The front row is done, the locks are pretty much locked in, now to pick the back row for our greatest Wallabies team of the Super Rugby era.
There are some tremendously talented players to choose from in this group, particularly at openside flanker, where Australia has got into the habit of producing some of the top no.7s in the world.
In fact, there are three two-time John Eales medallists in our contenders for the openside position: George Smith, David Pocock and Michael Hooper. Throw in a one-time winner of the award in Phil Waugh and a World Cup victor in David Wilson, and it’s quite the collection of flankers to choose from.
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On the other side of the scrum, there’s the most-capped Wallabies no.6 of the era and former captain Rocky Elsom, as well as Matt Cockbain, Scott Fardy and, for those of you who are fans of just going for the line, man, Owen Finegan is of course an option. We’ve also included George Smith in the group of blindsides, given he did play a bit of rugby there for the Wallabies, including at the 2003 World Cup.
And at the back of the scrum at number eight, there’s another John Eales medallist in David Lyons, the powerful Toutai Kefu, Jim Williams and some more recent options like Wycliff Palu and Ben McCalman. As with Smith at blindside flanker, we’ve also included Pocock in the group of potential eights, given his excellent form there in 2015 at the World Cup.
So, those are the candidates, but who’s going to make the final team? Make your picks, let us know who you’ve chosen, and then be sure to come back tomorrow as we make a start on the backs.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Scott oh yes into the Tahs side they would for sure. Lyons was a pretty good Test no 8 actually imo :thumbup:
Scott
Guest
Agreed, although Lyons and Palu would still walk into this Waratah side today. Dempsey Hanigan Swinton and Holloway are just horrible.
Olly
Roar Rookie
I am amazed David Wilson did not get mentioned. He won a RWC and played 7 when rucking was the norm. Not sure you would see the likes of Pocock and Hooper who like to whinge lying on the ball like Wilson would do.
MitchO
Guest
Hey Joe, I'm pretty sure Smith played a game or two at 8.
Jamie
Guest
6 Owen Finegan 7 George Smith 8 Toutai Kefu
Buk
Guest
Was so tempted to put in Mark Loane :)
soapit
Roar Guru
More overall but some areas not as strong as those guys.
Olly
Roar Rookie
To me Fardy was good in a crap back row. Covered for the skill short falls of the players around him
Olly
Roar Rookie
Agree, he has great skills but more importantly a good rugby head on him. A failure of the Cheika era of Australian rugby.
Olly
Roar Rookie
6 is difficult but agree, but not because of Elsom. Good player, but not a great like cockbain and Finegan. I personally think Fardy is better because Elsom was rubbish after his hamstring injuries early in his career
Olly
Roar Rookie
8 Kepu - clear best 7 Smith - clear best 6 difficult but to me it is cockbain, next is. Finegan. Elsom was good but to injury prone and never delivered on the biggest stage. Cockbain to me was the best and Finegan won us a rwc.
Richard
Guest
Fardy Pocock Kefu
PeterK
Roar Guru
Elsom does, good to very good in attack, defence, set piece.
Tony Hodges
Roar Rookie
Samo definitely worth a shout.
Josh
Roar Rookie
maybe in later years, depends if you are going to play left right or open and blind, if open and blind, imo he is fast enough as attacks avoid the side he defends on. the above no6s does not contain many consistent world 15 blindside flankers or blindside flankers that consistently outplayed their all black counterparts. None of the above hit harder or run harder than willie o. on the crucial play in a wc final with a lineout containing eales, McCall and croker, they throw to willie o, the rest is history. other slow no6s that I would pick ahead of the above list...Richard hill, ruben Krueger and abdel benazzi to a cast of sth African no6s.
RahRah
Roar Rookie
I believe that was Cobain’s nickname.
soapit
Roar Guru
A bit too slow for 6 in pro rugby
soapit
Roar Guru
I think expecting that level of completeness is asking a bit much seeing none of our options really have it.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Pocock was a one-trick pony and good teams learned to neutralise his pilfering, by simply passing in the other direction or kicking when he was in the vicinity, or using a big ball runner to pin him out of play. His attacking skills in particular were lousy, he had no sense of how to draw a player and pass and never mastered passing from left to right, critical inadequacies for a modern loose forward. His final significant act in a Wallabies jersey was a forward pass from left to right to a pommy winger which said it all. Pocock wasn't a patch on Smith. Ask Richie McCaw, he said Smith was the best player he had ever played.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Cockbain was good or better in set piece and defence not in attack, Finegan was good or better in attack and set piece not in defence, so IMO neither were complete players.