So, what do you guys think the make-up of the World Cup XV will be? I think there's a few certainties but it'll probably go something like this - Fullback will either go to Latham or Robinson One of the wing positions will definately be Habana, but who will get the other? I'd like to hope that Mortlock gets one of the centre positions, but did he have enough game time? He was awesome against Wales and England but that was about it. Who would the other contenders be? Jauzion? Giteau? I think the flyhalf position will either go to Henandez unless Wilkinson wins it for England again. Halfback would probably go to Du Preez with Rauluni not far behind. No. 8? Maka? Longo? Despite not making to the qf's I'd assume McCaw would get one of the the flanker positions. Locks? I think it's a 3 way race between Matfield, Shaw and Ali Williams. Hookers? Who has really stood out in this position? Props? Roncero has been one of my favourites, but Sheridan will probably get the loosehead spot. The tight-head I'm not sure about. Anyways, just some random thoughts from myself. I know I've forgotten about a LOT of players. Chat away!
I wouldn't assume anything about McCaw. Personally I think Juan Smith has been the best 7 of the tournament. The Argentinian Lobbe has probably also done more for his team than McCaw.
True, but when McCaw has been on the field he's been his usual impressive self. Qera for Fiji was also another standout, and George Smith was consistently pretty awesome throughout the tournament.
1 Os du Randt 2 John Smit 3 CJ van der Linde 4 Bakkies Botha 5 Victor Matfield 6 Schalk Burger 7 Juan Smith 8 Danie Rossouw 9 Fourie du Preez 10 Butch James 11 Bryan Habana 12 Francois Steyn 13 Jaque Fourie 14 JP Pietersen 15 Percy Montgomery 16 Bismarck du Plessis 17 Jannie Du Plessis 18 Johann Muller 19 Wikus van Heerden 20 Ruan Pienaar 21 Andre Pretorius 22 Wynand Olivier
I think Chris Paterson needs to go in there somewhere! Probably on the wing as he didnt perform well at fly-half this World Cup!
15-Corletto/Robinson,14- Delasau/Ngwenya, 13- Mortlock, 12- Jaunzion, 11- Habana, 10- Wilkinson/Hernandez, 9- Rauluni/Du Preez, 8- Easter/Leamy, 7- J.Smith/Lobbe, 6- Burger/Collins, 5- Matfield, 4- Shaw, 3- Hayman, 2- Smit/Ledesma/Tincu, 1- Sheridan.
15-Robinson 14- Clerc 13- Mortlock 12- Contipomi 11- Habana 10- Hernandez 9- Du Preez 8- Easter 7- J.Smith 6- Burger 5- Matfield 4- Shaw 3- Hayman 2- Smit 1- Sheridan
15.Robinson 14.Delasau 13.Fourie 12.Giteau - nobody has stood out; perhaps Contepomi or Steyn either 11.Habana 10.Hernandez 9.Du Preez 1.Sheridan 2.Smit - Mark Regan a very close second 3.Scelzo 4.Shaw - Albacete not too far behind 5.Matfield 6.Collins 7.Juan Smith 8.Longo Elia - player of the tournament for me
Seems like a well thought over team with minimal bias. I disagree with Andre Pretorious on the bench though...thats being pretty generous...
