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All Time Greatest Hurricanes XV

Caitlyn Jenner

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Was bored and thinking about some of the great players the 'Canes have had over the years, so just decided to put this together lol. Some selections were actually quite tough (Namely the locks, TJ vs Piri at halfback, where to play Tana, and the backs reserves) and it's crazy to look back at how many great players we've had in the centers and back 3. Definitely some tough omissions. Nevertheless, I'm happy with this selection and think that I've got it pretty spot on, though I did do this off the top of my head so there's a good chance I may have missed someone somewhere.

1. Bull Allen
2. Dane Coles
3. Neemia Tialata
4. Jeremy Thrush
5. Jason Eaton
6. Jerry Collins
7. Ardie Savea
8. Rodney So'oialo
9. TJ Perenara
10. Beauden Barret
11. Jonah
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Tana Umaga
15. Christian Cullen

16. Andrew Hore
17. John Schwalger
18. Gordon Slater
19. Victor Vito
20. Chris Masoe
21. Piri Weepu
22. Jason O'Halloran
23. Julian Savea

Coach - Chris Boyd (Honorable mention to the long-serving Colin Cooper)

Thoughts? Anyone who I've forgotten?
 
Actually a fantastic team. Like it's made of genuine Canes players, rather than 1 season guys (otherwise could include Cruden etc). I would say Goodes is better than Schwalger or Slater. Maybe I would also have Ben Franks over Tialata. Maybe Dion Waller as reserve lock. Maybe one of Holwell, Jon Preston or Alama Ieremia in for O'Halloran. Amazing our wing depth when we have to leave out Nehe Milner-Skudder, Andre Taylor, Hosea Gear and Lome Fa'atau...
 
Sure is!
Yea genuine Canes players was a must for me. Only considered guys who played most of their rugby at the Canes or played their best rugby at the Canes.
I was definitely tossing up between Franks and Slater, but went with Slater as he was a stalwart and captained the side, as well as being a very solid performer. Franks also played a lot of rugby for the crusaders. Didn't really think about Goodes because he hasn't been a mainstay for too long, but he is a good pick.
I actually had Waller as my reserve lock but sacrificed him for Vito (even though he isn't a specialist, could still cover lock), as I couldn't justify leaving either he or Masoe out.
It was 50/50 between O'Halloran and Ieremia, just went with O'Halloran for the sake of balance; I always liked the smart, consistent, skillfull game he brought around all the X-Factor guys. It is pretty stiff on Ieremia though, I'd be happy either way really.
And yep, the back 3 Depth is insane! Soooo many great players to leave out.
 
That's an amazing team apart from (IMHO) and I was wondering is this really 'all-time' or pro era only because to my mind..

3. Neemia Tialata
4. Jeremy Thrush
5. Jason Eaton

.. is a far cry in terms of quality looking at the rest of that line-up? Relatively speaking of course.
 
That's an amazing team apart from (IMHO) and I was wondering is this really 'all-time' or pro era only because to my mind..

3. Neemia Tialata
4. Jeremy Thrush
5. Jason Eaton

.. is a far cry in terms of quality looking at the rest of that line-up? Relatively speaking of course.

Yeah! Seems like they all forgot about Paul ***o!
 
Great team, a little light in the forwards, like the all of the Hurricanes teams over the years, but they make up for that being a complete power house in the backs & home to some of the best players ever.

Yeah! Seems like they all forgot about Paul ***o!

It has always amused me that Paul is in fact of Maori descent. :lol:

_48790851_tito_training_huw226.jpg
 
How would they go vs a Highlanders all time XV?

1.Carl Hoeft
2.Anton Oliver
3.Carl Hayman
4.Tom Franklin
5.Simon Maling
6.Elliot Dixon
7.Josh Kronfeld
8.Taine Randell
9.Aaron Smith
10.Tony Brown
11.Waisake Naholo
12.Pita Alatini
13.Malakai Fekitoa
14.Jeff Wilson
15.Ben Smith

Res. Kees Meeuws, Liam Coltman, Brendon Timmins, Adam Thompson, Nasi Manu, Byron Kelleher, Nick Evans, Israel Dagg

The Hurricanes would no doubt likely win. The backline they have is probably the best the sports ever seen.
 
