Team of tri-nations series

[Mal Meninga]

The team is SOLELY based on tri-nations form, not counting Super 12 and reputation.

1. Woodcock .. with Big Oz as a close 2nd
2. Mealamu .. no one close with Smit average
3. Hayman .. best prop in the game
4. Matfield .. best lock in the game
5. Williams .. on form could rival Matfield
6. Burger .. close to the best player in the world again
7. Mccaw .. nothing more to say
8. Soliola .. V.N.K was quiet and rodney ran hard made metres all day
9. Weepu .. dangerous runner but erratic passer while januarie did everything well but passing and gregan played behind the worse pack in the comp
10. Pretorious .. every other nation had multiple first 5's while Pretorious' kicking game was frustrating but extremely effective
11. Rokocoko .. the best winger in the game while Habana and Tuquri are 2 & 3
12. De Villiers .. great hands and passer.. Mauger and Turinui weren't too bad
13. Fourie .. find of the tournament .. gifted ball runner and support player.. tana was solid
14. Gerrard .. looked like a real test player against kiwis
15. Mitchell .. would be find of the tournament if he didnt play that badly against the kiwis.

No Australian forwards.. can't fit Waugh or Smith in either 6 or 7 although if he played more at 8 would've made the side.
Best forward in the competition: Mccaw\Williams. Williams was that good IMO.
Best back in the competition: Rokocoko\Mitchell. Fijian Joe proved to the world he's back.

And everyone elses teams?

 

[Jackal Dog]

15. Mils Muliania--Got it by default this year did nothing of note, but Mitchell was too inconsistant and Montgomery was a huge letdown and did nothing but kick.
14. Joe Rockocko--He is the best winger in the world atm bar none
13. Tana Umaga--Strong in defense and good in attack typical preformance from the skipper
12. Jean De Villiers--Is SA's best attacking weapon has plenty of brains and pace
11. Bryan Habana--The hype was all true, my friend is a mad Bulls supporter and hsa been raving on about him for the last 2 years is a very good player of the future.
10. Luke Mccalister--I have been very impressed with him since making his test debut against the Lions very creative in attack.
9. Ricky Januarie--Very close between him and Weepu but it is Januarie for me to come to from obscurity playing no S12 at all this year, to troubling the 2 best nations in the world is one hell of accomplishment.
8. Joe Van Nierkerk--One of my favs on the international circuit big Joe has a lot of pace for a loosey and has a great offloading ability can we swap him for Vickerman?
7. Richie Mccaw--GOD best loosey in the world atm
6. Burger--Mr Mongrel always gives 110%
5. Victor Matfield--Benchmark in terms of locks
4. Ali Williams--Had a poor S12 but did more then enought to remind he is one of the top 5 locks in the world
3.Carl Hayman--Troubled oppostion props tremendously
2. John Smit--Another tough choice just chose him over Mealamu in terms of scrumagging/lineouts
1. Guthro Steenkamp--The man is a beast is a bone crunching tackler and a surprisingly powerful runner

16. Keivn Mealama--Is half hooker half loosey very good player.
17. Tony Woodcock--Solid scrummager
18. Bakkies Botha--Bit quite but him and Matfied are still an imposing combo
19. John Roe--The only bloody aussie forward with some balls should be first chocie no.8 for November
20. Piri Weepu--Good younger prospect needs to stop throwing that "extra pass" though
21. Morgan Turinui--Tried hard but you can't do much without a good platform being layed on by your forwards
22. Andre Pretorius--Kicking was superb and his passing was generally on target not really many other contenders anyway.

 

[aqua_duck]

1. Guthro Steenkamp--The man is a beast is a bone crunching tackler and a surprisingly powerful runner

C'mon, the guy isn't even starting for Sth Africa, surely Woodcock has done enough to deserve his spot.

As for Keven Mealamu, I thought he was one of the players of the tournament, his line out and scrummaging work was solid but his play as an extra loose forward and in particular carrying the ball set him apart.

As for Schalk, I dunno, he kind of disappointed me abit this tournament compared to last year, got smashed quite often running the ball in particular by Jerry Collins and also got away with alot due to some pretty pathetic reffing.

