Official Rugby Thread

[Mike5181]

I just remember Anton Oliver being pretty terrible.

 

[hendrix]

I just remember Anton Oliver being pretty terrible.

who was the guy he used to sub in with? Cos I seem to remember Oliver as being the better of a terrible bunch

 

[Zinzan]

Norm Hewitt earlier in Oliver's career & Mark Hammett mid.

 

[Francis]

SOUTH AFRICA (THE GOOD GUYS!)

1. Chris Koch / Os du Randt / Boy Louw / Mof Myburg / Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira

2. Uli Schmidt / Jan Lotz / Gys Pietzer / Bismarck du Plessis / John Smit

3. Jaap Bekker / Okey Geffin / Hannes Marias / Cobus Visagie

4. Frik du Preez / Mark Andrews / Victor Matfield

5. Johan Claasen / Bakkies Botha / Schalk Burger Sr /

6. Jan Ellis / Ruben Kruger / Andre Venter / Rob Louw / Theuns Stofberg / Juan Smith

7. Piet Greyling / Schalk Burger / Martin Pelser / Paul Roos / Heinrich Brussow / Francois Pienaar

8. Hennie Muller / Mourne du Plessis / Doug Hopwood / Tommy Bedford / Gary Teichmann / Daan Retief / Duane Vermeulen / Bobby Skinstad

9. Joost van der Westhuisen / Danie Craven / Fourie du Preez / Dawie de Villiers / Fonnie du Toit /

10. Nass Botha / Bennie Osler / Keith Oxlee / Henry Honiball / Piet Visagie / Hannes Brewis

11. Carel du Plessis / Jannie Engelbrecht / Gerrie Germishuys / Japie Krige / Tom Van Vollenhoven

12. Mannetjies Roux / John Gainsford / Michael du Plessis / Jean de Villiers / Willie du Plessis

13. Danie Gerber / Joggie Jansen / Japie Mulder / Andre Snyman / Robbie Fleck / Jaque Fourie

14. Ray Mordt / Bryan Habana / Gert Muller / James Small / Chester Williams / Syd Nomis

15. H.O. de Villiers / Andre Joubert / Gysie Pienaar / Gerry Brand / Johan Heunis / Percy Montgomery

That's 79 players to my 82 All Blacks players.

 

[Zinzan]

Francis, can you do your all-time Southern vs. Northern Hemisphere XVs, & without your silly omitting of All Blacks? Cheers.

 

[Hurricane]

Zinzan... Hurricane... your rugby knowledge indicates to me that you're worthy of the Springbok jersey...

Anyway, the big news this week is whether Quade Cooper is playing this weekend in the cursed number 12 jersey for Australia. Personally, the only way I can see Foley being of much use to Australia is if there's a test being settled by penalties. Foley reminds me of Giteau ala 2009, and I was not a fan of Giteau's 2009 five-eighth play.

Cooper can be the biggest liability and the biggest help to Australia... he's a mixed bag. But after last weekend, Australia are desperate for anyone who can create tries for them... even if it's a weak fairy like Cooper.

ps: I should have included Bob Scott in my fourth-string All Blacks side, instead of Gallagher...