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How would they go vs a Highlanders all time XV?

1.Carl Hoeft
2.Anton Oliver
3.Carl Hayman
4.Tom Franklin
5.Simon Maling
6.Elliot Dixon
7.James Haskell
8.Taine Randell
9.Aaron Smith
10.Tony Brown
11.Waisake Naholo
12.Pita Alatini
13.Malakai Fekitoa
14.Jeff Wilson
15.Ben Smith

Res. Kees Meeuws, Liam Coltman, Brendon Timmins, Adam Thompson, Nasi Manu, Byron Kelleher, Nick Evans, Israel Dagg

The Hurricanes would no doubt likely win. The backline they have is probably the best the sports ever seen.

Fixed that highlanders team for you.
 
That's an amazing team apart from (IMHO) and I was wondering is this really 'all-time' or pro era only because to my mind..

3. Neemia Tialata
4. Jeremy Thrush
5. Jason Eaton

.. is a far cry in terms of quality looking at the rest of that line-up? Relatively speaking of course.

Yup. For all the greats the Canes have had, we've always been a bit light on world class players in the tight five (Barring hookers obviously), so that would defs be the weak spot of this side. That being said, Tialata was one of the best scrummagers NZ has ever seen and Thrush was very underrated imo, so they're not that far off the others.

And yes this is all time lol. Remember it's the Hurricanes, so their 'all time' only goes back 21 years.

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah! Seems like they all forgot about Paul ***o!

I will never forget Paul ***o, one of the most beautiful men to grace a rugby field
 
How would they go vs a Highlanders all time XV?

1.Carl Hoeft
2.Anton Oliver
3.Carl Hayman
4.Tom Franklin
5.Simon Maling
6.Elliot Dixon
7.Josh Kronfeld
8.Taine Randell
9.Aaron Smith
10.Tony Brown
11.Waisake Naholo
12.Pita Alatini
13.Malakai Fekitoa
14.Jeff Wilson
15.Ben Smith

Res. Kees Meeuws, Liam Coltman, Brendon Timmins, Adam Thompson, Nasi Manu, Byron Kelleher, Nick Evans, Israel Dagg

The Hurricanes would no doubt likely win. The backline they have is probably the best the sports ever seen.

Also very impressive.

I was very tempted to put forward a Stormers XV but couldn't bring myself to go off topic but I like the way you tied it in LOL!

... so erm, how would that 'Canes line-up fair against a Stormers XV of;

1 Cobus Visagie
2 Schalk Brits
3 Toks van der Linde
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Andries Bekker
6 Corne Krige (c)
7 Schalk Burger
8 Bob Skinstad (very difficult to leave out the likes of Francois Louw and Vermeulen but oh well)
9 Niel de Kock
10 Joel Stransky
11 Bryan Habana
12 Jean de Villiers
13 Jaque Fourie
14 Breyton Paulse
15 Percy Montgomery
 
How would they go vs a Highlanders all time XV?

1.Carl Hoeft
2.Anton Oliver
3.Carl Hayman
4.Tom Franklin
5.Simon Maling
6.Elliot Dixon
7.Josh Kronfeld
8.Taine Randell
9.Aaron Smith
10.Tony Brown
11.Waisake Naholo
12.Pita Alatini
13.Malakai Fekitoa
14.Jeff Wilson
15.Ben Smith

Res. Kees Meeuws, Liam Coltman, Brendon Timmins, Adam Thompson, Nasi Manu, Byron Kelleher, Nick Evans, Israel Dagg

The Hurricanes would no doubt likely win. The backline they have is probably the best the sports ever seen.

Yea the Canes would kill them lol. Poor old highlanders would probs have the worst all time team if we went through all the NZ franchises. Not sure who the best would be though... I think definitely the Crusaders would have the best forward pack, The Canes the best backline and the Blues would also be very strong overall.
Also I notice you've got Dagg in there, don't really think you can count him as a HIghlander lol.
 
