickery
04 Martin Johnson
05 Danny Grewcock
06 Richard Hill
07 Oliver Magne
08 Laurence Bruno Nero Dayglo
9 Gus Pichot
10 Jonny Wilkinson
11 Caucau
12 Tana Umaga
13 Brian O'Driscoll
14 Jonah Lomu
15 Jason Robinson

If you had to describe your team in one word, I'd say Jackhammer. That's a bullish bunch. Not many steps back from that lot.

1 Smit
2 Wood
3 Peter Clohessy
4 Eales
5 OConnell
6 Moody
7 Kronfeld
8 Dallaglio
9 Joost
10 Contepomi
11 Campo
12 Scott Gibbs
13 BOD
14 Lomu
15 Cullen

This is a mix of my favorite to watch and favorite characters. BOD is my favorite player to watch. Joost in second.

1 Leonard
2 Leota
3 Mas
4 Pelous
5 Eales
6 Jones
7 Betsen
8 Dallaglio
9 Elissalde
10 Lynagh
11 Clerc
12 Jauzion
13 Horan (best at 12, but played 13 on numerous occasions)
14 Howlett
15 Cullen

Not necessarily the best in their position (though many of them are), but players I loved to watch.

1. Jason Leonard (Surely an obligatory member of any Favourite XV?)
2. Keith Wood
3. Mike Ross (from scrapheap to international)
4. Martin Johnson
5. John Eales
6. Richard Hill
7. Finlay Calder (Lots of options here. Thought I'd go for a less obvious one)
8. Martin Corry (Hugely underrated player. Always gave his all)

9. Andy Gomarsall (from scrapheap to RWC final)
10. Nick Evans
11. Ben Cohen
12. Will Greenwood
13. BOD
14. David Campese
15. Gavin Hastings

1. Os du Randt - alltime favourite player
2. sean Fitzpatrick - hated him but respect him
3. Carl Heyman - simply the best
4. Bakkies Botha - favourite enforcer
5. Mark Andrews - just liked him
6. Schalk Burger - what a player
7. juan Smit- most respected player in my book
8. Zinzan Brook - drop goal
9. Garth Wright
10. Henry Honiball - die lem (the blade)
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Tim Horan
13. Andre Snyman
14. JP Pietersen
15. Chris Latham/ Christian Cullen/Andre Joubert.

Gethin
Wood
Du Randt
Johnson
Matfield
Hill
Jean Pierre Rives
Buck
Gareth Edwards
Barry John
Shane
Gibbs
Guscott
Jonah
Latham

To help narrow my choices I've gone for more recent players but made sure to give honorary mention to other favourites.

1.Leonard
2.Keith Wood (as was so often said 'one of the most colourful men in rugby')
3.Vickery (for the dummy try in RWC 03 and THAT tackle on Olivier Magne alone I'd give him this!)
4.Johnson
5.Shaw (John Eales,Chris Jack and Ben Kay come close for differing reasons)
6.Hill
7.Back (Michael Jones and Olivier Magne also wonderful players)
8.Dallagio (outside mention goes to Semo Sititi of Samoa for running play in 2003 especially and Martin Corry)

9.Gregan
10.Wilko (this team is based on sentiment after all!)

11.Caucua
12.Greenwood (Scott Gibbs and Tim Horan narrowly miss out but I'd always been a big WG fan)
13.O'Driscoll
14.Howlett
15.Robinson

Given that I really fell in love with rugby at the 2003 RWC, boring for an England fan I know but its inevitable that many did, I've gone for mostly recent players and favoured that 03 side and that world cup in general!

Selection of players from before then comes from archive games and short video clips I've got my hands on. So apologies to any 'more experienced' posters I may offend with greats of the past I've excluded.

