Your World 15

flyingoutside

Prob all ready done on another thread but who'd be in your team of world fifteen.

Hears mine to get it started.

1.Hayman-Solid enough
2.Anyone but John Smit
3.Van der Linde-coz he can cause so much trouble in the scrum
4.Matfield-Great on the oppisition line out and around the field
5.O'Connell-Because he's just brilliant
6.Quinlan-fantastic in the break down
7.McCaw-on the verge of cheating but not great player
8.Konkowski-Had a great season and hope it continues
9.Stringer-I'll get stick for this but i think he's the best passer gives whose outside the extra half second
10.O'Gara-Can control a game easily and showed when captaining munster he can be a leader
11.Clerc-When he's on form he can be devastating
12.Cartar-Coz i think RoG is the better 10 but you have to have dan in there
13.Steyn-Might do anything(was going to pick myself but i'll be the impact sub)
14.Howlett-Still got it All black or not
15.Kearney-Just for his performance against austrailia he was fantastic


Close calls-
Shanklin-great player thats really under rated
D. Wallace-Would have made it if not for McCaw
Watson-Never know what he'll do
L. Mafi-Will get even better and some pace

Front row was hard to pick.

anonymous_joe

Ulster fan I assume?

No du Preez/Carter half backs?

I'd have thrown Williams or Habana in at 11. Wouldn't put Howlett as a 14.

There's plenty of things I could say, but it's late.

flyingoutside

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Ulster fan I assume?

No du Preez/Carter half backs?

I'd have thrown Williams or Habana in at 11. Wouldn't put Howlett as a 14.

There's plenty of things I could say, but it's late.

No Munster hence Wallace been close.
Think clerc is just as good even with out the pace of williams and co, RoG definately 10 Carter 12. Put up our own too.

ozt9vdujny3srf

I think that may have been a joke. You are very very obviously a munster fan.

RuggieBear

there should be no irish players anywhere near the world 15.

Sangre

surely those inclusions are a wind up.

gcgirl

RuggieBear wrote: »

there should be no irish players anywhere near the world 15.

I'll 2nd that!!
Dan Carter as outhalf for me any day!

anonymous_joe

Alright, I'll give it a bash.

1. Sheridan
2. No idea.
3. Csatrogiovanni (I don't know front rows that well )

4. Matfield
5. Chris Jack

6. McCaw
7. Burger
8. Chabal (He's not that good, but I do like him)

9. Du Preez
10. Carter

11. Habana
12. De Villiers
13. Mortlock (I'd actually put BoD in there if he was fully fit. Fully being the operative word.
14. No idea

15. Montgomery. Or Heymans.

anonymous_joe

Feel free to lay into my selection, I know it's far from perfect.

zAbbo

Here's mine

15. Fernandez
14. Rokocoko
13. Mortlock
12. Jouzion
11. Habana

10. Carter
9. Du Preez

1. Sheridan
2. Smith
3. Van Der Linde

4. Bakkies Botha
5. Thion

6. Elsom
7. Mc Caw
8. Parisse

As it's my world XV, I've put in a few different combinations, starting with Hernandez at FB, he's a fantastic runner with ball in
hand as well as a creative spark to compliment the two best wingers in the world - Habana & Joe Rokocoko.

With such attacking flair in the back 3, I've added Yannick Jouzion at 12, who at 6.4 is a great defenensive and offensive force. Similar on the outside - Mortlock just never has a bad game. No one is getting past those two and they are certainly formiddable going forward.

Half backs, even though DC has had slightly poor form of late, he showed he is still the king of modern fly halves with a master display
against England. Du Preez has the full package at SH, you need someone equally good at breaking and fast passing, especially with 5 of thebest attacking players outside him.

Back row is probably an area were you could pick 2-3 different lineups and be just as strong, I've went with Parrisse at 8, the guy is
immense and has everything you want in an 8. Richie McCaw is undoubtedly the best 7 around and has been for years, always on the
edge, but with possesion being so important, he's the best. At blindside I've went with Rocky Elsom, there are many quality 6's around (Jones & Jerry Collins), but I think Rocky is a more formidable lineout operator, and is tremendous in the loose.

