Greatest Combos - Front Rows

Of all the front rows of all times who do you think were the most formidable, the most devastating the most unbearable to live with, the one you either loved or feared?

There have been some class acts over the years, there are some class acts now.


Jason Leonard - Brian Moore - Jeff Probyn - England of 91

Charlie Faulkner - Bobby Windsor - Graham Price - the Viet Gwent

John Drake - Sean Fitzpatrick - Steven McDowell - Kiwi of 87

Andrew Blades - Michael Foley - Richard Harry - Australia of 99

Tom Smith - Kieth Wood - Paul Wallace - Lions of 97

Os du Randt - Chris Rossouw - Balie Swart - SA of 1995

Trevor Woodman - Steve Thomson - Phil Vickery - England of 2003

Ian McLauchlan - Bobby Windsor - Fran Cotton - Lions of 74

Du Randt - Smit - Van der Linde - SA of 2007

Cedric Soulette - Raphael Ibanez - Franck Tournaire - France 1999

Woodcock - Mealamu - O Franks - 2010 All Blacks Grandslam winning tour to Europe

If anyone has another selection they can kindly ask the moderators to add them.

The Lions front row of 1974 - an AWESOME combination.

Jenkins, Rees and Jones were not bad for the Lions after Vickery was pulled off!
I hope they can get back up to speed for the RWC.

Kevin Skinner,Ron Hemi,Ian Clarke.
Haymen,Mealamu,Woodcockor Somerville for Haymen.

emack2 wrote:Kevin Skinner,Ron Hemi,Ian Clarke.
Haymen,Mealamu,Woodcockor Somerville for Haymen.

Yeah the Haymen, Mealamu, Woodcock shout is a pretty good one.

I have, unashamedly gone with my heart on this one and gone for the Viet Gwent.

Bobby Windsor was a hooker ahead of his time.

Pricey is a pure legend and played what 12 (was it) consecutive Lions Tests.

and our Charlie just complimented the whole package.

glamorganalun wrote:Jenkins, Rees and Jones were not bad for the Lions after Vickery was pulled off!
I hope they can get back up to speed for the RWC.

Yes they were but they have hardly even managed a full game with out an injury. It would be great to see them get a run of games together and maybe really lay down a marker.

is there any particular one you want added to the poll at all?

a bit left field but how about Paul Burnell, Kenny Milne and David Sole. May not be remembered as the greatest ever front row but certainly a very good one.or alternatively Andrea Lo Cicero, Fabio Ongaro and Martin Castrogiovanni...or 3 Martin Scelzo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero. Now that last one is a superb front row...

Cheers RD mate,

mckay1402 wrote:a bit left field but how about Paul Burnell, Kenny Milne and David Sole. May not be remembered as the greatest ever front row but certainly a very good one.or alternatively Andrea Lo Cicero, Fabio Ongaro and Martin Castrogiovanni...or 3 Martin Scelzo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero. Now that last one is a superb front row...

I wouldn't say that the Scots 1990 were mesmeric in any way but they did achieve 13 wins on the trot and a Grandslam at the end of it.

I agree the Argies of 2007 should be in... Good they were a pain for any side they played. I remember watching Roncero being penalised constantly and always looking at the ref with his arms out saying "what have i done now?"

Not sure I would add Italy, although formidable they haven't really been a winning front row. They may have dominated the weak, but they haven't dominated the world.

What about Brown, Fitzpatrick and Dowd?

They should at the very least make the shortlist.

To me the best front row display I ever saw in one match was back in 2005 when the England front row decimated Australia's. The Aussie forwards were not terribly good at the time, but at the top level of International Rugby no one else tore them apart like that. In fact, at the top level, I don't think any team has ever been torn apart like that. The England front row was:

Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson, Phil Vickery

And by the way, I voted for
Jason Leonard, Brian Moore, Jeff Probyn

But could easily voted for that great front row of
Tom Smith, Kieth Wood, Paul Wallace

doctor grey - I'm wouldn't say that Sheridan, Thompson and Vickery were not a formidable unit, but the Aussies were exceptionally bad.

Trevor Woodman - Steve Thomson - Phil Vickery

with Jason Leonard on the bench

We wouldn't have won the world cup without them IMO

Offload, I agree. The scrums proabably would have been fairly even if the Wallabies went against the nuns of Saint Mary's (they had a big prop at the time).

But, even then, no one tore the Wallabies up like that the same season. The England front row migtht not have been the best front row ever, but, to me, was the best one match display.

