Rugby Championship XV

[tigerland12]

End of the competition thought we'd have a look at who has been the best.

1- Tendai Mtawarira (SA)
2- Adrian Strauss (SA)
3- Jannie du Plessis (SA)
4- Nathan Sharpe (AUS)
5- Patricio Albacete (ARG)
6- Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (ARG)
7- Richie McCaw (NZ)
8- Keiran Read (NZ)
9- Aaron Smith (NZ)
10- Daniel Carter (NZ)
11- Bryan Habana (SA)
12- Ma'a Nonu (NZ)
13- Marcelo Bosch (ARG)
14- Corey Jane (NZ)
15- Israel Dagg (NZ)

HM: Michael Hooper (AUS), Frans Steyn (SA), Conrad Smith (NZ), Rodrigo Roncero (ARG).

Note: Both Read and Fernandez Lobbe have been too good to not have them both. Alot of people will think Conrad Smith should be there, but I seriously think Bosch has been the best 13 all comp.

 

[TOCC]

Sharpe??
Don't think so

 

[No4918]

Can i have Hooper at 7 and McCaw 8 and that looks pretty good.

 

[Hairy Test Eagle]

Sharpe??
Don't think so

Who would you have in there mate?

 

[Sully]

Can i have Hooper at 7 and McCaw 8 and that looks pretty good.

No! Read was the former 8. McCaw the form 7.

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[tigerland12]

Sharpe??
Don't think so

You cannot possibly think Whitelock, Bekker, Carrizza or Etzebeth have been better then him.

 

[Jiggles]

1- Tendai Mtawarira (SA)
2- Adrian Strauss (SA)
3- Jannie du Plessis (SA

No way. The Bok front row has been poo at the scrum.

 

[TOCC]

You cannot possibly think Whitelock, Bekker, Carrizza or Etzebeth have been better then him.

Shit, I'd play Timani ahead of Sharpe...
Sharpe really wasn't that good, he was the captain of a bumbling lineout and his general play wasn't as good as Timani, Bekker or Whitelock.. Australia doesn't deserve any forward in the XV.

 

[Jiggles]

Shit, I'd play Timani ahead of Sharpe.
Sharpe really wasn't that good, he was the captain of a bumbling lineout and his general play wasn't as good as Timani, Bekker or Whitelock.. Australia doesn't deserve any forward in the XV.

I can't believe I am going to say this, but I think the only forward who might challenge for a spot is Alexander. Scrumming well and nice work rate. McCaw has had an amazing year so Hooper despite being great, is in distant second.

 

[qwerty51]

1. Rodrigo Roncero
2. Andrew Hore
3. Ben Alexander
4. Nathan Sharpe
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Francois Louw
7. Michael Hooper
8. Keiran Read
9. Aaron Smith
10. Dan Carter
11. Bryan Habana
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Marcelo Bosch
14. Cory Jane
15. Israel Dagg

I know Louw plays openside but his last 3 games have been excellent.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

As much as I don't like admitting it, the team of the championship would almost be wall to wall Darkness with a few invited friends. Aussies and Argies would be lucky to land a few bench slots. Not sure many Saffers have enough to warrant to many run on slots either.

 

[tigerland12]

I don't really rate NZ's tight-five to be far superior than the Saffas and Argies. That's not saying they are worse, they are on about the same level or slightly above. Woodcook and Franks are the only ones I'd consider, their locks haven't impressed me and Strauss has been playing better then Hore.

 

[Jiggles]

Qwerty51's front row is more on the money, though. I'd personally go Franks over Alexander, even though Alexander is much improved this year.

 

[Antony]

7. Michael Hooper

Is this stubborn refusal to admit that mccaw has had an absolute blinder, or do you really think that?

 

[Antony]

Largely the same as those above, but with Savea replacing Jane. Fewer tries, but better play.

1. Roncero
2. Hore (best of an underwhelming bunch)
3. Alexander
4. Sharpe
5. Whitelock
6. Fernandez Lobbe
7. Mccaw
8. Read
9. Smith
10. Carter
11. Habana
12. Nonu
13. Bosch
14. Savea
15. Dagg

 

[Antony]

And the bench:

16. Strauss
17. O Franks
18. Douglas
19. Hooper
20. Pienaar
21. Beale (last couple of games were impressive, I thought)
22. Jane

 

[Jiggles]

Interesting call on Jane. I think he is the best winger in the world right now. Is Savea really the complete package like Jane?

 

[Antony]

Short answer: no. And if I had to pick one for a Bledisloe tomorrow, I'd pick Jane because he's so reliable - but whenever I watched them in tandem in the RC I thought Savea was a bit more threatening. I hope he can keep adding work-rate to his game.

 

[qwerty51]

Is this stubborn refusal to admit that mccaw has had an absolute blinder, or do you really think that?

huh? Not at all, McCaw has been great, a mini revival of sorts but Hooper has been outstanding. Since his run-on debut against the ABs in Eden Park he has been the best Wallabies players in every game.

 

[Antony]

huh? Not at all, McCaw has been great, a mini revival of sorts but Hooper has been outstanding. Since his run-on debut against the ABs in Eden Park he has been the best Wallabies players in every game.

Fair enough