Favourite Player XV

I've just been thinking about the type of players I would like my club to sign for next season (wasn't sure if this should go in International or Club, but put it here). It led me on to think about my favourite XV of players - different from a World XV, but instead a team made up of players who you just love to watch play Rugby, regardless of their perceived weaknesses. I would be interested in seeing who else is a fan favourite. For the purposes of this (and to make it a bit more interesting) I have excluded all players from my club (London Irish):

1. Sona Taumalolo
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Martin Castrogiovanni
4. Mamuka Gorgodze
5. Damien Welch
6. Willem Alberts
7. Steffon Armitage
8. Sergio Parisse

9. Morgan Parra
10. Bernard Foley
11. Napoloni Nalaga
12. Wesley Fofana
13. Rene Ranger
14. Charles Piutau
15. Jesse Mogg

Subs: Augustin Creevy, Steve Kitshoff, Ben Tameifuna, Lappies Labuschagne, Sione Kalamafoni, Ruan Pienaar, Willie le Roux, Alpati Leuia

I realise this is probably quite subjective, so doesn't make for the best discussion, but I was bored! 

I share some of your choices actually, but i'd go...

Corbs-BDP-Jones
Whitelock-Etzebeth
Alberts-Parisse-Louw

Parra-Cruden
Smith
SBW
Smith
Le Roux
Dagg

Fairly out there wide ranging group of players I have to admit, almost like its based on watching every club match in the world and no internationals.

Healy-Szarzewski-A Jones
   DOC-POC
Dusautoir-Parisse-Kleeberger

Parra-James
Rougerie-Giteau
Bergamasco-Southwell-S Lamont

Pack - Alex Corbisiero, Bismarck Du Plessis, Adam Jones, Bakkies Botha, James Horwill, Jean Deysel, Deon Fourie, Fotu Auelua.

Backs - Piet van Zyl, Beauden Barrett, Sergeal Petersen, Matt Scott, Manu Tuilagi, Simon Zebo, Ben Foden.

Taylorman wrote:Fairly out there wide ranging group of players I have to admit, almost like its based on watching every club match in the world and no internationals.

I tend to prefer club rugby to international rugby so that is probably the reason for the bias in my picks!

A team of my favorites...as you can probably tell i love players who can dish it out...tough as nails...including the backs...but a bit of pace in there aswell...

1 Sona Taumalolo
2 Keith Wood
3 Julian White
4 Norm Hadley
5 Martin Johnson
6 Tim Rodber
7 Pat lam
8 Buck Shelford

9 Gary Armstrong
10 Waisele Serevi (Yeah i know he was rubbish at 15's)
11 Caucau
12 Scott Gibbs
13 Brian Lima
14 Inga Tuigamala
15 Cullen

In Sa we don't have very many overseas players playing for our Franchises so my list is made up of SA players only.

Os du Randt
Bismarck du Plessis
Adrian Garvey
Eben Etzebeth
Kobus wise
Rassie Erasmus
Juan Smith
Joe van Niekerk
Garth Wright
Gerald bosch
Hennie le Roux
Jacques Fourie
Pieter Hendricks
Stefan Terblanche
Tinus Delport.

Not our best players, but some of my favourite SA players.

Kobus Weise - certainly would be on my all-time list, if anything for the military haircut he used to employ so that he would be more streamlined ... to go with his 20st frame (thats then not now!!!!).

 

Streamlined?

I don't think he was ever streamlined, not even as a baby.

I think that haircut took him from 17.567 seconds over 100 meters to 17.554 seconds over the hundred meters, but only because he put more effort in.  

if all time

Richard Loe
Steve Thompson
Matt Dunning
Kobus Weise
Danny Grewcock
Schalk Burger
Rob Wainwright
Jason White
George Gregan
Carlos Spencer
Rupeni Caucau
Mike Catt
Alan Tait
Jason Robinson
Percy Montegomery

Fa...

How could i forget about jason Robinson...one of my all time favorite players ever....pure entertainment...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Fa...

How could i forget about jason Robinson...one of my all time favorite players ever....pure entertainment...

The best rugby player of all time? Won Super League Grand Finals, stunning for GB in that time. Won the RWC and RWC finalist etc.. 5 Lions caps..

