Greatest rugby side of the professional era
Roar Guru By Photon, 7 Oct 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
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- 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!
Recommend this story.
October 7th 2009 @ 5:44pm
OldManEmu said | October 7th 2009 @ 5:44pm | Report comment
Love these threads.
Confining to pro era is very sensible.
I am approaching this selection on the “mad moment” principle. What was any given player capable of in a mad moment – who had the best A game. For example, McCaw has excelled for five years or so now with sheer consistency but I argue that others have a better game in them.
Eales/Johnson is the uncontroversial Locks pairing as is Keith Wood at hooker – who do we make Captain out of these three. Toss a coin. Maybe Eales so he could step up at the death and elect tot ake the penalty shot into the wind from 40 out.
A terrible SH bias has pervaded the posts.
1. Du Randt
2. Wood
3. Leonard
4. Eales
5. Johnson
6. Bennazi
7. Magne
8. Dan Lyle
9. Pichot
10. Wilkinson
11. Joe Roff
12. Horan
13.Brian Lima
14. Lomu
15. Andre Joubert
Federico Mendez is under consideration at hooker – it takes some bottle to play international front row before you are twenty.
A few selections are purely based on the “mad moment” principle.
Abdel Benazzi – I once saw this bloke play for the Warringah Green Rats in the Sydney Club competition in the mid nineties against Sydney Uni. He absolutely tore the game apart, rucking witha ferocity of a lunatic, running the ball like a bull, tackling anything that moved, jumping in the lineouts, fighting – absolutely incredible. And then the bastard drank schooners in the clubhouse afterwards like they were going out of style.
Joe Roff – his football against the Lions in 2001 was sublime. Some of the tries he scored in Super Rugby we unearthly. Played Rugby in the pro era as though he were an amateur. His A game was A Plus and better than any other.
Andre Joubert – I saw Joubert score a try for Natal against NSW at the SFS in maybe 96 or 97 in literally an end to end effort where he beat the whole team. When he kicked the ball there was a beautiful “smack” as the ball left his boot, and he moved with such grace. And who can forget the heroics of his playing in the RWC 95 Final with a broken hand.
Dan Lyle – I would have loved to see what this USA born and bred Rugby athlete would have produced had he played for one of the stronger international teams. Some of his games at 1999 RWC were incredible, and there he was agan at RWC 03 doing it again. I had a stint in the US and played against Lyle – he was as hard a man as you could confront and yet so quick on his feet and explosive.
Brian Lima – what self respecting blind winger would run the outside line off the five eighth with the Chiropractor waiting in the channel?
Magne – I think he had a better best game in him than the so called best McCaw.
October 7th 2009 @ 6:53pm
Hoy said | October 7th 2009 @ 6:53pm | Report comment
Ahhh…. Joubert. Who can forget his porn moustache?
October 7th 2009 @ 9:33pm
van der Merwe said | October 7th 2009 @ 9:33pm | Report comment
The “Rolls-Royce” was (and still is) helluva overrated. Montgomery completely eclipsed him.
October 8th 2009 @ 9:49am
Hammer said | October 8th 2009 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Percy – WTF …. that’s the best laugh i’ve had for a very long time
October 8th 2009 @ 7:40pm
van der Merwe said | October 8th 2009 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
Stifle your amusement and bear in mind I’m strictly talking about South African fullbacks.
October 7th 2009 @ 8:25pm
Knives Out said | October 7th 2009 @ 8:25pm | Report comment
Mendez. Good call.
Lyle was a very good player too.
My abiding memory of Magne is the 99 SF against NZ. His battle against Kronfield was reminiscent of Ali v Frazier II, and Kronfield was Frazier. An astonishing player. He was incredibly brave too.
October 7th 2009 @ 6:24pm
Rin said | October 7th 2009 @ 6:24pm | Report comment
Here we go considering only player post professional era (i.e. 1995 World Cup onwards):
1.Os Du randt – unopposed Noriega for Australia/Argentina was pretty good as well.
2. Ibanez – Fitzpatrick gets a mention
3. Hayman – Smit gets a mention
4. Matfield – Johnson was a good captain, but Matfield is best lineout proponent rugby has ever seen.
5. Eales – (Captain) – Benazzi gets a mention here
6. Jerry Collins – the best hard runner fo the ballperfect fit with McCaw.
7. McCaw – unopposed
8.Teichman – best allround 8. Kefu gets a mention but slow by todays standards. Zinzan and Dalligio as backup
9. Du Preez – Joost Vd W gets a mention and Gregan but is a category that is owned by thel Safa’s
10. Carter – Gits and Wilkinson also get a mention.
11. Lomu – Also Howlett/Dominici get a mention
12. Horan – Tindal was briliant ala 2003 world cup
13. Umaga – Jean De Villiers/ Mauger/Greenwood all noteworthy
14. Habana – All round winger could defend as good as he attacks. Other such as Caucau are defensive liabilities
15. Latham – Spark something from nothing,
October 8th 2009 @ 7:35pm
JustinB said | October 8th 2009 @ 7:35pm | Report comment
Good team. Agree with choosing Matfield over Johnson. Johnson was great, but like you say no-one has ever mastered the lineout like Matfield has. Not so sure about Jerry Collins though.
