Your Favorite All time XV

First topic message reminder :

Lots of International and Club discussions going on at the moment.

It got me thinkin what would your favorite all time team be...NOT WHO YOU THINKS THE BEST!

Who you've enjoyed watching...for humour or aggression...he may have been a great of the international game or he might not have even been an international ...just a hero of your club....

Many of mine follow my Falcons allegiences...and i dont appologise .

1 Nick Popplewell - Falcons prop and had many a pint with the guy away from the rugby grounnd
2 Keith Wood - Just a fantastic player who entertained with his alround game.
3 Carl Hayman - Aside from his NZ exploits...watching him as a one man pack for us was bewildering...and have surfed near the guy at Tynemouth / Whitley bay
4 Norm Hadley - Just a monstrous guy...has anyone heard of his scuffle with noisy boisterous youths on the London Underground?
5 Simon Shaw - The complete second row...could do the lot...and should have had more caps.
6 Tim Rodber - Underrated...tough but quality.....
7 Pat Lam - One of the most complete alround back row players to have played the game...
8 Buck Shelford - Just epitomises strength, fearless aggression...and power.

9 Gary Armstrong - Passion, fierceness, ability, class scrum half...by Scotland produce them!
10 Johnny...need i say more
11 Caucau - He may have gone wayward...but on his day...simply breathtaking
12 Scott Gibbs - The immoveable object with skills....
13 Inga Tuigamala - What needs to be said...top drawer in both codes...
14 Jason Robinson - Just sublime...entertainment at its best
15 Cristian Cullen - See Jason Robinson...

HHmmmm alot of actual toughmen over skill ...maybe that shows the type of game i like...but this team would entertain both ferociously and entertainment...

Rinsure wrote:

Ouch! Missed out some great ones too...

No you didn't! You can only have 15 on a team. Suck it up... if you made some fatal errors just pretend some of them are injured and pick new guys

captain carrantuohil wrote:Your Scottish team won't score as many tries as it should without Renwick at 13, af73. Might concede a few more with him in, mind!

You're right. How could I have forgotten Renwick

Armstrong over Laidlaw to partner Rutherford is another. Fin Calder was probably the most 'streetwise' Scottish player ever but David Leslie personified self-sacrifice of the body.

This is hard.....especially for those who have only known Scottish rugby as its been played over the last 10 years!

Dont forget Peter Walton...big rumbling blindside....Doddie Weir...oops theres that Falcons bias coming out again...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Dont forget Peter Walton...big rumbling blindside....Doddie Weir...oops theres that Falcons bias coming out again...

...or Jim Pollock of Gosforth. Known as lucky Jim as his fists 5 caps were a debut try in the 34-18 win in Cardiff '82, scoring the last minute try to draw against the All Blacks in '83 then the '84 Grand Slam!

1.Trevor Woodman
2.Schalk Brits
3.Phil Vickery
4.Simon Shaw
5.Tim Swinson
6.Phil Dowson
7.Richie McCaw
8.Lawrence Dallaglio

9.Hall Charlton
10.Carlos Spencer - So close to being Jonny
11.Tim Visser
12.Sonny Bill Williams
13.BOD
14.Jason Robinson
15.Matt Burke

Personally, I think the rest of your Scottish team is bang on, af73. Always Armstrong, always Leslie, always Paxton and I'd always have Mighty Mouse at loose head, as well. You're probably wise to put Gavin at 15, but I trust Irvine at least graces the bench?

captain carrantuohil wrote:Personally, I think the rest of your Scottish team is bang on, af73. Always Armstrong, always Leslie, always Paxton and I'd always have Mighty Mouse at loose head, as well. You're probably wise to put Gavin at 15, but I trust Irvine at least graces the bench?

Another close one. Almost as close as Irvine came to getting on the field for the '84 Grand Slam decider (he was told to get warmed up). That would have been a fitting end to a great career.

We haven't been short of attacking full backs all the way back to Dan Drysdale and more recently Paterson and Glenn Metcalfe.

Its easy to reel off these great names from the past, not many from recent times unfortunately. But I don't think we are as bad (or as some on certain other boards contend always have been) as our results. I remember a quote from John Beattie who said "Scotland have always had 2 or 3 world class players in the team....and the rest of us were basically making up the numbers!"

