David Kirk, Nick Farr-Jones, Joost van der Westhuizen, George Gregan, Matt Dawson, Fourie du Preez, Piri Weepu. If you are a rugby aficionado, you will understand what all these names have in common.
If you haven’t quite worked it out yet, they are the names of all the starting halfbacks for winning Rugby World Cup sides.
Of those names, perhaps Piri Weepu’s is the only one that can’t be counted as a great for his respective nation.
Certainly in the instance of Farr-Jones, van der Westhuizen and Gregan you are talking about three of the all time greats of the world game.
The number nine now is arguably the most important position on the field.
It is the player that provides the link between the backs and forwards and the player that controls the tempo of the game.
A good halfback has the ability to put the ball out in front of the attacking player allowing the runner to take the ball at speed or hit a half gap.
A good halfback will threaten the line and will make defensive sides pay if they drift too quickly from the breakdown.
And now with the new five second rule introduced to rucks, giving the number nine less time to think, having a good halfback is more valuable then ever.
I saw two quite contrasting performances this weekend in Super Rugby.
The first, on Friday night, a masterclass from Will Genia where he probed, passed, kicked and marshalled his troops, all with incredible accuracy.
Ultimately Genia was the difference between the two sides and showed just how important he will be to the Wallabies chances in the forthcoming Lions series.
Contrast this with Piri Weepu’s performance on Saturday night. I was at the stadium at Mount Maunganui for the Blues versus Chiefs game where I watched Weepu closely throughout.
I was taken aback by just how poor his pass was, laboured and loopy at best, and by how little he was barking out instructions to his forwards.
I would have thought given the Blues lack of experience, Weepu would have been a key general on the field but I was sadly disappointed.
I have always been a strong advocate of Weepu over the years, but having seen his play first hand over the past two weekends, I don’t think I can defend his selection in the Black jersey any longer.
Of course a good rugby side needs more than just a good number nine, but one that has one will always have an advantage over one that doesn’t given the influence the position exerts over a game.
And the greatest halfback I have ever seen play the game? Well for me, it is simple, no one is close to the great George Gregan.
I am a Kiwi who along with many other Kiwi rugby fans, bayed for Gregan’s blood during Bledisloe fixtures over the years, cursed his name when he made that tackle on Wilson in 1994 and who suffered greatly upon the great mans taunting of “four more years boys” in the 2003 Rugby World Cup semifinal.
Gregan to New Zealand rugby was what Fitzpatrick and McCaw were and are to Australian and South African Rugby.
These players are almost despised outside of their country but ultimately this comes out of complete respect for their ability as well as jealousy that they’re not playing in their teams. It is perhaps the ultimate compliment.
Roarers, who would be your greatest number nine?
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
Argh! Decent forwards - seriously? Elsom sulking around the paddock, his best form having deserted him. Cannon and Dunning? What?? Brendan Cannon one of the least impressive hookers this country has deemed fit to cap and Dunning a scrummaging lightweight and general idiot. Gregan played behind some great forwards over the years, but these guys don't make that list.
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
GG lost the ability to deliver quality ball from the base of the breakdown by taking those damned 2-3 steps before passing, giving time for the opposition loosies to get up ahead of steam and the inside backs to move upon the number 10. Can only imagine it drove Stephen Larkham nuts.
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
Spot on Nick - Joost VDW was the business and the best I have ever seen play at 9;. Loved Nick Farr-Jones also but Gregan, IMHO, does not rate as highly as Genia will ultimately. Does not help that Gregan hung on a few seasons too many and long after his best form had deserted him. Gareth Edwards a legend but before my time so cannot comment
Chivas
Guest
Frank it all spiralled out of control and the media fed Cooper to the Wolves. Personally I don't mind a bit of stick at games. It's wrong when it becomes personal and occupies the media and talk back as if it is ok. it's like saying booing is ok. It happens but to publicly condone it is s bit average. I don't listen to people like Deaker and co, I rate them down there with Alan Jones for finding new levels of low. i think it was mean and no-one deserves that even if Cooper did mouth off a bit. The way everyone got stuck in was appalling and it was ungracious and embarrassing. I am not a Cooper fan, but public ridiculing just is beyond bad taste. I also think the nastiness on here regarding RD verges on being distasteful too. It was BS Frank and I doubt there would be many anywhere that would disagree with that.
