Now the dust has settled following the 2011 Rugby World Cup, I see no better time to reignite the perennial ‘greatest side of the professional era’ debate.
There were some splendid performances at the 2011 Rugby World Cupn> from the entire spectrum of players. Veterans showed that class is timeless.
Even in losing, Victor Matfield in particular was magnificent. Mils Muliaina made way gracefully for a new generation but not before contributing tangibly.
Mike Phillips put forward a case for the second best performed scrum half at the Rugby World Cup only behind perhaps another ‘old man’ Piri Weepu. Youngsters (O’Connor, Pocock, Warburton, Tuilangi and North spring to mind) promised much for the 2013 Lions Tour and the 2015 tournament beyond.
Many argue that without a Rugby World Cup, the phenomenons of messers McCaw and Carter were lesser. It’s a moot point now but I’ve never been a subscriber to that view.
Players like Philippe Sella never trimuped on rugby’s ultimate stage but my goodness he was special. So special it was said he had “the stength of a bull and the touch of a piano player”.
Brian O’Driscoll will not be a ‘world champion’ but that just reinforces that rugby is a team game, personal talent is often not enough, no matter the greatness of the individual involved.
Besides, I’m sure BOD is aptly comforted by his new bride Amy Hubermann. There is life after rugby, after all.
That said, the 22 below includes many Rugby World Cup winners. The great Wallaby sides of 1999-2003 and Bok teams of 2007-2009 feature heavily as they should. Martin Johnson could not be left out.
He, along with Lawrence Dallaglio, personified the total commitment, guts and determination of the class of 2003 (traits arguably missing from England’s 2011 squad). At their peak, Eales, Horan and Smit were second to none. Eales and Horan went out on highs and perhaps John Smit didn’t.
However, that doesn’t change the selection. Like Kirk, Johnson and other illustrious captains courageous, Smit will be a legend of the game long after the Sith Efrikan brooding (read blame game) in the wake of the ‘Boks’ 2011 failure ends. Which brings me to the criteria:
(a) ‘The Professional Era’ is not an easily defined period. Exactly when players started getting paid and whether the sport was ‘semi-professional’ for a time between are arguments that only spoil the fun. Some say the sport made the leap in 1987, at the first World Cup.
For mine, the sport became truly professional in 1994/1995 when firstly the IRB removed all restrictions on player payments , secondly SANZAR was formed leading to the Super Rugby concept and thirdly the European (Heineken) Cup began.
On that basis, in an attempt to keep everyone happy, I’ve used the ‘early 1990s’ as the approximate starting date. Sella just scrapes into that time frame (having played internationally up until 1995. Another French great wing/3/4, Serge Blanco, falls outside it.
(b) This is not a wind up intended to provoke the Northern Hemisphere. The fact that there are more Southern Hemisphere players in the 22 is solely down to the fact that, in my view, they were better players. Please feel free to disagree.
And a special note to the Welsh, I did notice there are no Welsh players in the 22 and no, that isn’t a mistake, Shane Williams was not good enough to unseat Lomu, Campese or to force a choice between BOD and Sella.
If the 1970s were taken into account that may well have changed (Barry John, JPR Williams and Gareth Edwards spring to mind).
(c) This is not about players with the most Test caps. If it was I would have included George Gregan and Justin Leonard. Longevity is an important factor to consider, no more and no less.
(d) Finally, all players chosen were chosen on the basis of how good they were at their best. I’m not talking about single performances, anyone can be man of the match on a given day. I am talking about reasonably prolonged periods of time where players became legends.
For example, Mr Smit. Rubbish in 2011. Legendary between 2007 and 2009. At his best, I argue he was better than Fitzpatrick, Kearns, Wood, Thomson and Du Plessis at their respective bests.
Again, feel free to disagree!
1. Os Du Raandt
2. John Smit
3. Patricio Noriega
4. John Eales (c)
5. Martin Johnson
6. Schalk Burger
7. Richie McCaw
8. Zinzan Brooke
9. Joost Vanderwesthuizen
10. Daniel Carter
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Tim Horan
13. Brian O’Driscoll (vc)
14. Philippe Sella
15. Christian Cullen
16. Sean Fitzpatrick
17. Ewen MacKenzie
18. Victor Matfield
19. Lawrence Dallaglio
20. Justin Marshall
21. Jonny Wilkinson
22. David Campese
Honourable mentions: Fabien Pelous, Olivier Magne, George Smith, Sergio Parisse, Imanol Harinordoquay, George Gregan, Steven Larkham, Tana Umaga.
Rory
Guest
Richard Hill would surely be one of the first names on the forwards list? Perhaps also make room for Will greenwood and rafa Ibanez on the bench. Agree that Dallaglio and Kefu is a tough call. I'd probably go with Kefu when at his peak but its far from being a no-brainer.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Kefu was very good in 99, Sam, but as rugby players IMO there was a huge gulf. Dallaglio could switch between 6 and 8 (even playing 7 at Test level) and was very good in the air. He also had deft hands for a big man, and his Test career was far lengthier in terms of excellence than Kefu's was. He was awesome on the 1997 Lions tour, and was still going in 2003. People just remember him as the man who carried a few Welsh defenders over the try line, but he had much more to his game than that.