1 Rodrigo Roncero 2 John Smit 3 Census Johnston 4 Chris Jack 5 Victor Matfield 6 Jerry Collins 7 Nili Latu 8 Gonzalo Longo 9 Fourie Du Preez 10 Juan Martin Hernandez 11 Bryan Habana 12 Stirling Mortlock 13 Filipe Contepomi 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu 15 Percy Montgomery 16 Andrew Sheridan 17 Os Du Randt 18 Mario Ledesma 19 Juan Fernandez Lobbe 20 Vilimonu Delasau 21 Agustin Pichot 22 Chris Paterson
1. Sheridan 2. Smit 3. Vickery 4. Botha 5. Shaw 6. Collins 7. Dusautoir 8. Easter 9. Du Preez (or Gomarshall, depending on their performances tonight) 10. Wilkinson 11. Habana 12. Rabeni 13. F.Contepomi 14 Sackey 15. Robinson
15 Montgomery 14 Robinson 13 Contemponi 12 Wilkinson 11 Habana 10 Hernandez 9 Pichot or Du Preez 1 Sheridan 2 Smit 3 Vickery 4 Shaw 5 Botha 6 Collins 7 Dusatoir 8 Easter
15 Montgomery 14 Robinson 13 Fourie 12 Giteau 11 Habana 10 Hernandez 9 Du Preez 1 Sheridan 2 Smit 3 Hayman 4 Botha 5 Matfield 6 Burger 7 Smith 8 Easter
15. Coletto (honorable mentions; Montgomery, Robinson) 14. Delasau (honorable mentions; Ngwenya, Howlett) 13. Taione (honorable mentions; M. contempomi) 12. Rabeni!!!! (honorable mentions; contempomi) 11. Endo (honorable mentions; Habana) 10. Hernandez (honorable mentions; Wilkinson Evans that georgian 1st 5) 9. Rauluni (honorable mentions; Du Preez, Gommersal) 8. Maka 7. Latu (honorable mentions; Dusatoir) 6. Collins (honorable mentions; Burger, Betsen) 5. Chabal 4. Williams (honorable mentions; Shaw, Matfield) 3. Hayman 2. Ibanez (honorable mentions; Smit) 1. Sheridan (honorable mentions; Big OZ, Woodcock)
WOLD CUP FIRST TIME: Sheridan ENG Smit RSA Roncero ARG Matfield RSA Botha JP RSA Dusautoir FRA Smith RSA McCaw NZL du Preez RSA Wilkinson ENG Habana RSA Fourie RSA Contepomi F ARG Sackey ENG Montgomery RSA Coach: Marcelo Loffreda ARG SECOND TIME: van der Linde RSA Hasan/Tincu ARG/ROM du Randt RSA Albacete ARG Williams NZL Rossouw RSA Longo ElÃa ARG Collins NZL Rauluni FJI Hernández ARG Paterson SCO McAlister NZL Giteau AUS Pietersen RSA Corleto ARG Coach: Jake White
1. Os du Randt 2. John Smit 3. CJ van der Linde 4. Bakkies Botha 5. Victor Matfield 6. Schalk Burger 7. Juan Smith 8. Danie Rossouw 9. Fourie du Preez 10. Butch James 11. Bryan Habana 12. Francois Steyn 13. Jaque Fourie 14. JP Pietersen 15. Percy Montgomery
You notice how two South Africans have made exactly the same joke/comment? And how neither time it was funny/relevant? I'm guessing you're both under 18. Don't see why people are picking Wilkinson at 10. He gave England a confidence boost, but was nowhere near his best. Certainly didn't shine like Hernandez.
Well for me personally, this is my World XV after a month of sleepless nights and unbearable hang-overs. The Honourable mentions are in brackets. 1. Andy Sheridan - (Os Du Randt, Omar Hasan) 2. Mario Ledesma - (John Smit, Marius Tincu) 3. Pieter de Villiers - (Carl Hayman, Matt Stevens) 4. Simon Shaw - (Bakkies Botha, Kele Leawere) 5. Victor Matfield - (Ali Williams, Lionel Nallet) 6. Juan Smith - (Jerry Collins, Hale T-Pole) 7. Nili Latu - (Akapusi Qera, Thierry Dusatoir) 8. Gonzalo Longo - (Finau Maka, Danie Rossouw) 9. Mosese Rauluni - (Fourie Du Preez, Andy Gomarsall, Augstin Pichot) 10. Butch James - (Jonny Wilkinson, Juan Martin Hernandez) 11. Bryan Habana - (Joe Rokocoko, Paul Sackey) 12. Felipe Contemponi - (Luke McAlister, Seru Rabeni) 13. Stirling Mortlock - (Jaque Fourie, David Marty) 14. Filimoni Delasau - (Doug Howlett, JP Pietersen) 15. Ignacio Corletto - (Percy Montgomery, Jason Robinson)