Rugby Survey

[Langeveldt]

Union, domestic and international, with my admittedly limited knowledge

First game you can remember seeing: 2001 - Newcastle Falcons v Bath (live)
Greatest match you've seen: the 1995 World Cup Final in Jo'Burg (on TV)
Best Grand Final you've seen: N/A
Best State of Origin series you've seen: N/A
Best Test you've seen: 2003 WC Final
Most memorable win: SA winning the world cup at home
Most painful loss: The debacle at Twickers a few years ago
Favourite player: Percy Montgomerie
Greatest player you've seen: Jona Lomu
Greatest side: NZ (pick any era)
Greatest coach: Clive Woodward
Greatest captain: John Smit
Best performance you've seen, individual and team: Joel Stransky and SA in 1995
Best performance against your team(s), individual and team: indiv. Plenty!
Most hated rival: Australia
Most respected rival: New Zealand
Player who's exit from the game was the biggest loss: Naas Botha

 

[KennyD]

Australia (post 1987)

1. Bill Young
2. Phil Kearns
3. Ewan Mckenzie
4. Rod Mcall
5. John Eales
6. Willie "Often have a go"
7. George Smith
8. Totai Kefu
9. George Gregan
10. Steve Larkham
11. Lote Tuquiri
12. Tim Horan
13. Jason Little
14. David Campese
15. Matt Burke

World XV: (post 1987)

15. Jeff Wilson
14. David Campese
13. Frank Bunce
12. Tim Horan
11. Jonah Lomu
10. Steve Larkham
9. Joost van der Westhuizen
8. Totai Kefu
7. George Smith
6. Michael Jones
5. John Eales
4. Martin Johnson
3. Phil Vickery
2. Keith Wood
1. Jason Leonard

The only problem with that World XV, is that theres no goal kicker. So looks like Nobody, as in "Nobody's perfect" John Eales gets that job, unless Jeff Wilson can outkick him at training?

Anyway, the amount of tries that they should score, especially with that back three, who needs a goal kicker?

 

[BoyBrumby]

ROW XV: (post 1987)

15. Jeff Wilson
14. David Campese
13. Frank Bunce
12. Tim Horan
11. Jonah Lomu
10. Steve Larkham
9. Joost van der Westhuizen
8. Totai Kefu
7. George Smith
6. Michael Jones
5. John Eales
4. Martin Johnson
3. Phil Vickery
2. Keith Wood
1. Jason Leonard

Not quite sure you've got the hang of a Rest of the World XV!

 

[KennyD]

World XV: (post 1987)

Whatcha talking about Brumby?

 

[Blaze]

Kenny, that is a decent side and obviously includes lots of players you liked to watch, but there are some kind of dodgy selections in there like Smith at 7 and Wilson at full back (unless he kicks the goals).

 

[ohtani's jacket]

What's dodgy about Smith? Smith was a brilliant number seven.

Not sure about Bill Young, though.

 

[BoyBrumby]

What's dodgy about Smith? Smith was a brilliant number seven.

Still is, unless you know something I don't!

If Oz can get themselves a halfway-decent tight five (admittedly probably easier said than done) they can still be a real force in France. Their back-line is second only to NZ's for me, although French Rugby fans might dispute that. They were living on scraps this autumn & still ran Wales to within 2 points; we didn't put them away until the last 5 mins either despite an almost embarrassing amount of ball.

They still have nearly two years to get it sorted and the choice of Eddie's replacement is obviously going to be vital. Mitchell would get my vote; a forwards specialist (although Jones was too I guess) who's got experience at the top level. That said it's hard to conjour players out of thin air & Oz's prop pool looks v shallow just now.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Still is, unless you know something I don't!

Jones moved Smith to the blindside, so he could play Smith and Waugh together. This proved to be the masterstroke of the 2003 World Cup, but strangely, Jones has moved Smith to number eight to make room for Elsom and Roe.

If Oz can get themselves a halfway-decent tight five (admittedly probably easier said than done) they can still be a real force in France. Their back-line is second only to NZ's for me, although French Rugby fans might dispute that.

Australia have a really good backline. It would be even better if they had Larkham, but he so bandaged up I wonder if he'll make the World Cup.

The problem for the Wallabies is that they're getting destroyed at the set-pieces, so the backs only look dangerous in broken play.

Mitchell would get my vote; a forwards specialist (although Jones was too I guess) who's got experience at the top level. That said it's hard to conjour players out of thin air & Oz's prop pool looks v shallow just now.

John Mitchell?

He never did anything for our forward play. Our forward play improved in part because of Henry and Hansen's UK experience, but also because Henry asked the Super 12 coaches to place a great emphasis on the set-piece.

They also worked hard on developing a style of forward play where you link with each other -- offloading, instead of breakdowns and incessant phase play, both of which are easier to defend.

Most people here think David Nucifora should be the Wallabies coach, but he's sticking to his commitment with the Blues, plus he has issues with several high profile Wallabies who had him ousted out of the Brumbies.

It'll probably be Ewen McKenzie.

 

[Anna]

Not quite sure you've got the hang of a Rest of the World XV!

I was thinking that very thing as I read it

 

[Snippie]

First Test (or provincial match) you can remember seeing: Can't remember the exact match, but one of the first matches of the '95 WC
Greatest match you've seen: '95 Final
Best Test series you've seen: Not exactly a series but '05 tri nations - even though we didn't win...
Most memorable win: Tie 95 WC win for Springboks, '04 Bulls Currie cup Champs!
Most painful loss: '05 Bulls lose to Cheetas at Loftus - That was just sad!