Ben S
Roar Guru
5. Matfield and Johnson are totally different locks. Johnson was a 4. 19. 1997 Lions tour anybody?
trakl
Guest
Was 1996 the first year of professional rugby union for Campo? No payment in cash or kind while playing in Italy?
trakl
Guest
Jason Robinson was more brilliant a player than Habana - the former was far less reliant on others making space for him than Habana - even though the latter always has possessed greater straight-line speed. Robinson's acceleration,change of pace and bewildering - unorthodox - footwork excited me like few others. Never forget, please, his first touch of the ball in the first Lions Test of 2001 and directly up against a Chris Latham who some Australian commentators were convinced was the world's greatest full back. Latham - in his attempt to tackle Robinson - looked like a statue falling slowly to the ground. I remember too that Robinson scored 5 tries on his Lions debut and that one of the tries resulted from a left-foot sidestep that took him extravagantly further left - and not right as one would presume - of a confounded defender. Stuart Barnes, in commentary, referred to it as a "corkscrew" movement similar to what one would see of gymnasts doing floor exercises. Oh, and he was in his prime in rugby league...
Onor
Guest
olo brown fitzy haymen matfield eales Jones richie zinny gregan carter lomu nonu odriscall cullen Dagg
Johnno
Guest
Jamie Roberts Ma Nonu, Bakkies botha , brad thorn, danie rossuw, pierre spies, james31 ha ha
James31
Roar Rookie
I don't know why u bother with this story it's just a way to get cheap responses
Chris
Guest
Yeah, I was wondering about Wilkinson. Remember there's Eales as a backup kicker for Carter, so the kicking thing is even less of an issue to me. Agree that once you take goal kicking out of it Larkham was the better option.
rl
Guest
Pretty fair post-1995 response Sam. My thoughts: - maybe Andy Sheridan in ahead of the Ox? (Phil Vickery also in with a shout somewhere) - Hill probably gets the nod ahead Jerry Collins? (I would have loved to have thrown Willie O in the mix, but suspect he falls into the same boat as Horan?) - it's a split hair between Kefu & Dallaglio - no major arguments with your backline, although I'd have Chris Latham at fullback (but that's my extreme personal bias showing - even I have to reluctantly admit Cullen is probably a safer bet) Boy, isn't this dicussion going to change in 4 years once players like Warburton, Pockock, Roberts etc have a few more years under their belts!
Johnno
Guest
Quade cooper
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
Amen to Ibanez
Max
Guest
haha Dagg you crack me up Johnno and Hayes ahahahaha.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
Using 1995 as the cutoff mark for when the game officially went professional with the formation of SANZAR and the sale of broadcast rights to News Corp will unfortunately rule out many of the game's legends as they were in the twilight of their careers eg. Sean Fitzpatrick, Zinzan Brooke and Phillippe Sella. Tim Horan retired after the 1999 world cup but it would be difficult to compare his form since 1995 to players like Will Greenwood, Daniel Herbert, Jamie Roberts and Jean de Villiers who played all their test rugby in the professional era. My list would be 1. Os du Randt 2. Raphael Ibanez 3. Carl Hayman 4. Victor Matfield 5. John Eales 6. Richard Hill 7. Richie McCaw 8. Toutai Kefu 9. Joost van der Westhuizen 10. Daniel Carter 11. Jonah Lomu 12. Tana Umaga 13. Brian O'Driscoll 14. Bryan Habana 15. Christian Cullen
sheek
Guest
True, But I'm presuming test rugby is the ultimate stage, & his last test for the ABs was in 1997, only the second year of pro rugby.
Kiwidave
Guest
I think Brooke actually kept playing for quite some time in england, wikipedia alleges until 2003 although he must have been pretty past his prime. Out of sight out of mind for us but perhaps a watcher of the English scene can confirm.
Markus
Guest
Actually, I'd go Andrew Sheridan over Leonard too. And shall also stop replying to myself.
mania
Guest
Only changes I'd make are... 2. Fitzy - no competition here. Fitzy was smarter and handled captaincy better than smit 5. Matfield - MartinJohnson was a great captain but Matfield was better at set pieces 9. Gregan - Joost was a better physical specimen but Gregan not only was smarter but craftier. 11. anyone but Jonah - Jonah only shone early in his career and @ WC's. The latter half of his career was boring. 17. Olo Brown - better scrummager by far 19. George Smith - Dallagio only looked good with his winning WC squad. Befrore and after their winning WC he was average. George smith to cover 6,7 and 8 21. Steven Larkham - Wilko is a better kicker but larkham was better all round. already have a good goal kicker in carter in this team, larkham comes on as impact to take the oppoistion by surprise + he was a decent goal kicker as well. I would definately have wilko in the player squad tho
Markus
Guest
I also couldn't really consider any Australian prop in a world greatest side. McKenzie was a standout for Australia, but is completely overshadowed by a lot of other world class props. As for Noriega, he was a very proficient scrummager, but was hardly even a legend by Australian standards let alone world standards. Hayman would be in my mix, and as much as I hate to admit it, Phil Vickery or Jason Leonard.
sheek
Guest
Actually, having gone to all that explanation about Campo, 1996 was his last year of test rugby, & the first year of professional rugby. So in actual fact, Campo played too little professional rugby to be considered for the time frame given. Perhaps Sella also. Perhaps a few others as well. Do you consider guys like Brooke & Fitzpatrick on only 2-3 years (1996-98) of professional rugby? Perhaps this post was too hastily constructed. Don't worry - we're all guilty of that at one time or another!