Driver wrote:1.Trevor Woodman
2.Schalk Brits
3.Phil Vickery
4.Simon Shaw
5.Tim Swinson
6.Phil Dowson7
.Richie McCaw
8.Lawrence Dallaglio

9.Hall Charlton
10.Carlos Spencer - So close to being Jonny
11.Tim Visser
12.Sonny Bill Williams
13.BOD
14.Jason Robinson
15.Matt Burke

Submachine wrote:Ok, I get the bad karma toward Horan but why no love for big Mal? Good story about Philip Matthews. Always a risk meeting your heros, especially in that context.

I dunno Mal kinda annoyed me as a player. He was a bit hot and cold, must have the record for knockons too. Personality wise he seems to be a bit away with the faries but probably a pretty decent sod.

Horan after Ireland lost to Australia in the 91 match said in an interview that the backs move that lead to the winning score was the same move they had used earlier in the match to score a try. Only against the Irish could you do that ha ha ha. He also made some dim comments about Ireland after the Oz game in the last WC.

Odd since he has Irish heritage.

General comment - for pure entertainment and the odd off field character
also need to get some frenchies in there.

Simon Geoghan (sp) - fast as the wind and all elbows and knees - slightly amusing to watch and i would not want to have tackle him!

David Campese - maybe not my cup of tea as a bloke but my god did he entertain sometimes making horrific mistakes e.g passing to unsuspecting teammates behind try lines and sometimes sublime.

Abdul Bennazi - hard as nails.
Mike Skinner - see above! Scruffy looking too.

Sebastian Chabal - classic caveman and a good bloke by all accounts. has his own female following - Les Chabalistes.

Sege Blanc - rugby genius and reputed chain smoker!!

David Duckham - that ludicrous sidestep all of those tries for England. Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Victor Ubogu - brilliant to watch a him in full flight.

Here's a more difficult question: who would your favourite ref be?

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Here's a more difficult question: who would your favourite ref be?

When you write my name, please note that there is an underscore in "Red_Stag"

Triangulation wrote:General comment - for pure entertainment and the odd off field character
also need to get some frenchies in there.

Simon Geoghan (sp) - fast as the wind and all elbows and knees - slightly amusing to watch and i would not want to have tackle him!

David Campese - maybe not my cup of tea as a bloke but my god did he entertain sometimes making horrific mistakes e.g passing to unsuspecting teammates behind try lines and sometimes sublime.

Abdul Bennazi - hard as nails.
Mike Skinner - see above! Scruffy looking too.

Sebastian Chabal - classic caveman and a good bloke by all accounts. has his own female following - Les Chabalistes.

Sege Blanc - rugby genius and reputed chain smoker!!

David Duckham - that ludicrous sidestep all of those tries for England. Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Victor Ubogu - brilliant to watch a him in full flight.

David Duckham - The only England player that the Welsh will ever refer to as Dai Duckham...because he was that good.

Serge Blanco - Wasnt it 40 Marlboro Reds a day he was on...

"Don't be stupid" Nigel Owens

Good question - I would go for Clive Norling. No BS with him. I remember him being miked up as some kind of trial in the late 80s and saying to (I think) Andy Robinson: "Any more of that, and off you go, British Lion or not." I just look back and see Robinson looking precisely like a kid being given a dressing down by the headmaster.

Way too formal for a colonial commoner to call you that. You'll always be Stag for me Red.

Just be thankful you don't get called Staggy. I'm sure you're a top ref and was saddened to read you were thinking of giving it away at some stage after some trying moments. Lord knows it's a thankless task but it's a very important one.

Triangulation wrote:

Sebastian Chabal - classic caveman and a good bloke by all accounts. has his own female following - Les Chabalistes.

They're lucky they're female. I'd say he be a positive brute with the males followers.

No comment re refs from me

my XV:
1. Wyatt Crockett - purely for the name
2. Anton Oliver - played cricket and rugby with him at high school, great bloke
3. Big Bill Cavubati
4. Sebastian Chaval (honourable mention for John "Nobody" Eales)
5. Brad Thorn
6. Michael Jones
7. Richie McCaw
8. Zinzan Brooke
9. George Gregan
10. Jonathon Davies (honourable mention to Mehrts, but if Jiffy's playing he aint commentating )
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Tim Horan
13. Frank Bunce
14. Inga Tuigamala
15. Leon MacDonald - played cricket and rugby with him at high school, great bloke

Maybe that's the appeal for the female followers Fly. Treat him mean keep them keen. Each to their own...