Liam Williams
Sean Lamont
Jonathan Davies
Scott Williams
George North
Rhys Priestland
Mike Phillips

Ben Morgan
Josh Navidi
Aaron Shingler
Richie Gray
Andrew Coombs
Samson Lee
Ken Owens
Alex Corbisero

I know there are a load of Turks and Taffs in there, but I think that would be a team that could run the ball from anywhere, whilst not being too underpowered in the pack.

Chjw131 wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Fa...

How could i forget about jason Robinson...one of my all time favorite players ever....pure entertainment...

The best rugby player of all time? Won Super League Grand Finals, stunning for GB in that time. Won the RWC and RWC finalist etc.. 5 Lions caps..

Favourite memory of him came during his time in league... especially the early days when Wigan were conquering all and those outside of the M62 would discover RL on Challenge Cup day.... anyhow the way the little guy used to hump the ground when pinned was always hilarious... no wonder he got the nickname billy whizz.

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Carl Hayman
4. Brad Thorn
5. Bakkies Botha
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Schalk Burger
8. Sebastian Chabal
9. Mike Phillips
10. Dan Carter
11. George North
12. Wesley Fofana
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Lee Byrne

1. Kees Meuws
2. Keith Wood
3. Os du Randt
4. Nathan Hines
5. Victor Matfield
6. Jerry Collins
7. Olivier Magne
8. Schalk Burger
9. Graeme Bachop
10. Andrew Merthens
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Walter Little
13. Jacques Fourie
14. Emile Ntmack
15. Gavin Hastings

Against

1. Jason Leonard
2. Sean Fitzpatrick
3. Matt Dunning
4. Brad Thorn
5. Colin Meads
6. John Jeffrey
7. Juan Smith
8. Kieran Read
9. George Gregan
10. Stephen Larkham
12. Tim Horan
13. Jason Little
14. Josh Lewsey
15. Chris Latham

Bill McLaren commenting and can't think of a favourite ref which is a sad reflection on the impossible task they have. Nigel Owens for his last performance will have to do.

BEAST, Brits, Franks
Etzebeth, Richie Gray
Alberts, Chabal, Wood

Youngs
king Carlos
Fofana
Tuilagi
Savea
Gear
Medard

kia,

Old Derek Bevan or Clive Norling both ruled the field but let the game flow as much as possible so there's a your ref sorted lol

Didn't care for Derek's Hitler tache so will go for Norling. You got the profile I want though bedfordwelsh!

I remember Norling reffing once and in his bestest Welsh accent to Chilcott he said 'British Lion or nooooo British Lion you do that again and you're off'

My overseas team.

Healy
Moore
Hayman
Richie Gray
Martin Johnson
Jerry collins
McCaw
Read
Marshall
Michalack
Horan
Little
Gear
Roff
Latham

BB -  is that Brian Moore or Stephen Moore???

Surely the former, Bismarck DP is Brian Moore 2.0.

Stephen

disappointed!

Sorry mate.  

Unless you're a particular scrum and lineout nerd, this thread will probably produce packs who are fast and big ball carriers. As such:

1. Vunipola
2. Youngs
3. J Johnston
4. Gray/Etzebeth
5. AWJ
6. Wood
7. Warburton (Robshaw if he didn't play for my club)
8. Reed

9. Genia
10. Carter
11. Habana
12. Fofana
13. Tuilagi
14. North
15. Dagg

That backline I think would be immense - all pace and power.

My attacking 15 goes like this:

Healy-Wood-jenkins
benazzi-etzebeth
magne-brooke-michael jones
g edwards-spencer
sella-bod
lomu-cullen-robinson

Might slip a couple tries but dam it woud be entertaining!

At the moment:

1.Healy
2.Youngs or Du Plessis
3.Jones
4.Gray
5.POC
6.Lobbe - Ferris if he were by some miracle fit!
7.Hooper or Tipuric - Love a 7 who can beat a centre on the outside!
8.Read

9.Fotuali'i
10.Carter

11.Jane
12.Fofana - see below
13.Smith - pure class
14.Bowe
15.Dagg

Of all time - limited by those who I've seen a lot of!

