OPENSIDE FLANKERS/7 Greatest XV Ever - voted by 606v2

First topic message reminder :

Got some controversy and difficulty here- Obviously, as I have noted in my breakdown thread, different countries take different approaches to the 7 shirt, such as the different numbering in SAF and L and R flankers in some other sides, plus the role has changed a lot over the years! Thus there will definitely be overlap between the 6 and 7 candidates, but for Saffers etc could you please pick what I as a UK poster would call a 7 if possible? If you feel you should vote for 7s, I imagine most of the picks will be more modern but you can always vote in 6 and 7 for the two best flankers overall. Or maybe I should pick legendary back-row units? The back row is a complicated area to run this type of poll with as the players have to compliment each other!

As always, suggest players I have missed, but this could be a LONG list (not as long as 6 though!)

Btw, the 8 was clearly Zinzan Brooke

The funny thing about that 1905 sides for both countries was just how much influence that match would have(Ive been reading a lot about it after the jersey auction for my club). The originals pretty much defined what it was to be an All Black for future players and established a reputation globally. That Welsh side was our most successful side ever trophywise and the victory was a defining moment in our folklore as much as NZ rugby. Anyway Haydn made up for 1905 by jumping out of the lineout in 78 and I was at that one with my dad. Its deeply saddening to me that until the 80s the All Blacks were worried about playing wales, since then the rivalry has been far to one sided. Lets hope the times are a changing.

The Iceman for me - quite simply the most skilful player ever.

Apart from Brendan Laney, obvously.

Surely Frik Du Preez is worth a mention here (even though he was as much a lock as a flanker). What Michael Jones did in setting alight loose-forward play in the late 80s, Du Preez did in the 60s. He was as fast as, if not faster than, many backs and with ball-handling skills to match (rare for a forward in those days). What's more, he was also a recognised kicker, able to kick both drop goals and place-kicks from 50m+. Perhaps it's impossible to say who the best no.7 ever is, but it is certainly possible to identify the stand-out players from particular generations, and as such Du Preez must be up there with Jones and McCaw.

Findlay Calder because he was a hard 'besterd' - just what Scotland are missing -apart that is from a decent coaching team !

disneychilly wrote:Cheers TO, apologies I forgot it was that instead of the touch. But cheers to KRD for correcting that. I'm not 150 so can't recall too much of the details. If Scotland had've played us in 1924 the stink may have died down as that would have been NZ's first slam.

Speaking of that anyone remember that film Old Scores? I wish there were a digital copy somewhere. That cracked me up. Old Lucky...

Biltong Kruger was great too. But if he scored then the pass to Jonah with the line open was probably not forward Evened out in the end, but to be honest I'm sure you've watched that game more than I...

Mr Fishpaste wrote:Surely Frik Du Preez is worth a mention here (even though he was as much a lock as a flanker). What Michael Jones did in setting alight loose-forward play in the late 80s, Du Preez did in the 60s. He was as fast as, if not faster than, many backs and with ball-handling skills to match (rare for a forward in those days). What's more, he was also a recognised kicker, able to kick both drop goals and place-kicks from 50m+. Perhaps it's impossible to say who the best no.7 ever is, but it is certainly possible to identify the stand-out players from particular generations, and as such Du Preez must be up there with Jones and McCaw.

He is an option

Mr Fishpaste wrote:Surely Frik Du Preez is worth a mention here (even though he was as much a lock as a flanker). What Michael Jones did in setting alight loose-forward play in the late 80s, Du Preez did in the 60s. He was as fast as, if not faster than, many backs and with ball-handling skills to match (rare for a forward in those days). What's more, he was also a recognised kicker, able to kick both drop goals and place-kicks from 50m+. Perhaps it's impossible to say who the best no.7 ever is, but it is certainly possible to identify the stand-out players from particular generations, and as such Du Preez must be up there with Jones and McCaw.

Fishpaste - he is nailed on in the 5 shirt in my all time top XV. I've never heard of him playing as a flanker but stand corrected.

Cardiff Taffy wrote:Can anyone post the team so far? I've missed a few of them....

Well, the wingers and fullbacks were done by HERSH who used fewer options-

15- Initially JPR, but pipped by Cullen after HERSH had taken his end point for the poll, so arguably could be either
14- Campese
13- BOD
12- Horan (Hersh's poll had Sella and BOD as Centres)
11- Lomu
10- Carter
9- Edwards
8- Brooke
7- Jones

Backs subs, if done on most votes in sensible positions would be something like Cullen/JPR/Shane Williams, Sella/Barry John, Van Der Westhuizen

Can I take Hersh pole for the centres as for Sella was just pure class and him and BOD together would have been a dream team and half.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Can I take Hersh pole for the centres as for Sella was just pure class and him and BOD together would have been a dream team and half.

Ha! In which case Horan is on the bench, which works as he covers 10 too

ChequeredJersey wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Can I take Hersh pole for the centres as for Sella was just pure class and him and BOD together would have been a dream team and half.

Ha! In which case Horan is on the bench, which works as he covers 10 too

Happy with that

ChequeredJersey wrote:

Cardiff Taffy wrote:Can anyone post the team so far? I've missed a few of them....

Well, the wingers and fullbacks were done by HERSH who used fewer options-

15- Initially JPR, but pipped by Cullen after HERSH had taken his end point for the poll, so arguably could be either
14- Campese
13- BOD
12- Horan (Hersh's poll had Sella and BOD as Centres)
11- Lomu
10- Carter
9- Edwards
8- Brooke
7- Jones

Backs subs, if done on most votes in sensible positions would be something like Cullen/JPR/Shane Williams, Sella/Barry John, Van Der Westhuizen

Just shows you how subjective these votes are, the second best team in world rugby history can only make the bench.

SA got some great props and locks though

nganboy wrote:SA got some great props and locks though

Yeah, we did have some other great players too.