The Roar is excited to announce that we’re teaming up with ASICS to present The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV ahead of this year’s tournament in France.
We are asking readers of The Roar, Australia’s biggest sporting debate, to choose the greatest players and coach to ever represent Australia at the Rugby World Cup, from its first iteration in 1987 through to 2019.
Only players who represented Australia at a Rugby World Cup are eligible.
A mammoth longlist of over 150 Wallabies were considered, and our panel of experts Brett McKay, Christy Doran and Jim Tucker whittled that down to a shortlist of five players in each position on a special episode of the Roar Rugby Podcast.
Listen to the episode here to determine our decision process on who made the shortlist (and indeed, who didn’t):
From this shortlist, it’s now over to you to select the Greatest Wallabies World Cup XV along with the captain and coach.
The poll, which will be embedded in rugby stories on site, will run from now until 11:59pm, Tuesday 8th August 2023. The XV will be unveiled in a countdown ahead of the kick-off of the Rugby World Cup on September 8th.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to cast your votes!
The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV Poll is proudly brought to you by ASICS, the Official Performance Apparel and Footwear supplier for the Wallabies, and headlined by the brand new – and outstanding – new Rugby World Cup playing jersey as launched in Sydney just prior to The Rugby Championship, and which is available to purchase in-store, and online at www.asics.com.au now!
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Brendan Nasser could play a bit too...we have been blessed with dynamic 7 s. Mcreight looks another.
MO
Roar Rookie
I was pretty young when David Wilson was consistently one of our best players like smith pococock and hooper after him but I’d pick smith over pocock over Wilson with the great man m hooper last in that line and all b4 poidevan
Chopper
Roar Rookie
It would appear this is largely limited to the last 30 years or this Roar crowd are all Gen x or melineals. Otherwise, you would have Mark Loane, John Hipwell, Simon Poviden etc
piru
Roar Rookie
That's supposed to say no position C'est le biere
The Late News
Roar Rookie
And frequently do!
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I would. Michael Jones in his prime redefined the openside; he was pretty handy at blindside too. Love George Smith mate but the Iceman was real...
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Mortlock Herbert prob better than Little...All blacks could never handle Herbert.lol
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Loved Roff but no Campo..
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
He's a good human being as well as a great rugby player
MO
Roar Rookie
Loved miller but he was a little fella
MO
Roar Rookie
Ilikedin George S book he said he knew when he played better than mcaw and when he didn’t
MO
Roar Rookie
You say moon better than tune but tune maybe the only winger who never had a problem marking lomu. Lotsa monster players now. Tune as first picked as any one
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Given the amount of ads and how hard my ad blockers have to work on The Roar, I really thought you had all this data on me already. But no, I'm not providing my peronal info gratis.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I stopped voting when I saw there was no option to pick Baxter or Dunning. Of course, I am a pom.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Yes agreed Miller played 6 but was 7 all day..very very good player wish we had him Saturday.
sheek
Roar Guru
Wizz - Nah, The most appearances off the bench, 38 out of 72. That's a support player, not a primary player.
sheek
Roar Guru
Wizz, Well, that's debatable. Australian didn't go definite openside/blindside until about 1991/92. Before that the Wallabies tended to play left & right, unlike the Kiwis, who had played open & blind since almost forever. Before this period, any Aussie conception of whether players were openside or blindside was a matter of perception. For example, Col Windon, who played 1946-52 & Aub Hodgson, who played 33-38, were considered our best openside & blindside before these positions became specialised in Oz. Neither was known to specifically play their elevated position. I felt Miller was quite mobile, moreso than Poidevin, which meant he was more suited to openside than Poidevin, who was no slouch himself. I'm happy to put Miller in the same bracket as Poidevin, Wilson, Smith & Pocock, who all demonstrated a wonderful ability to play both sides fo the scrum.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
We've never had better. I rate him higher than any other 7 to play the game. If he'd been an AB, nobody would disagree
Wizz
Roar Rookie
No!!
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Miller played blindside...