Locks, I couldn't pick Matfield, playing poorly in a second tier league just isn't good enough, his Sprinkbog partner Botha has shown the consistency thats required to make a World XV. A surprise call with Thion as his partner, a player who showed the likes of POC and DOC that it's not just contesting lineouts that makes you a great second row - it's stealing ball, making the right calls and being a
powerhouse in the loose.

Front row, with Carl Hayman looking lack lustre at Newcastle, Tighthead has got to go to Van Der Linde, he was just immense over the last 12 months. I've put in Sheridan at loosehead, a player who seems a one man wrecking ball, and with the right partners would easily excel.

Hooker, I've gone with John Smit, not the best dart thrower, but great in the loose and adds that fiery leader quality which you want in a front row.

So there we go, I think you could swop 1 or 2 players, but that XV would beat all of the international teams.

If any of those decisions look odd, it's due to some players being off form (mainly the exodus from SH teams - Matfield, Jack, Hayman etc.) and other players just being too old or retiring (Os du Randt etc.)

No Irish players, and certainly no Munster player would make the XV or even the 22, just nowhere near good enough.

The only player in Ireland worth a shout in that is Contempomi at 12, and if you were picking a 30 man squad, you would probably have him in to cover 10/12.

ROG is a good player, but putting him at 10 with an attacking backline would be insanity if you want the ball to go through the hands.

Again POC at lock would be a massive risk, similar to ROG he has serious problems performing at the highest level, twice in O'Connells
career he has been left seriously questioning his ability (Lions '05 / RWC '07)

Mafi is nowhere near good enough, no disrespect, But showing some breaks and a more attacking nature from a centre would not draw the plaudits it does in anywhere but Munster.

D.Wallace is a good player, a strong ball carrier, but wouldn't even come close to players like McCaw or George Smith in the black arts of world class openside play. (probably because he's not an openside...)

Also a small bugbear, but Carl Hayman is a tighthead prop (no.3), you just can't interchange props from TH(3) to LH(1), and to a lesser extent inside (12) to outside centre (13), FH(10) to IC(12), and right wing(14) to left (11).

World XV's should be picked on a players best position, as well as form.

I think I've got a good balance in there, anyone disagree?

Stev_o

Zabbo my only disagreement with that XV is John Smit i think he's been awful for the Springboks that said he is a very very very good leader but other then that he's a average player his stint with Clermount was laughable and the only reason people thought he was extremely good was that Mattfield was making him look good with all the throws going cleanly to him.

I would have had Ledezma at 2 arguably the best hooker in the world immense around the park and great darks thrower and scrummager he has really stood out in any team he's played in.

Also im not the greatest fan of Habanna i dunno why he just doesnt appeal to me to be one of the all time greats just he has speed on his side but hey im not going to argue with that. I would have a surprise selection of either Delasau or Nalaga (stop try scorer in Top14 beast of a player http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=7XLnkPu6uaQ ).

Other then that you'd be spot on

zAbbo

Smit looked completely shattered in the few games I saw him with Clermont, I was thinking Ledesma (his team mate!) but he's 35 and doesn't have the leadership that Smit has, that said you could choose one or the other. I also like the look of Sébastien Bruno.

Wingers I think Habana would just stretch the opposition more, probably on reputation, but can't argue too much with the RWC top try scorer.

Stev_o

zAbbo wrote: »

Smit looked completely shattered in the few games I saw him with Clermont, I was thinking Ledesma (his team mate!) but he's 35 and doesn't have the leadership that Smit has, that said you could choose one or the other. I also like the look of Sébastien Bruno.

Wingers I think Habana would just stretch the opposition more, probably on reputation, but can't argue too much with the RWC top try scorer.

Have a look at the youtube video if you can to see some of Nalaga tries theres also another one on rugbydump of his two tries in the semi finals im telling you this guy is something special Clermount signed him after seeing him the IRB Junior World Cup last year (or the year before i cant remember). He has such a great finishing power probably has the best hand off iv seen in years from any player its shame though that we ll have to wait a long time before he plays a game for Fiji

zAbbo

See his compilation from rugbydump before, he's a bit special alright.

