2013 Rugby Championship ideal team

[TRF_stormer2010]

For me the positions in the squad that doesn't allows any discussions are:

14- Ben Smith
13- Conrad Smith
12- Jean De Villers
8- Kieran Read
3- Juan Figallo

Agreed. Funnily enough I would say you could add Barrett at 10 as well even though he spent so little time on the field his contributions off the bench were massive and the rivals for his spot uninspiring.

 

[yarmolinsky]

Bismarck and FdP are better than their NZ counterparts. I don't think that is a bizarre statement to make. But that is only 2 players whereas I think NZ has the clearly better players in more positions on top of a greater team dynamic and more settled squad. The fact that I state that 1 player is superior to his direct opposition IMO is hardly similar to your sarcastic statement.

Dude, you really shouldn't be so hysterical with all those negative reputation comments and stuff. I have deepest respect for Springboks! It's just some SA fans that are amazingly funny...

 

[TRF_heineken]

Dude, you really shouldn't be so hysterical with all those negative reputation comments and stuff. I have deepest respect for Springboks! It's just some SA fans that are amazingly funny...

If all of us Saffa people have a problem with you, don't you think it's you that is the problem????

 

[smartcooky]

Get rid of Folau he's a joke.

Yeah, a joke who has scored seven tries in his nine matches so far. I'd like one of them jokes in my team!

 

[Draggs]

Yeah, a joke who has scored seven tries in his nine matches so far. I'd like one of them jokes in my team!

He's no Morgan Stoddart.

 

[The_Wol]

Yeah, a joke who has scored seven tries in his nine matches so far. I'd like one of them jokes in my team!

Got the stats for how many he's let in on the last tackle there mate?
On side note I'm detecting some reasonably priced New Zealand attitude.

 

[ABs2011]

Got the stats for how many he's let in on the last tackle there mate?
On side note I'm detecting some reasonably priced New Zealand attitude.

Your the one making the claims there fullah, maybe you should provide the stats??

 

[SelimNiai]

Got the stats for how many he's let in on the last tackle there mate?
On side note I'm detecting some reasonably priced New Zealand attitude.

To me Folau reminds me a lot like Alex Cuthbert in the sense that they both have fairly large question marks regarding their defence yet those are almost totally cancelled out by their prowess at finishing. Id rather have these guys as yes, they may let a try past them but they could easily score a couple of their own.

 

[ABs2011]

In principal I would not pick a tournament team which includes:
(1) A player who never started a game (I.e. Barrett)
(2) A player out of position (I.e. Retalick at 5, or Hieneken's choice of Messam at 7)

So my team (much the same as stormer2010's) would be:

1 Ayerza
2 BDP (Massive hit of DC clinched it for me )
3 Figallo
4 Etzebeth/Retallick agree that both deserve this spot equally
5 Whitelock (best lock in the comp)
6 Messam (had his best season yet and was a rock for the ABs)
7 Hooper (very tempted to say McCaw though)
8 Read (best player in the world)
9 Aaron Smith
10 Cruden (best of the starters and still rates higher than Barrett for me)
11 Savea
12 JdV (Class act of the tournament)
13 Conrad Smith (2nd best player in the world)
14 Ben Smith (player of the RC)
15 Folau

 

[SelimNiai]

Just read back, why are people making a deal of the second rows saying "their both 4's or 5's". Most of my rugby playing was done in the second row and there really is naff all difference between the two. Literally zero.

 

[The_Wol]

Your the one making the claims there fullah, maybe you should provide the stats??

I will not.

 

[Draggs]

Just read back, why are people making a deal of the second rows saying "their both 4's or 5's". Most of my rugby playing was done in the second row and there really is naff all difference between the two. Literally zero.

Depends. Some use 4 and 5 to differentiate between roles. One being a lineout specialist and the other an enforcer type. Tend to see this in South Africa.

 

[ABs2011]

Depends. Some use 4 and 5 to differentiate between roles. One being a lineout specialist and the other an enforcer type. Tend to see this in South Africa.

Certainly what NZ have done in recent years with Brad Thorne at 4 and then Romano once Thorne retired. Not as clear cut with Retalick but still a similar kind of player.

 

[Larksea]

the differences are that one - generally 4 for the AB's scrums behind the tight head prop. And that obviously one will jump at the front of the line out or the #2 spot and the other will be further down the back.

I think at lower levels of the game its nothing but at the cutting edge the difference is much more noticeable or important.

I know Lobbe is a great player and maybe Argentinas Best but this year maybe Messam should be on that list.

Hooper been great, Cane worth a mention though the starts he had filling in for McCaw were pretty bloody awesome. His effort in the first springbok test was up there with the best of any individual in a game this championship.

 

[ABs2011]

I will not.

That's what I expected.

 

[TRF_heineken]

In principal I would not pick a tournament team which includes:
(1) A player who never started a game (I.e. Barrett)
(2) A player out of position (I.e. Retalick at 5, or Hieneken's choice of Messam at 7)

So my team (much the same as stormer2010's) would be:

1 Ayerza
2 BDP (Massive hit of DC clinched it for me )
3 Figallo
4 Etzebeth/Retallick agree that both deserve this spot equally
5 Whitelock (best lock in the comp)
6 Messam (had his best season yet and was a rock for the ABs)
7 Hooper (very tempted to say McCaw though)
8 Read (best player in the world)
9 Aaron Smith
10 Cruden (best of the starters and still rates higher than Barrett for me)
11 Savea
12 JdV (Class act of the tournament)
13 Conrad Smith (2nd best player in the world)
14 Ben Smith (player of the RC)
15 Folau

In SA we have 6 as the openside flanker and 7 as the blindside flanker... I didnt pick Messam out of position...

 

[Gena_ZA]

Yes we do that, no idea why - that is why we see our ball fetchers - Brussauw and Flo as 6 and big ball carriers like Alberts as 7.
It has been like that sinse I remember following rugby many years ago

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Yes we do that, no idea why - that is why we see our ball fetchers - Brussauw and Flo as 6 and big ball carriers like Alberts as 7.
It has been like that sinse I remember following rugby many years ago

Probably the 'switch' or differentiation happened during our isolation years? I'm just speculating here.

 

[ABs2011]

Probably the 'switch' or differentiation happened during our isolation years? I'm just speculating here.

Must admit I forgot about the way SA do it. It's a bit odd to me but I guess it makes sense in SA rugby. From wiki:

Most countries prefer a quicker openside flanker with the ability to get off the scrum quickly so that he can scavenge for the ball. In South Africa, however, they prefer their blindside flanker quicker. The reason for this is that it is the blindside flanker's duty to carry the ball, meaning they prefer the person running with the ball being quicker rather than the person trying steal it. They want an openside flanker to rather know and have anticipation skills of where the next ruck or maul is going to be, therefore they don't disrupt defensive lines by rushing up to a ruck.

 

[admartian]

@OP: I pretty much agree with your team, apart from Retallick over Whitelock. I love Brodie, but Whitelock seems to be the better all around guy.