Most Inspirational Players ever?

First topic message reminder :

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....

Just to clarify - how are we defining 'inspirational'?

Or is this just a thread about good players? Cari aside, who is going off on a tangent of her own...

In rugby Paul O'Connell for Ireland. I'd say all the Irish lads saw that documentary about the game btween Ireland v England in 2007, so feicing passionate. Pienaar seems to have been inspiring (Matt Damon however was not when playing him, solid but didn't wow anyone). Kearney seems to get the blood boiling among the lads ,Woody and Sexton too, even if it's usually against Munster the little feicer inspires.

Al Pacino's speech was quite inspirational in any given Sunday:

Spoiler:

I think it might be that they have microphones in their faces constantly but American sports stars seem to be more inspirational or at least given the platform to do it more often

Casartelli wrote:Just to clarify - how are we defining 'inspirational'?

Or is this just a thread about good players? Cari aside, who is going off on a tangent of her own...

There you go Casartelli. Removed the comment just for you.

Inspirational? I wish Vince Karalius had played union as well as league.

Cari wrote:

Casartelli wrote:Just to clarify - how are we defining 'inspirational'?

Or is this just a thread about good players? Cari aside, who is going off on a tangent of her own...

There you go Casartelli. Removed the comment just for you.

I feel bad now. It was quite an intriguing post.

No need for that Casartelli, players can be inspirational for different reasons, on or off the field. If he inspired Cari what differnce does it make?

Just ignore him Thomond. It's fine. I'd incorrectly answered the original post anyway which was to name three of the most inspirational players. Seems Casartelli was unable to answer the question too.

Thomond wrote:No need for that Casartelli, players can be inspirational for different reasons, on or off the field. If he inspired Cari what differnce does it make?

Huh? I was just trying to clarify how we define 'inspirational'. I assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that Cari was basing it on players that are physically attractive, as sometimes threads of this nature pop up on here. I apologize unreservedly if any misunderstanding resulted - but in my defence the post didn't explain exactly WHY Kearney inspires her. Need the deets sometimes.

Casartelli - just answer the original post instead of wumming as usual.

Cullen.

rodders wrote:Dusitoir is a great shout !

Agreed. He seems to be the ultimate big game player. He's one of those players I always wish was English when i see play.

For me the most inspirational player has to be Woodie.

It was in the eyes.

Spoiler:

Andy Irvine, Keith Wood and Martin Johnston. I couldnt imagine not being inspired by the latter two's approach to the game. Andy Irvine was one of my early heroes who could win (or lose!) a game single handedly

Rava
Good photo of Woodie. thing is forget the eyes I'd have more concern for his nuts.

Alan Whetton.



Or was it Gary.

I could never telling the difference!

Rava wrote:For me the most inspirational player has to be Woodie.

It was in the eyes.

Spoiler:

Where is Gregan going with his hand there?! Very naughty boy.

Gregan had great ball skills.

For the shortest no.8 in history Matt Damon was pretty inspirational.

Laurie Gary Whettons going to need to be inspirational during the blues coach interviews this week.

Taylorman
Not just GW, but also JK, but now apparently Kieren Crowley has his hat in the ring.

Thomond wrote:Al Pacino's speech was quite inspirational in any given Sunday:

Spoiler:

I think it might be that they have microphones in their faces constantly but American sports stars seem to be more inspirational or at least given the platform to do it more often

In the US, one of the great speeches was made in 1993 by a former college basketball coach, Jimmy Valvano (Jimmy V). He was a typical New York kid who grew up to coach the sport he loved and eventually coached North Carolina State University to one of the great upset victories in the US College Championship history. A terrific motivator, he was diagnosed with uncurable cancer whilst about 45 or 46 years old. He made the speech at the 1993 ESPY dinner, which is the annual US ESPN annual sports awards show. He had been in terrible pain and was supposed to receive the award sitting in his chair and only say thank you because he could barely walk. Then he gets up and talks. He lived for only another 8 weeks. I find it inspirational, in part because it is ordinary, grounded, funny, courageous, and emotive. And delivered by a good man. It is worth 10 minutes of your time.............

Jimmy V: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuoVM9nm42E

This is a vast question of the top of my head Scotland,Gordon Brown,Gavin Hastings,Ian McGeechan.
Wales Barry John,J.P.R.Williams,Gareth Edwards,perhaps the most in that era was the quiet man John Dawes.
England Wavell Wakefield,Ron Jacobs,Richard Sharp,Dickie Jeeps,Peter Jackson,Jeff Butterfield,Richard Hill,Bill Beaumont,Martin Johnson ,Neil Back,Jonny Wilkinson.
Ire land,Noel Murphy,Bill Mukcahy,Willie John Mc Bride,Mike Gibson,Tony O`
Reilly,Tony ward,Ollie Campbell.
France Jean Prat,Lucien Mias,Moncla,The Camberbero`s father and son,Guy Lescourbora,Pierre Albaledejo,Martine,The Boniface Brothers.
Argentina Hugo Porta and Dominguez.
Australia Des Connor[also as an All Black],John Eales,the Ellas,Greg Davis,Micheal Lynagh,Ken Catchpole,Campese,
South Africa Benny Osler,Gerry Brand,Danie Craven,Hennie Muller,Naas Botha,Vicrtor Matfield,Johan Claasen,Chris Koch, John Smit, Juan Smith, Schalke Burger.
New Zealand W.C.wallace,Dave Galleher,George Nepia,Mark Nichols,Bert Cooke,Cliff Porter,Freddie Allen,J.b.Smith,Bob Scott,Tiny White,Bob Duff,Kevin Skinner.Has Catley,BillClark,Ron Jarden,Wilson Whineray,Don Clarke,Pat Walsh,
Colin Meads,Sean Fitzpatrick,Kel Tremain.Michael Jones,Jonah Lomu,Stu Wilson,Geoff Wilson,Cullen,Jonah Lomu,Ali Williams,Gary Knight,Michael Jones, Dan Carter,Grant Fox,Carlos Spencer,Andrew Merthens,Rtchie Mc Caw.
They may not all have been the best,just that they inspired confidence around them.also Tana Umaga,Buck Shelford and Conrad Smith.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
Taylorman
Not just GW, but also JK, but now apparently Kieren Crowley has his hat in the ring.

Yes I saw that..GW, Andy D and GH are the panel...JK, Crowley and Pat Lam are the interviewees.

Kirwans the obvious choice and is an Auckland legend and probably close mates with the entire panel.
And when JK interviews nearly half the room will be Knights for heavens sakes...!

I just question whether hes the tough type the Blues need. Although he'll get respect, for Lam that wasnt enough. The Blues need to start with the tough slash and burn phase that Hammet took on with no guaranteed results and for Kirwan that would be a change to his methodology and is not what hes best at. He did bring higher standards and a focus on attack to Japan etc but Auckland have part of the latter anyway- perhaps too much of it- he could steer them better there thats for sure.

Henry will be looking for ways to halt the flow to league in Auckland also.

Just dunno if the timings right for JK. There are real problems in Auckland and fast tough talk AND action is required..

I'm in Munster visiting friends at the moment. We were discussing the same.

Nick Popplwell

Peter "the Claw" Clohessy

Mick Galway