You're right, it will be a while before he plays for Fiji, shame really.

Stev_o

zAbbo wrote: »

See his compilation from rugbydump before, he's a bit special alright.

You're right, it will be a while before he plays for Fiji, shame really.

Yeah it really is they and its so ironic that the top14 gives Fiji these world class players but they the clubs wont release them to play because they are too good. You have to feel bad for them between that and the IRB giving them awful fixtures they have no way to reach the biggest potential unless its the RWC.

Luckycharm

Ok heres mine on form not reputation
15. Fernandez- not too many great ones at present since Latham not playing Kearney has potential
14. Rokocoko
13. Mortlock- very consistent
12. Nonu- has improved alot recently passes, defence improved as well
11. Williams - best winger on form this year- makes things out of nothing

10. Carter
9. Du Preez - not played much recently but no one else really standing out

1. Sheridan
2. Ledesma/ Tincu ( romanian hooker) class act
3. Roncero - not sure if 3 or 1 does so much work around the field

4. Albacete - could be a 5 but class act
5. Matfield

6. Elsom
7. Mc Caw
8. Parisse

zAbbo

I forgot about Tincu, he's is absolute quality. With Williams I just think he's too lightweight, all I can think of is the way he got pushed around with the Lions in 05.

If it was a European winger, I think Clerc would be a good choice, or Rougerie if something a bit bigger was needed.

remus808

1. CJ Van Der Linde
2. Mario Ledesma
3. Carl Hayman
4. Paul O'Connell (current form is shaky, but just makes it)
5. Victor Matfield
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Richie McCaw
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Fourie Du Preez
10. Dan Carter
11. Shane Williams
12. Felipe Contepomi
13. Stirling Mortlock
14. Joe Rokocoko
15. Cedric Heymans

edit: 3 leinster players, strange cooincidence or fate?!

Stev_o

karmabass wrote: »

1. CJ Van Der Linde
2. Mario Ledesma
3. Carl Hayman
4. Paul O'Connell (current form is shaky, but just makes it)
5. Victor Matfield
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Richie McCaw
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Fourie Du Preez
10. Dan Carter
11. Shane Williams
12. Felipe Contepomi
13. Stirling Mortlock
14. Joe Rokocoko
15. Cedric Heymans

edit: 3 leinster players, strange cooincidence or fate?!

And none of them Irish aswell

Luckycharm

zAbbo wrote: »

I forgot about Tincu, he's is absolute quality. With Williams I just think he's too lightweight, all I can think of is the way he got pushed around with the Lions in 05.

If it was a European winger, I think Clerc would be a good choice, or Rougerie if something a bit bigger was needed.

Williams is on the form of his life he can make something happen out of nothing - he totally outplayed habana in the 2 recent tests. I was not a huge fan until this year look at his strike rate 43 tries or something most of that playing for a rubbish team - imagine how many he would score if he was playing for a decent team. He won the game for Wales in Ireland this year.

Dr Phil is class but he did not have a great year last year - how many tries did he score for leinster?

Carl Hayman got dropped by Newcastle towards the end of the GP and did not have a great season.

Roncero would have been one of my picks for player of the RWC not sure he played recently against Scotland though.

Super Sidious

flyingoutside wrote: »

Prob all ready done on another thread but who'd be in your team of world fifteen.

Hears mine to get it started.

1.Hayman-Solid enough
2.Anyone but John Smit
3.Van der Linde-coz he can cause so much trouble in the scrum
4.Matfield-Great on the oppisition line out and around the field
5.O'Connell-Because he's just brilliant
6.Quinlan-fantastic in the break down
7.McCaw-on the verge of cheating but not great player
8.Konkowski-Had a great season and hope it continues
9.Stringer-I'll get stick for this but i think he's the best passer gives whose outside the extra half second
10.O'Gara-Can control a game easily and showed when captaining munster he can be a leader
11.Clerc-When he's on form he can be devastating
12.Cartar-Coz i think RoG is the better 10 but you have to have dan in there
13.Steyn-Might do anything(was going to pick myself but i'll be the impact sub)
14.Howlett-Still got it All black or not
15.Kearney-Just for his performance against austrailia he was fantastic


Front row was hard to pick.

