Best International team ever

[Big Ewis]

^ haha, yes Samoa of course...
Yeh, 2005 AB's.
I wish I could include some French side somewhere, but we've had crazy unexpected victories all over the years, and great runs in stretches, but never like a 2-3 year era when we're dominating every single game...

England was a super team from 2001-03, yes. But it was still an upset when they beat teams like Aus n the AB's though, the Boks sucked miserably those years (their worst ever surely); when England beat the former two, it was still and upset, it meant they surpassed themselves and managed to play a great game. But that didn't put them "on top" if you see what I mean. If they played in the Tri-Nations and won every match (but one let's say) that means they could beat SH teams with absolute consistency. And yes, their strength was the forwards of course AND Wilko. But they didn't have a magnificent set of backs, don't fool yourselves. Killer defense, excellent scrums and a great kicker. And that recipe won them a lot, a lot of games, incl. I believe a 9-0 stretch against the SH teams, and incl. of course a RWC.

 

[Feicarsinn]

^ haha, yes Samoa of course...
Yeh, 2005 AB's.
I wish I could include some French side somewhere, but we've had crazy unexpected victories all over the years, and great runs in stretches, but never like a 2-3 year era when we're dominating every single game...

England was a super team from 2001-03, yes. But it was still an upset when they beat teams like Aus n the AB's though, the Boks sucked miserably those years (their worst ever surely); when England beat the former two, it was still and upset, it meant they surpassed themselves and managed to play a great game. But that didn't put them "on top" if you see what I mean. If they played in the Tri-Nations and won every match (but one let's say) that means they could beat SH teams with absolute consistency. And yes, their strength was the forwards of course AND Wilko. But they didn't have a magnificent set of backs, don't fool yourselves. Killer defense, excellent scrums and a great kicker. And that recipe won them a lot, a lot of games, incl. I believe a 9-0 stretch against the SH teams, and incl. of course a RWC.

Sense, this post makes none.

 

[Teh Mite]

Robinson. Lewsey. Greenwood. Cohen. Dawson. STFU.

 

[Gavin]

Best International team?

Mongolia 1162-1127; destroyed all opposition.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Must be tied with Austria then since they did not lose to them

 

[SelimNiai]

2005 All Blacks

Tony Woodcock/John Afoa
Kevin Mealamu/Andrew Hore/Anton Oliver
Carl Hayman/Greg Summerville
Ali Williams
Chris Jack
Jerry Collins/Chris Masoe
Richie McCaw/Marty Holah
Rodney So'oialo/Sione Lauaki
Justin Marshall/Byron Kelleher/Piri Weepu
Daniel Carter/Nick Evans
Joe Rokocoko/Sitivini Sivivatu
Tana Umaga/Luke McAlister/Aaron Mauger
Conrad Smith/Ma'a Nonu
Doug Howlett/Rico Gear
Mils Muliaina/Leon McDonald

All Blacks from 2005 team. The 1996-1997 team comes close for me on paper (not so much on results)-

1. Olo Brown
2. Sean Fitzpatrick/Norm Hewitt/Anton Olliver
3. Craig Dowd
4. Ian Jones
5. Robin Brooke/Todd Blackadder
6. Michael Jones/Taine Randell
7. Josh Kronfeld
8. Zinzan Brooke
9. Justin Marshall
10. Andrew Mehrtens/Carlos Spencer/John Preston
11. Jonah Lomu/Glen Osborne
12. Walter Little/Alama Ieremia
13. Frank Bunce
14. Jeff Wilson/Tana Umaga
15. Christian Cullen

So full of talent it's scary. I vote 1997 purely as Zinzan Brooke, one of my playing idols is there, awesome player.

 

[Larksea]

I would say that the 2011 All Black side was better than this years side but they did lose a game to SA and Australia. But the fact it was a world cup year and the selections and buildup were primarily focused on that and not the tri nations is a big reason for those losses.

I think this current All Black side is in many ways forged on the world cup loss in 07 when they were by far the best team in the world and lost everything with one bad day against france - the only time the AB's lost a test in Europe under Henry. It's a slightly more conservative side, maybe less focus on razor sharp attack compared to 07 but more focus on defense and low error rate - what they do is win, they win games they should lose and win games when they have a bad day, win games in the 81st min if they need to, they know how to win without McCaw or Carter, they know how to win games with 35-40% possession and territory.

France played the game of their lives in 07 and got lucky with the rub of the green and won. The All Blacks went away and came up with an overall strategy to win games like that and I think the 11/12 team we have now is a result of that.

 

[admartian]

[h=2]Best International team ever[/h]

The 1992 USA International Basketball team - aka the Dream Team.



