The Greatest: Round 1: Shortlist for the 4 & 5 shirts (VOTING ENDS 23/12/12)

by **George Carlin** Wed 19 Dec 2012, 11:36 am

The lock thread.

Yes, I know that there's a practical difference in game between 4 and 5, but I just don't care.

As I'm treating 4 and 5 in the same thread, everyone gets to pick two players and the vote for the teamsheet will have 6 options. So group them as you want them.

Please post below picking TWO and two only from this list of lighthouses/borderline psychopaths:

John Eales (Australia), Gordon Brown (Scotland), Martin Johnson, Bill Beaumont, Simon Shaw, Paul Ackford (England), Frik du Preez, Victor Matfield, Johan Claassen, Mark Andrews, Bakkies Botha, Fairy Heatlie (South Africa), Brad Thorn, Colin Meads, Ian Jones, Brian Lochore (New Zealand), Fabien Pelous, Elie Cester, Benoit Danga (France), Willie-John McBride, Paul O'Connell, Malcolm O'Kelly (Ireland), Patricio Albacete (Argentina).

Top six go through to the vote for the teamsheet.

Will update the OP to make up for any glaring omissions.

Players above in no particular order.

Notes:

1. Rules here:
https://www.606v2.com/t38622-the-greatest-introduction-the-rules

2. Previous threads here:
https://www.606v2.com/t38631-the-greatest-round-1-shortlist-for-the-1-shirt#1745446

https://www.606v2.com/t38632-the-greatest-round-1-shortlist-for-the-2-shirt#1745455

https://www.606v2.com/t38633-the-greatest-round-1-shortlist-for-the-3-shirt#1745464

3. Please note that voting for the shortlist will end at midnight on Sunday 23 December.

by chewed_mintie Wed 19 Dec 2012, 11:47 am

George, just wanted to point out that Brian Lochore was more of a No 8 than a lock....and no space for Brad Thorn? Has won everything going in World Rugby (and League)

by **George Carlin** Wed 19 Dec 2012, 11:49 am

Understood Mintie - have updated for Thorn but always saw Brian as more of a lock. The Greatest: Round 1: Shortlist for the 4 & 5 shirts (VOTING ENDS 23/12/12) 3187153522

The Greatest: Round 1: Shortlist for the 4 & 5 shirts (VOTING ENDS 23/12/12) 3187153522

Hmm. I love to learn.

by Bathman_in_London Wed 19 Dec 2012, 11:52 am

Eales.

by **Biltong** Wed 19 Dec 2012, 11:54 am

Victor Matfield

by **Ozzy3213** Wed 19 Dec 2012, 11:59 am

Eales

Johnson

by **George Carlin** Wed 19 Dec 2012, 12:01 pm

Biltong wrote:Victor Matfield

...and I imagine du Preez for you, Biltong?

by **Biltong** Wed 19 Dec 2012, 12:04 pm

Yes, but du Preez was when I was a young boy (memory is fading), the way I see it, the primary function of a lock is line out ball, and sorry to say, but none of these guys dominated the art of line outs like MAtfield.

by **George Carlin** Wed 19 Dec 2012, 12:08 pm

But you get to pick two players on this particular thread, Biltong.

by OzT Wed 19 Dec 2012, 12:14 pm

wot ozzzy said...

( eales and MJ )

That would be an awesome combo worth watching....

And hurry up put the number 9 spot up please, itcxhing to put my favorite down!!! ** jumping up and down in antiissss... sapation ***

by fa0019 Wed 19 Dec 2012, 12:15 pm

Du Preez & Johnson.

by ChequeredJersey Wed 19 Dec 2012, 12:15 pm

Johnson, Matfield

by BlueNote Wed 19 Dec 2012, 1:02 pm

Eales and Matfield

by AlastairW Wed 19 Dec 2012, 1:57 pm

Martin Johnson

John Eales

by Pete C (Kiwireddevil) Wed 19 Dec 2012, 2:04 pm

Eales and Meads

by funnyExiledScot Wed 19 Dec 2012, 2:05 pm

Martin Johnson

Victor Matfield.

Boom.

by bedfordwelsh Wed 19 Dec 2012, 2:17 pm

Eales and Willie John

by GunsGerms Wed 19 Dec 2012, 2:18 pm

Willie John Eales for me too.

by chewed_mintie Wed 19 Dec 2012, 2:28 pm

As much as I love Brad Thorn, I’ll plump for Meads and Johnson. The Master and the Apprentice

by fa0019 Wed 19 Dec 2012, 2:44 pm

chewed_mintie

Thats an excellent choice, never crossed my mine when I voted.

by B91212 Wed 19 Dec 2012, 2:45 pm

Johnson & Matfield would be just about the perfect combo for me. Honorable mentions to Earls, Thorn & POC when he was at his absolute best.

by BoyneRFC Wed 19 Dec 2012, 2:47 pm

Gethin. Simply for his work around the park. x 2.

by offload Wed 19 Dec 2012, 3:21 pm

Eales and Johnson

by emack2 Wed 19 Dec 2012, 4:17 pm

Colin Meads /Stan Meads,Colin Meads/Alan Stewart,Colin Meads/Peter Whiting,Thorn /Jack
Tiny White/Bob Duff,Brad Thorn/Ali Williams,Haden/Whiting,Williams /Jack.
ALL those would be contenders from NZ alone.

