Sportsman XV - Bit of Friday Fun - Any updates?

Ok Daft Friday Fun...

Come up with your best rugby team made up of Sportsmen past and present...but no rugby or rugby league players.
Be interesting to see if certain sports provide most....

1 Jukho Ahola (Worlds Strongest Man)
2 Mike Tyson (Boxer)
3 Pudzianowski (Worlds Strongest Man)
4 Shaq O'Neil (Basketball)
5 Michael Jordan (Basketball)
6 George Foreman (Boxer)
7 Neil Adams (Judo)
8 Steve Redgrave (Rowing)

9 Bruce Lee (Martial Arts)
10 Michael Johnson (Athletics)
11 Usain Bolt (Athletics)
12 Maurice Greene (Athletics)
13 Emmitt Smith (American Football)
14 Linford Christie (Athletics)
15 Barry Sanders (American Football)

Well good squad!! Don't know anything about the two gridiron players, but guess they must be a regular full back and maybe the 13 is a runner, or whatever they call the bloke that's always shouted to Go Long!!!

But do you think basket ball players have the umph to shove in the scrums? though that is a heck of a front row.

Be interesting to have a couple of sumo wrestlers as prop, maybe not vary mobile but as all their live is based on pushing, they won't be taking any backwards steps... and be such good lifters in lineouts we could get more mobile shorter locks

Well i was thinking Shaq is a monster..so wouldnt be worried about him...but Jordan is the lineout man...and what he maybe lacks in power shaq and the front row will make up for....

The two American football guys were very much Jason Robinson type runners...quick off the mark and can change direction on a sixpence...

1 Jon Pall Sigmarsen (worlds strongest man)
2 Stone cold Steve Austin (American Wrestling)
3 Aotsurugi Kenta (sumo)
4 Nikolai Valuev
5 kareem Abdul Jabar (basketball)
6 Jeff Blatnick (Greco Roman Wrestling)
7 Royce Gracie (ju Jutsu)
8 Dwayne The Rock Johnson (American Wrestling)

9 Chuck Liddell (UFC)
10 Dailey Thompson
11 Carl Lewis
12 Michael Johnson
13 Gary Ablett SNR (AFL)
14 Usain Bolt
15 Kevin Heffernen (GAA)

I'd like to thank google for making my team possible

Pudzianowski already plays rugby so doesn't count.....

Geordie
I'd be tempeted to go with Jerry Rice at full back rather than Sanders (would be good bench cover for the back 4 positions) because of his catching abiilty.

Also, how about Diego Maradona at SH - low to the ground and quick on the break. Good kicking game and we know about his handling skills. Also, I would expect him to be a typically chippy litle g1t with the ref - a traditional part of a scrummie's skill set.

6ft7, 140kg, 6 times world champion, if you want a judoka at 2nd row for some extra power pick Teddy "Bear" Rinner. would work nicely with a basketball player alongside.

who is neil adams?

#2 - Phil the Power Taylor

Yeah Rodders...he pretty much does everything doesnt he....martial arts, rugby all sorts...

Yeah good call with Jerry Rice....what about a running QB like randall cunningham as the fh...organiser and yet able to make the breaks....

Pudzianowski can be the enforcer....

Back line really not looking as good as the forwards, surely we can get leaner meaner people in?

OzT wrote:Back line really not looking as good as the forwards, surely we can get leaner meaner people in?

what about some ice hockey players?

The Klitchco brothers in 2nd row? Manny Pacquio at 9?

"what about some ice hockey players?"...

but do you think they will be any good with their blades on grass?? The groundsman would be spewing at how the blades will cut up the turf!! LOL!

Yes they are mean enough, always every game there seems to be a punch up against the screens.

I'd like to see a jinking gymnast type at outside half don't know any men though so Nadia Comineci or Olga Korbut maybe .

Geoff Capes was also the World's strongest man and probably a bit more mobile than the two above so I'd get him in the front row , having said that there were a few Eastern bloc female shotputters in the 70's who would also have been prime candidates.