You must be having a laugh!

Did you watch any of the summer internationals or Rugby for the last year?

As much as munster are class, their are far better players in the world at most of their positions!

1. CJ Van Der Linde
2. Szarzewski (Mainly cause hes just so handsome)
3. Carl Hayman
4. Paul O'Connell
5. Victor Matfield
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Richie McCaw
8. Danie Rossouw
9. Fourie Du Preez
10. Dan Carter
11. Habana
12. Ma'a Nonu (Did nobody look at him play the last few months, unbelieavable)
13. Stirling Mortlock
14. Joe Rokocoko/Williams(Williams deserves a nod for his trys vs. SA)
15. Leon MacDonald(Hernadez hasnt played test in a while)

Steffano2002

I'm after looking at your World XV Teams and FINALLY, people are beginning to understand that O'Driscoll isn't all that great!


I really like zAbbo's XV! Although I've never heard of that "Fernandez" guy at full-back!

zAbbo

Steffano2002 wrote: »

I'm after looking at your World XV Teams and FINALLY, people are beginning to understand that O'Driscoll isn't all that great!


I really like zAbbo's XV! Although I've never heard of that "Fernandez" guy at full-back!

haha, but you knew how I meant Juan Hernández

O'Driscoll would be good enough, but has such serious injury problems it's been a while since we've seen him full tilt.

Danger_Dave

zAbbo wrote: »

Here's mine

15. Fernandez
14.
13. Mortlock
12.
11. Habana

10. Carter
9. Du Preez

1. Sheridan
2.
3. Van Der Linde

4. Bakkies Botha
5.

6. Elsom
7. Mc Caw
8. Parisse

+1 except for the ones Ive erased

2. Mario Ledesma great hooker, solid throw, great in the loose/Scrum/Ruck time.
5. Nathan Sharpe - I just think this guy is absolute quality in all aspects of his game.
12. De Villers - Big hits, Great Rucking, Great passing , Excellent Crash ball and Line Breaks .
14. Shane Williams The guy is as Ive said in another thread, is in the form of his live. Habana and Williams on both wings scary

ozt9vdujny3srf

aye, Williams is the best winger in the world at the moment. Wales one the 6 nations because of a brilliant defense, and him in attact. Big game winner.

ssmith6287

1. castogiovani
2. Leguezma
3. Haymen
4. OConnell
5. Matfield
6. Collins
7. McCaw
8. Parisse
9. Du Preez
10. Contapomi
11. Habanna
12. Conrad Smith
13. Mortlock
14. Howlett
15. Kearney
16. Sheridan
17. Smit
18. Shaw
19. Burger
20. Ellisalde
21. Carter
22. Giteau

[Jackass]

1. Van Der Linde
2. Mealamu
3. Haymen
4. Pelous
5. Matfield
6. Elsom
7. McCaw
8. Parisse

9. Pichot
10. Carter
11. Habana
12. Contepomi
13. Mortlock
14. Rokocoko
15. Hernandez

ssmith6287

Micah Mammoth Melon wrote: »

aye, Williams is the best winger in the world at the moment. Wales one the 6 nations because of a brilliant defense, and him in attact. Big game winner.

u havin a laugh right.... hes a good finishin winger but christ hes awful at defence, and hes a rubbish decision maker when it comes to passing, hes woeful under the high ball, and if the opposition makes 1 solid tackle on him he doesnt want to see the ball again. A player of similar size and attributes but gets no recognition despite him being twice as good is james simpson daniel

Stev_o

ssmith6287 wrote: »

u havin a laugh right.... hes a good finishin winger but christ hes awful at defence, and hes a rubbish decision maker when it comes to passing, hes woeful under the high ball, and if the opposition makes 1 solid tackle on him he doesnt want to see the ball again. A player of similar size and attributes but gets no recognition despite him being twice as good is james simpson daniel

His defensive is actually extremely good sure by that logic Horgan would have got a hat trick against in the 6N (which alot of people on here thought despite the fact that Williams has improved his defence) and Habanna would of got 6 tries against him but they didnt.

