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

The inside centre thread.

Lots of players have played both centre positions so I've tried to list players most commonly associated with the 12 role specifically. And no, that doesn't include Daniel Carter.

Please post below picking ONE and one only from this list of crash-ball funsters:

Tim Horan (Australia), Will Greenwood, Jeff Butterfield (England), Jo Maso, Yannick Yauzion, Denis Charvet (France), Mike Gibson, David Hewitt (Ireland), John Dawes, Scott Gibbs, Jack Matthews (Wales), Jean De Villiers, Hennie le Roux, Mannetjies Roux (South Africa), Sony Bill Williams, Aaron Mauger, Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand).

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

https://www.606v2.com/t38636-the-greatest-round-1-shortlist-for-the-7-shirt#1745507

https://www.606v2.com/t38637-the-greatest-round-1-shortlist-for-the-8-shirt

https://www.606v2.com/t38647-the-greatest-round-1-shortlist-for-the-9-shirt

https://www.606v2.com/t38665-the-greatest-round-1-shortlist-for-the-10-shirt

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

If $BW comes back to RU and he sticks at it, ask me this question in 10 years time and you'll probabley see a different answer, similar with Ma'a Nonu - they're both still playing, although this is a real nail biter for me!

Going to have to go with Will Greenwood. Was an absolute world terror when played with Guscott on the outside.

Tim Horan

Tim Horan

Horan. I did love the Little / Bunce combination we had but this nuggety little bloke formed the best centre partnership in rugby for me and Horan eclipsed Little as an individual.

Horan

Scott Gibbs... fastest prop in the world

Mike Gibson

Tim Horan

Greenwood. His role in that England team is still massively under-appreciated. The best measure of his talent is that while England can point to current players who at least have the potential to match their 2003 counterparts in pretty much every other position, they still haven't found anyone who could replace Greenwood.

p.s. And Mike Catt on the subs bench...

Tim Horan

Mike Gibson though I have never seen him play ;-). Of those I have seen play I loved watching Scott Gibbs, was a real dumper truck and kinda redefined inside centre play. However, even though he is a bit of a member and he made me cry in 1991 Ill go for Tim Horan because he was a real live wire and winner.

Tim Horan. Next.

Greenwood for me

No Jack Matthews??

Was Butterfield an inside or an outside centre?

BlueNote wrote:No Jack Matthews??

Was Butterfield an inside or an outside centre?

28 caps - more than 50% at 12, I believe.

As a pair Walter Little and Frank Bunce,but Davies and Butterfield or Jack Mathews and Bledynn Williams run them close.
Best 12 as Second 5/8 Aron Mauger.

Will Greenwood

How did Gibbs get in there?

Will Greenwood

Tim Horan.

Tim Horan just from Will Greenwood.

12 is the toughest IMHO, again this position offers so many differing styles, Gibbs was very effective but not particularly skillfull.

I'd go with Horan though.

Greenwood.

Seems pretty much irreplacable unfortunately.

Had to think long and hard about this one because I remember two of the greatest centres playing together during the 1971 Lions tour to NZ. John Dawes and Mike Gibson. It was Gibson who wore the number 12 shirt and Dawes the 13.

The line-up behind the pack on that tour has to be one of the greatest ever with Gareth Edwards and Barry John, Gibson and Dawes, JPR Williams and wings Gerald Davies and David Duckham, the only Englishman I ever wanted to be Welsh. On reflection I feel Dawes was the great thinker whereas Gibson's play seemed intuitive and mesmeric and I loved watching him play.

So, it's Mike Gibson for me.

VictorU3 wrote:Will Greenwood

How did Gibbs get in there?

I think he was awesome and deserves to make the list. The try in Wembley helps, that was out of this world.

Gibson was terrific, and stronger than he ought to have been for his size.

I know Greenwood was great at his best, but I have seen Gavin Henson make a monkey of him in 2 Ospreys v Quins games,

Greenwood

BlueNote wrote:Gibson was terrific, and stronger than he ought to have been for his size.

I know Greenwood was great at his best, but I have seen Gavin Henson make a monkey of him in 2 Ospreys v Quins games,

Was that shortly before the ageing Greenwood retired?

tigerleghorn wrote:

BlueNote wrote:Gibson was terrific, and stronger than he ought to have been for his size.

I know Greenwood was great at his best, but I have seen Gavin Henson make a monkey of him in 2 Ospreys v Quins games,

Was that shortly before the ageing Greenwood retired?

It was certainly during the period where Quins were underinvesting in talent. Given the limited overlap between their respective careers, it would probably have been just before Quins got relegated, and during the period where the Ospreys were packing around 13 Welsh internationals of various vintages.

Timmy Horan. Just an outstanding footballer.

In his prime I was also a big fan of Jauzion; power, pace, and intelligent lines, handling & boot that always created for those around him. Used to love seeing him line up in the Toulouse & French 9-12 axis of Elissalde-Michalak-Jauzion.

Tim Horan is a great shout...! So many brilliant inside centres, Dr Jack, Capdouze, Guy Boniface, John Gainsford, John Dawes, Greenwood, Bunce

VictorU3 wrote:Will Greenwood

How did Gibbs get in there?

Got to say Scott Gibbs is my favourite Welsh player. Awesome on the 1997 Lions tour. Brutal in defence and just as brutal going forward.

Tim Horan

Horan

maestegmafia wrote:Tim Horan is a great shout...! So many brilliant inside centres, Dr Jack, Capdouze, Guy Boniface, John Gainsford, John Dawes, Greenwood, Bunce

Walter Little was inside centre maes. Bunce was outside him. My favourite centre partnership for the ABs. Still rate Little and Horan above them.

Yannick Jauzion in his pomp, strong as an ox with brilliant finesse and a high 'rugby IQ'

Gibson

Horan

Greenwood

Walter Little

Gibson

Will Greenwood

Will Greenwood.

Massively underrated but just so smart with his rugby. Good try scorer too

Will Greenwood

Would love to say Gibson but he was before my time.

Has to be Tim Horan for me

Voting Locked.