Greatest: Round 2: Choose your 6

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

Previous threads here:
https://www.606v2.com/t38819-greatest-round-2-choose-your-15#1753473
https://www.606v2.com/t38887-greatest-round-2-choose-your-11-14
https://www.606v2.com/t38898-greatest-round-2-choose-your-13
https://www.606v2.com/t38921-greatest-round-2-choose-your-12
https://www.606v2.com/t38949-greatest-round-2-choose-your-10
https://www.606v2.com/t38974-greatest-round-2-choose-your-9
https://www.606v2.com/t39002-greatest-round-2-choose-your-8
https://www.606v2.com/t39104-greatest-round-2-choose-your-7

Brief:
• Vote for one player only in the blindside position.
• Votes are cancellable so in the event that the loose forward trio would be better balanced if you changed your mind, feel free to do so.
• I have decided to be tough and only offer for selection players most closely associated with the position. So sorry, you can’t have Michael Jones up for the 6 and 7 shirts (although practically that’s what most people would consider justified)
• I understand but have actively chosen to ignore the national differences between the role of flank forwards, their position on the field and their shirt numbers. There are only so many hours in the day and whatever I'd write when making an exception for particular, there would still doubtless be people that would disagree. Feel free to start your own polls if you feel very strongly about this.
• It can be assumed that players in the amateur era would have been just as dominant vis a vis their historical peers if they had followed professional conditioning programmes.

Your shortlist (in no particular order):

1. Francois Pienaar
South Africa – 29 caps

The image of Francois Pienaar accepting the Webb Ellis Cup from Nelson Mandela following the 1995 World Cup final is one that has lived long in the memory of rugby fans the world over. As a symbol of South Africa's rehabilitation into the sporting landscape, it was monumental, and cast Pienaar as one of the all-time great Springboks.

His first-class career began in 1989, when he made his debut for Transvaal. He would go on to make over 100 appearances for the province, 89 as captain. As the Springboks were struggling with their reintroduction to international rugby, Pienaar was reaping the rewards with Transvaal. In 1993 South Africa, under Naas Botha, lost Tests to New Zealand, Australia, France and England while Pienaar led Transvaal to the inaugural Super 10 title and the Currie Cup.

Following the resignation of Botha in 1993 the bold step was taken to install Pienaar as captain in his debut Test match against France at the ABSA Stadium. The Springboks drew 20-20 in this first Test, and lost by a single point in the second. It was a credible start for Pienaar, and over the next year South Africa registered wins over Argentina, Scotland and Wales to begin their improvement as a unit.

Any side with a captain such as Pienaar is bound to feel the positive effects of his presence. He was courageous to the point of endangering his health and ruthlessly combative. He played the game as though it was a personal affront to see the opposition with the ball.

Pienaar led the Springboks into the 1995 World Cup knowing that they had a tremendous struggle ahead of them if they were to win. Their task began with a daunting fixture against the reigning champions Australia at Newlands. Australia were undefeated for a full year before this curtain raiser, but Pienaar's underdog side were in no mood to stand on ceremony as tries from Joel Stransky and Pieter Hendriks sunk the Wallabies 27-18.

From there on Pienaar's side overcame obstacle after obstacle, whether it be a mass-brawl against Canada costing them the services of hooker James Dalton or the semi-final against France, in which conditions were almost unplayable following apocalyptic storms over the ABSA Stadium. Pienaar's men triumphed over all the odds, and faced up to the fearsome All Blacks and their try-machine Jonah Lomu. Three penalties and two drop goals from Joel Stransky were enough to see the Springboks to glory, but it was the magnificent marshalling of Lomu by the South Africa back row that really drove home their victory.

In an early precursor to rush defence, the man-mountain Lomu was never free of the attentions of Pienaar, Mark Andrews and Ruben Kruger. Despite his glorious achievements as captain, Pienaar's relatively brief international career ended ignominiously. Coach Andre Markgraaff strangely dropped Pienaar ahead of the 1996 Tri-Nations Test with New Zealand, and Pienaar would never play for the Springboks again.

