NPR

From your own country.

Not the best players per se, but the ones you liked to watch.

Healy
Wood
Furlong
Beirne
Paulie
Ferris
O'Concrete
Leamy
Stringer
Humphreys
Hickie
D'arcy
BOD
Bowe
Girve or Keenan

That'd be a fun watch. Bunch of hard kunts in the back row. Skillz in the backline.

Honourable mentions to Neil Best in the back row, and Shaggy on the wing.

15 Robinson
14 Balshaw
13 Greenwood
12 Tuilagi
11 Ashton
10 Jonny
9 Bracken
1 Corbs
2 Hartley
3 Sheridan
4 Jonno
5 Itoje
6 Hill
7 Back
8 Dallaglio

Paddington Bear wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 6:34 pm 15 Robinson
14 Balshaw
13 Greenwood
12 Tuilagi
11 Ashton
10 Jonny
9 Bracken
1 Corbs
2 Hartley
3 Sheridan
4 Jonno
5 Itoje
6 Hill
7 Back
8 Dallaglio

Loved watching Robinson. Never got Balshaw I must say.

Cullen
BG Williams
Conrad Smith (Bruce Robertson)
Mauger
Lomu
Daniel fucking Carter
Sid Going
Read
Kaino
McCaw
Meads
Sam Whitelock
Kees Meuws
Fitzy
Olo Brown


fuck your pro era bullshit. Memories are memories.

Jim Lahey wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 6:35 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 6:34 pm 15 Robinson
14 Balshaw
13 Greenwood
12 Tuilagi
11 Ashton
10 Jonny
9 Bracken
1 Corbs
2 Hartley
3 Sheridan
4 Jonno
5 Itoje
6 Hill
7 Back
8 Dallaglio

Loved watching Robinson. Never got Balshaw I must say.

In fairness I’ve stuck Tuilagi at 12, there’s a very good chance he’s not getting the ball

1. Sheridan
2. George
3. Vickery
4. Johnson
5. Grewcock
6. Hill
7. Clarke
8. Dallaglio
9. Dawson
10. Wilkinson
11. Daly
12. Greenwood
13. Tuilagi
14. Lewsey
15. Robinson

Tonks
Webster
De Luca
Morrison
Southwell
Godman
Pyrgos
Du Preez
Blake
Cowan
Swinson
???
Sebastian
McArthur? Can't remember anyone else with extended time in squad
Chunk

Rob Evans
Richard Hibbard
Adam Jones
Brent (?) Cockbain
Luke Charteris
Dan Lydiate
Martyn Williams
Taulupe Faletau
Mike Phillips
James Hook
Shane Williams
Hadleigh Parkes
Gavin Henson
LRZ
Kevin Morgan to put the cream on the Grand Slam

Christian Cullen
Joe Rokocoko
Frank Bunce
Pita Alatini
Jonah Lomu
Carlos Spencer
Aaron Smith
Zinzan Brooke
Michael Jones
Richie McCaw
Ali Williams
Brodie Retallick
Ethan de Groot
Dane Coles
Carl Hayman

Dam.. pro-era. Need to change it..

TheNatalShark wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:04 pm Tonks
Webster
De Luca
Morrison
Southwell
Godman
Pyrgos
Du Preez
Blake
Cowan
Swinson
???
Sebastian
McArthur? Can't remember anyone else with extended time in squad
Chunk

Very good... but I don't know what someone as decent as Chunk is doing in there!

Du Randt
Bismarck
Malherbe
Matfield
Etsebeth
Burger
Smith
Vermeulen
Joost
Honibal
Habana
JDV
Fourie
Kolbe
Percy

G.Hastings
D.Graham
H.Jones
G.Townsend
D.vdMerwe
F.Russell
G.Armstrong
P.Schoeman (was T.Smith)
G.Bulloch (was C.Deans)
E.Murray
R.Gray
D.Weir
J.White
J.Hardie (was J.Jeffrey)
S.Taylor

Edited for pro era!

15 Lewsey
14 Robinson
13 Tuilagi
12 Greenwood
11 May
10 Ford
9 Healey
8 Dayglo
7 Hill
6 Croft
5 Itoje
4 Johnson
3 Cole
2 Thompson
1 Sheridan

All-time -- no reason to make an arbitrary cut-off.

Fergie
BeeGee Williams
Bruce Robertson
Nonu
Lomu
DC
Laidlaw
Lochore
M Jones
Tremain
Meads
Whitelock
Ken Gray
Fitzy
Woodcock

Corbisero
Thompson
Sinkler
Shaw
Johnson
Croft
Back
Hill

Bracken
Hodgson

Robinson
Greenwood
Guscott
Luger
Lewsey

With a bench of
Sheridan
Thacker (my baa baas uncapped selection)
Leonard
Itoje
Lawes/daly (depending on what balance you wanted)
Willis
Healy
Catt


May not win much, but would be great to watch

charltom wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:35 pm Very good... but I don't know what someone as decent as Chunk is doing in there!

Yeah it's more my thought that rest of that team does a lot of aimless running around not achieving much, and would be hilarious watching chunk trying to keep up (note I'm FR). Somewhat interestingly I considered Hardie in there for all kiwi backrow.

Forgot the terms Hardie left under when seeing what he is doing now, and honestly can't remember if it was found he had been thrown under the bus or kosher?

Lewsey was a great player. Proper tough bastard with gas.

Sandstorm wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:47 pm Du Randt
Bismarck
Malherbe
Matfield
Etsebeth
Burger
Smith
Vermeulen
Joost
Honibal
Habana
JDV
Fourie
Kolbe
Percy

My only change would be Schalk Brits at hooker

Monk wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 6:04 am

Sandstorm wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:47 pm Du Randt
Bismarck
Malherbe
Matfield
Etsebeth
Burger
Smith
Vermeulen
Joost
Honibal
Habana
JDV
Fourie
Kolbe
Percy

My only change would be Schalk Brits at hooker

I'd have Warren Whiteley as an honourable mention or a bench spot. He was a serious baller in the backrow.

