The 2008 Tri-Nations continued a tradition dating back several decades – namely that of each country trying to field some huge men in the second row to power up the scrum and try to dominate the lineout.
Early on, we saw Boks stalwarts Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha briefly continue their partnership for South Africa. Not only are Botha and Matfield an ideal combination skills-wise, they are also seriously big men. Matfield is 2.01 metres tall (6’7” plus in the old measure) and 110kg; and Botha slightly taller and heavier at 2.02m (6’8”) and 118kg.
The All Blacks put their trust in Ali Williams and Brad Thorn, with Anthony Boric getting a start during Thorn’s suspension. Williams is a similar height to the Boks pair at 2.02m and shades Matfield on the scales at 112kg. Former Brisbane Broncos and now All Black second row Brad Thorn is short by comparison, coming in at a mere 1.95m (6’5”) and 115kg. The newcomer Boric is right on 2.00m (6’6” plus) and laces up the gloves at an athletic 110 kilos.
Looking at figures like that, many feared the Wallabies chances, however they packed some pretty serious beef of their own at various times in Nathan Sharpe (2.00m/6’7” and 115kg) and newcomer James Horwill (2.00m/6’7” and 117kg), with South African-born Dan Vickerman (2.04/6’9” and 117kg) also in the picture.
To put all this height and weight in perspective, the total of any two second-row partnerships is about 450kg which is roughly the weight of a large yearling bull, or just under half a tonne. Laid end to end, any random scrumfull of these second-rowers would be roughly the same length as the world’s largest saltwater crocodile (measured at 8.6 metres, shot in Queensland in 1957) and some may argue, about as much fun to run into on a dark night.
So how do these guys rate alongside other sportsmen for sheer size? Grant Hackett, the Australian swimming champion is not far off in the height stakes, measuring up at 1.97m, which is roughly the same height as former Wallaby second-rower John Welborn and slightly taller than longtime Springbok lock Johann Ackermann.
Tennis champ and tall dude Goran Ivanisevic is approaching second-row height at 1.93m or 6’4”, but his whippy tennis figure of only 81kg is built for speed and endurance, not impact. He’s about one Olsen twin short of rugby weight.
In rugby league, there were few tall and broad enough to compare with Roosters and NSW forward Willie Mason. In rugby union however, Mason is nothing to write home about, coming in at a mere 1.95m (6’5”) and 114kg. Of course, just try telling him that next time he’s running onto a short pass 10 metres out from your line. All Black wannabe Sonny Bill Williams is the baby of this group at a tiny 1.91m (6’3”) and 108kg.
Rowing and rugby share some physical assets, and plenty of rugby second-rowers were also boat rowers in school days. Nathan Sharpe is a good example, rowing in the first VIII at The Southport School.
The leverage equation in rowing means that height is a distinct advantage, although you don’t want to be pulling too much weight around in those flimsy shells, so most rowers are too light to make it in rugby.
Endurance, on the other hand, would be no problem! Four-time Olympic oarsman James Tomkins is up there with Wallaby legend John Eales and Springbok Mark Andrews at 2.00m (6’7”) but would need to pack on some kilos, weighing in at a svelte 96kg.
The obvious place to look for big ‘uns is the American NBA. The great Michael “Air” Jordan would have made a fantastic lineout leaper with or without lifting, but would have been a tad light at 1.98m (6’6”) and only 98kg.
Aussie star Andrew Bogut is better suited at 2.13m (7’0”) and 118kg, but the king of them all is rugby-player-in-waiting Shaquille O’Neal. The Shaq is an utterly massive 2.16m (7’1”) and 147kg. To put this in perspective, he is 6 inches taller and 37 kilos heavier than Victor Matfield!
From the NFL, journeyman Aaron Gibson gets a mention because he holds the dubious record of being one of the first 400 pounders to play professional American football. At 1.98m (6’6”) he compares favourably with rugby second-rowers Rod McCall, Kobus Wiese and Gary Whetton, all of whom were the same height.
It appears that few of them could match Gibson at the breakfast table though – he weighed an incredible 170kg, which is almost exactly two Matt Giteaus.
Luckily for the lineout lifters, there aren’t too many Aaron Gibsons in rugby. But there are still some pretty big pairings.
For the Wallabies, the biggest pair from the last 20 years or so would be former Randwick, NSW and Brumbies lock Warwick Waugh (2.03m/6’8”plus, 122kg) wrapping his arm around league convert Garrick Morgan (2.00m/6’7”, 122kg). Together they outweigh most of today’s Tri-Nations combos by almost 15kg, although neither is quite as tall as Dan Vickerman.
The largest Springboks are probably Bakkies Botha lining up with the equally lofty Adolf Malan (2.04m/6’9”, 110kg), who played the first Test back from the wilderness against the Wallabies in Cape Town in 1992.
