Choose your teams: the South vs. the North

I didn't even see that game or mention it, LP. I agree totally with Colin.

"Cips as a half decent game in an Amlin cup gave against super mediocre opposition and suddently he is a world beater." Everyone thinks that because he is being praised, they are saying he is a world beater. Simply not true. He didn't have a half decent game, he had an excellent game. It doesn't make him world class, but if we take the individual merits of his performance, it wasn't too far off his pre-injury form. Agree to some extent about O'Gara, but he can't do some of things Cipriani can - his balance is wonderful and had an ability in that game to create space for his outside backs, whether it would be his passing or drawing in defenders.

Cips as a half decent game in an Amlin cup gave against super mediocre opposition and suddently he is a world beater. God if he had the sprt of perofrmance ROG had against Northampton imagine what the Pro Cip's media would be writing.......Ireland games v's Trimble and Horgan at centre still being thrown about two........ridiculous...

Just saw that Pothale.........nearly choked on my tea ha ha! Ufasach!!

I really don't see that. He has a pace that no other 6 can match, good hands and runs good angles. His lineout work is supreme and he can also play lock. I think he is too lightweight to seriously contest at the breakdown, but he adds a different dimension to teams. IMO only Ferris is near him. When Croft had a bruiser like Worsley playing at 7 last season he was absolutely outstanding.

coverage seems to be getting better - Magners and Heineken cup games are making there way on to Foxtel but unless you have IQ to record it I dont see myself getting up a 3/5am to watch it

Look, we may agree to disagee about Cips. I agree about the rest of your choices. I always thought that Croft was just a little too lightweight. Especially considering the quality available in the back row's right now in Europe. He is well down the pecking order.

I've seen him through out some wonderful passes.

Fair enough, fair enough. All things being equal though, Cips can't tackle or pass. Destined to be a raw talent trapped in the body of an arrogant child with a wonky ankle.

Gosh, yeah - that's a great idea.

I utilised the 'all things being equal' principle, Pajovic... so in my theoretical selectorial world every player is in cracking form. regarding Cipriani I think he can inject such pace into a game. He obviously has his limitations, but O'Gara and Flood are more reliable, so why not try a wild card?

hmmmmmmmm tastey squad there. I loved the cheeky addition of Takudzwa Ngwenya. Not sure if Croft or Cipriani should be there. Where is Quinnlan too? He would really irritate the SH lads with his antics.

Oooh... spicy. I'll give a NH squad a crack (and in no particular order): Fabien Barcella, Sylvain Marconnet, Andrew Sheridan; William Servat, Guilhem Guirado, Marius Tincu; Adam Jones, Euan Murray, Nicolas Mas; Simon Shaw, Nathan Hines, Lionel Nallet; Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan; Tom Croft, Stephen Ferris, Alessandro Zanni; John Barclay, Fulgence Ouedraogo, David Wallace; Jamie Heaslip, Imanol Harinordoquy, Louis Picamoles; Mike Phillips, Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Ronan O'Gara, Toby Flood, Danny Cipriani; Shane Williams, Cedric Heymans, Julien Malzieu; Yannick Jauzion, Jamie Roberts, James Hook; Brian O'Driscoll, Mike Tindall, David Marty; Tommy Bowe, Mark Cueto, Takudzwa Ngwenya; Rob Kearney, Lee Byrne, Ben Foden

Yeah, it is, I was explaining to Terry that it was a recurring 365 type thread. Always the same SH team though pretty much! I'm nominating Connacht as my NH representative 15 for such a clash! ;)

Hmmm, I used to live in Noosa applying my Biarritz forged surfing skill to good use! ;) Alexander Bay I recall as being notoriously choppy but great fun!!! In any case, there is an irish pub there just off the roundabout by Koala's backpackers. Not sure it would be open for the game though. In fact it probably wouldn't. Whoops. Find someone with ESPN or Setanta Terry! Pig and Whilstle down by the river in Brissie (a bit down from the rugby club house) would defo show it. I suggest a sober excursion!

this thread is beginning to resemble Groundhog Day. Do you know what would be a great idea - how about a challenge match between the Heineken Cup winners and the S15? Since we wouldn't know the winner until August for the S15, then the logical time to have it is just before the NH season starts again in September.

Yep, that would be the go and is a fine plan except that I live on the Sunshine Coast and we have no Irish pubs ... lol, tis an hours drive to Brissie and I wouldn't like my chances of being sober enough to drive home !!!!

Head down to an irish pub in syd/melb/brissie wherever for the heino semis' Will be a real party and ull get into the whole swing of things!!!

If I'm being honest, it would be a 50-50 clash I reckon. When you take the quality of players in both sides, and add a neutral venue, it would be a close encounter. Both are rammed full of quality, but they both also function on a high level as a unit, team, etc. Only the most one eyed of fans could really call it. Would make for some good viewing though.

I was thinking maybe the European Cup winners could take on the champions of the Super 14 tournament to see which team is no.1 in provincial rugby. So, say Munster won the European Trophy and the Crusaders from NZ won the Super 14, and the two teams met up in a "World Challenge" match, along similar lines to the World Club Challenge in rugby league, who would win?