Following the end of his international career Pienaar made a high-profile switch to Saracens, alongside fellow superstars Michael Lynagh and Phillipe Sella. Pienaar led Saracens to their first trophy in 127 years with triumph in the 1998 Tetleys' Bitter Cup before retiring in 2000. His immediate future remained with Saracens, as he took up a position as CEO and coach until 2002, when he resigned and returned to Cape Town with his family. He later rekindled his relationship with Saracens as a non-executive director of Premier Team Holdings, a major investor in the club.

Pienaar is a man who in one moment managed to transcend the world of sport, creating an image alongside Mandela that will serve as a reminder for fans the world over of the changes for good that have occurred in the recent history of the game. As a player he was a defensive rock, as a captain a courageous leader and as a South African he became a legend.

Sample footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKg8x1a1GkM

2. Richard Hill
British & Irish Lions – 5 caps, England – 71 caps

Richard Hill is one of the true player’s players of the modern game. In possession of a superior rugby brain and a superhuman ability to read phase play, his machine-like consistency and brutal, unrelenting defensive play made him a juggernaut whose presence depressed opposing players who had been able to steal even a yard over the gain line for the entire game.

Hill made his England debut in the 1997 Five Nations Championship against Scotland, playing at openside flanker. He was selected ahead of Neil Back, who was controversially ignored by the England team for that period. He toured South Africa with the British Lions in the summer of 1997, gaining two caps but a back injury struck in 1998, meaning that he missed Saracens’ Tetley’s Bitter Cup victory that year.

Under new England coach Clive Woodward, Hill was initially selected at openside, but was moved to blindside flanker to accommodate Neil Back on the openside flank with Lawrence Dallaglio moving from blindside to number eight. It was in this position, with the trio of Hill, Back and Dallaglio, that Hill gained most of his caps and formed part of one of the most complete loose forward sets in the modern game.

Although Hill had been named in England's 2003 Rugby World Cup squad, his place appeared in jeopardy after he suffered a hamstring strain on the eve of the tournament. Coach Clive Woodward decided, correctly in the end, that it was worth the risk to keep Hill in the team. Hill missed the pool games, and days out from England's quarterfinal clash with Wales, scans on the injured hamstring initially revealed grim prospects, but Hill was encouraged by the team physios that it was still possible to recover in time for the semi-final.

England saw off a brave challenge from Wales in the quarterfinal to advance to the semi-finals. Hill was named in the starting line-up for the semi-final against France. England easily coped with the much-vaunted French back-row. Hill played a key role in helping England defeat Australia in the final.

Following Neil Back's retirement in 2003, Hill switched back to the openside flanker role. He is the only player never to have been dropped during Sir Clive Woodward's England tenure, due to his prolific work in the loose and his astonishing defensive performances. He played for Saracens and was selected for the England Saxons (A-Team) squad for the 2007 internationals.

Hill injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a match against London Irish on 3 October 2004, and underwent surgery three days later. He was out for the following seven months, but returned to be named in a Lions touring squad for the third time in 2005. He was named in the starting fifteen for the first Lions Test against the All Blacks, but suffered a knee injury during the first half, ending his tour.

In January 2008 Hill announced that he would retire at the end of the current Guinness Premiership season, due to the toll taken upon his knee since his two injuries, which had left him with a permanent limp. However, in April 2008, his man-of-the-match performance in the Heineken Cup victory over Ospreys confirmed his continued ability to perform at the highest level, even when playing on almost one leg.

On 11 May 2008, Hill played his final game for Saracens, who won 25-20 against Bristol. On 20 September 2008, Hill appeared for the Help for Heroes XV in a charity match against Scott Gibbs' International XV at Twickenham Stadium to raise funds for injured servicemen and women. He scored a try in the Heroes' 29–10 win.

A quiet, low-key legend.

Sample footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk8SryULuPg

3. Juan Smith
South Africa – 69 caps

Aged only 31, Juanne Hugo Smith has already completed the Springbok holy quartet of World Cup, Under 21 World Cup, Tri-Nations and Currie Cup victories. In a country renowned for forward play, Smith’s consistent excellence has won his plaudits from all corners of the globe and firmly established him as the player most opposing fans would gladly have slip into their side.