Frank
Guest
Mate, you're the first kiwi I have ever heard say that about Cooper's treatment. I'm a rusted on reds fan thru and thru but I am not a great fan of Cooper, but I thought what happened to him in the World Cup was one of the lowest things to happen in a World Cup and it made me realse that you kiwis take your rugby way too seriously (maybe Aussies are more used to losing in rugby). We need to hear more Kiwis like you on these blogs than some of the absolutely trashy one eyed trolls that seem to live on many of these blogs. I might reconsider my ban on NZ travel after the world cup!
Gatesy
Guest
Catchpole? Who was he? HIpwell (not bad) and let's not forget that bloke from the bush who only wanted to play a couple of tests - would have kept Gregan out of the Wallabies!!
Gatesy
Guest
Catchpole (Ken) and HIpwell - don't just have short memories, guy!s
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I'm going to go with Fourie du Preez, Rob Howley and Morgan Parra as my all time top 3.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
the last few years of gregans career were terrible. TIme and time again the ball would be ready for him and he wouldn't be watching, then get penalized for taking so long when the ball was available. plus he didn't run enough. Genia is a much better all round player
Michael R
Guest
Thanks SJ for that info. I have often wondered if Merrick would have been "found out" for some weakness in his game. In a lot of sports, there are players who "shine very brightly" in their 1st season - then get "found out" in their 2nd.
richard
Guest
I also was around in Going's era,but only saw him at AB level in his last 3-4 years (born in'66).Going came into the AB's in 1967,and made the UK tour that year.He wouldn't have played with Waka Nathan,as he retired in '66,but certainly played with all the others. And,yes from 1967-70,he played behind the AB pack which was the best in the world,as it had been through most of the sixties.Life only became harder for Going in the early seventies when that forward dominance was less assured.
HighTackle
Guest
Strap you obviously have never watched a tri nats game in your life. Everyones entitled to their opinion but to say Genia is not a good test player is like saying Carter isnt. He was the best half of the tri nats in 2011 and he only played twice in 2012. He is considered the best half in the world becuz he has been the best at test level.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I think Dawson was overrated. He was fortunate to be playing behind an excellent England pack, and one of THE great back rows. His pass wasn't all that, and his decision making was erratic. I think it was proven beyond doubt that Rob Howley was a class above him on the 2001 Lions tour. Dawson, and also that Dawson only started in the Test series in 1997 as Howley had dislocated his shoulder. Rob Howley should definitely be up there.
Bakkies
Guest
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xhdbr_naruto2320_rct/1#video=x5kosp It was a shame that Gregan left France. Would have like to seen play in the Top 14 behind a big strong pack delivering key ball. French teams like the 9 to be the playmaker rather then the 10. Gregan was capable of standing in to first receiver at the Brumbies to run plays.
Bakkies
Guest
I would love to see Gregan and Larkham operate behind the current Wallabies pack that is able to deliver between 50-60% possession compared to the poor 30 to 40% they were living off. Never mind the pathetic scrum that David Lyons was mopping up.
Bakkies
Guest
Super Rugby changed from 2005 to 2007. Gregan's last years at the Brumbies. The emphasis was more on a tight structured game and strong set piece. The tight five actually had to hit rucks rather then seagull out on the wing. The pack struggled to get clean ruck ball forcing Gregan and the rest of the backline on to the back foot. The Brumbies had a decent lineout but the scrum was average. The Tahs were the better performing Australian team in that period too. They also played better tight Rugby then the Brumbies.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
Everyone used to say what a great running halfback Merrick was. This was because he couldn't pass to his right, and was forced to run if this was the option. He retired before the public figured out what most of the players, and coaches were aware of.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
Even Whitaker admits that Gregan was better, the only people that can't are Greg Growden fans... Never heard a kiwi say 'thankfully they started with George, they would have beaten us by more if Whitaker played'. The kiwis were scared of Gregan, Whitaker did;t bother them in the slightest.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
I think you'd find a few who would test positive for cannabis in the lower grades in Australia if they bothered to check, not just in rugby.
Malo
Guest
Dominic Vaughn?