Each countries greatest XV

[psychic duck]

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Matthew Rees
03 Adam Jones
04 Ian Gough/Brent Cockbain
05 Alun Wyn Jones
06 Ryan Jones/Colin Charvis
07 Martyn Williams
08 Michael Owen/Ryan Jones

09 Dwayne Peel
10 James Hook
11 Shane Williams
12 Gavin Henson
13 Tom Shanklin
14 Mark Jones
15 Lee Byrne

I was aiming for players who have played most of their career in the 2000's, not just a year or two.

Read the first post and you'll see I designed this thread to avoid the "cusp" player debate, so knowing that would you include Quinnell, Gibbs, Howley and Jenkins?

15. Lee Byrne
14. Tom Shanklin
13. Gareth Thomas
12. Iesten Harris
11. Shane Williams
10. James Hook
9. Rob Howley

1. Duncan Jones
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Ian Gough
5. Alun-Wyn Jones
6. Ryan Jones
7. Colin Charvis
8. Scott Quinnell

Before anyone asks... I don´t rate Martyn Williams and always prefered Wales with Charvis ala RWC 2003.

Interesting team there Melhor, not sure I agree with your omission of Martyn Williams though

Melhor please could you do an Argentina, USA and Canada team as not many people will do a team for them and you're an expert on rugby in the Americas, as I can tell from reading your excellent blog, Argentina 2023

Tom Shanklin is the best 14 for Wales....?

I think Melhor meant to put Shanklin at 13 and Gareth Thomas at 14

 

[Draggs]

Fair enoug Duck, I just wanted to post a Welsh side of the 2000's.
I try to forget the 90's, for good reason.
I would most certainly include Gibbs, Scott Quinnell, Howley, and of course Neilo.
Nathan Brew at 14, BTW.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Chris Wyatt over Ian Gough everytime ...

 

[Draggs]

Chris Wyatt over Ian Gough everytime ...

Chris Wyatt and Craig Quinnell. Perhaps the most unfit pair of locks to player together.
Legends though.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

no

Yes

and Gareth Llewellyn would be infront of Wyatt anyway.

 

[Teh Mite]

1. Ed Fairhurst.


[/thread]

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Who remembers Welsh Grand Slam hero Michael Owen? The man has disappeared off the face of the Earth! Where are you Michael Owen?

 

[lucky number 7]

Who remembers Welsh Grand Slam hero Michael Owen? The man has disappeared off the face of the Earth! Where are you Michael Owen?

The Dragons I think..last I remember anyways :/

 

[TRF_Cymro]

He was last with Saracens before being released and retiring due to an outstanding knee problem.

 

[Draggs]

The Dragons I think..last I remember anyways :/

Yeah, he was with us for a bit before moving to the Saracens.
Retired last season due to persistent knee problems.
Not a bad player, did a good job for us in 2005.

 

[William18]

1. Craig Dowd
2. Anton Oliver
3. Carl Hayman
4. Ali Williams
5. Chris Jack
6. Jerry Collins
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieren Read
9. Justin Marshall
10. Daniel Carter
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Aaron Mauger
13. Conrad Smith
14. Doug Howlett
15. Christian Cullen

 

[kovana]

SAMOA
1. Peter Fats
2. Trevor Leota
3. Cencus
4. Joe Tekori
5. Lio Falaniko
6. Maurie Faasavalu
7. Micheal Jones
8. Henry Tuilagi
9. Uale Mai
10. Stephen Bachop
11. Lolani Koko
12.Frank Bunce
13. Too Vaega
14. Brian Lima
15. Lolo Lui

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

SAMOA
1. Peter Fats
2. Trevor Leota
3. Cencus
4. Joe Tekori
5. Lio Falaniko
6. Maurie Faasavalu
7. Micheal Jones
8. Henry Tuilagi
9. Uale Mai
10. Stephen Bachop
11. Lolani Koko
12.Frank Bunce
13. Too Vaega
14. Brian Lima
15. Lolo Lui

I like your team, though Mine would be the following
1. Peter Fatialofa
2. Trevor Leota
3. Cencus Johnston
4. Lio Falaniko
5. Joe Tekori
6. Pat Lam
7. Micheal Jones
8. Henry Tuilagi
9. Kahn Fotuali'i
10. Stephen Bachop
11. Alesana Tuilagi
12. Frank Bunce
13. Too Vaega
14. Brian Lima
15. Paul Williams

 

[lucky number 7]

I like your team, though Mine would be the following
1. Peter Fatialofa
2. Trevor Leota
3. Cencus Johnston
4. Lio Falaniko
5. Joe Tekori
6. Pat Lam
7. Micheal Jones
8. Henry Tuilagi
9. Kahn Fotuali'i
10. Stephen Bachop
11. Alesana Tuilagi
12. Frank Bunce
13. Too Vaega
14. Brian Lima
15. Paul Williams

Brian Lima is still playing?

sorry never copped this was a greatest ever thread

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Brian Lima is still playing?sorry never copped this was a greatest ever thread

no he retired following the last world cup. Forever one of the all time greats for Samoa. Defiantly our greatest tackler that I know of, I don't know anyone else Union or league who can put on a hit legally like him.

