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All-time Wallabies team picked on caps alone

The Wallabies need to remember their proud, winning history. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
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8th July, 2014
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In an idle moment over the weekend, my somewhat atrophied and lethargic brain matter got to pondering the number of Wallabies caps that have been won by players who won’t go down in history as names to remember.

As the fixation didn’t pass quickly, I figured I’d find out just how good a team would be for the Wallabies if you picked solely on number of caps won.

Ground rules:
1) Start with George Gregan and fill out a 15-man team using the first come best served approach.

2) Players who covered many positions over their career will be consdered for their favoured position, which will be determined on percentage of games they played in that position.

Loosehead prop: Benn Robinson – 66 caps, 25th on all-time list
Hooker: Stephen Moore – 92 caps, 8th
Tighthead prop: Al Baxter – 69 caps, 21st
Lock: Nathan Sharpe – 116 caps, 2nd
Lock: John Eales – 86 caps, 9th
Blindside flanker: Rocky Elsom – 75 caps, 17th
Openside flanker: George Smith – 111 caps, 3rd
Number 8: Toutai Kefu – 60 caps, 31st

Halfback: George Gregan – 139 caps, 1st
Flyhalf: Stephen Larkham – 102 caps, 4th
Wing: David Campese – 101 caps, 5th
Inside centre: Tim Horan – 80 caps, 12th
Outside centre: Adam Ashley-Cooper – 94 caps, 6th
Wing: Joe Roff – 86 caps, 10th
Fullback: Matt Burke – 81 caps, 11th

Unsurprisingly, it looks to be a pretty formidable side, especially once you start looking into the bigger numbers towards the back of the park. If you viewed it with an eye to history you might think that some of the fellas up front don’t deserve the position, but the sheer number of games played in the current era are likely the reason for that fact.

For the 15 picked there are a total of 1358 caps, or an average of 90 caps per player.

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The lowest number of caps was 60, for Kefu, and highest is obviously Gregan’s 139.

Of the top 31 Wallabies by caps won 15 are forwards and 16 are backs.

The highest number of caps to not make the side was Matt Giteau with 92.

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