1 du Randt
2 Ibanez
3 Leonard
4 Johnson
5 Eales
6 Jones
7 Pienaar
8 Dallaglio

9 Elissalde
10 Michalak
11 Robinson
12 Horan
13 Sella
14 Howlett
15 Cullen

15 O'Driscolls.

Mine would be:
1. David Sole
2. Brian Moore
3. Olo Brown
4. Abdel Benazzi
5. Ian Jones
6. Mick Skinner
7. Richard Hill
8. Junior Paramore
9. Joost Van Der Westhuizen
10. Diego Dominguez
11. James Simpson-Daniel
12. Brian Lima
13. Terry Fanolua
14. Jeff Wilson
15. Thomas Castaignede

1. Cian Healy - a superstar in the making
2. Keith Wood - most entertaining and unpredicatable hooker
3. Adam Jones - was fat and lazy then became world class
4. Nathan Hines - Hard man enforcer with silky soft hands
5. Paul O'Connell - For his leadership and fiery passion and spirit
6. Juan Smith - Brilliant, but also the fact that he's remained with a weak side makes me like him more.
7. David Wallace - Carried, poached, linked and protected ROG for a decade.
8. Imanol Harinordoquy - Great to watch and his da ran onto a pitch to fight his opponents
9. Joost Van Der Westhuizen - The best scrum half ever.
10. Felipe Contepomi - a magician
11. Rupeni Caucau - just from watching youtube clips, I love this guy.
12. Yannick Jauzion - perfect combination of size, strength, speed and skill.
13. Brian O'Dricoll - best outside centre ever. Seeing him partner Jauzion would have been brilliant
14. Shane Horgan - Strong, powerful, great finisher, brilliant in the air.
15. Geordan Murphy - I'm one of the few Irishmen who love him as much as the Sky and the English media. A wizard in his prime.

They're all mostly very recent and mostly very biased towards Ireland and Leinster. But they're the ones I've liked the most. Would love to see that team, all in the prime, play for for the Barbarians in a serious test match.

I think any team, any team that is loaded with Irish (Leinster)players - and yep, it's allowed, this is all personal favourites picking - but I think any team that is loaded with Irish players just has to - has to - have Denis Hickie in it.

No? Oh well - good. Then I'm picking him

Ah, I forgot I already picked my team. Next time.

Interesting- I'll only use players I've seen play

I like fullbacks apparently...

15- Chris Latham
14- Jason Robinson
13- Brian O'Driscoll
12- Will Greenwood
11- Josh Lewsey
10- Nick Evans
9- Harry Ellis
8- Lawrence Dallaglio
7- Richie McCaw
6- Kelly Brown
5- Marco Bortolami
4- Victor Matfield
3- Martin Castrogiovanni
2- Rafael Ibanez
1- Os Du Randt

Phil Vickery, Jerry Flannery, Rodrigo Roncero, Brad Thorn, Jerry Collins, Augustin Pichot, Freddie Michalak, Tommy Bowe

1 T Woody
2 K Woody
3 Owen Franks
4 Brad Thorn
5 Matfield
6 Michael Jones
7 Sir Richie
8 Dallaglio
9 Joost
10 Mehrts
11 Jonah
12 Ma'a
13 BOD
14 Habana
15 James O'Connor

reffed by Stu Dickinson

SecretFly wrote:I think any team, any team that is loaded with Irish (Leinster)players - and yep, it's allowed, this is all personal favourites picking - but I think any team that is loaded with Irish players just has to - has to - have Denis Hickie in it.

No? Oh well - good. Then I'm picking him

Ah, I forgot I already picked my team. Next time.

I like Hickie too. Brilliant defender. And almost impossible to catch if he was put into space. Very effective. But wasn't really notable for creating things out of nothing. Caucau was unbelievable in that regard. So he's my favourite winger along with Shaggy.

This is going to be limited to the last decade due to my age unfortunately.