1.Leonard
2.Wood
3.Vickery
4.Johnson
5.Eales
6.Hill
7.Jones
8.Collins

9.Marshall
10.Spencer

11.Rocokoco
12.Lima
13.O'Driscoll
14.Robinson
15.Lewsey

Ever:

Lewsey
Robinson
C Smith
Greenwood
CauCau
Evans
Pichot
Dallaglio
McCaw
Hill
Jack
Shaw
Hayman
Flannery
Vickery

Hard to leave out Castagneide

Now:

Brown
O'Connor
C Smith
Fofana
Wade
Cruden (would have been Nev a season ago...)
Care
Read
McCaw
Robshaw
Etzebeth
Gorgodze
Tameifuna
BDP
Corbs

Leonard
Wood
Probyn
Bayfield
Dooley
Skinner
Kronfeld
Teague

Dawson
Cipriani
Lomu
Nonu
Sella
Wade
Foden

PS I know it's a hell of a mish-mash!!

15 Cullen
14 Lomu
13 BOD
12 Horan
11 Robinson
10 David Humphreys ( I know, but you said favourite!)
9 Joost Van Der Westhuizen
 
8 Zinzan Brooke
7 Michael Jones
6 Ferris
5 Johnson
4 Eales
3 Peter Clohessy
2 Keith Wood
1 David Sole (1990:D )
 
Unbeatable team.
 
Watched them all playing ........... on the telly!

how about

Healy, Mears, Stevens, Vickermann, Jack, Haskell, Back, Watson, Phillips, Cipriani, Earls, Umaga, O'Driscoll, Rathbone, Kirchner.

The Umaga - O'Driscoll partnership is one I would saviour.

fa0019 wrote:
The Umaga - O'Driscoll partnership is one I would saviour.

 

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Eben Etzebeth
6. Steven Luatua
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Kieran Reid
9. Will Genia
10. Aaron Cruden
11. George North
12. Wesley Fofana
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Ben Smith
15. Israel Dagg

16. Schalk Brits
17. Dan Cole
18. Richie McCaw
19. Sam Whitelock
20. Felipe Contempomi
21. Aaron Smith
22. James Hook

Interesting one, player playing currently i would go for:

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Adriann Strauss
3. Adam Jones
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Paul O'Conell
6. Willem Alberts
7. Mamuka Gorgodze
8. Nick Williams

9. Ruan Pienar
10. Morne Steyn
11. Cory Jane
12. Wesley Fofana
13. Mathiau Bastaradeu
14. Chris Ashton but seriously Sitiveni Sivivatu
15. Liam Williams

1. Victor Ubugo
2. Keith Wood
3. Phil Vickery
4. Danny Grewcock
5. Paul O'Connoll
6. Sebastian Chabal
7. Lewis Moody
8. Big LOL
9. Gus Pichot
10. Johnny Wilkinson
11. Lomu
12. Umaga
13. BOD
14. Jason Robinson
15. Dougie Howlett

All these boys at their peak were hands down my favourite guys to take to the field

Current Players

1 Gethin Jenkins
2. Adrian Strauss
3. Owen Franks
4. Sam Whitelock
5. James Horwill
6. Theirry Dusautoir
7. Richie Mccaw
8. Kieran Reid
9. Will Genia
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Bryan Habana
12. Wesley Fofana
13. Conrad Smith
14. Corey Jane
15. Israel Dagg

vs Favourite ever ABs (that I saw a lot of)
1 Kees Meeuws
2 Sean Fitzpatrick
3 Olo Brown
4 Ian Jones
5 Chris Jack
6 Jerry Collins
7 Michael Jones
8 Zinzan Brook
9 Dave Loveridge
10 Andrew Merthens
11 Inga Tuigamala
12 Tana Umaga (cheating a bit putting him at 12)
13 Frank Bunce
14 Jeff Wilson
15 Christian Cullen

vs favourite rest of the world
1 Os Durant
2 Phil Kearns
3 Jason Leonard
4 John Eales
5 Martin Johnson
6 Olivier Magne
7 George Smith
8 Lawrence Dalaglio
9 Joost Van Der Westhuizen
10 Michael Lynah
11 David Campese
12 Jeremy Guscott
13 Stirling Morlock
14 Jason Robinson
15 Andy Irvine

Among the favourite ever:

1) Fran Cotton 2) Hika Reid 3) Robert Paparemborde 4) Gordon Brown 5) Moss Keane 6) Jean-Pierre Rives 7) Roger Spurrell 8) Willie Duggan 9) Gareth Edwards 10) Tony Ward 11) Bernie Fraser 12) Danie Gerber 13) Chris Wardlow 14) David Duckham 15) Serge Blanco.

