Here’s Green and Gold Rugby’s Rugby World Cup 2007 select 15.
It’s based solely on performance at the cup (that I saw anyway) and I’ve chosen each man purely in his position and not in any combos. You’ll notice for example that it’s missing an out and out goal kicker (nothing new there for the Wallabies…).
1. Andrew Sheridan (Eng) – the easiest selection of the lot, showed that a prop can win man of the match through scrummaging alone. Also started to step up in the loose. All this when as this photo shows, he is clearly learning disabled.
2. John Smidt (RSA, captain) – a great leader and forgotten cog in the South African line-out machine. Part of a front row that equalled the Poms in the final
3. Rodrigo Roncero (Arg) – Would have been interesting to see the Argies and Poms get it on for the scrummaging battle alone. Also heart of the fearsome Pumas rolling maul.
4. Simon Shaw (Eng) – Bulldozed through many a French and Australian ruck, ran and scrummed well. Finally the lime-light he has always deserved
5. Victor Matfield (RSA) – Comfortably the best line-out jumper in the world and natural ball-player to boot.
6. Shalk Berger (RSA) – A hard-hitting, bustling pain in the arse who can also jump; a perfect 6
7. Nili Latu (Tonga) – Looking at him you’d never of thought so, but he scavenged as well as he ran. A real find
8. Gonzalo Longa (Argentina) – This is turning into one gnarly pack, but all the better. Longo was everywhere for the argies and carried right through the heart of everyone they played.Hon. Mention: Finau Maka (Tonga); for his ability, not just the ‘fro
9. Fourie DuPreez (RSA) – This was a tight one, but Du Preez is the most gifted rugby player at 9 that I’ve seen. Has he full bag of tricks including pace and a great read of the game. Had an off game in the final which almost let in Pichot (Hon. Mention Argentina)
10. Juan Martin Hernandez (Argentina) – This was a tough one as to be honest none of the five-eighth’s in this cup really shone, probably due to the dour style that was played. However, except for one notable semi-final, Hernandez showed he was king of the kickers, keeping the ball on a string. It may sound one-eyed but the best piece of running flair I saw from a 10 was from the rookie Berrick Barnes.
11. Bryan Habana (South Africa) – Simply the deadliest and fastest finisher in the game
12. Luke MaCallister (NZ) – It may be because I couldn’t be bothered watching the kiwi’s thump Portugal and Italy’s B teams, but no other AB caught my attention in the Cup. MaCallister though seems to have the same richness of precocious talent that was last seen with King Carlos. Francois Steyn ain’t far behind.
13. Stirling Mortlock (Aus) – Beavis must be the most dangerous line breaker in the game right now. Just don’t let him kick.
14. Vilimoni Delasau (Fiji) – Single handedly pulled Fiji through the Welsh game and almost the South African one. Impressive in both attack and defense.
15. Chris Latham (Aus) – Even though Australia went out in the QF, Latho showed he’s got that x-factor. Would walk into any team.
Tags: berrick barnes, chris latham, fiji, gagr xv, rugby world cup, stirling mortlock, victor matfield
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Good team their gagger, I’d perhaps stick in Bakkies at 4.. made some awesome hits in the final and gets bonus marks for not biting anyone.
Chabal would grab a bench spot if he didn’t cry after losing..
I think this is a formidable 15. Interesting that the French-a semifinalist-could not put a single individual in the starting 15. You know what? There is not a single French player that had an all around, consistent tournament who really made an impression on me. Chabal, for all of his notoriety, was a non factor against England. Nick Easter of England really impressed me during this World Cup.
Slightly biased World XV there Matt.
Ali Williams was outstanding throughout, and individually stole 6 (!!) lineouts against the French in the QF debacle.
Mortlock is the best 13 in the world, but didn’t play or do enough in the tournament to be counted.
What… No Matt Dunning..?
(Jokes… no, I didn’t really laugh either)
We’re trying to pick our Wish-they’d-never-turned-up XV here:
http://www.sportsfreak.co.nz/forum/forum-posts.asp?TID=2010&PN=1&TPN=1
Dunning naturally features. Help appreciated in filling the gaps.
Moses – yep, Bakkies almost played himself in during the final, but I think Shaw shaded it around the park in the other two knowckout games. Also would have been an all Jaapie second row then…..
Chabal – what a tragedy. If Laporte hadn’t dicked him around, who knows.
Nursedude – agree on Easter, he would have rivalled Chabal for my reserve 8. Watch him disappear into the pommy back row black hole though, no doubt so Dallaglio can go on being the self-appointed gob of the team
SF – Ali Williams, are you serious? Above Shaw and Botha?
Mortlock – er, who else at 13 then? I notice you also selected him on your own site????
Coatsie. Tumbleweed.
We’re a broad church at Sportsfreak; I got out-voted on that one. However, fair to note it’s probably the position weakest at the tournament, not helped by the fact that centres tended to get the ball with 3 defenders all over them.
And Ali over Botha and Shaw by a mile.