1. Iestyn Thomas- Old school with the bonuses of modernity. Was still fantastic last season.
2. Raphael Ibanez- Suprised so few have opted for him. Classy player.
3. Adam Jones- No one comes close in terms of infamy and character in the position. Castrogiovanni and Vickery honourable mentions.
4. Martin Johnson- One of the first figures of my rugby consciousness. Has my retrospective respect as one of the game's greats in a position I know little about.
5. POC- As above, was an iconic figure during a time when I really started to 'understand' rugby.
6. Alessandro Zanni- Really like the way he plays the game. Fernandez Lobbe and Moody, for attitude, are up there.
7. Martyn Williams- Brain of a 10, body of...well, no position these days really. Defied the odds right to the last and as a result was uniquely brilliant.
8. Sergio Parisse- Internationally, at least, is just a little bit special.
9. Agustin Pichot- Close one, Morgan Parra comes close, as does Troncon, but just loved the way Pichot played.
10. Stephen Jones- Juan Martin Hernandez is up there, but just have some much respect and admiration for the ability and attitude of Steve.
11. Shane
12. Regan King- If Dan Carter is the Lionel Messi of the rugby world, King is/could have been the Xavi (apologies for the football analogy). Incredible ability to always have time on the ball and the deftness of hands to create space for others. Jauzion comes close
13. BOD
14. Vincent Clerc- Beautiful rugby epitomised circa 2007.
15. Josh Lewsey- Not sure if this is his best position, but during a time where I really disliked the England team (always winning), Lewsey was somehow apart from this. Great player.

Don't think I've included any SANZAR players, which probably reflects the amount and type of rugby I watch, but as this is a totally subjective and personal thread...

EDIT: Matfield, McCaw and Latham would be the token picks.

Love these lists. Not enough on 606v2 these days.

Cullen (obv), Eric Bonneval, Sella, Craig Innes, Timo Tagaloa, Spencer, Kelleher, Isitolo Maka, Kronfeld, Hill (obv x10), Johnson, Ali Williams, Mas, Ledesma, Du Randt.

On our day, capable of beating anyone.

Always intrigued by people who pick Neil Back in all-time XVs. Says a lot about a man. None of it good.

Mate. Craig Innes? Not even his mother picks him in all time favourite XVs.

anotherworldofpain wrote:Mate. Craig Innes? Not even his mother picks him in all time favourite XVs.

Really? You'd think that with her son playing 17 times for the ABs before he was 23, she might have picked up at least a rudimentary knowledge of the game.

red_stag wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Here's a more difficult question: who would your favourite ref be?

When you write my name, please note that there is an underscore in "Red_Stag"

MBTGOG

Y favourite XV (a long way from my Best XV):

Geordan Murphy - Leicester legend, all round good block.
Dave Lougheed - For stripping completely and throwing his kit to the supporters who had travelled to Bristol at the end of his last game
Phillipe Sella - for getting me and my brother into the WC final
Steve Ravenscroft - for inventing some truly legendary cocktails
John Carelton - for the tries at Murrayfield, and even more for Bill McClaren's commentary
Mark Ella - genius
Agustin Pichot - great player and now a great rugby diplomat
Deano - showed that you don't have to be an athlete
Peter Winterbottom - for his stock broking skills
John Hall - evil, evil man.
Johnno - he da man
Norm Hadley - for making the Tube safe to ride
Phil Bainbridge - for being the best Gloucester prop called phil
Rory Best - for looking like a hooker should
Colin Smart - for preferring aftershave to win.

15: Christian Cullen (New Zealand)
14: David Campese (Australia)
13: Philippe Sella (France)
12: Tim Horan (Australia)
11: John Kirwan (New Zealand)

10: Mark Ella (Australia)
9: Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

8: Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)
7: Michael Jones (New Zealand)
6: Richard Hill (England)
5: Gordon Brown (Scotland)
4: Martin Johnson (England)
3: Iain Milne (Scotland)
2: Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
1: Os du Randt (South Africa)



This team would give the sharpest of wedgies to any opposition. A thing of beauty.

My best referees of all time are Clive Norling and David Bishop - brilliant, fair and treated the players like errant sons.

Commentator - no need to ask. RIP Mr McLaren.

Casartelli wrote:Love these lists. Not enough on 606v2 these days.

