Most Inspirational Players ever?

Theres been some inspirational players through the years - some may have been Captains due to their ability to get people to raise their game...some were just in amongst the troops doing unseen but vital work.

A few ideas -
Willie John McBride, Johnson , Bod, Fitzy, Eales, McCaw, Pienaar etc as Captains

The ponty front row lads, Richard Hill, Juan Smith, those that maybe dont always get the accolades but do the deeds that inspires their team mates.

Or the flair players...the ones like Cullen, Caucau, Williams, Robinson, Lomu that can pull out that magic just at the required time to lift your team.

Who would you pick as the two or three most insiprational players ever....

For South Africa, I would say, Juan Smith, John smit, Francois Pienaar.

biltongbek wrote:For South Africa, I would say, Juan Smith, John smit, Francois Pienaar.

Forgot about Pienaar...ill add him ...

Jhonno, LBND & JPR

From an Irish point of view I'd add Keith Wood and Paul O'Connell to the above.

Brad Thorn was pretty inspirational for the teams he played in.

Dallagio was a big character for sure. Matfield for SA. Jonny Wilkinson. Dan Carter.

Couldn't possibly pick 3.

Felipe Contepomi.
Dan Carter.

maybe a different sort of inspirational, but Jonah after finding out how he suffered from that kidney condition yet put in those steamrolling performances

Dusautoir. When the big games come around, he seems to kick the entire french team into gear.

Dusitoir is a great shout !

Can't believe I forgot Parisse, the man is a colossus.

For me one of the most inspirational players is the unsung hero, David Wallace. An Irish legend. He is well missed for us.

Brian Lima deserves a shout too. 5 world cups, and car crash tackles.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:For me one of the most inspirational players is the unsung hero, David Wallace. An Irish legend. He is well missed for us.

+1

In some ways Sean Fitzpatrick was an inspirational player and captain for the ABs, but did he really have to inspire the likes of Fox, Jones or Zin Zan Brooke to win? I dont think so.
On the other hand Buck Shelford always lead his team to victory, partially because I think the rest of the team were too scared to lose, and then had to face Buck in the changing rooms later... it worked.

The iceman Michael Jones always tops these lists for me.

As a role model for kids and players alike inspired an entire generation in an era that was chock full of great players for his brilliance on the field, dedication to his faith, and contribution to the game as a whole.

If anyone saw the injury against Argentina in 89 where the entire knee was snapped back onto itself no one thought he'd come back from that and although he lost his pace he bulked up and became one of the best 6's around.

Being a quiet type, was more inspirational through example to others rather than as a triumphant leader.

Gareth Thomas, Martyn Williams, Steve Jones - for a large part of their careers it was obvious if Wales, or their club, was missing them as the attitude appeared to change on the pitch. Thomas and Jones were both shuffled around different positions in order to get them into the starting XV (Alfie 11,12,13,14,15 and Stevo 10,12,15 also think i've seen him at 9 off the bench once).

Richard Hill, England never played as well when he wasnt on the pitch.
I would agree with comments on Parisse - Really stands out in a poor team, but ispirational when he was on form.

JK (sir) is pretty inspirational

Lomu was the most inspirational player in world rugby, particularly in the sense that he inspired a whole generation from a world stage when rugby was turning professional.

To be honest, no Welsh player has offered me much inspiration since the 70's players I grew up with, although I do think Warburton has been our best captain for years.

From other countries I would list Fitzpatrick, Eales, Parisse, Johnson, Hill, David Sole, Serevi, Rives and Smit.

Taylorman wrote:The iceman Michael Jones always tops these lists for me.

As a role model for kids and players alike inspired an entire generation in an era that was chock full of great players for his brilliance on the field, dedication to his faith, and contribution to the game as a whole.

If anyone saw the injury against Argentina in 89 where the entire knee was snapped back onto itself no one thought he'd come back from that and although he lost his pace he bulked up and became one of the best 6's around.

Being a quiet type, was more inspirational through example to others rather than as a triumphant leader.

Dead right Taylorman. I saw that injury from the dead ball line front on and you could hear a hush over the ground all right. Guys like him and Richard Hill didn't need to be loud to be inspirational.

You guys rate the iceman above McCaw ay?

Best player ever IMO. World's best in three positions. Sorry Gareth.

On a club front, the Raging Bull Phil Vickery (who has apparently retired ) always made a huge impact for Glaws. As a unit you've also got to include the Ponty front row and the ABC club.

At international level, I totally agree with aucklandlaurie that Buck Shelford has to be right up there. Any player that can calmly play on with a ripped nut sack is either inspirational or a raving loon, but either way you'd follow him!

On a personal front, I defy anyone to not find Matt Hampson a true inspiration - an amazing individual.

Willie John McBride is a good shout, but for me it has to be Scotland and Lions lock legend Gordon Brown (Broon Fae Troon).

WJM on countless documentaries on the 1974 Lions tour to south Africa stated that Broonie was the best player he ever played with. Brown Scored 8 tries on that undefeated tour and also fought a brave battle against Cancer untill 2001 aged 53.

Inspirational on the pitch and off it.

