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Guscott's World XV

Discussion in 'Rugby Discussion' started by Antony, Jun 23, 2012.

  1. Antony Billy Sheehan (19)

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    In a BBC Q&A recently (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18509728) Jeremy Guscott named his current World XV as follows:

    15. Israel Dagg
    14. Julian Savea
    13. Pat McCabe
    12. Sonny Bill Williams
    11. Bryan Habana
    10. Berrick Barnes
    9. Will Genia

    1. Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira
    2. Bismarck du Plessis
    3. Dan Cole
    4. Eben Etzebeth
    5. Juandre Kruger
    6. Scott Higginbotham
    7. David Pocock
    8. Kieran Read.

    I don't mind the forward pack (maybe premature on the saffa second rowers - though they do look pretty talented), but that backline is controversial.

    What are your thoughts?
  2. RugbyReg Michael Lynagh (62)

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    A third of the World XV coming from the Wallabies seems excessive. Higgers doesn't deserve selection from test performances.
  3. tigerland12 Ken Catchpole (46)

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    Was he high when he wrote it? This is mine on the past 12 months of rugby that I've seen

    1- Beast (Sharks, South Africa)
    2- Bismark du Plessis (Sharks, South Africa)
    3- Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester, Italy)
    4- James Horwill (Reds, Australia)
    5- Richie Gray (Glasgow, Scotland)
    6- Sean O'Brien (Leinster, Ireland)
    7- David Pocock (Force, Australia)
    8- Kieran Read (Crusaders, New Zealand)
    9- Will Genia (Reds, Australia)
    10- Daniel Carter (Crusaders, New Zealand)
    11- Digby Ioane (Reds, Australia)
    12- Jamie Roberts (Cardiff, Wales)
    13- Conrad Smith (Hurricanes, New Zealand)
    14- Corey Jane(Hurricanes, New Zealand). (could of been anyone, Habana,North, O'Connor)
    15- Israel Dagg (Crusaders, New Zealand)

    Bench: Stephen Moore (Brumbies,Australia), Dan Cole (Leicester, England), Patricio Alabacete (Toulouse, Argentina), Jaques Burger (Saracens, Namibia), Francois Hougaard (Bulls, South Africa), Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs, New Zealand), Kurtley Beale (Rebels, Australia.

    Not many good looseheads or locks going around currently. Backrow on the other hand: Warburton, McCaw, Kaino, Fernadez-Lobbe, Parisse, Burger
  4. What2040 Dave Cowper (27)

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    I think Pocock and Genia (to a lesser degree) are the only ones. To pick others is just nationalistic rubbish.
    Garry Owen, Seb V and fatprop like this.
  5. matty_k Peter Fenwicke (45)

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    Last I checked Guscott isn't Australian. So how is it nationalistic to pick more than two maybe three (to a lesser degree) Australians?
  6. Scarfman Knitter of the Scarf

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    This is a mushrooms XV. Absolute madness except in a few places: Dagg, Beast, duPlessis, Pocock, Read.
  7. Bardon Nicholas Shehadie (39)

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    Wouldn't put much store into Guscott's picks as he's known to pick some crazy XVs. Next week if he was asked again he's pick a completely different, but equally crazy XV.
    Jenkins9876 likes this.
  8. Hugh Jarse Steve Williams (59)

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    Guscott was a back. 'nuf said.
  9. Swarley Syd Malcolm (24)

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    My World XV (Based on form since 2011 Six Nations):

    1. Tendai Mtawarira
    2. Bismarck du Plessis
    3. Dan Cole
    4. James Horwill
    5. Richie Gray
    6. Thierry Dusautior
    7. David Pocock
    8. Sean O'Brien
    9. Will Genia
    10. Daniel Carter
    11. Digby Ioane
    12. Jamie Roberts
    13. Manu Tuilagi
    14. James O'Connor
    15. Israel Dagg
    ----------------------------
    16. Stephen Moore
    17. Owen Franks
    18. Jerome Kaino
    19. Sam Warburton
    20. Mike Phillips
    21. Rhys Priestland
    22. Kurtley Beale

    Jenkins, O'Connell, Thorn, Cruden, Kahui, Smith and North are all close to making the 22.

    I know Dusautior's technically an openside, but the French play left/right and so can this team. The same goes for O'Brien. He's shuffled around between all backrow positions over the last 12 months but he played brilliantly at #8 in the 2011 Six Nations, so he gets the spot.
  10. Jnor Peter Fenwicke (45)

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    The second rows are most confusing to me (and Higgers). Both obviously talented but nowhere near world XV
  11. Brisbok Alex Ross (28)

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    5 Aussies in the starting XV and 2 Kiwi's? 2 more Aussies on the bench and 1 Kiwi. Nice one..

    Edit - 2 Kiwi's on the bench.
    kiwi_rugby_fan likes this.
  12. Swarley Syd Malcolm (24)

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    Who would you change? Pocock, Genia and O'Connor in particular are all freaks of nature. They're brilliant individuals. Horwill and Ioane are great players as well. That's 5/15 Wallabies; only third of the team. Australia are blessed with a select group of brilliant individuals, yet aren't necessarily a great "team"- the All Blacks, however, are. They truly are a team in which the final product is greater than the sum of the parts.
    Which of those 5 Wallabies doesn't deserve a spot in the World XV?
  13. AlexH Banned

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    James Horwill.
  14. Sir Arthur Higgins Phil Hardcastle (33)

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    YES.
    No way he would be in mine
    Bullrush, Slim 293 and qwerty51 like this.
  15. tigerland12 Ken Catchpole (46)

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    I can't name a better lock currently? Not saying he's been that good, but without Bekker, there aren't many brilliant locks. Richie Gray is a definate, but selecting his partner is hard.
    Swarley likes this.
  16. qwerty51 Steve Williams (59)

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    It's crazy to think of the quality of locks that have just left us and are about to.. Thorn, Matfield, Bakkies, Vickerman, Sharpe all gone.
    Jnor, Swarley and tigerland12 like this.
  17. Bullrush Bob Davidson (42)

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    O'Conner wouln't be there. At what position is he best in the world? Digby has a chance but I don't know if he is as complete a player as the likes of Corey Jane.Horwill internationally?? No. Not one of the two best locks in the world. And if we're looking at the last 12 months, Genia wouldn't be in either.
  18. qwerty51 Steve Williams (59)

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    I don't even think Savea's mum would put him in the World XV after one good game..
  19. Brumbies Guy John Solomon (38)

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    Surely it's not just limited to International games? Otherwise all of them would be based on one or two games played recently if it was a true form team. And in that case, Savea's had a great season with the 'Canes.
  20. Sir Arthur Higgins Phil Hardcastle (33)

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    I'd put sharpe ahead of him
    Both pape an nallet were superb for France in the world cup
    Thorn is still playing

    Beast
    Bismarck
    Castro
    Nallet
    Thorn
    Kaino
    Pocock
    Read could do lobbe or parisse
    Genia
    Carter
    Jane
    Roberts
    Smith
    Tuilagi
    Dagg

    Mealamu
    Cole
    sharpe
    Obrien
    Hougaard
    Beale
    sonny bill

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