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A wrote a response to a post yesterday of how ridiculous it would be to combine Australia, New Zealand and South Africa into one rugby team.
This exercise would be to roughly match the population sizes of the whole UK and Ireland in one (i.e. the Lions) or France.
I argued that winning rugby games has got nothing to do with the country’s population size, but rather the 15 players on the field.
(Well in South Africa’s case, referees seem to enjoy reducing them to 14 players more often than not but that’s another discussion for a different topic altogether.)
While this is an idea that I highly doubt will ever come to fruition, I decided to make a team of who I would pick in 2013 if this were ever to happen and I was coach.
I’ve tried to stick to picking players who were in form in the 2013 Rugby Championship and the first couple games of these three sides this November.
However some picks have gone on reputation too.
I hate to admit it as a Springbok fan, but I included Richie McCaw, a man who we all love to hate. Except Kiwis.
The man is a very good rugby player so I have to look past all of the times when we, and many other opposition teams have felt that he played far to close to the offside line and often labelling him a “cheat”.
Many have felt he’s had leeway with the refs and has been such an annoyance at the breakdown and played in the grey area more often than not.
And while doing it he has copped quite a few “clean outs” or “big hits”, or what All Blacks fans may perceive as “cheap shots” to their “Captain Fantastic”.
But through it all he has been a soldier and has endured since 2002, he’s a very good player and would be my captain too.
And his win/loss record speaks volumes. So in all honesty, I’d rather have him in my team than not. Is there anyone out there who wouldn’t?
My team of All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks:
1 – Tony Woodcock
2 – Bismark Du Plessis
3 – Owen Franks
4 – Eben Ebzebeth
5 – Sam Whitelock
6 – Francois Louw (openside flanker role, i.e. the South African numbering system)
7 – Richie McCaw. Captain (as he’s gotten older he’s less of a fetcher and more of a New Zealand number six role)
8 – Kieran Reed
9 – Fourie Du Preez
10 – Dan Carter
11 – Bryan Habana
12 – Jean De Villiers (vice captain)
13 – Conrad Smith/ Adam Ashley Cooper
14 – Ben Smith
15 – Israel Dagg
16 – Stephen Moore
17 – Beast Mtawarira
18 – Charlie Faumuina/ Jannie Du Plessis (A fully fit Jannie that is, not the crocked Jannie)
19 – Brodie Retallick on current form, otherwise James Horwill is my man.
20 – Liam Messam
21 – Aaron Smith on current form, otherwise Will Genia is my man.
22 – Quade Cooper
23 – Adam Ashley Cooper (if not starting – the man can cover the centres, wing and Fullback)
Wallaby fans please don’t feel that I have alienated your players on purpose.
There are quite a few in there. This is simply my choice on who I believe the best players in 2013 from these three countries are.
In 2000/01 it would’ve been weighted in Australia’s favour with less Springboks.
This year it has to be weighted in New Zealand’s favour with quite a few Springboks too.
Do you guys out there agree with my selections? Who would you replace in my team? Which selections would you ridicule?
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.