HOOKERS- Greatest ever XV as voted by 606v2

So, I need to research who was tight and who was loosehead props a bit more before I do the Prop thread so we'll continue with Hookers.

The two Locks in our team are MJ and Eales, bench spot taken by McBride (Sorry, Biltong, still only 1 Saffa in the 22!)

So same again with Hookers, feel free to expand my education by telling me those I've missed

Massive brain fart, and I wrote Matt Stevens instead of Steve Thompson, could a MOd please change that to remove my embarrassment

Mears.

Stevens ha ha.

Bollix I went for Stevens......

I'll go for Woody just because he was so exciting to watch in the loose and inspirational for Ireland and the Lions. Probably was injured too much and not the best lineout thrower... and a rubbish pundit but I've picked him anyways....

Of course, Stevens might actually be a better Hooker than he is a prop, never know

Hang on you've not included any Japanese players in the list!

I received a ban for not including any Welsh players in the Centres article!

MODS please take action!

HERSH wrote:Hang on you've not included any Japanese players in the list!

I received a ban for not including any Welsh players in the Centres article!

MODS please take action!

I was considering adding Tincu, but decided against it

Keith Wood...inspirational...tough in the tight and rampaging in the loose!

Sean Fitzpatrick...! Keith Wood comes close.

Have gone for Ibanez, simply because I loved the way he played, even if he was French.

ChequeredJersey wrote:So, I need to research who was tight and who was loosehead props a bit more before I do the Prop thread so we'll continue with Hookers.

The two Locks in our team are MJ and Eales, bench spot taken by McBride (Sorry, Biltong, still only 1 Saffa in the 22!)

So same again with Hookers, feel free to expand my education by telling me those I've missed

Well CJ, if you don't put Bismarck du Plessis in there we won't ever get to two players.

Actually forgot about Bismark...but he couldnt oust Smit from the position..so would he beat Smit?

Well it is like rock paper scissors.

Bismarck beats john on general play, John beats Bismarck on scrumming and line out accuracy and leadership.

Problem is you can't negate the fact that john Smit holds the record for most caps as a captain.

Hhmmm..whereas Wood was just awesome everywhere...

No option for Warren Gatland then.?

ChequeredJersey wrote:Massive brain fart, and I wrote Matt Stevens instead of Steve Thompson, could a MOd please change that to remove my embarrassment

You seem to have forgotten Hartley as well.

Barney McGrew did it wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Massive brain fart, and I wrote Matt Stevens instead of Steve Thompson, could a MOd please change that to remove my embarrassment

You seem to have forgotten Hartley as well.

Fixed CJ and added the man, the one, the only, the undesputed champion, the beast (No not that one), The Warship, The BISMARCK!

Bismarck is brilliant in open play, often thieving more ball than any respectable open side but his scrummaging leaves a bit to be desired. In the game V the reds 2 weeks ago his head was popping up all over the shop (never penalised either to the best of my recollection which is neither here nor there).

Is Richard Cockerall worth a mention?

I can't see why not.

But can you see why?

He played for England and thus qualifies, I am sure you have a reason why you suggested his name.

Not really, he did that staredown thing with the AB's when they did the haka, can't remember much else he did of note but the Tigers were a good side in those days so he can't have been bad.

I was hoping someone would confirm if he was any good or not.

Got to be Fitzpatrick.
I'd make him captain too.

I went for Bobby Windsor, just for that legnth of the field try he scored for Wales during the seventies.

Fitzpatrick for me. He was a peerless leader and as a hooker had the complete game. Great scrummager - being propped up by Olo Brown and Craig Dowd for most of your career certainly helped - great lineout thrower, good in the loose and Fitzy the Winger fancied himself as a back. Was always in the opposition´s faces but when he landed at the bottom of the ruck, he never lost his temper when the opposition exacted their revenge.

I always loved watching Keith Wood play and Smit, Thompson and Kearns stand out for me as great hookers. Don´t know much about the black and white era.

Gone for Fitzy. Saw him when he couldn't put Abercrombie out of the Auckland side but was first choice AB at the same time- that was weird at the time, just after Dalton- another great AB hooker, got done by that idiot on the Cavaliers tour.

Sean fitzpatrick picks himself imho.

AlynDavies wrote:Sean fitzpatrick picks himself imho.

I didn't know he is a member here.

Ibanez. Wasps supporter. Rafa's a star!

LordDowlais wrote:I went for Bobby Windsor, just for that legnth of the field try he scored for Wales during the seventies.

Wasnt that Graham Price?

So spoilt for choice actualy.

Fitzpatrick, Moore, Wood, Duplasis. Would be very hard to say who is the best in that lot alone.

Didn't really get to see Fitzpatrick (though I still really want to pick him), so I had to pick Keith Wood. He's one of my favourite players anyway.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Of course, Stevens might actually be a better Hooker than he is a prop, never know

Hookers and coke go together like peas and carrots so that may be up Stevens' alley

Fitzy for me. Is also the best referee in rugby history.

Have I missed the prop one?

Not done yet bedford.

cool cheers biltong

Uli Schmidt was a tremendous South African hooker during the apartheid era of the 1980's. He could run with the ball as well as any back at that time, whilst he could front up and mix it with any tough as nails opposition forwards.

Taffineastbourne wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:I went for Bobby Windsor, just for that legnth of the field try he scored for Wales during the seventies.

Wasnt that Graham Price?

Ah, was it ? O.k then I will have to change my vote to, mmmmmm let me think, Jonathan Humphries O.k seriously Fitz was a good un, I will go for him.

Best all round hooker - Sean Fitzpatrick

Best guy to wind up opponents (especially the French) - Brian Moore

Personal favourite - Keith Wood

Playing out of position, and should be an outside centre - Schalk Brits

LordDowlais wrote:

Taffineastbourne wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:I went for Bobby Windsor, just for that legnth of the field try he scored for Wales during the seventies.

Wasnt that Graham Price?

Ah, was it ? O.k then I will have to change my vote to, mmmmmm let me think, Jonathan Humphries O.k seriously Fitz was a good un, I will go for him.

yeah it was the legend (guess who will be getting my propr vote) this is Graham Price, length of the field against France.

Bedford
Given that most props describe every try they ever score (i.e. the 1m flop over the line) as being a length of the field break with a couple of sidesteps and a hand-off, what do you reckon Price's exageration was for that try? He must have started his run in Swansea at least...

dummy_half wrote:Bedford
Given that most props describe every try they ever score (i.e. the 1m flop over the line) as being a length of the field break with a couple of sidesteps and a hand-off, what do you reckon Price's exageration was for that try? He must have started his run in Swansea at least...

Dummy-half,

Come on Pricey would have only started it in one place Pontypool

I went for Ibanez, by the way, best Hooker I have ever seen play

Ibanez, Wood and Smit are the best I've seen.

Has Catley,Jan Lotz,Dad Young and Ron Hemi,Andy dalton and Fitzy were useful too.!!!!

I still want to go to Phil Kearns' barbie.

disneychilly wrote:I still want to go to Phil Kearns' barbie.

Yeah he was great. The fitzy kearns battles must be one of the best in rugby.

Only one person agrees with me, but Phil Kearns is quite comfortably the best hooker I have seen.