He is one of the only wingers in the world who goes around looking for work he doesnt just stand on his wing and wait for the ball to come to him you see him popping all over the place at 9,10,12,13 trying to get something going.

JSD is great but has been killed with injuries hasnt had one season with being injured which is a shame because if he wasnt he could have been one of the best players in the world. http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=lA7OKP9N06g

Luckycharm

ssmith6287 wrote: »

u havin a laugh right.... hes a good finishin winger but christ hes awful at defence, and hes a rubbish decision maker when it comes to passing, hes woeful under the high ball, and if the opposition makes 1 solid tackle on him he doesnt want to see the ball again. A player of similar size and attributes but gets no recognition despite him being twice as good is james simpson daniel

Maybe Williams a couple of years ago but his defence has improved as has his decision making - he can score a try from his own 22 make something out of nothing has scored over 40 international tries. He got whacked plenty of times against the Boks but still went looking for work and totally outplayed Habanna.

Simpson daniel now you are having a laugh- he is made of lego always getting injured one thing you can not say about Williams. His defence is also very average he has always failed on the international stage when he has got his chances and not been injured.

RugbyFanatic

flyingoutside wrote: »

Prob all ready done on another thread but who'd be in your team of world fifteen.

Hears mine to get it started.

1.Hayman-Solid enough
2.Anyone but John Smit
3.Van der Linde-coz he can cause so much trouble in the scrum
4.Matfield-Great on the oppisition line out and around the field
5.O'Connell-Because he's just brilliant
6.Quinlan-fantastic in the break down
7.McCaw-on the verge of cheating but not great player
8.Konkowski-Had a great season and hope it continues
9.Stringer-I'll get stick for this but i think he's the best passer gives whose outside the extra half second
10.O'Gara-Can control a game easily and showed when captaining munster he can be a leader
11.Clerc-When he's on form he can be devastating
12.Cartar-Coz i think RoG is the better 10 but you have to have dan in there
13.Steyn-Might do anything(was going to pick myself but i'll be the impact sub)
14.Howlett-Still got it All black or not
15.Kearney-Just for his performance against austrailia he was fantastic


Close calls-
Shanklin-great player thats really under rated
D. Wallace-Would have made it if not for McCaw
Watson-Never know what he'll do
L. Mafi-Will get even better and some pace

Front row was hard to pick.

That is the most ridiculous post I have ever come across on these forums. I am in shock.

toomevara

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

That is the most ridiculous post I have ever come across on these forums. I am in shock.

Yep, someone's been suckin' on the ol' crystal meth methinks... Carter at 12, jaw-dropping stuff...lol

il gatto

Szarzewski at 2 for me. His throwing isn't the best but his scrummaging and play in the loose is top class. Clerc would have to be at 11 for me. Kearney at 15. He was probably the player who came out wirh most credability with the SH folk after the two tests. I'd put O'Gara at 10. He gets targeted in the channel, but part of the reason is because most teams acknowledge the threat he poses with any time on the ball and also because I don't think he always gets the protection he should from the forwards. Matfield at 5 and McCaw at 7. O'Connell at 4 if he could string some form together. Parisse at 8 and Du Preez at 9. Otherwise I don't really know.

remus808

il gatto wrote: »

I'd put O'Gara at 10. He gets targeted in the channel, but part of the reason is because most teams acknowledge the threat he poses with any time on the ball and also because I don't think he always gets the protection he should from the forwards. .

Ahhhhh..

He gets targeted because he is an out-half. It is the opposition back-rows job. And also because he is, or at least was, regarded as being soft.

What threat does O'Gara pose with the ball?? I think he's a great player, but thats not his style of play at all...He's not an elusive runner, has no great step or fend to speak of, is not physically imposing and is not especially quick. The only threats he poses are Mafi/Tipoki/BOD.. and the fact that he can kick like a mule...

No protection from the forwards? Please... If David Wallace had children, they'd be jealous of how much time he spends looking after Ronan...

Dan Carter at 12 to accomodate ROG... hahahahahahahhahahaha I'v heard it all