Greatest rugby side of the professional era

Roar Pro

By Photon, 7 Oct 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: Brian O'Driscoll, Christian Cullen, Dan Carter, Gary Teichman, International Rugby, Jeff Wilson, John Eales, John Smit, Jonah Lomu, Joost van der Westhuizen, Richie McCaw, Rugby Union, Tim Horan

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The season is all but over, but I came across a site which had chosen the greatest professional side ever so I decided to pick my own team and see what sort of opinions other Roarers might have.

15. Christian Cullen (New Zealand)
The best fullback I’ve ever seen. Scored some super tries and perhaps never kicked as well as every good fullback should. But then, Cullen never had to.

14. Jeff Wilson (New Zealand)
Always made things look really easy out there.

13. Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
This guy is awesome. That try Ireland scored against Argentina in France was O Driscoll at his best, and the sort of stuff I’d pay to see.

12. Tim Horan (Australia)
Won two World Cups and was the type of centre every side wanted to have.

11. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
Simply the most awesome rugby player the professional era has produced.

10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
This fella runs like Larkham and kicks like Johnny. He’s also got a solid defence and is good for a few turnovers. He is the perfect flyhalf, and the first player I would pick if I needed to select a side to play for my life.

9. Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Knew when to make a break, when to kick, and was as solid as a rock in defence.

8. Gary Teichman (South Africa)
I think he was the most complete Eight in the professional era. He could do everything required and was always as cool as a cucumber, no matter what the situation.

7. (openside) Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Undoubtedly the greatest exponent of openside play there has been. George Smith deserves a mention, and maybe Heinrich Brussow will eclipse McCaw in a few years, but until then, the All Black captain is in a class of his own.

6. Richard Hill (England)
The most unsung of all English rugby heroes, but he’d have it no other way. If you didn’t see him much, it was because he was forever at the bottom of the ruck.

5. Martin Johnson (England)
The brooding driving force behind England’s World Cup win. We reckon the moment when he hoisted Bill was the first time he had smiled on a rugby pitch! Now bringing that menace to England’s national team, Johnno takes the captain’s armband in this team as well.

4. John Eales (Australia)
This one will have Saffers everywhere raging. How can we leave out Victor and Bakkies? Because Johnno is meaner than Bakkies, and because Victor was not nicknamed ‘Nobody,’ as Eales was, despite his obvious talents. I felt Eales offered perhaps just a little more grunt, but I’m now running for cover.

3. Carl Hayman (New Zealand)
This one was much easier. Hayman has been peerless at tighthead for some time now. New Zealand still miss him.

2. John Smit (South Africa)
Has now won every honour going in the game except for the Super 14. We know he plays tighthead now, but for a solid anchor in the scrum, an extra dose of leadership and some pinpoint lineout throwing, Smit’s the man. Just edging out Rafa Ibañez.

1. Os du Randt (South Africa)
The backbone of the ‘Bok scrum for so long, won every honour available to him, simply outstanding.

So this is my side.

Let the battle begin!

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The Crowd Says (43) | Page 1 of Comments

Chris said | October 7th 2009 @ 5:57am | Report comment

Well, it’s alright. Here’s my backline anyway (forwards later).
9. Gregan, 10. Mehrtens, 11. Lomu, 12. Giteau, 13. Umaga, 14. Habana, 15. Cullen

Honourable mentions:
9. A. Pichot, Joost.
10. S. Larkham, D, Carter, J. Wilkinson.
Centres: B. O’Driscoll, M. Nonu, S. Mortlock, T. Horan
Wings: R. Caucau, J. Roff, B. Pulse
15. M. Burke, C. Latham, P. Montgomery.

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Knives Out said | October 7th 2009 @ 6:12am | Report comment

1. Califano, 2. Wood, 3. Hayman, 4. Johnson, 5. Eales, 6. Hill, 7. McCaw, 8. Dallaglio,
9. Van der Westhuizen, 10. Wilkinson, 11. Lomu, 12. Horan, 13. O’Driscoll, 14. Robinson, 15. Burke

Honoruable mentions: Tom Smith, Ibanez, Dowd, Vickery, Pelous, Grewcock, Andrews, A.J. Venter, Benazzi, Magne, Wilson, Quinnell, Howley, Galthie, Larkham, Dominguez, Carter, Dominici, Caucaunibuca, Roff, Greenwood, Umaga, Mortlock, Cullen… I could go on.

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Justin said | October 7th 2009 @ 7:17am | Report comment

1. Califano, 2. Wood, 3. Hayman, 4. Johnson, 5. Eales, 6. Finegan, 7. McCaw, 8. Kefu,
9. Van der Westhuizen, 10. Carter, 11. Lomu, 12. Horan, 13. O’Driscoll, 14. Caucaunibuca, 15. Cullen

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JamesB said | October 7th 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment

Sean Fitzpatrick at hooker, Zinzan Brooke at No.8 and Michael Jones at either No.6 or 7. are certainties in any team.

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- Justin said | October 7th 2009 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
  
  They barely played in the pro era…
  
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  - Jerry said | October 7th 2009 @ 9:12pm | Report comment
    
    They only played about 2 years of the pro-era, true. But ask yourself how many matches the AB’s lost in that period…
    
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    - Shahsan said | October 8th 2009 @ 6:54am | Report comment
      
      Yes, and 1-2 years of those guys were better than 15 years of most others, even those named
      
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Vented Relief said | October 7th 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment

Chris Latham for mine at fullback. Socks up or socks down (usually down) the man was a freak. Gee I wish he was still playing for the reds.

