I imagine it’s the type of question ex athletes get asked a lot. I’m not sure why it seems to come up so often but I suspect it’s related to the tendency we have to admire rare qualities in others.
I have been fortunate to play with some truly great rugby players. Names such as Larkham, Roff, Smith and Gregan, all of whom are rightly considered once in a generation marvels.
If I had to choose the most talented teammate I played with I’d have to single out George Smith.
George combined a freakish ability over the ball with some wonderfully subtle touches of skill and breakdown guile. Somehow, despite the physicality he brought to everything in his game, he was almost never injured.
Joe Roff’s ability to turn a match with a moment of sheer magic was jaw-dropping. Roffy made it all look easy, and when he brought his A-game (which was almost always) I think it really was nearly effortless for Joe. I consider it a real privilege to have had a front row seat to the Joe Roff show.
Stephen Larkham and George Gregan really should be appraised as a package deal. Together they ran operation Brumby. Bernie gets a lot of credit as a brilliant tactician and a player with the un-coachable ability to consistently make intelligent decisions. And while all those qualities are true, his toughness really stood out for me as a defining quality. Steve doesn’t know how to give anything less than a hundred per cent.
George taught me a lot about professionalism. Greegs was ridiculously thorough in his preparation, he left nothing to chance and it showed in the consistency of his performances.
The other thing that struck me about George was that his whole was far greater than his parts. He wasn’t the best at any single thing. He was never the fastest, strongest or most skilful player – but he was always in the top two or three players in every area that mattered. Add his leadership into the mix and it isn’t hard to correlate the Brumbies success with George’s presence in the team.
There are many other players I could add to a list of those teammates that most impressed me, and I’m aware that ultimately these types of reviews really are subjective. So while It’s usually against my nature to single out another primate for praise, I do want to make mention of one person who I admire greatly.
Pat McCabe.
Patty’s arrival at the Brumbies was memorable, but for entirely opposite reasons than one might expect of a future Wallaby. I remember him as a skinny kid who wasn’t really anything to write home about. He was not especially athletic or skilful. He was extremely softly spoken and seemed completely out of his depth in professional rugby.
I remember thinking that the depth of Australian rugby talent must be dreadful if “this guy” was getting a go.
But Pat had different ideas about his ability. He applied himself with complete dedication to every possible area of potential improvement. And slowly but surely everything in his game got better.
The real tragedy of his retirement is that I really feel he was just hitting his straps. The pre-season he had leading into 2014 had to be seen to be believed. He was on fire every session. I felt like his game against the Hurricanes, where he was a metre eating machine, was a bellwether to a huge season from Pat. But it wasn’t to be. He broke his neck, three times. Three times!
I’m not especially prone to sentimentality, but when I heard the news that Patty had “done his neck again”, I cried like a baby. It just seemed so desperately unfair.
While some of the more celebrated players in this country coiffed their hair and advertised their lives on social media, Pat went to work. In his totally unpretentious way he was all grit, determination and heart.
Of course Patty will tell you he’s been extremely lucky. He got to the highest level doing something he loves, and he got there through ceaseless hard work.
Perhaps there is a lesson in his story for all of us. That opportunities come and go, that life is an ever changing dance of unpredictability and mystery. And that our attitude towards whatever is true of our lives really does make all the difference in the end.
Pie_t
Guest
You group Carel du Plessis and Errol Tobias on the bench with the implication that they're interchangeable; Carel wasn't a fly half and Errol wasn't a wing. Also, unlikely that Frik du Preez would be a lock in the present day; much more likely a loosie. Balie Swart played in an historic team but I don't think he was particularly outstanding when compared to some who came before him. Other than that you make an interesting point.
Mango Jack
Guest
Probably still is Sheek. He's not dead yet!
GDayMate
Roar Rookie
Was fortunate enough to play with and against a couple of Wallabies but also had the honour of running out opposite the great Ken Catchpole (well past his playing days) in a knock around game at Kangaroo Valley many a long year ago. My childhood idol and to be on the same paddock (literally) as Catchy was indeed a privileged moment.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Great piece. McCabe was frighteningly versatile but I admired the hell out of his courage, dedication and determination. An example to us all.
Johnno
Guest
lol I was better than you Jonah Lomu you know it bigger, stronger better, I was Jake the Muzz bro,rip in.