1. Zydrunas Savickas (World's strongest man winner 2009,2010.
2.Asashōryū Akinori (Sumo wrestler)
3. Brian Shaw (World's strongest man winner 2011)
4.Michael Jordan (basketball)
5.Yao Ming (basketball)
6.Wole (Last Man Standing season 2 BBC)
7. Mark Cavendish (Cycling)
8.Randy Couture (UFC)
9.Tom Brady (New England Patriots quarterback)
10. Ed (Last Man Standing season 2 BBC)
11.Linford Christie (sprinter)
12.Lennox Lewis (boxer)
13. Muhammad Ali (Boxer)
14. Usain Bolt (sprinter)
15.Pele (footballer)

Thank you Wikipedia and google!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastmanstanding/athletes/

Anyone watched Last man standing? I loved that show. Though the rugby player hardly covered himself in glory. Had to put two guys from that as they are excellent athletes.

1. Jocky Wilson (darts)
2. Victoria Pendleton (cycling)
3. William 'The Fridge' Perry (American football)
4. Luol Deng (basketball)
5. Ian Thorpe (swimming)
6. Alistair Brownlee (triathlon)
7. Rory McIlroy (golf)
8. Gary Gait (lacrosse)
9. Mark Cavendish (cycling)
10. Cesc Fabregas (soccer)
11. Rafael Nadal (tennis)
12. Walter 'Sweetness' Payton (American football)
13. Zara Tindall (equestrian)
14. Usain Bolt (athletics)
15. James Cracknell (rowing)

At 7 put Lance Armstrong or James Cracknell. Big lads and they will be EVERYWHERE

1. Phil Taylor( Darts)
2. Warren Sapp (NFL)
3. Ndamukong Suh (NFL)
4. Lebron James (NBA)
5. Dirk Nowitzski (NBA)
6. Lance Armstrong (cycling)
7. "Smokin" Joe Frazier (Boxing)- RIP
8. Sean Kelly- Cycling
9. Manny Pacquiao _Boxing
10. Michael Vick (NFL)
11. Calvin "Megatron" Johnson( NFL) think Joanh Lomu, tall and very fast!
12.Rafa Nadal( Tennis)
13. Joe DiMaggio (Baseball)
14. Usain Bolt (Athletics)
15. Sam Tomkins (Rugby League) does he count?

other wise Alan Brogan (GAA)

I'd be tempted to make a whole backrow out of Gracie family members, they come in all shapes and sizes, and they'd hunt the breakdown like a vicious pack of dogs.

I reckon Shaq wouldn't be quick enough around the park, I'd probably go for Karl "The Mailman" Malone or Patrick Ewing in the enforcer role.

Jerry Rice would have to be in there somewhere in that backline, Bolt & Tyson Gay could be a combo of wingers. Nadal at 12 is a good shout and Tom Brady at 9 or 10 would be good. Can lead a team and i think would be good at 10, not a running threat but he actually can kick, Belichick just doesnt let him.

Isn't lebron James actually really quite short for a basketball player? Or am I getting him mixed up?

What about a couple of high jumpers at lock and possibly a hammer throw or shot put in at hooker????

Flanker he is 6 foot 8 so good size for a lock. According to Wiki

My apologies, can't think of or find the player I was thinking of.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:What about a couple of high jumpers at lock and possibly a hammer throw or shot put in at hooker????

Pete, I preferred Vicky Pendleton in that position

1 mark Henry
2 Rashd Evans
3 Roy Nelson
4 Ian Thorpe
5 Wladimir Klitschko
6 Rampage Jackson
7 Peter Cech (already wears the scrum cap)
8 Brock Lesnar

9 Forrest Griffin
10 Rafeal Nadal
11 Usain Bolt
12 Marit Safin
13 Grey Maynard
14 Gabby Agbonlahor
15 Amir Khan

Ok Ill put my team down then:

1 Juko Ahola (Worlds Strongest Man)
2 Warren Sapp (NFl Defenceman)
3 Marius Pudzianowski (Worlds Strongest Man)
4 Karl Malone (Basketball)
5 Dennis Rodman (Basketball)
6 Teddy Rinner (Judo)
7 Rickson Gracie (Brazilian Juijitsu)
8 Dwayne Johnson (The Rock - Wrestling)

9 Bruce Lee (Martial Arts)
10 Pele (Football)
11 Usain Bolt (Athletics)
12 Mike Tyson (Boxer)
13 Barry Sanders (American Football)
14 Calvin Johnson (American Football)
15 Jerry Rice (American Football)

Ryan Giggs at fly half. Great feet, ball control, mind and would have a bit of experience of the game when he was a kid.

