Greatest World XV Ever 'Past and Present'

[Rhondda Rudie]

Gareth would have to be my scrum half.Even at 60 odd I'd still pick him over the rest.

 

[Zed]

All 100m times are irrelevant unless there were electronically timed. Hand timing is wildly inaccurate. I used to compete in athletics and my PB for the 100m was 10.93 - that was hand timed. I've run 20+ electronically timed races and never got lower than 11.4. Lomu was quick, but he wasn't sub 11 sec quick.

 

[McTallshort]

Cannot believe some of the stuff being written about Lomu, think people forget that what made him truly unstoppable wasnt his size or speed it was his balance, it was simple impossible to stop him unless you tied his ankles together. The number of times players flew off his legs without barely slowing him down was remarkable. yes there are wingers who are as big and fast as him but no one had his balance for such a large body and thats what made him special.

 

[Zed]

Cannot believe some of the stuff being written about Lomu, think people forget that what made him truly unstoppable wasnt his size or speed it was his balance, it was simple impossible to stop him unless you tied his ankles together. The number of times players flew off his legs without barely slowing him down was remarkable. yes there are wingers who are as big and fast as him but no one had his balance for such a large body and thats what made him special.

I don't think you can say it was just down to balance, there were 4 or 5 things that contributed to his ability to be so devastating in attack. He was quick, powerful, large, tall and had a large stride making it very hard to grab both legs. He was also very adept at using the Maori sidestep utilizing his massive upper-body to bounce opponents out of the way before they could even get to his legs. The fact that he was 6'5, very fast and weighed 120kg played a huge part in how effective he was. A lot of his opponent wings weighed 75/80kg e.g Rory Underwood. That's like me (85/90) playing against a 12 year old boy.

 

[McTallshort]

I don't think you can say it was just down to balance, there were 4 or 5 things that contributed to his ability to be so devastating in attack. He was quick, powerful, large, tall and had a large stride making it very hard to grab both legs. He was also very adept at using the Maori sidestep utilizing his massive upper-body to bounce opponents out of the way before they could even get to his legs.

To step over someone while they are grabbing your legs takes balance, yes he was big powerful and quick but for a player of his size to be such a balanced runner was what made him IMO remarkable.

 

[Ruckyou]

my ultimate team would be.
15-Cullen
14-Campese
13-Odristol
12-Horan
11-Lomu
10-Spencer
9-Gregan
8-Brooke
7-G.Smith
6-Burger
5-Meads
4.Matfeild
3-Brown
2.Fizpatrick
1. Du Rant

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

So whats your best ever 15?

37 test tries in 63 tests, is better than Bryan Habana's 38 tries in 68 tests or Joost van der Westhuizen's 38 tries in 81 tests. In fact the only people who scored that many tries or over, in similar period, are Jeff Wilson (44 tries in 60 tests), Christian Cullen (46 tries in 58 tests), Doug Howlett (49 tries in 62 tests) and Shane Williams (53 tries in 79 tests). You'd have to rule out David Campese on the same rule, as he scored 64 tries in 101 tests.

So in otherwords the best winger of all time would be someone like Tonderai Chavhana (6 tries in 4 tests) or Jongi Nokwe (5 tries in 4 tests), as Ratio of tries to tests is a fair and balanced way of measuring the players worth. Never mind that Lomu has scored the most number of tries in a World Cup (15), or that he has been the difference in many games. Out of interest who is your choice of left winger?

My choice for a wing is not solely based on try scoring ratio and nowhere in my post did I say so. You conveniently left out that I mentioned defense, distribution, kicking and handling as factors i consider in your rant at my daring to say that I wouldn't have him in my own XV. JvdW was a great 9. Not sure why you mention him when talking about wingers though.

My XV considering all at their peak and everyone is welcome to attack my opnions as picking an all time XV is SOOO subjective in any case, I can handle it.