Peeeko
Guest
Percy and Naas , those two could kick.
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, Sheek. You've found me out! I cannot endorse Naas because at the time, the WP-Blue Bulls rivalry was very personal to me, and I just can't pick him over Robbie Blair. Haha! Naas could drop kick from 40 m out with either foot--no lie. Saw him do it up close. A real old school footballer.
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Clyde, Thanks for the article & apologies for digressing. I can understand your selection of Pat McCabe, he was a special human being.
sheek
Roar Guru
Yeah Frank, It's funny how players develop at different rates. Early on, Mark was considered the least talented of the three uber-talented brothers. Yet he was the one who achieved most. Then there was Wally Lewis, who couldn't break the NSW-dominated stranglehold in the schoolboys backline of 1977/78. Then he broke his arm mid-tour. Yet he went onto greater footballing glory than any of the other players from that tour. Chronological, it could have happened, but because of circumstances, it never did. But imagine circa 1984/85, Farr-Jones passing to Ella, then to Lewis, then to O'Connor, who can pass to either winger Campese or Moon, with Gould steaming in from fullback. Sitting on the bench waiting their turn might be Cox, Lynagh & Slack or Hawker. I guess that backline belongs to the elysian fields of dreams.
sheek
Roar Guru
Nick, Bert Cooke apparently slid past Cyril Towers a few times back in the late 20s. But I guess it depends on the circumstances at the time. Towers might have been facing a two on one. Anyway, Towers was supposed to be one of our best.
BluesMan
Guest
LOL I bet he never passed or tackled.
sheek
Roar Guru
Harry, I know we're digressing, but whenever I see old TV footage of Botha, he never ceases to amaze me. Perhaps it's easy for me to assess him as a neutral without the highveld/coastal rivalry! It was said of Mark Ella he could read the play several passages ahead of most people. Botha had that same anticipation. As for one dimensional, I've seen him in old footage running the ball against the Lions in 1980, ABs in 81 & Cavaliers in 86. One dimensional, my foot. The only other guy in my time who could control a game with his boot like Botha was the great Puma Hugo Porta. But I can understand your preference for Henry Honiball. He was pretty special.
BluesMan
Guest
:) the good ol days aye
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
I was lucky enough to play against Kane Douglas as an opposing loose forward, he was huge even as a teenager. Really fun to play against though, his team Yamba were our down river rivals and we had the better pack in general but Douglas would just tear into us and put in some pretty amazing individual performances. In primary school rugby I actually put a pretty decent tackle on Paddy Ryan in one game too. Oh too look back on it all.
Harry Jones
Expert
nick Gerber = peerless in his era
Harry Jones
Expert
Sheek: That's a well-balanced team. You didn't just go for a "team of stars," you picked interesting combos. The bench is deadly! Those reserves would be a nightmare to preserve a lead against. I like that bench! The starting pack you've picked is interesting. Not the most mongrel: a lot of pace and ball skill. Morne du Plessis is one of my rugby heroes; a real leader. Played a real linking game; more like Read than Vermeulen. Used an NFL-style overhead spiral cross-field pass like others might use a kick. Ellis & Greyling: fantastic! The 12-cap total for Carel is s bit misleading. He'd get those in one season nowadays. He played at the nadir (or apex) of our rugby isolation. For me, I couldn't pick Naas at 10, but I know why you picked him. Honibal for me. Hopefully, soon, Pollard.
ads2600
Guest
I didn't play in the same team as them, but had the privilege of playing against some recent greats, in age grade rugby teams. Kevin Mealamu, Mils Muliaina, Richie McCaw. The best I remember playing against was Issac Boss. He was brilliant for Waikato Ranges, and for high school grade teams. Best I played with was Bryce Robins Jnr (Eltham-Kaponga) before he made the Hurricanes.
Nick Turnbull
Roar Guru
Gerber is my front runner for best #13 of all time with strong consideration given to O'Driscoll, Sella, Stanley, Herbert, Little, Smith and I'm informed Bert Cooke went pretty well in his day. Have I missed anyone?
Patrick Effeney
Editor
NAME YOUR SOURCES ;)
MH01
Guest
Walkabout pubs have closed . There is one in London