HongKongCherry wrote: On a personal front, I defy anyone to not find Matt Hampson a true inspiration - an amazing individual.

Well said

An aussie by the name of Julian Huxley battled cancer I believe, then returned to rugby after he was cured and had a stint with the Rebels. Is that correct?

Correct on Huxley. I think he is still playing for them now.

EBOP wrote:You guys rate the iceman above McCaw ay?

Mccaw will go down as if not the greatest AB ever by the time hes finished.

Jones ushered in a brand new exciitement to the game that was really lacking until the mid 80s. 87 got Nzers excited about the game all over again and the young Jones was at the forefront of it all. For me as a player of the same age everyone wanted to be a Jones...regardless of position..flankers, props, wings the lot. It got everyone running jumping passing as much as they possibly could.

Thats why he was so inspirational in my era. Jones showed just what was possible in the game if you went for it full on. Over time he became the go to man whenever we were in trouble. Just when the $%&* was going to hit the fan there would be jones saving the day through a match saving tackle or try from nowhere. It got to a point when kiwis felt we couldnt win without him.

But if I hadnt been through it all i probably wouldnt pick jones. Its really just a personal call and others will have theres as well.

Sweet, thanks Taylorman. I do remember everyone wanting to be micheal jones on the school playground. Was too young to remember any details of his heroics though. Believe he's doing some good things in the community these days.

Morgannwg wrote:An aussie by the name of Julian Huxley battled cancer I believe, then returned to rugby after he was cured and had a stint with the Rebels. Is that correct?

Along similar inspirational lines I found out the other day while watching the Force vs the Blues (i think) that the Force hooker Nathan Charles has Cystic Fibrosis and is the only professional rugby player (possibly sportsman not sure on that one) with the disease. The average life expectancy for sufferers is 37 years, the same age that many players retire from the sport. He has to take up to 10 tablets a day to maintain his salt levels and occasionally use a breathing mask to open his airways and build lung capacity. He is now a national ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis.

He may not be an inspirational player on the field like some of the above but it's an inspiration that he's on the field at all.

Wow thanks for that info Dim. That's pretty awesome-when I was a kid docs thought my brother had CF and my Mum was beside herself waiting for the test results-fortunately was negative but man that's a huge achievement to play pro sport with it.

I think McCaw is good enough to carry Jones' boots for him.

Yeah inspiration comes from different places...glad to see people list rugby guys with difficulties off the pitch who still show such grit and determination.

There are also players who had difficulties in their career initially but knuckled down, took on the criticism and grew as players. Nonu and Kaino are recent players for the ABs who fit that role.

Then there are the players who have obvious flaws but manage to accentuate their strengths. Shane Williams and his size, ROG or Merths and their defensive frailties, Brad Thorn and his age and technical inexperience but his dedication, immaculate preparation and big heart.

To me these types of players are more inspirational than the freaks with natural talent like Lomu, Cullen, Robinson, Latham etc. They just make it look too easy.

As someone who played in the backs, I must say I have a lot of respect for the openside flankers in particular. They often put their body on the line and get beaten up and don't make a fuss and put their body in the way the next tackle. Makes you want to harden up and get stuck in when people come your way. Until you get knocked about and then start thinking how do these guys do it time and time again. And then you see it and the process starts all over again!

Morne Steyn seems to have been inspirational for Frans Ludeke, PDV and Heyneke Meyer and the staunch Blue Bull supporters.

Sadly nobody else.

John Smit a leader amongst men

Surprised you South Africans haven't mentioned Pienaar too.

Did Pienaar do much apart from build relations with SA's first black president?

Apart from captaining the springboks to a world cup victory you mean?

Was it Pienaar that inspired that?

Morgannwg wrote:Did Pienaar do much apart from build relations with SA's first black president?

Well he did inspire his men to defy expectations and win the world cup at home,beating superior teams on the way there and convincing his teammatesto embrace the new south africa. so yes he did too mcuh

I did mention Pienaar in my first post. Morgann Pienaar and Madiba had a special relationship, how much Pienaar did after the world cup I don't know, he left the Springboks after he was kicked out by Markgraaf and went to Saracens, lived there for a number of years, so it isn't clear how he impacted relations when he came back.

But during the RWc 1995 he was a good ambassador for relations in SA.

I haven't seen it well documented how inspirational Pienaar was. Who was your fly-half back then btw, Stransky?

Yes and Hennie le roux, but he played inside center for most of the RWC.

I thought Stransky may be as inspirational, and how about Joost?

Gordon "Broon fi Troon" Brown

Ian "Mighty Mouse" McLaughlin

Dan Cater (he may not have a legandary nick name, but top point scorer and nearly 30 tries to his name as a fly half!!!)

Morgannwg wrote:I thought Stransky may be as inspirational, and how about Joost?

As players yes, but from a leadershp perspective the players rated im as one of the best during that campaign.

Having read a few books and been lucky enough to speak to a few players Scott Gibbs was pretty inspirational during the 97 Lions tour in how proffessional he was about the game.

I think Gavin Henson is the most inspirational player ever. He has inspired many a post on these boards. He has inspired ridicule, rigorous defending and many a reality TV show. You can't get more inspirational than our Gav.