NEW ZEALAND

1. Ken Gray / Sir Wilson Whineray / Steve McDowell / Johnny Simpson / Tony Woodcock / Craig Dowd

2 .Sean Fitzpatrick / Has Catley / Kevin Mealamu / Andy Dalton / Hika Reid

3. Olo Brown / Kevin Skinner / Carl Hayman / Gary Knight / Ian Clarke

4. Andy Haden / Richard “Tiny” White / Robin Brooke / Brad Thorn / Stanley Meads

5. Colin Meads / Ian Jones / Gary Whetton / Ali Williams

6. Kel Tremain / Ian Kirkpatrick / Maurice Brownlie / Jerome Kaino / Mark “Cowboy” Shaw / Alan Whetton

7. Richie McCaw / Michael Jones / Waka Nathan / Josh Kronfeld / Murray Mexted

8. Zinzan Brooke / Sir Brian Lochore / Wayne “Buck” Shelford / Keiran Read / Murray Mexted / Jerry Collins / Peter Jones

9. Dave Loveridge / Sid Going / Chris Laidlaw / Graham Bachop / Justin Marshall / Aaron Smith / David Kirk

10. Dan Carter / Grant Fox / Andrew Mehrtons / Earl Kirton / Wayne Smith

11. Jonah Lomu / Ron Jardon / Joe Rokocoko / Bernie Fraser / Sitveni Sivivatu

12. Bert Cooke / Walter Little / John Schuster / Ma’aa Nonu / Warrick Taylor

13. Frank Bunce / Joe Stanley / Bruce Robertson / Tana Umaga / Conrad Smith / Fred Allen

14. John Kirwan / Jeff Wilson / Stu Wilson / Doug Howlett / Brian Williams

15. George Nepia / Don Clarke / Christian Cullen / Bob Scott / Mils Muliana / John Gallagher / Fergie McCormick


This is just off the top of my head. And people like Smudge don't think I know anything about rugby! That's 83 players, you muppet!

I concur 100% with your number 9s. That would be the exact sequence I would have them in. Loveridge was simply incredible.
Look for Smith to rise up that ranking list with more years of service under his belt. He will overtake marshall soon enough.

Your number 13s are suspect. From what I have read, I never saw him play, I would have Bruce Robertson as our finest number 13 all things considered.

 

[Hurricane]

I would also have Steve Pokere several measures ahead of Joe Stanley in the pantheon of 13s

 

[hendrix]

Smith is already miles better than Marshall.

 

[Hurricane]

Smith is already miles better than Marshall.

I guess its one of those longevity things. Let him earn his stripes a bit more Hendrix.

 

[Francis]

Sure! And while I’m at it, why don’t I just kiss and hug some poisonous snakes!!! I’m doing you a favour here…

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

1. Chris Koch / Topo Rodriguez / Sir Wilson Whineray / Kevin Skinner / Okey Giffen / Steve McDowell
2. Sean Fitzpatrick / Uli Schmidt / Jan Lotz / Gysie Pienaar / Phil Kearns / Tom Lawton Sr / Has Catley
3. Ken Gray / Olo Brown / Jaap Bakker / Hannes Marias / Boy Louw / Jon White
4. Frik du Preez / Andy Haden / Richard “Tiny” White / Mark Andrews / Robin Brooke / Rob Heming / Steve Cutler
5. Colin Meads / John Eales / Johan Claasen / Ian Jones / Gary Whetton / Dave Giffen
6. Kel Tremain / Ian Kirkpatrick / Jan Ellis / Ruben Kreuger / Andre Venter / Willie Ofahengaue
7. Richie McCaw / Michael Jones / Col Windon / Piet Greyling / Waka Nathan / George Smith / Schalk Burger
8. Zinzan Brooke / Hennie Muller / Sir Brian Lochore / Buck Shelford / Doug Hopwood / Mark Loane
9. Ken Catchpole / Dave Loveridge / Sid Going / Joost can der Westhuisen / Danie Craven / Nick Farr-Jones / John Hipwell
10. Dan Carter / Mark Ella / Hugo Porta / Michael Lynagh / Stephen Larkham / Tom Lawton Sr / Grant Fox
11. David Campese / Jonah Lomu / Ron Jardon / Carel du Plessis / Brendan Moon / Janie Engelbrecht
12. Mannetjies Roux / Tim Horan / Bert Cooke /
13. Danie Gerber / John Gainsford / Trevor Allan / Frank Bunce / Cyril Towers / Joe Stanley / Tana Umaga
14. John Kirwan / Jeff Wilson / Ray Mordt / Stu Wilson / Joe Rokocoko / Bryan Habana
15. George Nepia / Don “The Boot” Clarke / Christian Cullen / H.O. de Villiers / Bob Scott / Andre Joubert / Matt Burke