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Wed 19 Dec 2012, 4:34 pm

Victor Matfield and Brad Thorn

by majesticimperialman Wed 19 Dec 2012, 4:39 pm

Martin Johnson/John Eales This is so close it is hard to seperate them.

by GunsGerms Wed 19 Dec 2012, 4:41 pm

majesticimperialman wrote:Martin Johnson/John Eales This is so close it is hard to seperate them.

Dont think Johnson could kick goals.

by maestegmafia Wed 19 Dec 2012, 8:06 pm

John Eales and Delme thomas

by MotelMoneyMurderMadness Wed 19 Dec 2012, 9:56 pm

Eales & Johnson

by wales606 Wed 19 Dec 2012, 10:35 pm

Matfield and Johnson

by nganboy Thu 20 Dec 2012, 1:39 am

Eales and Matfield

by Poorfour Thu 20 Dec 2012, 10:13 am

Eales, unquestionably, as the lineout leader.

The enforcer could be Botha, Shaw... but I'll go for Johnson.

by kiakahaaotearoa Thu 20 Dec 2012, 10:18 am

I can't post. This thread has been locked. Whistle

by kiakahaaotearoa Thu 20 Dec 2012, 10:19 am

Ah, thanks mods. Eales and Matfield. Eales pips it for me with his goalkicking. Very Happy

Would love to have both but that leaves it lightweight. Colin Meads. No messing about with him on the field.

by Geordie Thu 20 Dec 2012, 11:28 am

Johnson and Eales

by emack2 Thu 20 Dec 2012, 1:27 pm

With respect the Lock primary role is to Scrummage,then the lineout,Colin Meads was THE best Lock i`ve ever seen.He was Great in the lineout BUT not a great jumper.
Victor was a Great Lineout exponent BUT was outplayed in 2008 by Ali Williams.
Indeed at Dunedin by anton Boric.
THE best Lineout Forward i`ve seen was Nevan McEwan ,Peter Whiting was close.Eales no where near,Frik Du Preez was probably the best Bok exponent i`ve seen at Lineout.BUT he was a Lock/6 utility player like eales he kicked Goals too.
Only in recent years has the Lineout become the key area since legalised lifting
In cidentally Brad Thorn was a great Grunt Lock in recent years but no Lineout Jumper.

by mckay1402 Thu 20 Dec 2012, 1:35 pm

Eales and Matfield. awesome they would have been

by thebluesmancometh Thu 20 Dec 2012, 3:32 pm

See the problem with this is that Eales and Matfeild probably wouldn't work together, they are quite similar, and they both would need a Botha type to help them.

IMHO you could only select 1 of these players, and thats the flaw in the thread.

I hate it when locks are lumped together when lossey and tightys are deemed specialist, similar to right and left wing!!!

I'd go with Matfeild and POC Cool

by OzT Thu 20 Dec 2012, 3:59 pm

True thebluesman, why I prefer Eales and MJ, player and enforcer..

by Cyril Thu 20 Dec 2012, 4:13 pm

This one is easy.

Eales and Johnson.

by Exiledinborders Thu 20 Dec 2012, 5:14 pm

Colin Meads & Martin Johnson

by timhen Thu 20 Dec 2012, 9:13 pm

Eales & Johnson

by BamBam Thu 20 Dec 2012, 10:32 pm

Johnson and Matfield

by BigTrevsbigmac Fri 21 Dec 2012, 6:10 am

Eales & Johnno

by DHLS07 Sat 22 Dec 2012, 5:05 pm

Colin Meads
John Eales

by PenfroPete Sat 22 Dec 2012, 5:21 pm

Eales and Willie John McBride

Can't believe we have POC & MOK in the list for Ireland but no Willie John. No Delme Thomas (3 Lions tours) or anyone else for Wales Headscratch

by **George Carlin** Sat 22 Dec 2012, 7:06 pm

PenfroPete wrote:Eales and Willie John McBride

Can't believe we have POC & MOK in the list for Ireland but no Willie John. No Delme Thomas (3 Lions tours) or anyone else for Wales

He's second on the list, Penfro.

Will combine the Irish lads so that it's easier to see though.

by yappysnap Sat 22 Dec 2012, 8:02 pm

Eales

Johnson

Massively talented and a massive presence

by king_carlos Sun 23 Dec 2012, 7:11 am

Johnson

Eales

Wouldn't ever want either of them let alone both in the opposition!

by Standulstermen Sun 23 Dec 2012, 12:25 pm

Eales
Matfield

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