After a few weeks I thought it was time to move my series on the best Super Rugby franchises along and move onto the best Super Rugby sides from each of the participating countries.
Firstly, let’s have a look at the final Waratahs XV selected and thank you all for taking the time to comment on the thread. The Waratahs team easily attracted the most votes and conversation!
Waratahs best Super Rugby XV
Fullback – Israel Folau (Matthew Burke to centre)
Wings – Lote Tuqiri and David Campese (Peter Hewat out)
Centres – Nathan Grey and Matthew Burke (Adam Ashley-Cooper out)
First Five – Manny Edmonds (Mat Rogers out)
Halfback – Chris Whittaker
Number 8 – David Lyons (Tim Gavin to lock)
Flankers – Phil Waugh and Rocky Elsom (Willie Ofahengaue out)
Locks – Dan Vickerman and Tim Gavin (John Welborn out)
Props – Andrew Blades and Richard Harry
Hooker – Phil Kearns (Brendan Cannon out)
Right, let’s get into it – the best Super Rugby XV from the Australian franchises.
Fullback
Selected – Chris Latham, Andrew Walker, Israel Folau
Israel Folau may very well prove to be one of the best but at this stage I cannot go past Chris Latham for his attacking skills. He was one of my favourite fullbacks to watch.
Wings
Selected – Ben Tune, Digby Ioane, Joe Roff, Clyde Rathbone, Lote Tuqiiri, David Campese
The wings were a very difficult selection. Ben Tune was absolute class so he has one spot from me. I leaned towards Joe Roff on the other hand, based on his overall consistency.
Centres
Selected – Tim Horan, Dan Herbert, Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlock, Nathan Grey and Matthew Burke
Tim Horan is definitely my inside centre, I have not seen one better in my time and the centre position was a choice between Herbert and Mortlock. I decided on Herbert. He was just too powerful and imposing for me to ignore.
First Five
Selected – Quade Cooper, Stephen Larkham, Manny Edmonds
Stephen Larkham, hands down, at least in my view.
Halfback
Selected – Will Genia, George Gregan, Chris Whittaker
I want to select Will here as I do think he is more skilful than Gregan, but his recent form has not been exceptional. I give it four more years.
Number 8
Selected – Toutai Kefu, Jim Williams, David Lyons
Toutai Kefu was so destructive and an absolute menace but can we say that about him at Super level consistently? Regardless, I have to give it to Toutai based on his telescopic arm in John Eales last Test!
Flankers
Selected – David Wilson, Matt Cockbain, George Smith, Owen Finnegan, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom
I have to hand it to the Brumbies pair here, plus I really want a bloke called Melon in the team.
Locks
Selected – John Eales, James Horwill, Justin Harrison, David Giffin, Dan Vickerman, Tim Gavin
John Eales is one, no question about it, but who to partner him? I am opting for his fellow Queenslander on this occasion as in my eyes they would make the best combination.
Props
Selected – Dan Crowley, James Slipper, Bill Young, Patricio Noriega, Andrew Blades, Richard Harry
This was a tough one. As much as I liked Dan Crowley and despised Young, I finally settled on the NSW pairing of Blades and Harry as my picks.
Hooker
Selected – Michael Foley, Jeremy Paul, Phil Kearns
I hate seagulls. Foley for me.
Australia’s best Super Rugby XV
Fullback –Chris Latham
Wings – Ben Tune and Joe Roff
Centres – Tim Horan and Dan Herbert
First Five – Stephen Larkham
Halfback – George Gregan
Number 8 – Toutai Kefu
Flankers – George Smith and Owen Finnegan
Locks – John Eales and James Horwill
Props – Andrew Blades and Richard Harry
Hooker – Michael Foley
Only rules this time is to pick from the players selected. It’s a straight out vote – players with the most votes get picked.
Over to you, Roarers.