The other thing about that match was it papered over how poor England was at the time. The match was tied late before England went on to win by 10. With that kind of forward domination, they should have won by much more.

doctor_grey wrote:And by the way, I voted for
Jason Leonard, Brian Moore, Jeff Probyn

But could easily voted for that great front row of
Tom Smith, Kieth Wood, Paul Wallace

Hmmmm, some rose-tinted specs here I think. In 1997, the Lions front row were still outmuscled by the Boks, just not by any sort of decisive margin that people predicted. What that Lions trio managed to do was largely contain the Boks pack (which was wholely unexpected), their reputation really came from managing to provide a platform against all odds, not because they managed to best the Boks (they didn't). Parity (or close to parity) was seen as a victory, and rightly so.

I really don't think they compare to the sort of dominance acheived by the England front row you mention (or indeed the 2003 vintage), the All Blacks trio I mentioned previously (Brown, Fitz and Dowd), or the mighty Argentina trio that drove them through to a semi-final at the last WC. These were combinations able to dominate the opposition. That Lions trio was not dominant in any respect.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:And by the way, I voted for
Jason Leonard, Brian Moore, Jeff Probyn

But could easily voted for that great front row of
Tom Smith, Kieth Wood, Paul Wallace

Hmmmm, some rose-tinted specs here I think. In 1997, the Lions front row were still outmuscled by the Boks, just not by any sort of decisive margin that people predicted. What that Lions trio managed to do was largely contain the Boks pack (which was wholely unexpected), their reputation really came from managing to provide a platform against all odds, not because they managed to best the Boks (they didn't). Parity (or close to parity) was seen as a victory, and rightly so.

I really don't think they compare to the sort of dominance acheived by the England front row you mention (or indeed the 2003 vintage), the All Blacks trio I mentioned previously (Brown, Fitz and Dowd), or the mighty Argentina trio that drove them through to a semi-final at the last WC. These were combinations able to dominate the opposition. That Lions trio was not dominant in any respect.

Good point mate. I thought they deserved recognition for what they did though. SA were by far the most intimidating front five in world rugby at the time and the Lions succeeded on their own patch. It was a remarkable, if as you say plucky, victory.

Eh excuse me where is the infamous Horan, Flannery, Hayes combo . . . . . . . . . :run2:

red_stag wrote:Eh excuse me where is the infamous Horan, Flannery, Hayes combo . . . . . . . . . :run2:

Please ask a moderator nicely and they may add it for you. They were part of a team that certainly achieved a lot. I m not sure if it was because of them that the team achieved though?

Certainly never felt worried about the idea of a team I support playing against either Horan or Hayes, with all respect of what they achieved due...

maestegmafia wrote:

red_stag wrote:Eh excuse me where is the infamous Horan, Flannery, Hayes combo . . . . . . . . . :run2:

Please ask a moderator nicely and they may add it for you. They were part of a team that certainly achieved a lot. I m not sure if it was because of them that the team achieved though?

Certainly never felt worried about the idea of a team I support playing against either Horan or Hayes, with all respect of what they achieved due...

I'm joking. They certainly weren't all time great combo

red_stag wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

red_stag wrote:Eh excuse me where is the infamous Horan, Flannery, Hayes combo . . . . . . . . . :run2:

Please ask a moderator nicely and they may add it for you. They were part of a team that certainly achieved a lot. I m not sure if it was because of them that the team achieved though?

Certainly never felt worried about the idea of a team I support playing against either Horan or Hayes, with all respect of what they achieved due...

I'm joking. They certainly weren't all time great combo

I was doing well to be polite in response there though eh...!

John Hayes a great lifter at the Lineout though...

1.Rowntree
2.Cockerill
3.Garforth

The ABC club so admired by a club reknowned for the horrible nature of their powerful front rowers that they had a bar named after them. All internationals and all double HEC winners. For pure scrummaging power they were awesome.

or
probyn
Moore
Chilcott...

Best Scottish front rows in my time:

Sole, Milne and Burnell (1990)

Smith, Bulloch and Burnell (1999)

Jacobsen, Ford and Murray (2008)

funnyExiledScot wrote:Best Scottish front rows in my time:

Sole, Milne and Burnell (1990)

Smith, Bulloch and Burnell (1999)

Jacobsen, Ford and Murray (2008)

I'll see you those, and raise you a Aitken-Deans-Milne (1984)

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Best Scottish front rows in my time:

Sole, Milne and Burnell (1990)

Smith, Bulloch and Burnell (1999)

Jacobsen, Ford and Murray (2008)

I'll see you those, and raise you a Aitken-Deans-Milne (1984)

I was 4 years old then so can't really comment, but I'm sure they'd have the edge over Mattie Stewart, Robbie Russell and Gavin Kerr!

The Viet Gwent Ofc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gROd223xK4

Max Boyce The Pontypool Front Row Lyrics

Now i'll tell you all a story,
about some lads i know,
who were know throughtout the valleys,
as the Pontypool Front Row,
it's got a little chorus and the chorus you all know.
so tell me are you ready?
up and under here we go.

