Originally Posted by BoyBrumby (Post 662597)

Ok, a slow sunday here chez Brumby, so thought I'd have a bash.

England XV post 1987

15) Josh Lewsey
14) Rory Underwood
13) Jeremy Guscott
12) Will Greenwood
11) Jason Robinson
10) Jonny Wilkinson
9) Dewi Morris
1) Jason Leonard
2) Brian Moore
3) Jeff Probyn
4) Martin Johnson (c)
5) Wade Dooley
6) Richard Hill
7) Peter Winterbottom
8) Lawrence Dallaglio

RotW XV post 1987

15) Serge Blanco
14) David Campese
13) Phillipe Sella
12) Tim Horan
11) Jonah Lomu
10) Michael Lynagh
9) Joost van der Westhuizen
1) Os du Randt
2) Sean Fitzpatrick (c)
3) Cobus Visagie
4) John Eales
5) Ian Jones
6) Michael Jones
7) Josh Kronfeld
8) Zinzan Brooke

It's scary the amount of world class players I had to leave out: no Bunce or either of the Littles (Jason & Walter) in the centres, no Nick Farr-Jones, no Keith Wood (who I almost included when I realised my XV had no Celts at all), no Jeff Wilson, no Christian Cullen, no Benazzi (sp?). I could go on... :)

I was a bit disappointed to have to include Lewsey at 15 for England, 'cos I honestly thought we must've had a better full-back since then, but when I looked at the candidates (Webb, Catt, Paul Hull, Balshaw, Jason Robinson) realised we probably hadn't!

Originally Posted by ohtani's jacket (Post 1248865)

The obvious condition being that they played in a World Cup.

All Blacks

1. Graig Dowd
2. Sean Fitzpatrick (c)
3. Olo Brown
4. Ian Jones
5. Robin Brooke
6. Alan Whetton
7. Michael Jones
8. Zinzan Brooke
9. Graeme Bachop
10. Grant Fox
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Walter Little
13. Frank Bunce
14. John Kirwan
15. John Gallagher

Bench -- Steve McDowell, Kevin Mealamu, Chris Jack, Josh Kronfeld, Andrew Mehrtens, Jeff Wilson, Justin Marshall

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby (Post 1249705)

15) Serge Blanco
14) David Campese
13) Phillipe Sella
12) Tim Horan
11) Jonah Lomu
10) Michael Lynagh
9) Joost van der Westhuizen
1) Os du Randt
2) Sean Fitzpatrick (c)
3) Cobus Visagie
4) John Eales
5) Ian Jones
6) Michael Jones
7) Josh Kronfeld
8) Zinzan Brooke :

Originally Posted by Francis (Post 1250133)

Why Joost over Farr-Jones?

Originally Posted by ohtani's jacket (Post 1248865)

The obvious condition being that they played in a World Cup.

All Blacks

1. Graig Dowd
2. Sean Fitzpatrick (c)
3. Olo Brown
4. Ian Jones
5. Robin Brooke
6. Alan Whetton
7. Michael Jones
8. Zinzan Brooke
9. Graeme Bachop
10. Grant Fox
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Walter Little
13. Frank Bunce
14. John Kirwan
15. John Gallagher

Bench -- Steve McDowell, Kevin Mealamu, Chris Jack, Josh Kronfeld, Andrew Mehrtens, Jeff Wilson, Justin Marshall

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby (Post 1251133)

Farr-Jones had the better pass, but I'd rate Joost as superior in pretty much every other department. Best sniping scrum-half I've ever seen & a far more impressive physical specimen that Farr-Jones too.

Originally Posted by ripper868 (Post 1251619)

amateur times v pro times, hard to use that as a determining factor IMO

Originally Posted by ripper868 (Post 1251619)

amateur times v pro times, hard to use that as a determining factor IMO

Originally Posted by Stefano (Post 1251150)

I pretty much agree! However, #13 is Joe Stanley! And Wayne "Buck" Shelford is #8.

---------

Aussie XI

1) Tony Daly
2) Phil Kearns
3) Ewan McKenzie
(1991 front row was awesome)

4) David Giffin
5) John Eales
6) Willie Ofahengaue
7) Matt Cockbain
8) David Wilson

9) Nick Farr-Jones (c)
10) Michael Lynagh
11) Ben Tune
12) Tim Horan
13) Jason Little
14) David Campese
15) Matt Burke

Originally Posted by ohtani's jacket (Post 1251747)

Aussie World Cup XV

1. Tony Daly
2. Phil Kearns
3. Ewan McKenzie
4. David Giffin
5. John Eales
6. Willie Ofahengaue
7. Simon Poidevin
8. Toutai Kefu
9. Nick Farr-Jones
10. Michael Lynagh
11. David Campese
12. Tim Horan
13. Jason Little
14. Ben Tune
15. Matt Burke

Bench -- Tom Lawton, Andrew Blades, Steve Cutler, Owen Finegan, George Gregan, Joe Roff, Steve Larkham

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby (Post 1252305)

I see the point you're making, but actually Joost did play during the arse-end of the amateur era (he was the scrum-half for their win in 95) and he was just a naturally bigger guy than Farr-Jones. Scored a heck of a lot of tries too; I believe he's still the Boks' all-time leading scorer.