Also very impressive.

I was very tempted to put forward a Stormers XV but couldn't bring myself to go off topic but I like the way you tied it in LOL!

... so erm, how would that 'Canes line-up fair against a Stormers XV of;

1 Cobus Visagie
2 Schalk Brits
3 Toks van der Linde
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Andries Bekker
6 Corne Krige (c)
7 Schalk Burger
8 Bob Skinstad (very difficult to leave out the likes of Francois Louw and Vermeulen but oh well)
9 Niel de Kock
10 Joel Stransky
11 Bryan Habana
12 Jean de Villiers
13 Jaque Fourie
14 Breyton Paulse
15 Percy Montgomery

Lol, well tied in. I must admit I don't have the knowledge of Stormers rugby to have much of an opinion on your selections, but that does actually look like a very impressive side, very strong throughout with a few legends thrown in. The front row looks less impressive than the rest, but then again you could say the same about the Canes, and you definitely out do us in the locking department! Though I always thought of Habana as more of a Bull and Jaque Fourie as a Lion, but I guess they did play a fair amount of rugby at the Stormers in the end.

Anyhoo, I think the Canes line up out does this one, just too much fire power, but it's not a shut out.
Tbh though, I think this Stormers line-up is at least on par with the Highlanders one, maybe even edges them. If you look at head-to-heads, I put it 8-7 to the Stormers.
 
Also very impressive.

I was very tempted to put forward a Stormers XV but couldn't bring myself to go off topic but I like the way you tied it in LOL!

... so erm, how would that 'Canes line-up fair against a Stormers XV of;

1 Cobus Visagie
2 Schalk Brits
3 Toks van der Linde
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Andries Bekker
6 Corne Krige (c)
7 Schalk Burger
8 Bob Skinstad (very difficult to leave out the likes of Francois Louw and Vermeulen but oh well)
9 Niel de Kock
10 Joel Stransky
11 Bryan Habana
12 Jean de Villiers
13 Jaque Fourie
14 Breyton Paulse
15 Percy Montgomery

It's not very nice to steal Habana, when he played his best Super Rugby at the Bulls:

1. Pierre Ribbens
2. Gary Botha
3. Richard Bands
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Victor Matfield
6. Ruben Kruger
7. Anton Leonard
8. Pierre Spies

9. Joost van der Westhuizen
10. Morne Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Ettienne Botha
13. Andre Snyman
14. Akona Ndungane
15. Johan Roets

16. Wessel Roux
17. Danie Coetzee
18. Gurthro Steenkamp
19. Danie Rossouw/Geo Cronje
20. Pedrie Wannenburg

21. Fourie Du Preez
22. Derick Hougaard
23. Frikkie Welsh
 
Lol, well tied in. I must admit I don't have the knowledge of Stormers rugby to have much of an opinion on your selections, but that does actually look like a very impressive side, very strong throughout with a few legends thrown in. The front row looks less impressive than the rest, but then again you could say the same about the Canes, and you definitely out do us in the locking department! Though I always thought of Habana as more of a Bull and Jaque Fourie as a Lion, but I guess they did play a fair amount of rugby at the Stormers in the end.

Anyhoo, I think the Canes line up out does this one, just too much fire power, but it's not a shut out.
Tbh though, I think this Stormers line-up is at least on par with the Highlanders one, maybe even edges them. If you look at head-to-heads, I put it 8-7 to the Stormers.

Fair enough. If you have to make room for Umaga and can't find a spot for any of a 100 other outside backs then you know you are on to something.

On the Stormers front row, and this might be bias, but I've always felt Visagie would have been a legend if it wasn't for Os du Randt and Schalk Brits despite his shortcomings is SA's answer to Dane Coles. I just had to have Toks. Who doesn't want to see a 140kg man outpace most loose forwards?