I thought Bryan Habana was an absolute star, made the most of his opportunities every time.

 

[Timbo]

I'm struggling to understand how Dunning missed a spot.

 

[aqua_duck]

I'm struggling to understand how Dunning missed a spot.

Lol that's cause its a trinations team not a jenny Craig team.

 

[bayrep]

Are we only picking players on Fitness currently or looking at players who played in the 3N's this season ? as Dan Carter would have to be a starter surely.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Are we only picking players on Fitness currently or looking at players who played in the 3N's this season ? as Dan Carter would have to be a starter surely.

No we're picking solely on 3N form, and Carter's form wasn't that great during the 3N before he got injured. He was below par against the Boks and average against the Wallabies. His form against the Lions doesn't count.

 

[CanadianSteve]

Would you guys have picked Jerry Collins if he hadn't missed the last game by suspension?

 

[Jackal Dog]

C'mon, the guy isn't even starting for Sth Africa, surely Woodcock has done enough to deserve his spot.

Well he absolutely hammered our forwards over in SA (then again who doesn't?) but he is stuck behind Os Du Randt who is soooo over the hill it's not funny (aka. Whits and Gregan)

As for Schalk, I dunno, he kind of disappointed me abit this tournament compared to last year, got smashed quite often running the ball in particular by Jerry Collins and also got away with alot due to some pretty pathetic reffing.

Yeah on second thought I would have Jerry too but he is still a very classy player imo.

 

[lockyno1]

Would you guys have picked Jerry Collins if he hadn't missed the last game by suspension?

Not when you have Burger there!

 

[Te Kaha]

Not when you have Burger there!

Problem with that is that Burger isn't a blindside. Despite having the 6 on his back he plays openside.

 

[lockyno1]

Problem with that is that Burger isn't a blindside. Despite having the 6 on his back he plays openside.

You still have to have him in there! He is the best 6 in the world, there is a reason for that! Collins was good but Burger was better! Thast is no disrespect for Collins but Burger is a world superstar!

 

[Iafeta]

15 Drew Mitchell
14 Bryan Habana
13 Tana Umaga
12 Jean De Villiers
11 Joe Rockocoko
10 Whatshisface Pretorious
9 Piri Weepu
8 Joe Van Niekirk
7 Richie McCaw
6 Jerry Collins
5 Ali Williams
4 Victor Matfield - could be tempted by Bakkies Botha but by jingo he gives away some crazy penalties at times
3 Carl Hayman
2 Keven Mealamu
1 Tony Woodcock

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I'd play Collins at number 8 and Burger at 6 in a 3N combined side. Burger might have been better than Collins (although if Jerry had played the last game I might have said different) but Collins definitely did more than any of the number eights.

 

[Martli]

1. Woodcock
2. Mealamu
3. Hayman
4. Jack
5. Williams
6. Collins
7. Mcaw
8. Soli'ialo
9. Weepu
10. Cater
11. Rocokoco
12. MAuger
13. Umaga
14. Gear
15. Muli'iana

;-)

 

[Jackal Dog]

Collins is a awesome ball runner (that break he made at the House of Pain was great!) and a good tackler but for pure aggression around the ruck area I would have to go with the Incredible Schalk!

 

[ThrashViking]

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Keven Melamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Victor Matfield
5. Ali Williams
6. Schalk Burger
7. Richie McCaw
8. Joe Van Niekirk
9. Ricky Januarie
10. Andre Pretorious
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Jean De Villiers
13. Tana Umaga (c)
14. Brian Habana
15. Drew Mitchell

 

[bayrep]

I am surprised that people are going for Mitchell. He did make some stunning runs during the series but he was shown up a little in the last game against the AB's and against Habana.

 

[CanadianSteve]

I'd play Collins at number 8 and Burger at 6 in a 3N combined side. Burger might have been better than Collins (although if Jerry had played the last game I might have said different) but Collins definitely did more than any of the number eights.

A year or 2 ago Collins was playing #8 - why was he switched?

 

[bayrep]

He wasnt considered that good at #8. WHen the England team toured NZ in 2001(?) Collins got monstored by the English #8 whos name escapes me.