All time XV

Ulstermell0

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/Ireland39s-greatest-XV.3878081.jp

davyjose

The problem with this sort of thing is that in the modern game, with it's much higher levels of fitness, strength, training techniques and professionalism, the current XV would probably hockey any other XV before them.

Ulstermell0

yeah its all pretty theorietical

redmca

Interesting article.
I would generally agree with most of the choices. I would reckon only 5 selections are no-brainers:
Gibson
BOD
Slattery
Wood
McLoughlin

The rest could be debated e.g. No 8. Willy Duggan could be consistently relied upon to give away a minimum of 3 points every match for infringing. I think Tom Grace was a better winger than Ringland, but its a close call.

Ulstermell0

what about mcbride?

marco_polo

davyjose wrote: »

The problem with this sort of thing is that in the modern game, with it's much higher levels of fitness, strength, training techniques and professionalism, the current XV would probably hockey any other XV before them.

It is a valid point to some degree but the problem I have with this sort of argument is that if the players of the past were playing nowadays then surely they would have the same fitness and strength levels as any of the current players, it is not like they would be somehow genetically incapable of reaching current levels of fitness. They would probably have a higher skill level than the current lot as well.

Anyway I would back any Irish team from the 70s or 80s to :pac: any team coached by Cooder regardless .

Stev_o

RTE's programme on this is far better and a far better result. How ROG is rated over Campbell i dont know

sickpuppy

WTF wheres NOEL MANNION?