Also loved watching Brussow and big Dannie. You's kunts have had some serious animals in the backrow over the years

If it's limited to the professional era, shouldn't it be your favourite XXIII? The bench is so important to the game now, and a key point of difference from the amateur era. Just asking.

Gumboot wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:11 am If it's limited to the professional era, shouldn't it be your favourite XXIII? The bench is so important to the game now, and a key point of difference from the amateur era. Just asking.

My Irish backrow would have the opposition backline all hospitalised by half time. Wouldn't need a bench

Lio-Willie's a very handy replacement indeed.

Edit: oops, wrong fred.

Jim Lahey wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:14 am

Gumboot wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:11 am If it's limited to the professional era, shouldn't it be your favourite XXIII? The bench is so important to the game now, and a key point of difference from the amateur era. Just asking.

My Irish backrow would have the opposition backline all hospitalised by half time. Wouldn't need a bench

Unlike your opposition.

Corbisero
Greening
Leonard
Johnson
Shaw
Croft
Hill
Dayglo
Gomersall
Wilkinson
Luger
Greenwood
Joseph
Robinson
Lewsey

Capuozzo
Robertson
Menoncello
Masi
Ioane
Garbisi
Griffen
Parisse
Bergamasco
Polledri
Ruzza
Cannone
Castro
Lucchesi
Fischetti

Corbisero
Thompson
Leonard
Johnson
Shaw
Croft
Clarke
Hill
Dawson
Wilkinson
Cohen
Greenwood
Guscott
Robinson
Lewsey

Or.............
Sheridan
Moore
Probyn
Doole
Grewcock
Teague
Back
Richards
Bracken
Ford
Luger
Tuilangi
Joseph
Oti
Webb
Edit: Bugger, I've just noticed it says "pro era" in the OP.

1. Woodman
2. Greening
3. Vickery
4. Shaw
5. Archer
6. Hill
7. Armitage
8. Dallaglio
9. Healey
10. Cipriani
11. Robinson
12. Catt
13. Greenwood
14. Simpson-Daniel
15. Balshaw

Gumboot wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:11 am If it's limited to the professional era, shouldn't it be your favourite XXIII? The bench is so important to the game now, and a key point of difference from the amateur era. Just asking.

Good point... now your avatar.. paint it yourself?

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 11:03 am 1. Woodman
2. Greening
3. Vickery
4. Shaw
5. Archer
6. Hill
7. Armitage
8. Dallaglio
9. Healey
10. Cipriani
11. Robinson
12. Catt
13. Greenwood
14. Simpson-Daniel
15. Balshaw

Oooh. Woodman and Simpson-Daniel are good calls.
I might have to edit mine now

Healy, Sheahan, Furling, Beirne, Hendo , Ferris, SOB, Doris, JGP, Sexton, Fitz , D'Arcy , BOD, Horgan, Murphy

Popplewell
Wood
Furlong
POC
Henderson
Easterby
Wallace
Doris
Stringer
ROG
Hickie
Henderson
BOD
Bowe
Keenan

1 Gurthrö Steenkamp
2 Bismarck
3 Koch
4 Bakkies
5 Matfield
6 Brüssow
7 J.Smith
8 Vermeulen
9 Joost
10 Honibal
11 Habana
12 F.Steyn
13 J.Fourie
14 Kolbe
15 Joubert

Easterby an interesting one.

Good shout on Hendo for 12. Might need to edit mine!

CM11 wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:46 pm Easterby an interesting one.

Good shout on Hendo for 12. Might need to edit mine!

I really liked him as a player, especially the way he sort of tidied up after other players. In my delusions of grandeur during my playing days, I liked to imagine myself as a similar type forward around the breakdown.

Woodman
Thompson
Vickery
Itoje
Shaw
Hill
Robshaw*
Forrester
Care**
Wilkinson
Healey
Greenwood
JSD
Robinson
Lewsey


* - of course I had to - but actually we haven't produced many 7s that I really enjoyed watching. You could make arguments for a lot of the more recent crop.
** - We're assuming "on their best day" right...?

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Darcy Graham
13. Alan Tait
12. John Leslie
11. Duhan van de Merwe
10. Finn Russell
9. Gary Armstrong
1. Tom Smith
2. Stuart McInally
3. Ewan Murray
4. Richie Gray
5. Nathan Hines
6. Jason White
7. Hamish Watson
8. Simon Taylor

CM11 wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:46 pm Easterby an interesting one.

Good shout on Hendo for 12. Might need to edit mine!

Maggs was also a cracking player worthy of a mention for 12. That try against France in 03 was beautiful (even if the French were mentally already in the pub by that stage of the game).

Uncle fester wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 1:27 pm

CM11 wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:46 pm Easterby an interesting one.

Good shout on Hendo for 12. Might need to edit mine!

I really liked him as a player, especially the way he sort of tidied up after other players. In my delusions of grandeur during my playing days, I liked to imagine myself as a similar type forward around the breakdown.

I might be wrong but wasn't there a period of time we all thought of him as a bit of an average Joe but EOS kept picking him, around 2005/06, and then he had a run of about 5 games when he was incredible and then everyone had him down as one of our most important players?

Jim Lahey wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 4:43 pm

CM11 wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:46 pm Easterby an interesting one.

Good shout on Hendo for 12. Might need to edit mine!

Maggs was also a cracking player worthy of a mention for 12. That try against France in 03 was beautiful (even if the French were mentally already in the pub by that stage of the game).

We're pretty spoiled for choice in the centre, tbf.