A lot of good drinkers, a few good smokers too, the odd nutter, but loved watching them all play. Missed out so many; O'Driscoll (until the day he packs it in) and North aside, can't say that there are too many out there that thrill me at the moment. Loads that I admire, but that isn't quite the same thing.

|Kelly Brown at 8. Niko Matowalo at 9

Being a little centre myself, I always enjoyed watching Simon Shaw play. Certainly one of my favourite players. Just immense

Soane Tonga'uiha
Simon Shaw
Sonny Bill Williams

1 Ayerza
2 Bruno
3 Julian White
4 Johno
5 Shaw
6 Burger
7 Back
8 Read
9 Healey
10 Wilko
11 Lomu
12 Rabeni
13 Tuilagi
14 Tuilagi
15 Dagg

Rabeni, Tuilagis and Lomu. Jeez, bones would be crushed!

All time

15 Cullen
14 Wilson
13 BOD
12 Gibbs
11 Geoghegan
10 ROG
9 Marshall
8 Brooke
7 Wallace
6 Ferris
5 O'Connell
4 Thorn
3 Hayes
2 Wood
1 Smith

Current

15 Payne
14 Bowe
13 BOD
12 Roberts
11 North
10 Sexton
9 Pienaar
8 Reid
7 McCaw
6 O'Brien (Ferris)
5 O'Connell
4 Etzebeth
3 Afoa
2 Best
1 Healy

15. Christian Cullen - One of the most exciting backs ever
14. Geoghegan - One of the most exciting backs ever
13. Drico - One of the most exciting backs ever
12. Gibbs - Changed the game re centre play
11. Lomu - Chaged the game re everything
10. Contepomi - Ledgend.
9. Van der Weisthuisen - Possibly the most exciting player of all time.
8. Dallaglio - Hated when he played v Ireland. Immense talent.
7. Philip Matthews - Irish legend and my first ever favorite player.
6. Stephen Ferris - One of the best Irish backrow players of all time.
5. POC - 2nd best lock to ever put on the green jersey.
4. John Eales (Captain) - One of the greatest captains ever. Probably the greatest.
3. Smit - Great captain and great character for the game.
2. Wood - Raging potato
1. Healy - Best conditioning for a prop ever. The guy has a six pack FFS. Can do nearly anything.

Subs:
SOB, Fofana, Rougerie, Dominguez, Hickey, Skinstad, Clohessy, Gregan, Matt Rodgers, Stringer.

1 Jason Leonard/Tommy Smith
2 Keith Wood/Brian Moore
3 Julian White/Castrogiovani
4 Doddy Wier
5 Simon Shaw
6 Richard Hill
7 Neil Back
8 Zinzan Brooke

9 M.Dawson
10 Merhtens
11 Caucau
12 Will Greenwood
13 BOD
14 Inga Tuigamala
15 Jason Robinson

I loved that Samoa team that beat Australia in the 2011 WC warm up match. - There were some massive hits (very entertaining match)

15 Paul Williams, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 George Pisi, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 George Stowers, 7 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 6 Taisina Tuifu'a, 5 Daniel Leo, 4 Kane Thompson, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (c), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Census Johnston, 18 Filipo Lavea Levi, 19 Manaia Salavea, 20 Brenton Helleur, 21 Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu, 22 James So'oialo.

NOt sure, will have to think on it.

But wouldn't it be cool to have Jamie Cudmore and Danny Grewcock as the locks?

No one has picked Will Carling or Rob Andrew in their team ?

My fave all time ( lots of Ab's here and I have excluded all welsh players as i will be biased
Olo Brown
Sean Fitzpatrick
Jason leonard
Ian Jones
Gary Whetton
Michael Jones
jerome kaino
Zinzan
Graham Bachop ( best pass I have ever seen)
Mark Ella
Jonah Lomu
Phillipe Sella
Smokin Joe Stanley
Campese
Christian Cullen

I could probably name three in each position across 4-5 decades, so I'll sleep on it for now and let you know. Some cracking picks so far though.