1
2 Keith Wood
3
4 Brad Thorn
5 Victor Matfield
6 Richie McCaw
7 Juan Smith
8 Keiran Read
9 Fourie du Preez
10 Dan Carter
11 Shane Williams
12 Tana Umaga
13 Brian O'Driscoll
14 Christian Cullen
15 Jason Robinson

I chose a XV not necessarily based on 'best in position' but a team that I'd like to watch and where I want specific things from someone in each position. Some of these are still playing and many would scoff at their inclusion in an all time XV but I genuinely think someone like Read is a better player than the Daglalios and Brooks etc even if they don't have that 'aura of legend' yet. For the props I just want good scrummagers who can clear a ruck very effectively. Still considering. First name onto my roster is McCaw much as I like to hate him.

 

[nickdnz]

Mmm, good point. But I stopped caring over two years ago, when that reply was written. As it so happened - that particular post from memory was when you said " As a wing he doesn't have the highest try scoring ratio; nowhere near and that's not subjective" - much of my point seemed to be that he does in fact have one of the best try scoring ratios for players who have scored over 30 tries. I mentioned JvdW and Habana because Lomu has a better try scoring record than either of them, despite them being SA's top two highest try scorers. Wasn't much of a rant - I was pointing out your criticisms of him being out of place in a best XV ever were probably unjustified - and calling it a rant two years after the post seems like a good way to kick up a fuss...

As it so happens I like your XV - I'd have Os du Randt and Carl Hayman as my LH and TH prop - but most of those decisions look very good (although Cullen only played a handful of times on the wing at international or SR level).

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

15 Serge Blanco
14 Jonah Lomu
13 Brian O'Driscoll
12 Tim Horan
11 Shane Williams
10 Dan Carter
9 Gareth Edwards

1 Olo Brown
2 Sean Fitzpatrick
3 Graham Price
4 Martin Johnson
5 John Eales
6 Richard Hill
7 Richie McCaw
8 Zinzan Brooke

 

[psychic duck]

1. Os du Randt
2. Keith Wood
3. Mauricio Reggiardo
4. Victor Matfield
5. John Eales
6. Richard Hill
7. George Smith
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Dan Carter
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Tim Horan
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Rupeni Caucaunibuca
15. Christian Cullen

 

[mochyn]

1. Os Du Randt
2. S. Fitzpatrick
3. J. Leonard
4.V. Matfield
5. C. Meads
6. J. Collins
7. R. McCaw
8. S. Quinnell
9. G. Edwards
10. D. Carter
11. Jonah Lomu
12. SBW
13. BOD
14. S. Williams
15. JPR Williams

16. D. Dominguez
17. T. Umaga
18. G. Gregan
19. K. Wood
20. P. Montgomery
21. D Campese
22. M. Johnson

Just a quick list of a team i'd love to see play together. Really subjective business this world xv malarkey, so probably showed a little bias towards my home nation on a few 50/50 choices.

Edit: Ignore the fact that the positions may be wrong and that there is no cover for 1-3

JPR is my idea of a full back who was rock solid in defence as well as attack but Quinnell at number 8 you must be kidding, no Merv the Swerve!
Gareth at scrum half is incomparable!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

1. Os Du Rant
2. Sean Fitzpatrick
3. Carl Haymsn
4. Brad Thorn
5. Martin Johnson
6. Richard Hill
7. Michael Jones
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Gareth Edwards
10. Dan Carter
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Mike Gibson
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. David Campese
15. Christian Cullen

 

[Superalexmarket]

In my opinion:

1_ Jason Leonard.
2_ Sean Fitzpatrick (Captain)
3_ Os Du Randt.
4_ Martin Jhonson.
5_ Jhon Eales.
6_ Michael Jones.
7_ Richie McCaw.
8_ Zinzan Brooke.
9_ Gareth Edwards.
10_ Hugo Porta.
11_ Jonah Lomu.
12_ Tana Umaga.
13_ Brian O'Driscoll.
14_ David Campese.
15_ Serge Blanco.