1) Fran Cotton 2) Bobby Windsor 3) Robert Paparemborde 4) Gordon Brown 5) Martin Johnson 6) Zinzan Brooke 7) Roger Spurrell 8) Andy Ripley 9) Gareth Edwards 10) Tony Ward 11) David Campese 12) Danie Gerber 13) Chris Wardlow 14) David Duckham 15) I loved watching both Jason Robinson and Dusty Hare, for very different reasons. Hard to explain, really. Either will do.

Showing my age here, but a mixture of the good, the great and the barely known. Roger Spurrell, for those who don't know, was Bath's maniac of a captain during the early part of their glory days. An ex-Para, he was just short of true international class and was also just about the toughest bloke I ever saw play the game. Chris Wardlow played in the North Western Counties team that beat the All Blacks in 1972. He wasn't exactly an artist of a centre; what he loved was tackling, preferably head on and the bigger the better. Loved watching him play.

01 Leonard
02 Servat
03 Du Randt
04 Pelous
05 Matfield
06 Quinlan
07 McCaw
08 Harinordoquy
09 Edwards
10 Carter
11 Campese
12 Umaga
13 O'Driscoll
14 Medard
15 Cullen

1 John Afoa
2 Keith Wood
3 John Hayes
4 Brad Thorn
5 Paul O'Connell
6 Stephen Ferris
7 David Wallace
8 Sergio Parisse
9 Justin Marshall
10 Jonny Wilkinson
11 Shane Williams
12 Scott Gibbs
13 Brian O'Driscoll
14 Jason Robinson
15 Christian Cullen

Rodders I cant stand Keith Wood, Sergio Parisse or Justin Marshall.

On a personal level or as players?

Dont know any of em personally. For the same irrational reasons that I like some players.

Viet Gwent
Wheel
Eales
Hill
Merv the Swerve
Jean Pierre Reeves

Gareth
Bennett

Gerald
Sella
Bateman
Kirwin

JPR

Oh I know what you mean. I was just wondering was there specifics. It's ok to have none.

I enjoyed Keith as a player but I personally just can't set him into this 'legend' role he seems to have assumed with many people. Seems like a nice guy but even as a pundit........... just doesn't grip me in the way he seems to grip many around me.

Agree entirely with your take on Wood.

GunsGerms wrote:1 Smit
2 Wood - great to watch, sh1t pundit.
3 Peter Clohessy - ferociously competitive
4 Eales - great all rounder and champion
5 OConnell - capable of
6 Moody - good dude
7 Kronfeld - ridiculously good at the WC (SA 95 I think it was)
8 Dallaglio - hated him as a player especially v Ireland. Good pundit and character though.
9 Joost - one of the most exciting players in my life time.
10 Contepomi - love how he plays the game, very underrated.
11 Campo - flair and goosestep.
12 Scott Gibbs - changed how centres play. England v Wales Wembley.
13 BOD - most exciting player I have ever seen.
14 Lomu - rugby wrecking ball and a good character.
15 Cullen - Ridiculous talent.

This is a mix of my favorite to watch and favorite characters. BOD is my favorite player to watch. Joost in second.

Subs:

Lamaison
Jenkins (the ginger retarded one cant remember first name),
Stringer - incredible player, Ireland were blessed to have him.
Hastings

SecretFly wrote:Oh I know what you mean. I was just wondering was there specifics. It's ok to have none.

I enjoyed Keith as a player but I personally just can't set him into this 'legend' role he seems to have assumed with many people. Seems like a nice guy but even as a pundit........... just doesn't grip me in the way he seems to grip many around me.

He was world player of the year. Sh1t pundit though.

Leonard
Moore
Chilcott
Brown
Matfield
Hill
Rives
Quinell

Pichot
Dominguez

Campo
Gibbs
Smith
Evans

Blanco

Not the best team but one I'd love to go drinking with after the game !

offload wrote:Leonard
Moore
Chilcott
Brown
Matfield
Hill
Rives
Quinell

Pichot
Dominguez

Campo
Gibbs
Smith
Evans

Blanco

Not the best team but one I'd love to go drinking with after the game !