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

1. Robert Paparemborde / Ian McLaughlin / Christian Califano / Jason Leonard / Ray McLaughlin /
2. Bryn Meredith / Keith Wood / Peter Wheeler / Colin Deans / Raphael Ibanez / Peter Jackson / Brian Moore
3. Fran Cotton / Graham Price / Jean-Pierre Gauret / Iain Milne / Phil Vickery /
4. Martin Johnson / Gordon Brown / Bill Beaumont / Benoit Dauga / Simon Shaw / Wade Dooley
5. Willie John McBride / Lucien Mias / Paul Ackford /
6. Ivor Jones / Richard Hill / Abdel Benazzi / Finlay Calder / Michel Celaya
7. Peter Winterbottom / Jean-Pierre Rives / Fergus Slattery / Michael Crauste / John Jeffrey / Jean-Claude Skrela
8. Walter Spanghero / Marvyn Davies / Laurent Rodriguez / Lawrence Dallaglio / Sergio Parisse / Scott Quinnell
9. Gareth Edwards / Rob Howley / Haydn Tanner / Dickie Jeeps / Jerome Gallion
10. Jack Kyle / Cliff Morgan / Barry John / Phil Bennett / Ollie Campbell / John Rutherford / Jonny Wilkinson
11. Tony O’Reilly / David Duckham / Shane Williams / J.J. Williams / Emile N’Tamack
12. Mike Gibson / Jo Maso / Didier Codroniou / Dennis Charvet
13. Philippe Sella / Jeff Butterfield / Brian O’Driscoll / Scott Gibbs
14. Gerald Davies / Ieuan Evans / Rory Underwood / Simon Geoghan
15. Serge Blanco / J.P.R. Williams / Andy Irvine / Gavin Hastings / Pierre Villepreux / Jason Robinson


I've done this in about 20 minutes. I don't have the time to check it all. But I'll edit it later with better improvements...

 

[Hurricane]

I can see why you put Nepia ahead of Clarke, but only kind of Clarke was phenomenal

 

[Flem274*]

all of these ATG teams are missing Shayne Austin on the wing

 

[Francis]

all of these ATG teams are missing Shayne Austin on the wing

You! I really don't like you! That's why I mentioned you in this post! Take note of the third name on that list

http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/off-topic/38810-could-you-commit-murder-4.html#post1599439

 

[Flem274*]

I love you man

 

[Francis]

My murderous tendencies towards people from *** ******* aside, we have a Test this weekend.

Quade Cooper has now been selected at five-eighth, and given the dire place Australia are in, I think that's the right way to go. Hopefully he plays like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBBbHBSPZLg

 

[Howe_zat]

None of you are talking about Andy Goode so I'm not interested.

 

[vogue]

Obviously no interest here in RL,so I feel at least there should be some mention about the great win for Hull yesterday in the Challenge Cup against Warrington . They came back from 10-0 down to win 12-10 . Great match and great atmosphere . Finally winning at Wembley

 

[social]

ABs are a great side and no probs with being beaten by them

However, the ARU is a joke and they have trashed the sport in this country with the support for grass-roots being non-existent: classic example being the ARU holding a race day at Randwick on grade grand final day whilst asking junior players to pay a levy to support the Wallabies

The ARU's incompetence is staggering and we are unlikely to improve unless there is a complete cleanout

 

[Francis]

Here are my five worst Wallabies sides since 1970...


5. 1974 Wallabies
They actually drew one Test in this series through a combination of Ray Price mongrel and Paul McLean kicking.

4. 2009 Wallabies
Should have won with that man, myth and legend, Stephen Donald as All Blacks five-eighth replacing an injured Dan Carter.

3. 2012 Wallabies
The Wallabies had epic problems all around the park this year. Nathan Sharpe was the Wallabies only shining light.

2. 2016 Wallabies
Yep... And the series isn't even over yet! This has been truly abysmal this year.

1. 1972 Wallabies
The Woeful Wallabies! This is in the days of the three-point try, and yet the Wallabies were losing by margins almost as large as 50. What makes this series even worse is when you compare it to New Zealand's form from 1970, 1971 and 1973. In '70 they lost to the great South Africa, in '71 they lost to the Lions, in '73 they lost to England. Of course, they lost a Test to France in '79, the Bledisloe in '79... They stole a Grand Slam off an Andy Haden dive... 70s not a great decade for the All Blacks.

Five Worst New Zealand Sides to Play Australia Since 1970

5. 1979 All Blacks
Lost a war of attrition

4. 2009 All Blacks
And they won the Bledisloe...!

3. 1980 All Blacks
A little seafood hurt them...

2. 1986 All Blacks
Lucky not to lose 0-3 to Australia! Tuynman scored a try in the second Test that was not given! They had way too many old players - Mexted, Shaw, Reid, etc - all fine players, but old by now.

1. 1998 All Blacks
Lost every game in the Tri Nations... the silence of the lambs... beautiful!

 

[Francis]

While I'm bored, here's ranking my favourite decades for the All Blacks...

11. 1960s
10. 2000s
9. 2010s
8. 1920s
7. 1950s
6. 1900s
5. 1990s
4. 1980s
3. 1910s
2. 1970s
1. 1930s