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Let’s conduct a thought experiment: if you could start a rugby team from scratch, using players currently in your own country, who are the first five players you would choose in order of importance?
What are your reasons for selecting someone above others?
Selecting a team from scratch would be a very interesting position to be in. Just how someone goes about doing so probably says a lot about how they think about the game of rugby.
It’s been very serious around these parts for a few days now with the Lions tour announcements and much gnashing of teeth over player lists, inclusions, snubs and conspiracy theories.
Today I want to have some fun and maybe even spark some rugby ideology debate with this naming of the First V.
Remember you have a limited currency here – no, not bitcoins – with only five players, so think carefully about what you need in your ideal rugby players.
1. Will Genia
The most obvious reason for picking Genia is he is the best rugby player in this country.
That’s a hard statement to make, especially because rugby includes some very specialist skills that Genia will never even attempt – let alone do better than everyone else.
Ordinarily my inclination would be to stack my initial picks with forwards, as they nominally more important.
On balance I still think he does his particular job better than anyone else does their particular job and by quite some distance. That’s ultimately why I put him first overall.
In terms of rugby methodology a halfback would normally by in my first five players selected anyway. They are vitally important to the success and structure of a team and are somewhat understated in Australian rugby where the public and media generally focus attention toward the fly-half.
A halfback will, in practise, have the most opportunity to be the general on the field, or an extension of the coach. This is where Genia is important – he can execute every game plan.
Genia is able to marshal the forwards around a pick and drive, barking them on. He can whip the ball the oncoming pods, always picking the right recipient.
He has a wonderful flat pass to find the backs out wide with time. His darting runs around the ruck also traumatise (word of the week, thanks Robbie) the defence like nobody’s business.
He can execute any plan you need on any given day, better than anyone else, and still has room to change the game in ways you couldn’t plan.
2. James Horwill
Put simply, Horwill is the only second row in Australia who can do it all.
He’s a very handy lineout jumper without being the best in the world, gets well over the advantage line with his carries, stops people in their tracks on defence and forages for the ball far better than any other second row on these shores.
Horwill is so much more accomplished as an all-round rugby player than his peers here he reminds me more of a Kiwi or northern hemisphere lock.
Picking the basis for a team using five players has to lean toward setting up a strong forward pack. After straying from that philosophy due to the bright lights of Genia, I returned to message by picking our most consistent grunt in the last half decade.
In Horwill I’m getting enough physicality week-in, week-out and not losing any technical ability.
3. Stephen Moore
This is a nod to my belief a rugby team is built from the forward pack out. Many on here are probably upset I haven’t picked someone from the front row as my cornerstone, I’ve given a nod in that direction with Moore.
I haven’t picked an actual prop because I don’t believe there is a big enough difference between most of the current crop in Australia to warrant them being among the first five players I’d want in my sheds (which is obviously a very high honour).
Would you put Benn Robinson, James Slipper, Ben Alexander, Dan Palmer, Greg Holmes et. al. in the top five must picks in Australia?
I didn’t think so. There just isn’t anyone who stands out enough.
Therein lays the achilles heel of Australian rugby.
Right now, and for a while really, Moore is the best front row player in Australia. He’s solid enough in the scrum without setting the world alight, is experienced enough to get the lineout right when it matters and gets around the park.
4. Michael Hooper
Hooper provides speed, strength and tenacity. Three strengths any coach would be delighted to have in on their side.
My first five picked now includes an extremely high-level performer in the front row, second row and back row. This is a strong basis for a forward pack and therefore a winning team.
Liam Gill is close to being selected here, but isn’t quite the kind of player I’d use as a team building cornerstone.
He is more of a luxury, someone I’d look to add later on to give me an extra something, not a building block. His attack at the breakdown is wonderful, but Hooper can do that job adequately enough and offers more in other areas. Hooper is also a bit more durable.
Hooper can not only disrupt opposition clean ball but cause trauma to defences around the edge of the ruck. He is quick enough in space to make use of space around the fly-half, making them look better as the defence has to hold longer.
This is also a pick for work rate. Hooper will still impact a game when a team has a bad day because he rarely tires.
Both of all of the forwards are able to do their own technical and positional jobs well but are also very strong contributors in the general play areas of the park?
5. James O’Connor
My one pick in the top five purely dedicated to scoring points. I’d use O’Connor in the roving Willie Le Roux/Shane Williams wing role.
He is fast enough to finish off a good back move and knows how to find the line, but is also a creative threat inside when there is a bit of space.
Picking James O’Connor as my first outside player is due to the fact you aren’t getting one limited to improving the side in only a few areas.
He isn’t just a finisher, just a playmaker or just able to break tackles. Players who only do some of those things very well are easier to replace, doing all of those things well is why I’d round out the core of a team with O’Connor.
His defence is also rock-solid.
Some people would bring up the ‘brand’ to criticise building a team around O’Connor. I believe he is also the most self-aware of the young players in rugby right now. He wants to maximise his earning potential but is a very hard worker.
Look at the way he has improved his kicking over the last couple of years. He’s now one of the most reliable boots in the land, with a solid technique and replicable set up. That’s the mark of hard work.
He reminds me of David Beckham – both are players that attract an outside amount of attention off the field but are dedicated professionals on the field to match. They are both aware their ‘brand’ is reliant on success between the lines as well.
I’m not afraid of that taking over and for that reason would be happy to make him one of my first selected.
Who would you pick if required to do a similar task? What is the method to your selections?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.