Chorus
Up and Under here we go,
are you ready yes or no?,
Up and Under here we go,
it's the song of the Pontypool Front Row.

now they made a film in London,
it was censored double X
the sort of film that frightens one
and one of lust and sex
Mary Whitehousesaw it now they'll never show,
a film called up and under
starring the Pontypool Front Row

Chrous

we had touble in Uganda with president Amid
so we sent an envoy out with a message from the Queen,
to stay the execution but Amid answered NO!
till a card was sent from the via Gwent,
The Ponypool Front Row.

Chorus

they've had trouble on the railways with some of soccers fans,
i've seen them on the terreaces throwing stones and cans,
the've stopped the soccer specails it's a waste of time i know,
cause in the end, they'll have to send,
For the Pontypool Front Row.

Chrous

theres a programme on the tele, i watch it when i can,
the story of an astronaut, the first bionic man,
he cost six million dollars
that's a lot of bread i know,
but we can offer more for The Pontypool Front Row

Chrous X 3

funnyExiledScot wrote:Best Scottish front rows in my time:

Sole, Milne and Burnell (1990)

Smith, Bulloch and Burnell (1999)

Jacobsen, Ford and Murray (2008)

All coached by Jim Telfer too. Possibly the best scrum/forward coach in the game.

maestegmafia wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Best Scottish front rows in my time:

Sole, Milne and Burnell (1990)

Smith, Bulloch and Burnell (1999)

Jacobsen, Ford and Murray (2008)

All coached by Jim Telfer too. Possibly the best scrum/forward coach in the game.

Indeed, watching him coaching the 1997 Lions forwards still sends a shiver down my spine.

maestegmafia wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Best Scottish front rows in my time:

Sole, Milne and Burnell (1990)

Smith, Bulloch and Burnell (1999)

Jacobsen, Ford and Murray (2008)

All coached by Jim Telfer too. Possibly the best scrum/forward coach in the game.

Not sure that Telfer has been involved in coaching the last combo?

fES, there must have been a formidable front row involving Ian McLachlan and Sandy Carmichael (even tho they were both looseheads), but I can't think who would have been hooker and tighthead?

Jacobsen, Ford and Murray (2008)

It wasn't a Sunday game then?

Huge amount of respect for Price and Du Randt.

Price dominated the Lions shirt for 12 consecutive tests, although he started off as a club winger! Technically bombproof and unbelievably strong.

Du Randt is a legend - double World Cup winner (only five other players have done it and they're all Australian), 80 caps, fifth most capped Bok of all time.

Best front row I ever watched was Brown, Fitzpatrick and Dowd - they were made of kevlar.

BATH_BTGOG wrote:Jacobsen, Ford and Murray (2008)

It wasn't a Sunday game then?

Murray played on Sundays back then. I think it was as recently as last year that he declared the Sabbath to be a rugby free day.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Best Scottish front rows in my time:

Sole, Milne and Burnell (1990)

Smith, Bulloch and Burnell (1999)

Jacobsen, Ford and Murray (2008)

All coached by Jim Telfer too. Possibly the best scrum/forward coach in the game.

Not sure that Telfer has been involved in coaching the last combo?

fES, there must have been a formidable front row involving Ian McLachlan and Sandy Carmichael (even tho they were both looseheads), but I can't think who would have been hooker and tighthead?

SchlongAs - Carmichael and McLaughlan packed down together with the excellent Bobby Clark in between in the 1973 pack. What an incredible front row that was. Carmichael would have been in a shoe-in (sp?) for the Lions 71 test side but some tw@t in the Canterbury side decided to stand on his face in the dirttracker game and broke his cheekbone in five places.

Cheers GC

George Carlin wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Best Scottish front rows in my time:

Sole, Milne and Burnell (1990)

Smith, Bulloch and Burnell (1999)

Jacobsen, Ford and Murray (2008)

All coached by Jim Telfer too. Possibly the best scrum/forward coach in the game.

Not sure that Telfer has been involved in coaching the last combo?

fES, there must have been a formidable front row involving Ian McLachlan and Sandy Carmichael (even tho they were both looseheads), but I can't think who would have been hooker and tighthead?

SchlongAs - Carmichael and McLaughlan packed down together with the excellent Bobby Clark in between in the 1973 pack. What an incredible front row that was. Carmichael would have been in a shoe-in (sp?) for the Lions 71 test side but some tw@t in the Canterbury side decided to stand on his face in the dirttracker game and broke his cheekbone in five places.

THat was one of the worst things about touring the South African or Kiwi teams. Luckily they have matured a bit bar the ugly few.