Thats the idea of the thread..its not a worlds best...its YOUR favorite...for whatever reason...doesnt have to be top players or even internationals.

Chilcott is some whopper now. See him on celebraty come dine with me? Seemed good craic.

Evans is a good call. Seems a gent.

Dont know anything about Gareth Edwards as a player but enjoy listening to him talk about rugby.

Best and most underrated pundit is Philip Matthews. Great guy too.

Not a fan of Conrad Smith. He is a very good player, brilliant at exploiting space and linking up with team mates. Very smart player but just dont think he is the most exciting centre ever.

GunsGerms wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Oh I know what you mean. I was just wondering was there specifics. It's ok to have none.

I enjoyed Keith as a player but I personally just can't set him into this 'legend' role he seems to have assumed with many people. Seems like a nice guy but even as a pundit........... just doesn't grip me in the way he seems to grip many around me.

He was world player of the year. Sh1t pundit though.

I know his record Guns. And, boy, did I suspect I'd have it brought to my attention as the reasons for 'legendhood'. I accept that people feel this way and that he's done a lot of useful things for himself and for Ireland. But I'm basing my 'judgements', if you can call them that, simply on my memories of him as a player and the perceptions of him now. He just doesn't naturally rise above so many other Irish players for me like he seems to do for many of you. Can't explain it, it's just how it is. I'm all for people having him on their lists if he's made an impression on them.

I have Campese on mine - now there's a popular fella that everyone would agree with me about

Brilliant idea for a thread. Everyone can contribute and it's all valid because its personal

Nearly all the rugby I've watched live has been in Scotland (you get sentenced to less for murder!) but have been privelaged to see some of the worlds best players come and strut their stuff in my home country.

As to favourite's the criteria is endless. Most entertaining, most revered, most important to the team and so on.

How about an international Xv versus a Scottish Xv? - final score would be 87-88 (because back then, these Scotland players could score tries!)

15. Cullen v G. Hastings
14. Gerald Davies v Tony Stanger
13. O'Driscoll v S. Hastings
12. Tim Horan v Chris Rea
11. Lomu v Ian Smith (No. I'm not that old but the 'Flying Scot' held the world record for tries for 62 years)
10. Mark Ella v Rutherford
9. Edwards v Armstrong
8. Shelford v Paxton
7. Jones v David Leslie
6. Ian Kirkpatrick v John Jeffrey
5. Meads v Gordon Brown
4. Eales v Tomes
3. Cotton v Milne
2. Fitzpatrick v Deans
1. Du Randt v Sole/McLaughlan

Probably a bit short of Springboks, especially in the forwards but their best players are in the most competitive positions!

Your Scottish team won't score as many tries as it should without Renwick at 13, af73. Might concede a few more with him in, mind!

Stanger always reminds me of Bill McLaren. I can't remember the exact players but it was something like Gavin Hastings puts up a towering Gary Owen, Scott Hastings chasing through, he catches it and Stanger bursting through, that's a magnificent try to Scotland. Probably involved none of them but the idea at least still remains vivid in my mind...

Stanger was taught by Bill McLaren at school, kia. And your memory is almost spot on - the Grand Slam winning try of 90, described with brilliant impartiality by the great man, although Scott Hastings wasn't particularly involved in the move.

Nice fact captain! And glad to know the memory still creaks on.

Dear Bill is sorely missed. Such a wonderful turn of phrase and both entertaining and knowledgeable. Plus impartial to boot. You'd have to have him as your favourite commentator to comment on this hypothetical match.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Stanger always reminds me of Bill McLaren. I can't remember the exact players but it was something like Gavin Hastings puts up a towering Gary Owen, Scott Hastings chasing through, he catches it and Stanger bursting through, that's a magnificent try to Scotland. Probably involved none of them but the idea at least still remains vivid in my mind...

Garryowen is one word. its a rugby club in Limerick.

Sorry couldnt help myself.

Based on players I love(d) to watch, rather than the very best.