One of South Africa's most consistent forwards, his all-round play made him a regular fixture in the back-row alongside Schalk Burger and Danie Rossouw during the Springboks' march to the 2007 Rugby World Cup crown. His blonde looks and durable physicality have led to many comparisons to another Springbok from Bloemfontein in Andre Venter.

Smith made his debut for South Africa as a replacement in the 29-25 victory over Scotland in Durban in 2003. His first taste of Rugby World Cup action came later in 2003 when he played in four games at a tournament where South Africa lost in the quarter-finals to New Zealand.

Smith played only once for South Africa in the 2004 season before regaining his regular position in the 2005 campaign, which also brought success for the Free State Cheetahs as their Currie Cup team secured the title with a narrow win over the Blue Bulls.

He captained the Cheetahs in 2006, which was the first year the provincial team had been accepted into the expanded Super 14 tournament. He notched his 50th cap for South Africa when he played in the Tri-Nations match against New Zealand at Newlands in August 2008, a match which was also marked by the 100th appearance of fullback Percy Montgomery.

In 2009, he played all three Tests for South Africa against the British & Irish Lions as the Springboks won the series 2-1, before helping them on their way to the Tri-Nations title. A succession of injuries plus the death of his father ruled him out of international action for almost a year, with his return coming against New Zealand in Soweto in August 2010.

Injury woe struck again in 2011 with surgery on his Achilles tendon sidelining him for much of the Super Rugby season. He fought back in the hope of playing a part in the Springboks' defence of the World Cup in New Zealand but had to admit defeat in his battle for fitness.

In April 2012 Smith announced that he would be taking an indefinite break from rugby due to the ongoing battle with his Achilles injury. He has had four operations on the injury but was concerned that the recovery was taking longer than he had hoped. In an interview with the Volksblad newspaper, Smith said: "The right thing to do now is to give my injury sufficient time to heal 100%".

Although Saffer fans would be distraught not to see him again, they similarly would understand that this player has nothing left to win and nothing left to prove.

Sample footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8tu6-GvK2g

Hill for me

Richard Hill...!

Hill was an open side.

Pienaar won the 95 World Cup by smashing Lomu off the park. That level of disregard for himself together with the inspiration it proved to his team, let alone the historical context and the fact that nobody had comprehensively dealt with and nullified Lomu previously means that he is elevated beyond all comers.

Come on English fans, get objective.

Was Hill an open, I thought majority of his caps came at No6 and he gets my vote

He moved over to make room for Back, but played the majority of his club rugby at 7.

Hill was an open at club level but the still the best 6 around when he played and was a 6 internationally in the Holy Trinity. I'm not sure it's appropriate to split 6 and 7 in this poll anyway given the way different eras and sides have treated flankers

Plus don't the Boks play 6 open and 7 blind?

And the French play L-R

Easiest vote ever.

Hill by a country mile.

Of the 3 Juan Smith for me. Didnt really see a lot of the other two and Pienaar seems to have got more accolade for his leadership than his play. Hill I admit I need to take a look at more as for me England werent so much a team of individuals in their defining period but rather a veruy efficient and giant killing machine as a whole.

Went for Pienaar for the '95 World Cup.

Hill stated that he preferred openside but internationally he was certainly a 6 and I honestly believe that's the position most people associate him with.

As I've stated before, I have ignored national preferences as to the role and shirt number of flank forwards. I haven't got all day to do these!

We have sadly been deprived of the best 6 in world rugby through injury. Hill for his longevity and consistency gets it for me. Burger could get a vote for all three backrow positions and is better than Pienaar.

George Carlin wrote:Hill stated that he preferred openside but internationally he was certainly a 6 and I honestly believe that's the position most people associate him with.

As I've stated before, I have ignored national preferences as to the role and shirt number of flank forwards. I haven't got all day to do these!

Hill was fantastic at 6 or 7 and not a 6.5 he was not a compromise in either role. He completely outplayed George Smith in the first test 01 before Henry deciding that the team after a crushing victory needed changing (may have won the WC but still a plank IMO) and moved Hill to 6 before he was tageted and taken out in a cowardly and blatent piece of foul play. The Lions were not the same without him and the rest is history.

A great player, a players player and a really nice man to boot

Oh Sorry Hill for me

Hill by a mile at 6 or 7. Really it doesn't matter which number was on his back as he was unplayable in both positions!