Your rugby team of 07/08

chupacabra

Who would you select to be in your own "dream" rugby team out of all the rugby we have seen this past season?

Mine would be:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Bismarck Du Plessis
3. Carl Hayman
4. Paul O'Connell (c)
5. Victor Matfield
6. Richie McCaw
7. Schalk Burger
8. Andy Powell

9. Mike Blair
10. Dan Carter
11. Shane Williams
12. Jean De Villiers
13. Ma'a Nonu
14. Bryan Habana
15. Lee Byrne

Replacements:

HK 16. John Smit
PR 17. Marcus Horan
LK 18. Bakkies Botha
No8 19. Jerry Collins
FH 20. Ronan O'Gara
SH 21. Fourie Du Preez
FB 22. Rob Kearney

A lot of southern hemisphere players there, but i have been watching a lot more southern hemisphere games this year.

zAbbo

McCaw at blindside?

Carl Hayman has been woeful...O'Connell poor at international level, Matfield woeful at club level... stopped reading after that.

Serenity Now!

chupacabra wrote: »

i have been watching a lot more southern hemisphere games this year.

I'd have to wonder whether you have or not...:p

Mealamu was brilliant when he came on for the ABs. Props? Yep, Woodcock had a good Tri this year. The best lock all season (this and last actually) was Ali Williams. You seem to have omitted him. I'm not a fan of his but feck, he was absolutely huge.
In the backrow, Burger has been fairly poor and has struggled this year. The best 'Bokrower' was the undroppable Juan Smith, an incredible blindside and McCaw yet again an outstanding breakaway (with George Smith and Martyn Williams not too far behind) and he'd be skipper too. Best no.8s were Spies even after injury comeback and the Argentinian that plays for Italy, Parisse. The two opensides doesn't really work that well when it comes to good counterucking especially when you've already got the best fetcher in the business.

Didn't see any standout performances at halfback to be honest. At 12 I'd have Giteau, one of the best playmakers in the game today. Jacobs at outside centre. On the wings, I suppose Ickle Shane and maybe Pietersen. Didn't see Habana playing that well, even in S14 and Rokocoko was out for too long. Lote also played very well this season. At fullback, Lee Byrne was definitely a good'un. So was Drew Mitchell and so was Kearney.

With Giteau in the side, you can leave out ROG and bring an adaptive back such as say, Mortlock or Pienaar.
And yep, mainly players from the Tri Nations because they were better all round, in my opinion.

Podge_irl

O'Gara on the bench? What rugby have you been watching?

Parisse is undoubtedly the best no.8 playing at the moment, and would also be my choice for captain. O'Connell has done nothing to deserve a place in a world XV, never mind as captain.

Shan75

O'Connell has done nothing to deserve a place in a world XV, never mind as captain.

Yeah but he could be handy for the Irish Boxing Squad in the next Olympics;)

Chucky the tree

Horan the 2nd best prop in the world in the last year?

Timothy Bryce

Jerry Collins has done fcuk all this year....a couple of games for the Hurricanes is all I really remember! I also don't think O'Connell deserves a shout based on form this year.

1. Tony Woodcock
2. John Smith
3. Andy Sheridan
4. Ali Williams
5. Victor Matfield
6. Shalke Burger
7. Richie McCaw
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Mike Blair
10. Dan Carter
11. Shane Williams
12. Jean DeVilliers
13. Stirling Mortlock
14. Brian Habana
15. Lee Byrne

Serenity Now!

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

6. Shalke Burger
7. Richie McCaw

Again with the two opensides. Don't think this combo works these days. South African opensides wear 6.
And again, no Giteau???

bamboozle

Horan?????? Horan's is the biggest conman in rugby he hides out on the wing at every opportunity, if any Munster Man would be selected i'd go for Quinlan followed by maybe Hayes, POC didnt have a great season by the standards he's set for himself, whereas i think DOC is putting in serious work in each game and gets very little credit.
Mike Blair had a great season at 9
giteau at 12 definately.

SpAcEd OuT

chupacabra wrote: »

Who would you select to be in your own "dream" rugby team out of all the rugby we have seen this past season?

Mine would be:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Bismarck Du Plessis
3. Carl Hayman
4. Paul O'Connell (c)
5. Victor Matfield
6. Richie McCaw
7. Schalk Burger
8. Andy Powell

9. Mike Blair
10. Dan Carter
11. Shane Williams
12. Jean De Villiers
13. Ma'a Nonu
14. Bryan Habana
15. Lee Byrne

Replacements:

HK 16. John Smit
PR 17. Marcus Horan
LK 18. Bakkies Botha
No8 19. Jerry Collins
FH 20. Ronan O'Gara
SH 21. Fourie Du Preez
FB 22. Rob Kearney

A lot of southern hemisphere players there, but i have been watching a lot more southern hemisphere games this year.

You wouldn't happen to be a Munster man would you?

RichTea

SpAcEd OuT wrote: »

You wouldn't happen to be a Munster man would you?

Clearly is, as lidgindary as Munster are you couldn't possibly put any Irish/Munster players into the best team of the year. The only Munster player that sticks at me in terms of overall consistency and quality would be Rua Tipoki. I don't know why but even at that he shouldn't really be in such a squad.

Timothy Bryce

Serenity Now! wrote: »

Again with the two opensides. Don't think this combo works these days. South African opensides wear 6.
And again, no Giteau???

Potentially Giteau at centre but I think he plays best at 10 where Wee Monsieur DC currently resides.

Sangre

I actually laughed out loud reading M Horan in the 22. The guy is a joke.

And paul o'connell? probably the most over rated player in ireland.

corny

How could you put Jerry Collins or Marcus Horan on the bench? Seriously?