Leonard
Wood
Vickery
Johnson
Matfield
Hill
McCaw
Charvis

Dawson
Wilko
Robinson
Greenwood
BOD
Rockocoko
Cullen

1. Cian Healy If he was a knight, minstrels would sing songs about his exploits
2. Ladesma Tough as nails
3. Clohesy Should actually have played for a prison team
4. Mal O’Kelly Tackle on Regan, sound bloke
5. Eales 7 foot tall and he took the kicks
6. Philip Matthews One of my favourite ever players
7. Neil Back Text book 7 apart from the dwarfism
8. Anthony Foley PHD in rugbyology
9. Van der Westhuizen Best rugby player ever?
10. David Humphreys Great skills
11. Denis Hickey Speed
12. Tim Horan I wanted to be him
13. Brian O’Driscoll A million reasons. I will start a new thread listing them all
14. Simon Goeghegan Brilliant to watch, only man to tackle Lomu Ire v NZ WC95
15. Serge Blanco Saw him receive and give a pass with one finger tip to create a try at full speed

Cheers Guns. I always thought it was a person like Morné Steyn who used to bomb the sh!t out of the ball and the name stuck from then on.

captain carrantuohil wrote:Stanger was taught by Bill McLaren at school, kia. And your memory is almost spot on - the Grand Slam winning try of 90, described with brilliant impartiality by the great man, although Scott Hastings wasn't particularly involved in the move.

Snory Underwood and Simon Hodgkinson should hang their heads in shame for that one.

Submachine wrote:1. Cian Healy If he was a knight, minstrels would sing songs about his exploits
2. Ladesma Tough as nails
3. Clohesy Should actually have played for a prison team
4. Mal O’Kelly Tackle on Regan, sound bloke
5. Eales 7 foot tall and he took the kicks
6. Philip Matthews One of my favourite ever players
7. Neil Back Text book 7 apart from the dwarfism
8. Anthony Foley PHD in rugbyology
9. Van der Westhuizen Best rugby player ever?
10. David Humphreys Great skills
11. Denis Hickey Speed
12. Tim Horan I wanted to be him
13. Brian O’Driscoll A million reasons. I will start a new thread listing them all
14. Simon Goeghegan Brilliant to watch, only man to tackle Lomu Ire v NZ WC95
15. Serge Blanco Saw him receive and give a pass with one finger tip to create a try at full speed

Actually love your team and comments. Agree with all of them bar Horan and O'kelly. Hated him for Ireland v Oz 91 WC.

How could I forget Humphreys and Goeghegan.

Philip Matthews is also one of my favorite ever players. The guy is a class act. I recently studied for a cert in NCI. he is head of NCI and gave me my cert on graduation day and I spoke to him for a while about that Oz game and he was only delighted to tell me about it. I told him I was eleven that day and at the game and I was heartbroken after we lost I even cried. He told me I wasnt the only one. Too true.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Cheers Guns. I always thought it was a person like Morné Steyn who used to bomb the sh!t out of the ball and the name stuck from then on.

No worries. the kick was named after the Garryowen rugby club as they were credited as the first team to use the tactic. Blame Munster.

Well it was originally called just that - Sh!t Bomb - but Bill McLaren refused to utter the profanity in commentaries and he couldn't get it to rhyme with anything either, so they picked the first astronomer ever to spot a Sh!t Bomb, and of course his name was Jeffery Wigglesby,so they called it a Garryowen ever since.

GunsGerms wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Cheers Guns. I always thought it was a person like Morné Steyn who used to bomb the sh!t out of the ball and the name stuck from then on.

No worries. the kick was named after the Garryowen rugby club as they were credited as the first team to use the tactic. Blame Munster.

It's an interesting occurence how names like that can stick.

In the future I wonder if grotesque match altering refereeing blunders will be known as WayneBarneses or BryceLawrences?

yeah...and add a Kaplod for us.