It's not very nice to steal Habana, when he played his best Super Rugby at the Bulls:

1. Pierre Ribbens
2. Gary Botha
3. Richard Bands
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Victor Matfield
6. Ruben Kruger
7. Anton Leonard
8. Pierre Spies

9. Joost van der Westhuizen
10. Morne Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Ettienne Botha
13. Andre Snyman
14. Akona Ndungane
15. Johan Roets


16. Wessel Roux
17. Danie Coetzee
18. Gurthro Steenkamp
19. Danie Rossouw/Geo Cronje
20. Pedrie Wannenburg

21. Fourie Du Preez
22. Derick Hougaard
23. Frikkie Welsh

Ag, sjeim, man!

Okay, take Habana and I'll put in Pieter Rossouw for the Stormers. Nobody is more 'Province' than that! Your line-up makes me think of a strange thing that happened to me a few years ago. I met with a new client called Antonio de Oliviera for additions to his home. The whole time I just couldn't place it but asked him if I knew him from somewhere. He asked if I followed rugby and said he played hooker for the Blue Bulls but they insisted on calling him Anton Olivier feeling the partisan Bulls fans might have issue with a Porra on their books!

On the topic of Habana not being a 'Stormer' because he only had the two seasons. It made me think of how unfair it is that many SA rugby stalwarts would have been considered Cheetahs if they were able to keep players for longer than 2 seasons. Smith and Du Randt are exceptions. Soooo.......

Cheetahs XV BOOM!

1 Os du Randt
2 Naka Drotske (IMO better than Strauss)
3 WP Nel (to round out a monster front row with a subtle bit of skill)
4 Andre Venter (moving Venter from the flanks and to make room for Smith and Brussow who is a specialist fetcher. Venter is lock shaped and with Matfield as line-out operator I prefer a bruiser at 4)
5 Victor Matfield
6 Heinrich Brussow
7 Juan Smith (c) (hard to argue for Rassie or Venter ahead of Smith)
8 Duane Vermeulen

9 Super Sarel or Ruan Pienaar?
10 Jannie de Beer

11 Jongi Nokwe ? (have to admit, my Cheetahs knowledge is being tested)
12 Brendan Venter
13 Francois Steyn ?
14 Willie le Roux
15 Andre Joubert (if not for those damned poaching Sharks the Cheetahs would be strong!)

Had trouble with the backline. That pack is monster though... totally forgot about Ruben Kruger as well. The Free State is the place to get your flankers it seems.
 
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Fair enough. If you have to make room for Umaga and can't find a spot for any of a 100 other outside backs then you know you are on to something.

On the Stormers front row, and this might be bias, but I've always felt Visagie would have been a legend if it wasn't for Os du Randt and Schalk Brits despite his shortcomings is SA's answer to Dane Coles. I just had to have Toks. Who doesn't want to see a 140kg man outpace most loose forwards?



Ag, sjeim, man!

Okay, take Habana and I'll put in Pieter Rossouw for the Stormers. Nobody is more 'Province' than that! Your line-up makes me think of a strange thing that happened to me a few years ago. I met with a new client called Antonio de Oliviera for additions to his home. The whole time I just couldn't place it but asked him if I knew him from somewhere. He asked if I followed rugby and said he played hooker for the Blue Bulls but they insisted on calling him Anton Olivier feeling the partisan Bulls fans might have issue with a Porra on their books!

On the topic of Habana not being a 'Stormer' because he only had the two seasons. It made me think of how unfair it is that many SA rugby stalwarts would have been considered Cheetahs if they were able to keep players for longer than 2 seasons. Smith and Du Randt are exceptions. Soooo.......

Cheetahs XV BOOM!