Mark
Guest
I think Wjittaker was a better Super rugby player than Gregan. Gregan was lucky to keep his test spot between 2002 - 2006 as Whittaker definitely player better than him at Super Rugby level during those years. Also, I can't believe Manny Edmonds is on the list. He wasn't a bad player, but nor was he a standout during his time at the Tahs!?! Didn't he get dropped for Duncan McCrae?
jammel
Guest
What about the best Wallaby XV over the past 25 years? Burke Campese Little Horan Roff Larkham Gregan Kefu GSmith WillieO Eales(C) McCall McKenzie Kearns Daly
Rod
Guest
My best Super 15 15 Latham , passion and flair 14. Tune would run through brick walls 13. Mortlock as above 12. Horan ( even as a league tragic in my younger years, it was obvious this guy could play, plus he was.a very good defender 11) lote. 10) larkham as good a 5/8 as you could hope to see 9) genia when at his best 8) kefu he was the best we had in the super era 7) Smith 6) Elsom. 4)Eales 5)Griffin Front row I would not have a clue so I'll go with the majority here
Danny Shaz
Roar Rookie
Surely David Pocock has to be in contention...?
jammel
Guest
Agree with those saying Finegan's the standout - I'd take Finnegan at #6 any day of the week over Elsom or Cockbain. Finnegan was all class - great connection with gregan too. The only #6 that gets close is WillieO!
Crazy Horse
Guest
Nice team from old franchises. refer to Jagman's list above for those you've just discounted. For mine Campese is a must for one wing. My oldest boy idolised Matthew Burke so a vote for him. Sharpe with Eales as locks (what a leadership team).
Crazy Horse
Guest
Nice team from old franchises. refer to Jagman's list above for those you've just discounted. For mine Campese is a must for one wing. My oldest boy idolised Matthew Burke so a vote for him.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah Fluffy Roff and Tune as the wingers looks very good to me. A few posters have nominated Walker or Tuquiri but most of us are in agreement with the two that DC has named.
Digby
Roar Guru
Yes he was, a backhanded compliment if you will. Not sure what you mean about Roff? He is in the team.
Charles Plowdog
Guest
Not much comment about the props. I don't know why Bill Young is despised by you: he was an outstanding SR and test prop and should be in there. And how can Joe Roff be missing; how many tries down the middle off George Gregan did he score (not to mention the one against the BI Lions, which was instrumental in that series? Big and strong he was.
Bakkies
Guest
I am pretty sure that Foley was picked ahead of Paul because he could play tight and was better at set pieces. Paul was better in the loose when the game was broken down. Finegan had more strings to his bow but Cockbain tackled nonstop (similar to Lydiate and Dusatoir) which helped in test Rugby as there was less space and stronger packs that had more possession. Test rugby isn't relevant to this discussion as it is about Super Rugby.
Bakkies
Guest
So could Andrew Walker.
Bakkies
Guest
Jereme no slight on the Reds 2011 players on missing out. They are competing against players from a side that competed in 5 Finals in that era and a star studded Reds side. It was a better Reds side back then littered with world class players but the key difference between that side that didn't seal the deal and the 2011 boys was the halfback pairings. Raulini/Cordingley Flately/Spooner, etc aren't a patch on Genia and Cooper.
Bakkies
Guest
jez the biggest problem in that Marseille match was our pack got munted at scrum time and England got away with spoiling good ruck ball. It was a poor England team that didn't even score a point against SA in their pool match. Mortlock missed 3 pens but so did Wilkinson. England got a gift 3 points from a scrum pen 10 metres in front.
Bakkies
Guest
Exactly. The key reason why the Brumbies didn't make the Finals after 2004 was not scoring enough tries. They won enough games. It was difficult to score tries without the same quick ball platform that Finegan and his mates were delivering in previous seasons.
Bakkies
Guest
''Bakkies when Finegan went to europe he struggled to hold a spot in club sides!'' So what as I said above he was 32/33 in his stint at Newcastle. Jeremy Paul and Chris Jack couldn't hold spots in European club sides. Does it make them poorer players? Of course not. Elsom went in his prime there is a big difference there.
Bakkies
Guest
The greatest Crusaders side was in 2002 that went undefeated and racked up 96 points on your Tahs. Finegan was 32/33 when he went to Newcastle hardly his prime.
Digby
Roar Guru
Nice teams
Digby
Roar Guru
Fair point Chris and I am probably guilty of a bit of that
Digby
Roar Guru
Turns ot not so much ;)