SecretFly wrote:yeah...and add a Kaplod for us.

I think its Kaplan.

For favourite players -

1 - Martyn Madden (I like props that think they are outside centres)
2 - Schalk Brits (ditto for hookers)
3 - Castrogiovanni (someone that looks and plays so tough, yet speaks so softly)

4 - Johnno. Right up there in the genuinely hard and tough stakes
5 - Eales. A second row goal kicker and one of the finest rugby nicknames.

6 - John Jeffrey.
7 - Lewis Moody. There may have been better open side flankers, but there have rarely if ever been any more committed (or who should have been...)
8 - Dean Richards. Limited athletic ability but incredible nous

9 - Rob Jones. Fantastic technician
10 - Les Cusworth, mainly for the hairstyle

11 - Lomu. Scarily good in 95
12 - Timmy Horan. One of the finest and most complete rugby players ever
13 - Phillipe Sella. Same reason as Horan
14 - Campo. He might win you the game, or might cost you the game, but you'd definitely keep watching him

15 - Josh Lewsey, if only for that tackle...

Hi all,

first time post! Great thread though.

Okay, here we go:

1) Jason Leonard. Can't not have him!
2) Phil Greening. Just loved watching him play!
3) Os Du Rant. The beast before the beast.
4) Richie Gray. Massive forward that quick in the loose? Love it!
5) Scott Quinnell - okay, he's out of position, but he was fantastic.
6) Peter Winterbottom. Probably the best 7 ever. In my opinion, of course.
7) Mick Skinner. The Munch!
8) Dean Richards. Not quick, not deft.. but always there, always nails.

9) Alessandro Troncon. Tough, aggressive... and skillful
10) King Carlos. Breathtaking on occasion. Maddening on others, mind you

11) Jason Robinson. Legend.
12) Phillipe Sella. Didn't run, glided.
13) SBW. Newcomer, but the skills.... plus pro boxing too!
14) Jonah Lomu. Destroyed everything put in front of him. Notably Mike Catt & Tony Underwood!
15) Josh Lewsey. Not everyone's cup of tea, but that tackle on Matt Rodgers, and the try against France in RWC '07...

Ouch! Missed out some great ones too...

GunsGerms wrote:

SecretFly wrote:yeah...and add a Kaplod for us.

I think its Kaplan.

No, it's Kaplod...it was the Welsh lads that planned it - he just pretended he didn't see it.

GunsGerms wrote:

Submachine wrote:1. Cian Healy If he was a knight, minstrels would sing songs about his exploits
2. Ladesma Tough as nails
3. Clohesy Should actually have played for a prison team
4. Mal O’Kelly Tackle on Regan, sound bloke
5. Eales 7 foot tall and he took the kicks
6. Philip Matthews One of my favourite ever players
7. Neil Back Text book 7 apart from the dwarfism
8. Anthony Foley PHD in rugbyology
9. Van der Westhuizen Best rugby player ever?
10. David Humphreys Great skills
11. Denis Hickey Speed
12. Tim Horan I wanted to be him
13. Brian O’Driscoll A million reasons. I will start a new thread listing them all
14. Simon Goeghegan Brilliant to watch, only man to tackle Lomu Ire v NZ WC95
15. Serge Blanco Saw him receive and give a pass with one finger tip to create a try at full speed

Actually love your team and comments. Agree with all of them bar Horan and O'kelly. Hated him for Ireland v Oz 91 WC.

How could I forget Humphreys and Goeghegan.

Philip Matthews is also one of my favorite ever players. The guy is a class act. I recently studied for a cert in NCI. he is head of NCI and gave me my cert on graduation day and I spoke to him for a while about that Oz game and he was only delighted to tell me about it. I told him I was eleven that day and at the game and I was heartbroken after we lost I even cried. He told me I wasnt the only one. Too true.

Ok, I get the bad karma toward Horan but why no love for big Mal? Good story about Philip Matthews. Always a risk meeting your heros, especially in that context.