Cullen (obv), Eric Bonneval, Sella, Craig Innes, Timo Tagaloa, Spencer, Kelleher, Isitolo Maka, Kronfeld, Hill (obv x10), Johnson, Ali Williams, Mas, Ledesma, Du Randt.

On our day, capable of beating anyone.

Always intrigued by people who pick Neil Back in all-time XVs. Says a lot about a man. None of it good.

Big Timo...crackin player...

Imagine the Samoan backline including him, Inga, Frank Bunce and Brian Lima! Ouch ouch ouch!!

1 Nick Popplewell
2 Keith Wood
3 Jason Leonard
4 DOC
5 Olivier Mange
6 Simon Easterby
7 Adam Kleeburger
8 Scott Quinell

9 Morgan Williams
10 Ralph Keys
11 Simon Geoghgan
12 Johnathan Bell
13 Stirling Mortlock
14 Cameron Murray
15 Xavier Garbajosa

Did Magne play second row? I thought he was a number 7.

I liked Simon easterly too. Fairly underrated player. Would love to have him back in the Ireland team.

I'd like to have seen Gareth Edwards at No 9 in more lists. Being a Cardiff man I admit to being biased, but having watched Edwards play for club, country, Lions and invitation sides over 13 years, it's hard to think of a more consistently great player.

Many fans today have seen videos of his big moments in high-profile games, but in other matches he regularly did things that are probably not on film - 50 metre rolling touchfinders, huge accurate passes giving the receiver yards advantage in attack, explosive running in the opposition 22 to set up tries, and so on.

Some people reckon that Joost Van Der Westhuizen was better and it's true he was a tremendous player. But if Gareth had played in Joost's era, with the same training/diet regimes and facilities, I think he'd have outdone Joost over a whole game and certainly over a series.

Optimist,

I have heard great things but it just doesnt feel right to put down people that you have never seen.

There are very few people who post online who were really following rugby properly 40 years old. This means that people like Edwards are unlikely to feature as much as players from say 10-20 years ago.

Optimist. I dont enough about Edwards to have included him in my list. I'm not old enough to have seen him play. You would need to at least be in you mid 40s to have seen him play. Couple of points though:

-This thread is about your favorite player in each position not the best player ever in each position.
-Hard to imagine a better ever 9 than Joost. Certainly the best I've seen from 1988-present day.
-I only know Edwards from radio interviews and I must say I love listening to him talk about rugby. He is so enthusiastic about the game and seems to be a very interesting and wise dude.

For me;

1. Os du Randt
2. Mario Ledesma
3. Adam Jones
4. Brad Thorn
5. Patricio Albacete
6. Richard Hill
7. David Wallace
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Agustin Pichot
10. David Humphreys
11. J.P. Pietersen
12. Felipe Contepomi
13. Conrad Smith
14. Doug Howlett
15. Jason Robinson

Obviously they are all quite recent! I've followed rugby since I was 10 but only got into it in a really big way around 2002, 2003.

cant understand why J.P. Pietersen is in so many teams. What so great about him?

GunsGerms wrote:cant understand why J.P. Pietersen is in so many teams. What so great about him?

Perhaps because the thread is about favourite ratther than best teams. He must just strike a chord with some people.

Yes, this thread is more about popularity than it is about who is (yet again!) considered the best.

Kinda pointed to, in that the selections so far seem to suggest that 'Dan Carter', despite his almighty reputation and record, doesn't do it for many on the popularity grid.

What's his shortfall? Personality?

red_stag wrote:Did Magne play second row? I thought he was a number 7.

May well have done now that you mention it Stag.

Ah well he'll have to adapt to second row.

SecretFly wrote:Yes, this thread is more about popularity than it is about who is (yet again!) considered the best.

Kinda pointed to, in that the selections so far seem to suggest that 'Dan Carter', despite his almighty reputation and record, doesn't do it for many on the popularity grid.

What's his shortfall? Personality?

I've always found him a little bit "too perfect". Certainly hard to dislike the guy but compared with my favourite #10 (Wilkinson) he doesn't have the same likeability factor for me.

..just behind the pig? That makes Magne the camel. (Nevermind those that don'tknow what I'm on about..some do)

My rugby knowledge aint as good as alot of people's on here, but if this was 'best xv' thread. then i certainly wouldnt have Kleeberger.