 

[psychic duck]

I like your team, though Mine would be the following
1. Peter Fatialofa
2. Trevor Leota
3. Cencus Johnston
4. Lio Falaniko
5. Joe Tekori
6. Pat Lam
7. Micheal Jones
8. Henry Tuilagi
9. Kahn Fotuali'i
10. Stephen Bachop
11. Alesana Tuilagi
12. Frank Bunce
13. Too Vaega
14. Brian Lima
15. Paul Williams

good Samoa team, but can you read the first post and change it so all the players have at least played a match from 2000, I would be really interested to see what that team would look like

 

[Melhor Time]

Melhor please could you do an Argentina, USA and Canada team as not many people will do a team for them and you're an expert on rugby in the Americas, as I can tell from reading your excellent blog, Argentina 2023

I think Melhor meant to put Shanklin at 13 and Gareth Thomas at 14

Oops I meant to say Mark Jones at 14.... Gareth Thomas at 13.

Here is my go at the USA side

15 Chris Wyles
14 Taku Ngwenya
13 Paul Emerick
12 Philip Eloff
11 Charles Sika
10 Mike Hercus
9 Chad Erskine
8 Dan Lyle
7 Todd Clever
6 Dave Hodges (Captain)
5 Luke Gross
4 Alec Parker
3 Chris Osentwski
2 Owen Lentz
1 Mike MacDonald

 

[psychic duck]

what about Argentina Melhor?

my USA XV:

15. Chris Wyles, Viljoen and Shuman were quite good too, but Wyles is better

14. Takudzwa Ngwenya, 1. Go to Youtube, 2. type in Ngwenya, 3. click try v South Africa, 4. enjoy in amazement

13. Paul Emerick, easy decision, his best position was centre, did well for the Dragons as well

12. Phillip Eloff, really a #13 but playing 12 here with Emerick as both are outside centres, shame he was so often injured

11. Riaan van Zyl, Kevin Swiryn will be here in the future and even further in the future Hanno Dirksen

10. Mike Hercus, pants for Scarlets but the best USA have had at 10

9. Kevin Dalzell, the only American scrum half to have spent much time at Heineken Cup teams in Europe, playing for Brive, Clermont, Bath and Borders
1. Mike MacDonald, most capped American prop ever, and has done well for Leeds

2. Kirk Khasigian, not spoilt for choice here...

3. Chris Osentowski, ...or here

4. Alec Parker, don't know why no European team ever signed him, good combination with Gross

5. Luke Gross, best, biggest USA lock ever, kept playing for ages

6. Dave Hodges, captained USA at their most successful point, a member of a successful Llanelli side whose coach said in 2001 that he would walk into the Wales team

7. Todd Clever, close between him and Kort Schubert but I pick Clever, just

8. Dan Lyle, originally started rugby to get in shape for an NFL contract, ended up the USA's best ever player of all time

 

[Melhor Time]

what about Argentina Melhor?

15 Ignacio Corleto
14 José Maria Nuñez Piossek
13 Martín Gaitan
12 Felipe Contepomi
11 Diego Albanese
10 Juan Martín Hernández
9 Agustín Pichot (Captain)
8 Gonzalo Longo
7 Rolando Martín
6 Juan Fernández Lobbe
5 Patricio Albacete
4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe
3 Omar Hasan
2 Mario Ledesma
1 Rodrigo Roncero

Wingers could go to a number of players inc Agulla, Camacho and Borges but hard to go part the two I went for based on the pre 2007 period. .

I´ll get back to you with Canada soon.

 

[psychic duck]

15 Ignacio Corleto
14 José Maria Nuñez Piossek
13 Martín Gaitan
12 Felipe Contepomi
11 Diego Albanese
10 Juan Martín Hernández
9 Agustín Pichot (Captain)
8 Gonzalo Longo
7 Rolando Martín
6 Juan Fernández Lobbe
5 Patricio Albacete
4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe
3 Omar Hasan
2 Mario Ledesma
1 Rodrigo Roncero

Wingers could go to a number of players inc Agulla, Camacho and Borges but hard to go part the two I went for based on the pre 2007 period. .

I´ll get back to you with Canada soon.

One could select three Argentine front rows and they're still awesome!

1. Roncero/Grau/Ayerza
2. Ledesma/Méndez
3. Reggiardo/Scelzo/Hasan

a notable omission from your team is Arbizu, but then I guess he is out of position at 13