The Greatest: Round 1: Shortlist for the 7 shirt (VOTING ENDS 23/12/12)

First topic message reminder :

The openside thread.

Please post below picking ONE and one only from this list of referee-avoiding, ball slowing tricksters:

Thierry Dusautoir, Jean-Pierre Rives (France), George Smith, Simon Poidevin, Phil Waugh (Australia) Michael Jones, Richie McCaw, Josh Kronfeld, Waka Nathan (New Zealand), Jan Ellis, Ruben Kruger, Piet Grayling, Schalk Burger (South Africa), Finlay Calder (Scotland), Wavell Wakefield, Neil Back (England), Fergus Slattery, David Wallace (Ireland), John Taylor, Martyn Williams (Wales),Thierry Dusautoir (France), Peter Winterbottom (England).

Top three 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

https://www.606v2.com/t38634-the-greatest-round-1-shortlist-for-the-4-5-shirts

https://www.606v2.com/t38635-the-greatest-round-1-shortlist-for-the-6-shirt#1745502

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

chewed_mintie wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:He went to Otago boys though didn't he? Irrelevant though as the move to Christchurch made the great man. For all the rest there's Mastercard.

And Sam Harding (who pipped McCaw for most age group sides) went to Chch Boys. Fair trade IMO

I got given McCaw's book for my birthday (will be doing a review soon, once I retrieve the book, I left it at Asbo's place in Devon on Sunday). When Richie was 12 his Dad suggested "you'll enjoy your rugby more if you get a bit fitter". Richie started doing a 10km run every 2nd day ...

With good reason too KRD – did you see the picture? He was pretty hefty as a child!

Indeed.

And at the back of the book they put in a page of his junior coach's notebook with player names and the position they played each week - mostly lock and prop for Richie back then.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:He went to Otago boys though didn't he? Irrelevant though as the move to Christchurch made the great man. For all the rest there's Mastercard.

And Sam Harding (who pipped McCaw for most age group sides) went to Chch Boys. Fair trade IMO

I got given McCaw's book for my birthday (will be doing a review soon, once I retrieve the book, I left it at Asbo's place in Devon on Sunday). When Richie was 12 his Dad suggested "you'll enjoy your rugby more if you get a bit fitter". Richie started doing a 10km run every 2nd day ...

I've read Richie's book as well. A very enjoyable read, some sportsmen/women books can be awful and others can be great. It's usually pretty tough to pick the good ones but from recent days I'd definitely advise Marcus Trescothic's and McCaw's was interesting to read too. One of the things that really gets on my nerves with sportsmen is those who seemingly release a new book every christmas, each one probably containing just as little merit as the next. Pietersen/Flintoff are pretty culpable of that in cricket and whilst I haven't read the more recent one's Jonny seems to have brought a book out after each of the last 3 world cups.

Back to the topic in hand though! I'd just go for Michael Jones over McCaw as I always felt he was a simply marvelous player. I always took a lot of enjoyment out of watching Jones even when he was on the other side which with a back row forward that caused grief to opposition like he did is no mean feat.

Michael Jones

George Smith. 110 tests and 122 SR games. Retired quietly at 29 because the new boy was ready. One of the most understated legends in Oz sport.

Michael Jones

Michael Jones

McCaw

Voting Locked.