For the All Blacks, the giants are the “Big Rigger” Mark Cooksley at 2.05m (6’9” plus) and 125kg, alongside the great Chris Jack at 2.02m (6’8”) and 115kg.
Size is interesting trivia, but rugby people know that the old adage about “fight in the dog” is the ultimate key to winning rugby matches – the tougher the better – and modern players aren’t always the winners.
Former Wallaby Jules Guerassimoff remembers playing against Springbok forward Andy McDonald (1.90m/6’3”, 100kg plus) in the 1960’s and describes McDonald as an “unbelievable specimen of humanity”.
Not only was McDonald big for the time, he was hard too. Guerassimoff recalls hearing that McDonald was in hospital in 1966 following a lion attack. One of McDonald’s workers had been killed by the lion and so McDonald went hunting it on horseback and then, as he got closer, on foot.
Guerassimoff says: “There was a clump of bushes about 15 yards in front of him, and he thought there was no way a lion was ever going to get in there. He took a couple of steps, and this lion charged at him. All Andy had time to do was hold up the rifle into its jaw and fire before it snapped the rifle in half.”
“Andy apparently wrestled this thing for the next half hour, and it virtually had his head inside its mouth. Luckily he had wounded it with the first shot because he kept a hand on each jaw and after a while, it just quivered, rolled over and died.
“Now those were the sorts of guys we had to play against”.
bilzone
Guest
Poor Eion, he tried so hard! At Southland matches the terraces would barrack him "Ee Haw"(like a donkey!) even when they were winning and he was playing well. I have hilarious memories of him at a sponsor's party showing girls his "goal-kicking muscle" on top of his knee. Nice way to get comments on your legs Eion. I met him as a 7 year-old kid determined to be an All Black. That's a real kiwi kid right there - you have got to admire how close he went.
Andrew Logan
Guest
Benjamin - I think Robbie should leave Fitts where he is, and I think if you asked Fitts, he would probably say the same! I think he had pretty much had enough of top level rugby and is pretty focused on his degree. Kenikenipat - You might be right about the Review, but not about Sharpey. He would eat you alive, you pillow. All - on the "Where Are They Now?" requests, I have just posted a review of last weekends Silver Foxes vs Pokolbin Reds game in the Hunter Valley. If anyone wants to know where any of these players are and what they are up to, let me know, I'll get back to you. It should be up tomorrow. Cheers...
Benjamin
Guest
David, I believe you mean Takudzwa Ngwenya. I'm not sure he is any good to be honest, but then playing in the Biarritz backline musn't be the greatest of fun. Andrew, thank you. I recall his arrival at Irish and I was always under the impression that he simply couldn't cut the mustard at that level. Quite a few SH props have gone to Irish and then bit the dust. The player turnover under Smith must have been enormous. I do recall the debate about Fitter 'scrum v 80 min' and his few Wallaby caps but he just seemed to peeter out. Maybe Deans should give him a call. The older the better and all that.
Keni Kenipat
Guest
Loges, Chin up mate, I've watch all the Reviews. If you want more people to watch it, you'll probably just have to make it good. I'd just like to say, there are some All Blacks nights where I do walk the streets in the hope of coming up against Sharpey.
Andrew Logan
Guest
Benjamin - I'm sure Lindommer's comment is tongue-in-cheek. David Fitter is actually studying medicine in Melbourne and took that on as a conscious post-rugby decision. He has been doing some coaching there as I understand it, and was helping out with the Rebels set-piece on occasion during the ARC. I think he was unlucky to not play more Tests, but his work around the park obviously counted against him during the Jones regime. I recall a club game, University vs Gordon, when Fitts came back from S14 duty and started on the bench in second grade due to lack of training with the club. Up to about minute 60 the Gordon pack had been gaining the ascendancy, but Fitter demolished them singlehandedly when he came on. There was one scrum near the sideline where the Gordon pack threw most of its weight to the tighthead side to try to take him on - but to no avail. It was a pretty impressive display - although obviously it is a long way from 2nds club footy to the Test arena.
Lindommer
Guest
David "Pot Plant" Fitter has joined the Melbourne University Rugby Club. Oh how the mighty have fallen!
David
Guest
thanks Andrew for following that up - and great writing and analysis as well. If you have time, I would be interested in your analysis of opening up Super 14 positions to foreign players - my dream is for the Brumbies to poach that amazing US Zimbawean-born winger who made Bryan Habana look like Matt Dunning.
Benjamin
Guest
Andrew, if you're answering 'where are they now' questions is there any chance you could fill me in on where Fitter dissapeared to? He had a few games for London Irish and then.... gone, like Keith Murdoch but with none of the naughtiness.