What? You didn't specify which sport...

MUWHAHAHAHAHHMUWHAHAHAHAHAHMUWHAHAHAH!
* disappears in a puff of smoke*

 

[RyotoTheDragon]

Well it is under international RUGBY

 

[norcalbuff]

England 2002 and 2003 were very good teams, but they really benefited from the All Blacks being down during that time period, particularly in the forwards. South Africa was also complete **** during those years. 2005, 2011 and the current All Blacks side would demolish the 2003 All Blacks and would be quite a bit better than England from those years too.

 

[norcalbuff]

The other thing that really impresses me about the All Blacks side of the past couple years is that they were still able to win the RWC despite losing not only the best flyhalf in rugby but also after losing his back up and the 3rd string guy too. Can you imagine England winning the 2003 RWC not only missing Wilkinson, but Catt and Grayson too? I highly doubt England wins the 2003 final with Charlie Hodgson or Andy Goode at 10.

 

[Big Ewis]

Sense, this post makes none.

Common sense, you seem to lack.

 

[jcahill1]

Talking weirdly, I'm so cool.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Common sense, you seem to lack.

Okay, so let me try to understand your point. You say that it was an upset when England beat the like of Australia and New Zealand and that because they weren't in the Tri Nations they couldn't prove that they could beat them consistently. Then you acknowledge the fact that the went 9-0 against the big three. Guess what mate, that's incredible consistency. If you don't consider that to have put them 'on top' as you put it (it certainly put them on top of the rankings) then you've got some incredibly baffling system as to what makes the best team in the world.

Secondly you say they didn't have a great set of backs. This is of course complete bullshit. It's a common misconception that England from 2001-2003 played 10 man rugby centred around a good outhalf. While this may have been true during the RWC, where teams typically get more cagey, it's a complete falsehood for the period leading up to that. Their backs and back play was magnificent, a fantastic sight to behold, even when they were running 40 points n against you. Ben Cohen, Josh Lewsey, Jason Robinson, Mark Cueto and JSD all in the back three, the great Will Greenwood in the centre with Mike Catt, Matt Dawson at SH and JW outside of him. That's a bloody incredibly line and to think otherwise it just to fall foul of stereotypes about English rugby. Either that or simple begrudgery.

So no, yours was an idiotic post, plain and simple.

 

[welshglory]

I've heard many mention the NZ 95WC team as one of the best.

Lomu, Cullen, Wilson... what a back-three

 

[TRF_heineken]

I've heard many mention the NZ 95WC team as one of the best.

Lomu, Cullen, Wilson... what a back-three
View attachment 1953

Then let's mention the '95 Springboks also.

 

[nickdnz]

I've heard many mention the NZ 95WC team as one of the best.

Lomu, Cullen, Wilson... what a back-three
View attachment 1953

I mentioned 1996-1997 team. Cullen wasn't in the 1995 team.

 

[Icemn]

So full of talent it's scary. I vote 1997 purely as Zinzan Brooke, one of my playing idols is there, awesome player.

how do you compare Read to Zin Zan?

 

[Icemn]

2005 All Blacks

Tony Woodcock/John Afoa
Kevin Mealamu/Andrew Hore/Anton Oliver
Carl Hayman/Greg Summerville
Ali Williams
Chris Jack
Jerry Collins/Chris Masoe
Richie McCaw/Marty Holah
Rodney So'oialo/Sione Lauaki
Justin Marshall/Byron Kelleher/Piri Weepu
Daniel Carter/Nick Evans
Joe Rokocoko/Sitivini Sivivatu
Tana Umaga/Luke McAlister/Aaron Mauger
Conrad Smith/Ma'a Nonu
Doug Howlett/Rico Gear
Mils Muliaina/Leon McDonald

All Blacks from 2005 team. The 1996-1997 team comes close for me on paper (not so much on results)-

1. Olo Brown
2. Sean Fitzpatrick/Norm Hewitt/Anton Olliver
3. Craig Dowd
4. Ian Jones
5. Robin Brooke/Todd Blackadder
6. Michael Jones/Taine Randell
7. Josh Kronfeld
8. Zinzan Brooke
9. Justin Marshall
10. Andrew Mehrtens/Carlos Spencer/John Preston
11. Jonah Lomu/Glen Osborne
12. Walter Little/Alama Ieremia
13. Frank Bunce
14. Jeff Wilson/Tana Umaga
15. Christian Cullen

OH YES...

Jerry Collins, a fcking legend!!!

not only do i prefer the 2003-2005 team as well as the 96-99 team, but i feel they had the best AB jerseys out of all

what about the 2011 team

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Then let's mention the '95 Springboks also.

Os
Joost
Joubert