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Greatest World XV Ever 'Past and Present'

Feicarsinn said:
There's no doubt in my mind that he wouldn't be as effective today. Just look at the back lines he'd be facing when attacking a defense. As opposed to running over a little Mike Catt, he'd be coming up against midfields with guys the size of Jamie Roberts, Manu Tualagi, Jonathan Davies, Mathieu Bastareaud and so on. Even smaller guys like Gordon D'arcy are far more bulky and better tackers than the backs that Lomu would have been playing afainst in the mid to late 90's. With the increase in strength and conditioning, as well as the huge increase in tackle technique and defensive organization, a guy whose game was primarily built around natural strength and pace wouldn't be as effective, as the guys with fewer natural gifts in that area now work 9 to 5 to compensate. He still would have been top class, but I doubt that if he played today he'd approach the same legendary status on the wing.
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What you're forgetting here is that Lomu did face modern professionals as well. He wasn't just a flat track bully against wingers half his size.

He could bust past many big forwards and bigger modern backs right up until the end of his All Black career. Watch this performance from one of his last international matches. He ran straight over Mike Tindall to score his second try. Okay Tindall wasn't the greatest player in attack, but he was known as a strong defender who was bulky with a similar sort of build to Jonathan Davies and part of an English side which was very tight in defence and organisation in 2002/03 and was reknowned for doing the most scientific and video analysis of all teams under Woodward. Lomu could still be mighty effective against these teams.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kFctRUpALko#t=1590" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

In the same match by the way, Lomu also ran over Wilkinson (http://youtu.be/kFctRUpALko?t=4m56s) and also ran over Vickery (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuHTHed2uFg). Okay, Wilkinson was a lot smaller but he was known as a strong tackler, whilst Vickery was a big prop.
 
Superalexmarket said:
yoe91 said:
...and likely, the only Argentinian on the forum !! :D
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yoe91 said:
Thanks man, you and Little Guy are too kind with me, maybe is the latin blood...;)
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haha, well I meant it's normal that you'd mention Hugo Porta, because you're Argentinian ! ;) but yeah, you're a very kind guy yourself ! (and I do have a soft spot for the Argentinian side lately - can't WAIT for the 4N Championship this summer, surely "we" will win our first game this year, at least !)

But though I understand the sort of legendary status Porta has, his great game against the AB's, his incredible drop goal kicking...etc....I must simply insist.......the best no.10 of all time is no other than Frédéric Michalak.










nah, I'm just fkn with ya.

The best is most probably Dan Cattah (Carter). I don't completely understand (except for Hugo Porta !!) ppl who'd want to pick anybody else.
Besides the fact that he's the most prolific scorer ever (of course, due to the fact that his team happens to be the ALLBLACKS, and they'll generate a ton of penalties for their flyhalf), meaning his kicking is way way up there at the top, he can score tries like no other no.10 I've seen, not even close. Is a fantastic playmaker, again way way up there; and just has that ability to change the complexion of a game, which is extremely rare in sports, esp. rugby where there are 14 other guys.
With the greatest highlight of his int'l career most definitely the destruction of the Lions in 2005, when they put 50 on em...he was EVERY - FKN - WHERE that game. Abnormal ability. Definitely what Lomu was to the winger position, at the fly-half.
Wilko is humongous, and he has the advantage defensively. But that's all too thin to compete with Carter imo.
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big ginger 8 said:
Fantastic argument that.
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It's pretty much the equivalent of yours dear ;)
I was always a fan of Mortlock as far as 2000's OCs. Great player, the Wallabies have never replaced him, as good as AAC is.
Sella, Horan, Gravell, Dawes.
 
Draggs said:
It's pretty much the equivalent of yours dear ;)
I was always a fan of Mortlock as far as 2000's OCs. Great player, the Wallabies have never replaced him, as good as AAC is.
Sella, Horan, Gravell, Dawes.
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I wasn't slagging you. Please stop with the dears it's a bit strange.
 
Superalexmarket said:
yoe91 said:
...and likely, the only Argentinian on the forum !! :D
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yoe91 said:
Thanks man, you and Little Guy are too kind with me, maybe is the latin blood...;)
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It was awesome that you mentioned Porta(, even through your Argentine and a couple people pointed that out), he does deserve some mentions as the greatest #10 ever. He regularly took lower quality sides to victory over much tougher opponents based on his skill alone. You know he's one of the greatest ever when he forced Diego Dominguez to play for another country because he got so little playing time!!!
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psychic duck said:
What you're forgetting here is that Lomu did face modern professionals as well. He wasn't just a flat track bully against wingers half his size.

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kFctRUpALko#t=1590" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
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Absolutely agree, it's far, far too easy and "trendy" an argument to just merely dismiss Lomu as a giant among boys. Again, it was just yesterday he was bulldozing over every side's defenders, not the 60's. And even at the end of his career, he's doing that to England on that vid...it's fkn brutal. Fkn brutal. There's no way the Top World XV ever doesn't include Lomu at the wing, you're just kidding yourself if you don't put him there.
 
yoe91 said:
Absolutely agree, it's far, far too easy and "trendy" an argument to just merely dismiss Lomu as a giant among boys. Again, it was just yesterday he was bulldozing over every side's defenders, not the 60's. And even at the end of his career, he's doing that to England on that vid...it's fkn brutal. Fkn brutal. There's no way the Top World XV ever doesn't include Lomu at the wing, you're just kidding yourself if you don't put him there.
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You mean the same Lomu who got cut down every single time against Ben Tune? one of the only players to have never missed a tackle on him?
 
Woldog said:
You mean the same Lomu who got cut down every single time against Ben Tune? one of the only players to have never missed a tackle on him?
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I'm pretty sure he means the same Lomu you're talking about. Although I'm not sure how you can possibly prove Tune never missed a tackle on him? Regardless Ben Tune was a pretty mediocre winger in comparison, he had a couple of good seasons. It was more Gregan that would cut him down over anyone else anyway.
 
donmcdazzle said:
I'm pretty sure he means the same Lomu you're talking about. Although I'm not sure how you can possibly prove Tune never missed a tackle on him? Regardless Ben Tune was a pretty mediocre winger in comparison, he had a couple of good seasons. It was more Gregan that would cut him down over anyone else anyway.
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I think Gregan just cut everyone down. Fearless tackler.
 
Not a "greatest 15 ever" but a team of some my favourite players.

1. Olo Brown
2. Sean Fitzpatrick
3. Carl Hayman
4. John Eales
5. Victor Matfield
6. Michael Jones
7. Richie McCaw
8. Zinzan Brooke
9. George Gregan
10. Carlos Spencer
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Elton Flatley
13. Jamie Roberts
14. Rupeni Caucaunibuca
15. Christian Cullen
 

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