An honourable mention to the Argie front rowers who do more work in the loose than other international FR IMO. Vincent Clerc was playing very well start of the year too if i rememebr right. Like someone's said already Juan Smith is an absolute animal. Should be mentioned. And i think Luke McCallister is still the second best OH in the world. Definitely the best 12 for me. Should be on the bench.

RuggieBear

no more provincial potshots please. stay on topic

1. Tony Woodcock
2. John Smith
3. Euan Murray/Tialata
4. Ali Williams
5. Brad Thorn
6. Shalke Burger
7. Richie McCaw
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Mike Blair
10. Dan Carter
11. Shane Williams
12. Matt giteau
13. Ma'a Nonu
14. Hosea Gear
15. Lee Byrne

Cant believe the all blacks didnt play Gear,he was immence in the super 14 and from what I saw of him he was easily the 2nd best wing in the world this year,no others stood out.

Stev_o

Maximilian Stocky Tether wrote: »

1. Tony Woodcock
2. John Smith
3. Andy Sheridan
4. Ali Williams
5. Brad Thorn
6. Shalke Burger
7. Richie McCaw
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Mike Blair
10. Dan Carter
11. Shane Williams
12. Matt giteau
13. Ma'a Nonu
14. Hosea Gear
15. Lee Byrne

Cant believe the all blacks didnt play Gear,he was immence in the super 14 and from what I saw of him he was easily the 2nd best wing in the world this year,no others stood out.

They did against Scotland and Munster and he had little impact on either games which is a shame because i saw him playing for the Hurricanes this season aswell and thought he was a real talent.

Stev_o

Stev_o wrote: »

They did against Scotland and Munster and he had little impact on either games which is a shame because i saw him playing for the Hurricanes this season aswell and thought he was a real talent.

I knew he played against Munster but didnt realise he played scotland.I still think he would have been more effective than rockacoco or sivi tbh.His form for the cannes means he gets in mine anyway

tughfc

1 woodcock 2 moore 3 tendai mtawarria 4 williams 5 matfield 6 juan smith 7 mcaw 8 parisse 9 blair 10 giteau 11 williams 12 de vielliers 13 nonu 14 mitchell 15 muliana

only two NM players in it purely because SM players are playing so much better at the moment and personally no irish player is at the races nor english!
matt giteau stand out player in this team,this guys carries australia and is a genious along with the two most influential and powerful centres. Mitchell deserves to be their because of his safety and his threat that he exets on other teams! shane williams is self explanotory along with muliana. woodcock has played well and moore from australia has been outstanding along with the beast from SA! williams and matfield have being doing what every sr should be doing and that is catching and being physical! back row have all been outstanding for both club and country this season! juan smith is pick out of the bunch in the pack also carries the south african pack with him!

RugbyFanatic

chupacabra wrote: »

Who would you select to be in your own "dream" rugby team out of all the rugby we have seen this past season?

Mine would be:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Bismarck Du Plessis
3. Carl Hayman
4. Paul O'Connell (c)
5. Victor Matfield
6. Richie McCaw
7. Schalk Burger
8. Andy Powell

9. Mike Blair
10. Dan Carter
11. Shane Williams
12. Jean De Villiers
13. Ma'a Nonu
14. Bryan Habana
15. Lee Byrne

Replacements:

HK 16. John Smit
PR 17. Marcus Horan
LK 18. Bakkies Botha
No8 19. Jerry Collins
FH 20. Ronan O'Gara
SH 21. Fourie Du Preez
FB 22. Rob Kearney

A lot of southern hemisphere players there, but i have been watching a lot more southern hemisphere games this year.

The best side of 2007/2008 not only has POC in it but POC as captain? Is that a joke?

HORAN ON THE BENCH? OF THE WORLDS BEST TEAM! HORAN?

ROG...the second best fly half in the world? :eek:


1.Woodcock
2.Smith
3.Hayman
4.Ali Williams
5.Brad Thorn
6.Burger
7.McCaw (C)
8.Parisse
9.Blair
10.Carter
11.Willaims
12.De Villiers
13.Nonu
14.Hora....Habanna
15.Byrne


Only Irish player to make the 22 would be Kearney.

toomevara

My teams of the year:..Munster, Leeds Rhinos, NZ Kiwis, Argentina.

tughfc

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

The best side of 2007/2008 not only has POC in it but POC as captain? Is that a joke?

HORAN ON THE BENCH? OF THE WORLDS BEST TEAM! HORAN?

ROG...the second best fly half in the world? :eek:


1.Woodcock
2.Smith
3.Hayman
4.Ali Williams
5.Brad Thorn
6.Burger
7.McCaw (C)
8.Parisse
9.Blair
10.Carter
11.Willaims
12.De Villiers
13.Nonu
14.Hora....Habanna
15.Byrne


Only Irish player to make the 22 would be Kearney.

personally smith,burger,habana have not had the best of seasons at all

twinytwo

Sangre wrote: »

I actually laughed out loud reading M Horan in the 22. The guy is a joke.

And paul o'connell? probably the most over rated player in ireland.

your having a laugh right??

Sangre

:pac:

Does that face look like i'm laughing?

P_1

1. Matt Dunning
2. Dimitri Szarzewski
3. John Hayes
4. Ali Williams
5. Brad Thorne
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Richie McCaw
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Mike Blair
10. Matt Gitteau
11. Shane Williams
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Rua Tipoki
14. Vincent Clerc
15. Rob Kearney

16. Greg Sommerville
17. Mario Ledesma
18. Victor Matfield
19. David Wallace
20. Byron Kellagher
21. Dan Carter
22. Joe Rockokoko