October 8th 2009 @ 11:28pm
Knives Out said | October 8th 2009 @ 11:28pm | Report comment
Johnson was a 4. Matfield and Eales are 5s. Two 5s affects the composition of the scrum. Further, I never saw Johnson have a bad game, whereas I have seen Matfield made to look completely redundant on the rugby field. That’s my personal take.
October 8th 2009 @ 4:39am
Photon said | October 8th 2009 @ 4:39am | Report comment
Ali v Fraser, jeepers Knives you must be 60
October 8th 2009 @ 4:47am
Knives Out said | October 8th 2009 @ 4:47am | Report comment
Or, conversely, a boxing fan perhaps, Photon?
October 8th 2009 @ 6:20am
Knives Out said | October 8th 2009 @ 6:20am | Report comment
Are you not a fan of fistiola, Photon?
October 8th 2009 @ 12:18pm
Jameswm said | October 8th 2009 @ 12:18pm | Report comment
I agree with hammer – Percy in the team? He was considered a joke in Australia – soft and bumbling. We even had the “Percy awards” named in his honour for the best stuff-up each week.
And I’m surprised no one mentioned Fourie du Preez at half back.
October 8th 2009 @ 4:02pm
Romey said | October 8th 2009 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
after some thought i have revised my team.
1. al baxter 2.a.hore 3. m.dunning 4. j.horwill 5. i ross 6. p.waugh 7. kaino 8. soialo 9. gregan 10. kurtley beale 11. w.sailer 12. r. cross 13. tahu 14. matt rogers 15. o conner or percy
captain: al baxter
…..
ok so its not the greatest team ever …but this team of jokers sure would make you laugh!
October 8th 2009 @ 7:36pm
Sylvester said | October 8th 2009 @ 7:36pm | Report comment
This montage should help put to bed the fullback debate I reckon. See no.18 especially.
Also, helps the case for Jeff Wilson if you pay close attention.
October 9th 2009 @ 9:12am
OldManEmu said | October 9th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
He could move couldn’t he? Wonderful to reflect on the great great players. Cullen was at his peak a super player BUT I would rate Joubert’s A game as slightly better than Cullen’s A game.
October 9th 2009 @ 9:43am
Justin said | October 9th 2009 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Freak…pace was amazing and he could hold it for 100m. Could time his run to perfection to hit the line at real pace and he had such underrated power, he busted a lot of tackles.
October 9th 2009 @ 10:24am
Hoy said | October 9th 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
Loved the one with ZinZan pointing for him to run back under, and he just kept going outside Campo.
Also, the Saffa trying to trip him around 2:15 in.
The strength of Cullen when scoring at 4:05 and the Saffa has hold of him, and he just threw his body over.
Massive fan of Cullen.
October 8th 2009 @ 8:07pm
mick h said | October 8th 2009 @ 8:07pm | Report comment
Percy may have looked a bit soft but he played a lot of test footy in a world class team.
It’s unwise to knock a champion.
Jason Leonard deserves the 3 spot. 119 tests. I don’t think any prop will beat that personally. For longevity alone he deserves a mention.
Zinzan at 8, Matty Burke at 15 (looked a bit pretty too I might add.)
October 8th 2009 @ 8:14pm
mick h said | October 8th 2009 @ 8:14pm | Report comment
I will correct myself before I get hammered. I realise Leonard was a loose head.
No. 1 spot for him.
October 9th 2009 @ 12:11am
Dublin Dave said | October 9th 2009 @ 12:11am | Report comment
I’m shocked that a “Best XV” thread has been up for two days and still no sign of Sheek. Has swine flu made its way to Australia? Is the boy laid low? I think we should be told.
October 9th 2009 @ 10:34am
Romey said | October 9th 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
christian cullen will go down as my fave player of all time – and IMO the best attacking back ive ever seen. His pace, acceleration, timing, side steps, lines he ran, support play , line busting and attacking nous is simply superb.
we (nz) sure could have used him in the 03 world cup…..
October 9th 2009 @ 2:10pm
mick h said | October 9th 2009 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
ok fair enough, might be my green and gold eyes suggesting Burke. Cullen was awesome.
October 9th 2009 @ 7:33pm
Sylvester said | October 9th 2009 @ 7:33pm | Report comment
For me, Cullen was one of those players who you’d turn up to watch no matter who else was playing.
The stats say it all:
46 tries in 58 tests (including a record 16 in the 3N).
56 tries for the Hurricanes in 85 games (Super Rugby record at the time, since surpassed by Roff and Howlett)