 

[Jbobo]

JPR is my idea of a full back who was rock solid in defence as well as attack but Quinnell at number 8 you must be kidding, no Merv the Swerve!
Gareth at scrum half is incomparable!

heheh you make a good point, the man was a fantastic captain! I just remember growing up watching Quinnell and have some great memories of some of his world class performances. Both are legends of Welsh number 8s

 

[187]

My choice for a wing is not solely based on try scoring ratio and nowhere in my post did I say so. You conveniently left out that I mentioned defense, distribution, kicking and handling as factors i consider in your rant at my daring to say that I wouldn't have him in my own XV. JvdW was a great 9. Not sure why you mention him when talking about wingers though.

My XV considering all at their peak and everyone is welcome to attack my opnions as picking an all time XV is SOOO subjective in any case, I can handle it.

1
2 Keith Wood
3
4 Brad Thorn
5 Victor Matfield
6 Richie McCaw
7 Juan Smith
8 Keiran Read
9 Fourie du Preez
10 Dan Carter
11 Shane Williams
12 Tana Umaga
13 Brian O'Driscoll
14 Christian Cullen
15 Jason Robinson

I chose a XV not necessarily based on 'best in position' but a team that I'd like to watch and where I want specific things from someone in each position. Some of these are still playing and many would scoff at their inclusion in an all time XV but I genuinely think someone like Read is a better player than the Daglalios and Brooks etc even if they don't have that 'aura of legend' yet. For the props I just want good scrummagers who can clear a ruck very effectively. Still considering. First name onto my roster is McCaw much as I like to hate him.

Interesting how you put JR at fullback over Cullen. IMO Cullen is a way better fullback than JR and JR is probably a better winger than Cullen. That's a pretty solid midfield, that would hold their own against any combination. DC & McCaw are pretty much automatic in anyone's team but the rest could be argued for and against.

 

[mochyn]

It seems that many people are saying that Lomu was unstoppable and in my opinion would run through JR or Cullen but would be stopped by JPR.
A lot of people seem to equate running skills with being a good full back but most of the distances run are in open spaces where you can build up speed which makes it hard for you to be brought down. A 15 has to be rock solid in defence first and foremost, there are others in the team who can run!

 

[nickdnz]

It seems that many people are saying that Lomu was unstoppable and in my opinion would run through JR or Cullen but would be stopped by JPR.
A lot of people seem to equate running skills with being a good full back but most of the distances run are in open spaces where you can build up speed which makes it hard for you to be brought down. A 15 has to be rock solid in defence first and foremost, there are others in the team who can run!

Cullen had very good defense...the number of tries he saved by out pacing a player and then tackling around the legs..

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I'd back B'OD, Cullen and JR to contain an opposing XV with Lomu between the lot of 'em. If that fails I have Joost van der Westhuizen on the bench so the wingers needn't worry. I'd be more worried about Savea in the modern game IMO.

 

[sifplay]

No Danie Gerber? Think I will pass he ran the Kiwi World cup winning side to pieces with the Cavaliers tours. Tana Umaga is just another flat ball Pieter Muller.
He had nothing on Tim Horan IMO.

Dan Carter vs Larkham? Carter a excellent goalkicker but Larkham flinged those passes left right and centre putting people in space with his eyes close.

Habana vs Williams? Habana all round play way ahead. Defense, attack and making something out of nothing like those dink over the oppositions head where he gathers and finishes off normally.

Lomu seriously who else? The guy was a force and one on one 9 out 10 he will get past his men and score normally.

15 Cullen Guy had pace everything and could was one of the most dangerous counter attackers ever to have played the game.

 

[Jbobo]

Habana vs Williams? Habana all round play way ahead. Defense, attack and making something out of nothing like those dink over the oppositions head where he gathers and finishes off normally.


15 Cullen Guy had pace everything and could was one of the most dangerous counter attackers ever to have played the game.

Extremely debatable, but one of those which we would probably not agree ever so no point in arguing my points. I'll just say that Shane Williams was remarkably effective in defense considering his size especially once he bulked up. I remember numerous times he saved Wales from defeat with try saving tackles of second rows which were just astonishing. Habana is a great for sure, but Shane provided more out of nowhere attacking danger than anyone i've ever seen in world rugby and had the hands and consistency to back it up.