The strongest and fastest on the same rugby team?
Roar Pro
By Sherry, 10 Jul 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Martin Johnson, Rugby Union, wallabies
A friend suggested a fun topic for The Roar: pick two guys who played on the same Test team, one of whom was extremely strong and the other extremely fast.
For example, Martin Johnson and Rory Underwood played on the same Test team, and Johnno sure was strong and Rory was a rocket.
I think it’s an interesting challenge.
There are a whole raft of possible combinations of the quick and the strong, and the following occurred to me:
* For France, Olivier Merle and Philippe Bernat-Salle.
Olivier was a giant lumberjack, so big he looked ridiculous in rugby shorts. Bernat-Salle was a grass-scorcher who tortured the All Blacks and the Wallabies, among others.
* Staying with France, Robert Paparemborde and Patrick Esteve.
Paparemborde, the prop, had biceps the size of his thighs, and Esteve, playing outside of the great Sella, would leave everybody in his dust.
* For the Boks, the young Os du Randt and Chester Williams.
* For the Scots, Iain Milne and Roger Baird.
So let’s have your personal choice for these four countries, and your choice for Ireland, Wales, the All Blacks and the Wallabies.
And remember, your players have to have played on the same team.
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby Union articles
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (198)
- Will South African rugby force a Super 21 by 2018? (172)
- Brumbies 2012: New coach, new players, new attitude (128)
- Dan Parks and the unsolved questions of expat rugby (61)
- Pocock set to be named new Force skipper (56)
- Can the ‘Tahs win the battle after losing the Waugh? (51)
- What does the future hold for the Six Nations (50)
- Chiefs continue to wait for SBW (3)
- Nathan Sharpe to retire at end of 2012 (3)
- Queensland ready for Super challenge (2)
- Australian teams at Super disadvantage (51)
- Foley excited about Samoan rugby challenge
- Force rugby coach praises his pack (2)
- The real story of how John O’Neill turned Manchester City down (62)
- Wales show Southern Hemisphere how to play running rugby (26)
- What opening matches of Six Nations taught us (18)
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (201)
- Clinical Chiefs cost rusty Rebels in Corio (9)
- Six Nations shows rugby is a parochial game at heart (5)
- Goose’s Super Rugby up-and-comer XV for 2012 (29)
- What does the future hold for the Six Nations (50)
- Explore:
- Martin Johnson, Rugby Union, wallabies
Knives Out said | July 10th 2009 @ 4:47am | Report comment
England:
Andrew Sheridan and Ugo Monye.
pothale said | July 10th 2009 @ 5:24am | Report comment
Ireland: a man totally unsuited to his era of 1994.
Simon ‘mad trout up a burn’ Geoghegan and Mick ‘Gaillimh’ Galwey.
If ever there was a mismatch in a silky speedster compared to an ornery, niggly plodding forward, this was it. Watching Geoghegan at Twickenham win the match for Ireland was a special pleasure. Galwey might have got over the 22 by the time Geogeghan crossed the try-line.
Knives Out said | July 10th 2009 @ 5:36am | Report comment
Nick Popplewell might not have been too far off.
pothale said | July 10th 2009 @ 6:15am | Report comment
Nah – Poppy was a veritable Usain Bolt compared to Gaillimh.
Knives Out said | July 10th 2009 @ 6:41am | Report comment
I meant to imply that Popplewell might not have been too far off Geoghan. I probably should have made that clearer.
craigb said | July 10th 2009 @ 8:09am | Report comment
NZ: Lomu and errr Lomu
Jameswm said | July 10th 2009 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Bakkies Botha and Bryan Habana
Cliffy Palu and Lachie Turner
Carl Hayman and Sitiveni Sivivatu
Bring Back Rucking said | July 10th 2009 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Topo and Campo
Chris Beck said | July 10th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
USA. RWC 2007.
Takudzwa Ngwenya (the guy that burned Habana).
Mike MacDonald (#1 on the same lineup that day).
Dublin Dave said | July 10th 2009 @ 11:13am | Report comment
For Ireland I would go with a more recent combination of Bull Hayes as the strongman and Denis Hickie as the speed merchant. Irish rugby players are not famed for their raw pace but Hickie had gas to burn. Probably the fastest Irish international ever.
Hayes is a man mountain who came late to rugby and started off as a lock before being converted into a tight head. Many would say his scrummaging is not of the highest order but his physical presence around the park and his work in the lineout make him a legend. It was noticeable, to me anyway, that when he came on as a replacement for the Lions in the third test, Paul O’Connell seemed to be geting an extra yard in height in the lineout. Probably because Hayes was grabbing his shorts and flinging him into the air like a piece of confetti.
O’Connell must have a bollox as tough as a jockey’s after that.
Another speed merchant who made a big impression on me was France’s Patrick Lagisquet, the Bayonne Express. He could certainly burn off the grass when he moved. One of his team mates was a granite jawed blind side called Marc Cecillion who as as strong as an ox and hard as nails. You didn’t mess with him. Especially if you were married to him. He is currently in jail having shot dead Madame Cecillon following a row at a party a few years ago.
If you want to see how Lagisquet could move have a look at this clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gN_PlBY1kE
Just listen to the roar of the crowd when he picks up the ball and starts running into space. I was at that match all of 21 years ago and I can still remember the anticipation. He popped up again later in the move to give the scoring pass. It was the start of the worst stuffing I have ever seen an Irish side take. And at my age, I’ve seen a few.