BTW, we’re still struggling with flankers on the worst XV of the tournament. If only we could remember the Welsh ones.
you’re dreaming
Thanks for noteble mentioned of Gus PICHOT, whom I believe should be in the starting 15.
But i’ve just finished a testimonial/tribute article about him on my blog.
Would welcome you guys to leave your comments as well.
http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com/2007/10/tribute-to-ficha_23.html
A rebuttal, By Coatsie
(In the style of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Major-General’s Song”)
I am the very model of a modern Rugby Englishman,
We hated by the other’s ‘cause we think that we’re much better than them,
Our tactics are to spoil the play – it’s killing Rugby Uni-on
- I am the very model of a modern Rugby Englishman
We wrapped him up in cotton wool – yes you guessed right; it’s number ten,
We should’ve used’ a tennis ball machine as it’s more accurate than him,
Under the pump his piss-weak and does little more than scratch his chin,
- I am the very model of a modern Rugby Englishman
We beat a crappy Aussie team and laid on shit both thick and thin,
But when the Saffas’ trounced us- down the pub you could have heard a pin,
And now we’re copping what we dished from Aussies much to our chagrin,
- I am the very model of a modern Rugby Englishman
Time to put to pasture Speedbump-Catt and caulliflower Sheridan,
And that old fart Dallaglio – his hair is really getting thin,
And tear up ex-League converts’ terms and throw them in the garbage bin,
- I am the very model of a modern Rugby Englishman
We haven’t been much chop for years but we than started improvi’n
And run on wet and windswept grounds which half the time are still frozen,
(We’re hoping global warming will make it warm or mild or just somethin’)
- I am the very model of a modern Rugby Englishman
Had a great coach who us did well his name was Brian Ashton,
He really understood the game but them we just got rid of him,
We don’t want to try Stellenbosch Rules because we are afraid of them,
- I am the very model of a modern Rugby Englishman
What have I done to these upstart Aussies to make them so ashamed of me..?
We busted them and sent them to a paridise we liked to call a colony,
I’ll tell you Pommy pricks, a little place in Turkey called Gallipoli,
- I am the very model of a modern Rugby Englishman
(rest of the world chorus)
He is the very model of a %$^#ing modern Rugby Englishman…
Coatsie, THAT took a lot of thought…I’m impressed. Sort of Kipling meets the sports page.Do you have THAT much free time now that the World Cup is over?
Not what I’d anticipated when starting a rugby blog, but full marks
Naaa, I can churn this shit out blind drunk and full of diazepam if neccesary.
Fight fire with fire, and erm, poetry with poetry.
Failing that, a closed fist to the face usually works (old Prop Forward proverb).
This probably isn’t the appropriate thread, but what the hell…
What do you guys think of the fact that Alan Jones is throwing his hat into the ring for the Wallabies job? And he seems to have growing support:- QRU, Larkham etc…
Because I can assure you that on this side of the Tasman we’re pissing ourselves…
Ridiculous.
I was watching the news here with my old man when Queensland Rugby Union chairman Peter Lewis made the suggestion on TV. My dad missed the initial part of the article, and turned to me and said
“Who’s that dickhead..?”
Enough said.
Laugh away ‘Blacks and World-Champ Boks. I wouldn’t blame you one bit, and would join you if I wasn’t so disgusted.
Australia’s only homophobic gay man as Australian coach..? That’s a Lead Blimp waiting to crash into Ballymore hopefully taking out the patently stupid Lewis who made the comment. At least 21yrs ago when he won the Bledisloe in NZ we didn’t know “Gloria” had a closet to come out of.
We are in the middle of a federal election campaign here in Australia, and the most patently clear information to come out of said affair is that the media are lying manipulative stirrers with their own agenda and a predilection to “Journalize” rather than “Report”.
Take it with the pinch of shit it deserves and forget about it, I already have.
Crustie,
You don’t seem to be taking it well that the Poms embarrassed you in the World Cup again…
…I suggest some anger management; otherwise, you’ll get a stomach ulcer or something and no-one would want that.
have printed this off and will give it to big ted at the next sale match. perhaps you could publish your name and address so that he could see you when next darn sarf and you could explain that you think he is a retard. if you have the bottle of course.
Yep – I’ll meet him behind the bike-sheds at recess.
Grow up.
I’ll say this for the guy though, sounded like the nicest bloke in his post match interview. Seemed genuinely embarrassed at now being the worlds best prop.
Can’t be too happy about that photo though.
Is Gloria Alan Jones’s nickname?
Why that particular girl’s name?
Jones plays “Gloria” by Laura Brannigan at the beginning/during his radio show. Apparently he thinks it’s a great song.
I thought people of his persuasion were meant to be very cluey about musical theatre and the arts; clearly he is the exception to the rule.
Yikes, I think I’ve heard everything now. From memory, that “song” is finger-nails down the blackboard.
Must be some kind of Mardi Gras anthem. Perhaps that’s what he was singing in the photo from 1984…