1 Os du Randt
2 Naka Drotske (IMO better than Strauss)
3 WP Nel (to round out a monster front row with a subtle bit of skill)
4 Andre Venter (moving Venter from the flanks and to make room for Smith and Brussow who is a specialist fetcher. Venter is lock shaped and with Matfield as line-out operator I prefer a bruiser at 4)
5 Victor Matfield
6 Heinrich Brussow
7 Juan Smith (c) (hard to argue for Rassie or Venter ahead of Smith)
8 Duane Vermeulen

9 Super Sarel or Ruan Pienaar?
10 Jannie de Beer

11 Jongi Nokwe ? (have to admit, my Cheetahs knowledge is being tested)
12 Brendan Venter
13 Francois Steyn ?
14 Willie le Roux
15 Andre Joubert (if not for those damned poaching Sharks the Cheetahs would be strong!)

Had trouble with the backline. That pack is monster though... totally forgot about Ruben Kruger as well. The Free State is the place to get your flankers it seems.

We have to remember that this isn't the Cheetahs only, but also the Cats, when the Cheetahs and the Lions were one team, when guys like Victor Matfield played for them because he was at Griquas...

Naka Drotske and Adriaan Strauss actually played more seasons at the Bulls than at the Cheetahs/Cats. Vermeulen and Fransie both used the Cheetahs as a stepping stone to get to the bigger unions like the Sharks and the Stormers. Vermeulen was actually contracted with the Lions when he was at UJ, and they loaned him out to the Cheetahs.
 
10. Beauden Barret
11. Jonah
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Tana Umaga
15. Christian Cullen
I was trying to think of another 10-15 combo that could match that, not just from a single club, but anywhere. You'd miss a few kicks here and there but good lord you'd score tries.
 
Yea the Canes would kill them lol. Poor old highlanders would probs have the worst all time team if we went through all the NZ franchises. Not sure who the best would be though... I think definitely the Crusaders would have the best forward pack, The Canes the best backline and the Blues would also be very strong overall.
Also I notice you've got Dagg in there, don't really think you can count him as a HIghlander lol.

Maybe, maybe not. We saw the Highlanders beat a stacked Hurricanes team in the 2015 final. What the Highlanders lack on paper, they make up for in heart, quite an incredible resilient union with a lot of heart & their squads over the years have shown that, more so than any Hurricanes team IMO.

But on paper you're probably right about it being the worst union, it could be close with the Chiefs actually.


Also very impressive.

I was very tempted to put forward a Stormers XV but couldn't bring myself to go off topic but I like the way you tied it in LOL!

... so erm, how would that 'Canes line-up fair against a Stormers XV of;

1 Cobus Visagie
2 Schalk Brits
3 Toks van der Linde
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Andries Bekker
6 Corne Krige (c)
7 Schalk Burger
8 Bob Skinstad (very difficult to leave out the likes of Francois Louw and Vermeulen but oh well)
9 Niel de Kock
10 Joel Stransky
11 Bryan Habana
12 Jean de Villiers
13 Jaque Fourie
14 Breyton Paulse
15 Percy Montgomery

Lol, I saw a good opportunity to get some healthy competition going :)

Ohh, I do like that team. They could beat any side on their day.

But are they all "true" Stormers? . I did leave out players like Ma'a Nonu, Brad Thorne, & Tony Woodcock etc from the Highlanders because they did not play the majority/best of their rugby down there.
 
Here's a Crusaders one. I'm not a Crusaders fan, so forgive me if I make some errors.

1.Wyatt Crockett
2.Mark Hammett
3.Owen Franks
4.Chris Jack
5.Sam Whitelock
6.Brad Thorn
7.Richie McCaw(C)
8.Kieren Read
9.Justin Marshall
10.Daniel Carter
11.Nemani Nadolo
12.Aaron Mauger
13.Caleb Ralph
14.Rico Gear
15.Israel Dagg

Res. Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Joe Moody, Reuben Thorne, Scott Robinson, Andrew Mehrtens, Ryan Crotty, Leon McDonald.

There's actually so many good players left out as well.
 
Bloody hell, that's genuinely one of the scariest back lines you could put together from any team/country/era

Yea it's crazy stuff, I think if you were looking at an all time NZ backline based purely on attacking qualities, it'd be hard to leave out any of these players (maybe bar Smith, but even still, his combo with Nonu is lethal).
And to think we couldn't win a ***le until last year...
 

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