There has to be space in the front row for Chiyonofuji, probably at hooker. The greatest sumo of the modern era, but also one of the smallest at 18 stone, so still mobile.

You could find a lot of use for rowers, as long as they have the hand-eye co-ordination. Steve Redgrave in his prime was a decent sprinter - brakeman for the British Olympic two man bob, IIRC, which is a job that requires speed and power. I see him as a lomu-style wing, with Pinsent as the second row enforcer and Cracknell at 8.

I'd put Ray Stevens at 6 (judoka who won an Olympic silver while competing with a bust ACL. skillful and hard as nails.

Any updates on the suggestions?

Any of the great NFL running backs would slot on nicely at 12 or 13. LaDainian Tomlinson or Barry Sanders as someone already said. Tiki Barber and Marshal Faulk are two other favorites.

Larry Bird at 4. Great competitor.
Sergey Bubka at 5 for his line out jumping.

Michael Bisbing or Vitor Belfort at 6. Would be excellent at clearing out rucks.
Stig Tofting. Footballs hardest man at 7? He probably has enough upper body strength to be a 7 anyway.

Marco Van Basten at 10.
Johan Cruyff at 9. Two very skillful players.

Ernie Els at 8. Big Bear of a man with a calming influence.

Warren Sapp at 2 was a good call.
Shane Warne at 1/ John Daly Sub.
Andy Fordham 3/Shane Lowry sub.

11,14,15 Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell

There ought to be a place for judo's Teddy Riner. He's 6' 8",  over 130kg and likes rugby.

Completely agree with the suggestion of Chiyonofuji. He was all muscle and a fierce competitor. A later champion called Asashoryu might have become a better player but he has a terrible temper and would surely have been carded frequently. There was also a wiry specimen called Terao who regularly got the better of bigger men through his strength and agility. Good scrum half material.

The old British shot putt champion Geoff Capes ought to be a shoo-in for prop. he went on to win World Strongest Man titles and had a decent turn of speed. He once beat distance runner Brendan Foster when the two went head-to-head over 100m.

Allen Iverson would be my scrum half. Smallest guy on the court nearly every time, used to get smashed by the bigger guys but still run rings around them. Cocky little so and so, led a team of scrubs to the NBA finals

Randy Moss on one wing, and Calvin Johnson on the other.

Adrian Peterson at 13, breaks tackles like Manu but is probably not far off the fastest wingers in terms of pace.

Dennis Rodman as a lock, 6 ft 8 but won rebounds against far taller players easily, absolutely mental so no chance of being pushed around

If rugby league counts, how about Sam Burgess as a 6??

A lot of people picking Michael Jordan at lock: he is only 6ft 6" and 98kgs!  Plus there'd be quite a discrepancy in height between him and Shaq or Yao Ming who are both well over 7ft!

pontylad wrote:I'd like to see a jinking gymnast type at outside half don't know any men though so Nadia Comineci or Olga Korbut maybe .

Geoff Capes was also the World's strongest man and probably a bit more mobile than the  two above so I'd get him in the front row , having said that there were a few Eastern bloc female  shotputters in the 70's who would also have been prime candidates.

The Press sisters maybe, grew a better beard than I do now.

Richard Slaney also became the worlds strongest man, he was a year below me at school, discus thrower so very fast on his feet, 6'6"and 18st, at school. Gave us a nice edge in the pack. I was two small for a lock at 6' 4" and 14.5st in a school boy pack. Ended up playing 7 as there were two other guys my size in the back row, I was a bit quicker hence 7. Awesome forward line up for 16 year olds.

He married Mary Decker, if you can remember the behemoth that lumbered over when she was tripped by Zola Budd in the Olympics, that was Richard.

Could also have some cricketers in there. Chris Tremlett looks the part 6'7" and well built, could be a good 6 or possibly 8.

Derek Randall would have made a great 9, quick, aggressive and a chirpy character. or maybe Louis Smith, speed, fantastic agility and strength

Got to a place for Ian Botham somewhere, not quite sure where though.

how about Razor Ruddock at 2

Teddy Riner at lock, 6'8" and 128 kilos of fit muscular judo talent, a legend in his early twenties