Your Favorite All time XV

First topic message reminder :

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...

HK

Yeah its funny to see how peoples opinions change in a couple of years...mine would have changed i think.

Funny to see some of the old names aswell.

Incidentally, regarding Brian Moore, i never knew his actual mam was England but his dad was Malaysian.

GeordieFalcon wrote:HK

Yeah its funny to see how peoples opinions change in a couple of years...mine would have changed i think.

Funny to see some of the old names aswell.

Incidentally, regarding Brian Moore, i never knew his actual mam was England but his dad was Malaysian.

 
Even more so given that the underwood brothers were also half Malaysian too when the 3 all played together for England and the Lions.
 
Brian Moore was a great player. He was tough, in a tough era and always showed up.

He was tough and uncompromising but also technically astute. As a Scot growing up in the late 80s and early 90s he was never my favourite player but I think he's a great co-commentator and having now read his autobiography I have an increasing amount of respect for him. His views and background dealing with rugby and a law career at the same time make for fascinating reading.

You can probably tell what era I grew up in…


01. Jason Leonard
02. Phil Greening
03. Carl Hayman
04. Martin Johnson
05. Fabien Pelous
06. Richard Hill
07. Serge Betsen
08. Sergio Parisse

09. Matt Dawson
10. Jonny Wilkinson

11. Simon Geoghan
12. Will Greenwood
13. Brian O’Driscoll
14. Jason Robison
15. Girvan Dempsey

Not necessarily all the best players, but players I have fond memories of watching.

I liked Stuart Grimes and Gordon Bulloch too, purely for the way Bill Mclaren used to say their names!

1. Jason Leonard. If you need an explanation, you're not a rugby person
2. Keith Wood. One of those guys who just lifts a whole team. Close call with Brian Moore, but I'd prefer to have the Pitbull commentating
3. Kyle Sinckler. I was tempted to go for Joe Marler, and put Sir Jase at loosehead, but it would be too much. Early days yet, I think Sinckler will be one of the greats.
4. Martin Johnson. My captain. One of those guys you just want in the team
5. John Eales. One of the few guys who was world class in two different eras
6. Richard Hill. Did the work of two men and could play 6 or 7. Very low error rate
7. Chris Robshaw. Does the work of two men and can play 6 or 7. Error rate not quite in Hill's class, but still improving. Also, I've followed his whole career
8. Dean Richards. The man you love to hate. Controlled the game lke no-one else
9. Kyran Bracken. Would be in for his performance in the 1993 ABs game alone
10. Jonny, but only if I can have Nick Evans on the bench
11. Ben Cohen. Worth 10 points a game - a try every other game, a try saving tackle every game
12. Will Greenwood. Still the most underrated of the 2003 squad.
13. Conrad Smith. One of the tidiest players around.
14. Rory Underwood.
15. Gavin Hastings. A huge presence on the pitch.

I can't believe I forgot to keep MJ

All coached by Conor for me

Favourite is an almost impossible task, as I have loved watching so many players I have changed my mind about 20 times in the last 10 minutes.  That said, here is my offering.

15. Delon Armitage - A figure of hate for many, but would have him back at Irish in a hearbeat.
14. Jason Robinson - Just class.
13. Tana Umaga - An absolute warrior of a player.
12. Seilala Mapusua - Possibly my all time favourite London Irish player, we have never really replaced him in our midfield.
11. Sailosi Tagicakibau - At his peak was world class.  Amazing step and hand off.
10. Jonny Wilkinson - That drop goal.
9. Joost van der Westhuizen - Simply the best scrum half there has ever been.

1. Neil Hatley - Club favourite, who always gave everything for the team.
2. Bismarck du Plessis/John Smit - My two favourite hookers ever, I'd give them 40 minutes each.
3. Jason Leonard - Couldn't not have the Fun Bus, my genuine favourite player of all time.
4. Brad Thorn - Continues to prove that if you want something enough, then age is no barrier.
5. Bob Casey - Just a legend.  Great to have him back at Irish.
6. Richard Hill - 
7. Michael Jones - 
8. Steffon Armitage - 

The back row are just three players I really love who could all interchange positions depending on the state of a game.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Interesting to see a Glaws fan picking Brian Moore - he had some hilarious altercations with the Shed as noted in his autobiography, although there was mutual admiration I think on both sides.

Indeed, but Moore's goading of the French during my formative years left a lasting impression! I used to stupidly role my collar in my shirt like Moore despite the fact that at that age most scrums were vertical with no binding. Coincidentally I also once cut the left sleeve off my shirt like my LH choice David Sole.  I was obviously very easily influenced in those days. Fortunately, I didn't end up dressing as a pantomime dame like another of my favourite players Gareth Chilcott! (P.S. don't tell any Glaws or Bath fans that he's a favourite of mine)