Favourite player: Joost vd Westhuizen
Greatest player you've seen: Jono Lomo
Greatest side: Not exactly sure, between the 95 Springbok squad and the Current NZ side
Greatest coach: Clive Woodward
Greatest captain: John Smit
Best performance you've seen, individual and team: Team - Springboks 95, player - Joel Stransky - That dropkick!
Best performance against your home nation (or province), individual and team: NZ this year in NZ - Tri Nations.
Most hated rival: England!
Most respected rival: New Zealand
Player who's exit from the game was the biggest loss: Ettiene Botha - Was on his way to great things, would definitely have made the Springbok squad, best Bulls player for most of the previous two years, tragically died in car accident earlier this year

 

[ohtani's jacket]

OK,

Rugby League Greatest XIII, 1989-2005

1. Gary Belcher
2. Andrew Ettingshausen
3. Mal Meninga
4. Steve Renouf
5. Brett Mullins
6. Wally Lewis
7. Allan Langer
8. Paul Harragon
9. Steve Walters
10. Glenn Lazarus
11. Paul Sironen
12. David Gillespie
13. Bradley Clyde

 

[Burpey]

Rugby League Greatest XIII, 1998-2005 (Too young to remember much before before 1998)

1. Darren Lockyer
2. Wendell Sailor
3. Jamie Lyon
4. Mark Gasnier
5. Anthony Minichiello
6. Laurie Daley
7. Andrew Johns
8. Shane Webcke
9. Danny Buderus
10. Luke Bailey
11. Craig Fitzgibbon
12. Ben Kennedy
13. Bradley Fittler

Hope I haven't forgotten anyone

 

[steds]

Hope I haven't forgotten anyone

Langer?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Australia have a really good backline. It would be even better if they had Larkham, but he so bandaged up I wonder if he'll make the World Cup.

The problem for the Wallabies is that they're getting destroyed at the set-pieces, so the backs only look dangerous in broken play.



John Mitchell?

He never did anything for our forward play. Our forward play improved in part because of Henry and Hansen's UK experience, but also because Henry asked the Super 12 coaches to place a great emphasis on the set-piece.

They also worked hard on developing a style of forward play where you link with each other -- offloading, instead of breakdowns and incessant phase play, both of which are easier to defend.

Most people here think David Nucifora should be the Wallabies coach, but he's sticking to his commitment with the Blues, plus he has issues with several high profile Wallabies who had him ousted out of the Brumbies.

It'll probably be Ewen McKenzie.

Aside from Larkham yer crims still have Giteau, Mortlock & Rathbone to come back & they're all arguably first-ish choices, so their backs are looking strong.

There's no doubt your pack has come on in leaps & bounds since 2003, but Mitchell seemed to do pretty ok when he was our forwards coach. McKenzie seems the safe choice (and an ex-prop too, which is their real area of need), but there's been a bit of talk up here about Scott Johnson, the Wales skills coach being in the frame. Pat Howard finishes at The Tigers at the end of our season too, so I'm surprised no-one has really mentioned him as a possible yet, especially as the ARU has said they're in no immediate hurry to replace Jones.

 

[steds]

A fairly poor (and slightly biased) attempt at a Rugby League Greatest XIII, 1995-2005

1. Darren Lockyer
2. Wendell Sailor
3. Jamie Lyon
4. Paul Newlove
5. Sean Hoppe
6. Brad Fittler
7.Andrew Johns
8. Shane Webcke
9. Keiron Cunningham
10. Stuart Fielden
11. Craig Fitzgibbon
12. Ruben Wiki
13. Ellery Hanley

Like I said, ever so slightly biased towards the modern day and people who've played up here, as I never really watched much NRL. You play at funny times. I can't recall actually seeing Hanley play, but until Paul Sculthorpe learns to pass or my memory kicks into gear and I think of someone else (more chance of the latter happening, methinks), he gets in on reputation.

 

[Burpey]

Langer?

Not ahead of Johns. Never.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Aside from Larkham yer crims still have Giteau, Mortlock & Rathbone to come back & they're all arguably first-ish choices, so their backs are looking strong.

Still plenty of cause for headache...

There has to be question marks over whether Gregan, Larkham, Latham, Mortlock and Flatley can make the World Cup.

The only reason Gregan is still playing, & why Larkham will start at first-five next year, is that there's no one to replace them. Giteau made a spectacular rise through the rep levels of Australian rugby, but as great an inside centre as he's been, he was exposed in the number ten jersey, & Rogers is more of a utility player. Giteau and Mortlock made a great pair in the centres; Mortlock, himself, could have been one of the all-time great Wallabies, but sadly, he's more of a workhorse these days. The Aussies have tried everything they can to find a replacement, (Tuqiri being the latest convert), but Mortlock remains the sole world class centre in Australian rugby. So it's either Giteau and Mortlock or Flatley and Mortlock. Anything else is smoke and mirrors.

While they better hope Latham can still lace his boots in 2007, in time Mitchell will succeed him as fullback, with the back three looking OK. They've got no shortage of quality wingers.

Here's the desired backline, the question is whether they can field it for any amount of time:

15. Latham
14. Mitchell
13. Mortlock
12. Giteau
11. Tuqiri
10. Larkham
9. Gregan

Reserves: Gerrard, Flatley, Whitaker, Rathbone.

It's a funny thing this Australian losing streak. I kinda miss them being tough to beat.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Not ahead of Johns. Never.

Langer was better than Johns, and believe me, I'm a huge Andrew Johns mark.

BTW, has Fittler ever played loose forward? Shouldn't he really be playing five-eighths to Johns' half-back? And Minichiello's one of the best fullbacks I've ever see -- I assume you're trying to get Lockyer on at fullback, but, really, what's Minichiello doing at wing? Sneaky!

 

[Smudge]

If, on the off chance, Nucifora gets the job then Larkham won't be there. Regardless of whether he's fit or not, Larkham does not want to play under Nucifora.