Andrew Logan
Guest
David, Tiaan Strauss is now back in South Africa and is selling/exporting South African wines. I had a taste of one of his reds recently and it is comparable to a nice Hunter shiraz, but exporting red wine to Australia must be one of the tougher assignments going around. Roger, On Warwick Waugh, he played in the Bangkok Tens this year for an Aussie invitation side called the Beersheba Black Sheep. You can imagine what a stir he caused among the locals when we headed out in Bangkok! It was a little like Gulliver in Lilliput. Re Bangkok Tens.....for any club contemplating touring, it is a great little undiscovered tournament. Several ex-internationals played the final (Beershaba Black Sheep vs The Jam Boys) - Waugh, David Fitter, Eddie Evans (Canada), Robbie Fleck and Bob Skinstad (SA), Willie L'ose (Tonga). A great contest, and an even better after party, despite the fact that we lost 10-0.
Andrew Logan
Guest
OJ - we'll definitely be doing something re the RRR, and have no fear - the site is going gangbusters. It's just that the time to produce the RRR is equal to the time it takes to write about 5 columns, and it costs money to do, unlike a column, so the number of views need to be pretty high to make it worthwhile. We're playing with it, and one way or another we'll have something going for the Spring Tour. Cheers...
OldManEmu
Guest
Ncework again Loges; particularly your precise call on why we lost to the ABs- nuff said. You must speak to Geoff Mutton about his run in with Jules Geurassimoff in a Waratahs Reds gamein the sixties. The short version is that Mutton was playing so well that he was a bigchance of knocking Geurassimoff out ofthe Test team (back in those days the Reds Waratahs games were fair dinkim selection trials of course) until Mutton was knocked out in shall we say suspicious circumstances. On the topic of second rowers - Brad Thorn. What an amazing footballer. To make the shift back and forth is impressive in itself,but for such a specialised position with all the set piece work involved, and technique at the breakdown etc makes the shift even more imressive. I dont think enough credit has been paid to Thorn and what he has achieved. He does risk being turfed out of the second rowers union however; I heard that he has not had a drop of alcohol for 8 years.
mudskipper
Guest
Back to the rugby...Brumbies acquired have some big locks for next years Super Rugby: Locks: Chapman 1.97m 110kg Chisholm 1.97m 115kg Kimlin 1.98m 114kg Hand 1.96m 114kg Timani 2.02m 119kg Front row: Henderson Prop 1.86m 117kg Alexander Prop 1.89m 120kg Shepherdson Prop 1.87m 119kg Ma'afu Prop 1.84m 126kg Moore, Hooker 1.86m 112kg Ulugia Prop/Hooker 1.80m 113g Edmonds Hooker 1.83m 103kg Flankers: Mackay, Shawn 1.96m 102kg Hoiles, Stephen 1.90m 102kg Salvi, Julian 1.87m 100kg Smith, George 1.80m 104kg There has been a bit of a clear out at the Brumbies. They'll have the biggest mobile forward pack any Australian Super Rugby team has had for sometime. (If ever) lets hope they also have the skills to do the task effectively...and give their backs some go forward next season. Its great to know that ex Brumbies/Wallabies players Owen Finegan and Bill Young have returned to the Brumbies coaching the forwards and developing their set piece…
Earlster
Guest
Hey just as a quick google, there are two AFL big fellas - Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle) & Peter Street (Bulldogs) are the equal tallest players ever and are currently playing. They are both 211cm. Not sure of their weights, but good tall timber for second rowers!
Earlster
Guest
Hey Andrew, good article, may also be interesting to compare some of the AFL Tall Men. Not really sure of their stats, but I seem to remember the Madden brothers, quite a few years ago were pretty big men, with their jumping ability and general hard nosed nature I am fairly sure they would have made reasonable locks. Just a thought!
formeropenside
Guest
Garrick Morgan was captain-coaching the Gold Coast last season (2007): still was in shape on the wrong side of 36! He retired after the GF loss to Sunnybank and is now solely coaching.
brad
Guest
Great article. It would be nice to compare forwards of the past to some the monster backs we have today. Stirling mortlock and Jaques Fourie are both over 100KG
ohtani's jacket
Guest
That's a shame about the Rugby Video Review. It gave people like me a bit of a look into the Australian rugby community, something I'd otherwise be oblivious to. Hope the rest of the site is faring well.
The Pot
Guest
Loges. Friday arvo - marvelous read. 2 big dogs jacking up the row certainly makes a difference. Genetics are still pretty hard to beat. I can, and have, imagined Buddy Franklin wearing a 4 on his back as well....
Jerry
Guest
John Gallagher would have been one of the worst performed considering his pedigree in rugby. Eion Crossan would be the straight out worst.
JohnB
Guest
A bit rough describing Garrick Morgan as a "league convert" - a Wallaby (and potential all time great) before he went to league, came back late in his career. Still playing in France, at least up to a year or two ago, I seem to recall reading. A contender for worst-performed (compared to how he did in rugby) convert to league. Tony D'arcy springs to mind as another. Chris Roche a bit less so.