The Best v The Best - match analysis

Waiting for some documents to come in at work and, bored out of my bejeezus such as I currently am, my thoughts turned to this.

Two teams of the greatest ever are set out below.

A. The 'Reds'

15: Christian Cullen (New Zealand)
14: David Campese (Australia)
13: Philippe Sella (France)
12: Mike Gibson (Ireland)
11: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

10: Phil Bennett (Wales)
9: Gareth Edwards (Wales)

8: Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)
7: Michael Jones (New Zealand)
6: Richard Hill (England)
5: Colin Meades (New Zealand)
4: Frik du Preez (South Africa)
3: Graham Price (Wales)
2: Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
1: Os du Randt (South Africa)

B. The 'Blues'

15: Andy Irvine (Scotland)
14: Gerald Davies (Wales)
13: Danie Gerber (South Africa)
12: Tim Horan (Australia)
11: John Kirwan (New Zealand)

10: Barry John (Wales)
9: Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

8: Wayne Shelford (New Zealand)
7: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
6: Ian Kirkpatrick (New Zealand)
5: John Eales (Australia)
4: Martin Johnson (England)
3: Fran Cotton (England)
2: John Smit (South Africa)
1: Jason Leonard (England)

Who would win this one-off game and why?

Some general assumptions:

(a) all players from the amateur era would have the benefit of a modern professional conditioning programme;

(b) you may assume all players are in their prime;

(c) this really is just a bit of fun.

This thread is redundant as neither team contains Henson. Change the "Reds" to "Oranges" and play the chosen one.

Obviously I disagree with a fair number of the selections but:

I reckon the blue team you selected have the better pack and woudl win enough front foot ball to enable Joost to get the back line moving.

While reds have a cracking back row - I am not sure that as a unit they are defensively strong enough to put the SH under the pressure needed.

I don't dis-agree with many of those selections but there is clearly one glaring omission IMO.

JPR and Willie John wouldn't look out of place be in either of those sides, as to who would win well its to close to call but there are some great match ups from different generations that would have been fantastic to watch.

RTeally like the sound of Sella and Gibson together whilst Red side back row sounds awesome as does the Blues 2nd row

Looks like this thread hasn't appealed much, which is a shame because I was keen to hear some thoughts from others. Thanks to the lads replying.

My own six cents worth:

1. Front row - it's close but the Reds have the edge. What Price would have looked like at the end of a modern professional training programme is frightening.

2. Second row - Blues would win most of the line outs with Nobody and Johnno but the Reds would have the sheer intimidation factor in the tight. Again, Meads in the gym rather than in the pub would have produced a cyber-bear of a man.

3. Loosies - I honestly believe that the Reds have the most perfect back row imaginable.

4. Halfbacks - hard to argue against the Reds pairing, which is probably the finest that ever actually played together. That said, Joost would have given John some great space for his trickery.

5. Centres - Blues have the most brutal defensive wall imaginable. Sella could drop 20 stone lock forwards easily and Gibson was the most physically overdeveloped player of his age. Incredible to think what he would have done if he played now. Horan and Gerber would have been quicksilver and strong as lions though. Have to call it a draw.

6. Back 3 - I thought I would be a douche and separate Cullen from Wilson although that was the best strike running unit of my boyhood, and possibly ever. For sheer artistry and the ability to strike from deep, the Blues back three would be the ones I would enjoy watching the most.

Can't say I'm much of an expert on this but I'd opt for the Reds.

It's just too close to call, maybe the Reds because although the Blues have IMO a better pack all in all, the Reds have more individual match winners and if any one of Sella, Campese, Cullen, Lomu or Edwards has their best day, the Blues wouldn't be able to stop them scoring. The Blues have excellent backs too but less individual ability to steal a game.

As a bit of fun it`s great except there are far to many NH players in it,and assumes that 3 of the 4 props all NH are better than there SH Brethren.Jaapie Bekker,Piet Du Toit,Chris Koch,Kevin Skinner,Ken Gray at Prop.Hooker Bryn Meredith,Dad Young ,Ron Hemi at Hooker.Alan Stewart,Stan Meads,Ian Jones,Gary Whetton,Nev McEwan,Tiny White,PeterWhiting,Andy Haden at lock.How can you omit Kel Tremain?as good in his day as ANY loosie mentioned.Mike Gibson at 10 THE best of his era John etc were`nt worthy to tie s his bootlaces let alone wear his boots.Ken Catchpole,Chris Laidlaw,Dave Loveridge,or Des Connor at 9 and on and on.

GC,

how could you overlook Gary Armstrong at SH in either team ?

ChequeredJersey wrote:It's just too close to call, maybe the Reds because although the Blues have IMO a better pack all in all, the Reds have more individual match winners and if any one of Sella, Campese, Cullen, Lomu or Edwards has their best day, the Blues wouldn't be able to stop them scoring. The Blues have excellent backs too but less individual ability to steal a game.

My thoughts 100% Blues have great forwards, Reds have indivudlaists....

emack2 wrote:As a bit of fun it`s great except there are far to many NH players in it,and assumes that 3 of the 4 props all NH are better than there SH Brethren.Jaapie Bekker,Piet Du Toit,Chris Koch,Kevin Skinner,Ken Gray at Prop.Hooker Bryn Meredith,Dad Young ,Ron Hemi at Hooker.Alan Stewart,Stan Meads,Ian Jones,Gary Whetton,Nev McEwan,Tiny White,PeterWhiting,Andy Haden at lock.How can you omit Kel Tremain?as good in his day as ANY loosie mentioned.Mike Gibson at 10 THE best of his era John etc were`nt worthy to tie s his bootlaces let alone wear his boots.Ken Catchpole,Chris Laidlaw,Dave Loveridge,or Des Connor at 9 and on and on.

I thought that this might disappoint you Alan - suffice to say that I'm not implying these players were the greatest ever in their positions - just those that I would most enjoy watching play each other.

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:GC,

how could you overlook Gary Armstrong at SH in either team ?