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- Shahsan said | October 8th 2009 @ 6:51am | Report comment
  
  Great player to watch but the biggest flat track bully ever. Does great against smaller teams or when the game is over but has never been a big match winner when it really matters. Always shown up in the biggest matches.
  
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SJMartin said | October 7th 2009 @ 11:13am | Report comment

i reckon that John smit doesn’t deserve to be in there becuase he has become in recent years a captain and not much else besides the one or two shining , compared to some other hookers notably Sean fitzpatrick.

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- Vented Relief said | October 7th 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment
  
  Fitzpatrick was hardly around in the professional era. I would go more for Anton Oliver.
  
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Chris Beck said | October 7th 2009 @ 12:36pm | Report comment

I really hope that we don’t get approximately one million posts like we saw in the “O’Neill/league/checkbook” thread recently . . . .

It is alleged in the opening post that Carter “runs like Larkham.” Huh? Nobody runs like Larkham. You could tell it was him from a mile away, by comparison Carter looks like all the rest.

OK, I’ve criticized. In the spirit of positivity, here are my suggestions:

I would put Carter at 12 and Larkham at 10. I can do this because I can truthfully say that I picked up rugby about the time Horan retired, so I don’t remember him. I do remember Cullen, but I’ve always preferred Latham, who could beat you more ways than Cullen could.

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Timmypig said | October 7th 2009 @ 1:45pm | Report comment

Latham – Cullen …. Latham – Cullen …. Latham – Cullen …. hmmmm what a dilemma. Brought different things to the position. In terms of desperate, passionate, determination to succeed, and guts galore, Latham. In terms of astounding speed, brilliant positional play and surprising physical strength, Cullen.

I suspect I’d back Cullen as having been more reliable than Latham, but shoot! what a choice to have to make!

Than again, neither of them could kick like Matt Burke

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- Vented Relief said | October 7th 2009 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
  
  From a spot maybe. But Latham had one hell of a roost on him.
  
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Romey said | October 7th 2009 @ 4:11pm | Report comment

1. Califano, 2. Wood, 3. Hayman, 4. Johnson, 5. Eales, 6. hill, 7. McCaw, 8. Kefu,

9. Van der Westhuizen 10. carter 11. lomu 12. Horan 13. umaga 14. Roff 15. cullen

That would be the team id select, but every position is up for debate.

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Hoy said | October 7th 2009 @ 4:52pm | Report comment

I am going to pick some left fielders here. Not so sure about greatest side ever, but more my favourite side ever.

15. I would have to go Cullen over anyone as well, because that bloke could go. He was a pure sports car in 5th.
14. Tough one. So many good wingers. Wilson, Roff, Tune, Dominici, Cohen… Wilson was a try sneak. I hated him so. But I will pick Rupeni Cau Cau. Love this bloke with ball in hand.
13. Tana Umaga. Great player. Lost none of his impact moving from the wing as he aged. Beats O’Driscoll I think.
12. Horan is without a doubt the greastest 12/player I have ever seen in the professional era. End of story (to me). I am sorry Chris, but Giteau is not a shade on him, and doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence (I am sorry I just did).
11. Lomu. I think I have a great back three. Lots of pace, and a fair bit of impact on impact as well.
10. Johnny, Carter or Larkham? Johnny circa 2003 was a point scoring wizard, however I don’t think he was as great at distributing ball to his backs as the other two, and I have backs that I want to get the ball with space. Larkham or Carter… So tough. Carter has to get it, but only by the thinnest of thin paper thin margins. He is the complete package.
9. Joost. He was a better half than Gregan and Marshall, better than Pichot. He was big, aggressive, great pass, great runner.
8. Would love to pick Zinzan, but I don’t think he was professional long enough. That leaves me with few choices. Kefu, Teichman? Delaglio? I again pick someone not really conventional, but definitely never shys away from contact. Caveman Chabal. I love this bloke. I don’t think he has the impact from the row that he does at 8.
7. McCaw. Can’t touch this bloke over the last 5-6 years.
6. Jerry Collins. Pretty fearsome back three. Lots of impact from my runners, with McCaw to scavange.
5. Eales. Nobody is perfect. So it has to be Eales.
4. Johnson. Tough as nails, great leader, so I would probably make him captain, although my team contains maybe 10 captains at some stage or other.
3. Front row gets a bit tough. I don’t know much of the fine art of front row scrummaging, but I think these three are pretty good. Carl Hayman. Good around the paddock, great scrummager.
2. Keith Woods. Mobile, angry looking, and skillful like no hooker should ever be. Almost a third loosie.
1. Jason Leonard. You don’t play for so long if you are no good, and he was the cornerstone of a pretty good English forward pack.

So there is my FAVOURITE professional era team. Maybe not the best, but certainly a bit of flair there. I think my team has some points it in.

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- Rin said | October 7th 2009 @ 7:19pm | Report comment
  
  “Keith Woods. Mobile, angry looking, and skillful like no hooker should ever be. Almost a third loosie” add couldnt throw for shit and was strong in the scrum, not good for a hooker, maybe should fo been a loosie
  
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