World XV,... Who's in your dream team?

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Of all the players playing in the world right now who would be your starting XV??

Mine is as follows...

15.Israel Dagg
14.Brian Habana
13.BOD
12.Conrad Smith
11.Julien Savea
10.Dan Carter
9.Will Genia
1.Cian Healy
2.Bismarc Du Plessis
3.Adam Jones
4.Bakkes Botha
5.Paul O'Connell
6.Sean O'Brien
7.Richie McCaw
8.Louis Picamoles


16.Adrian Strauss
17.Tony Woodcock
18.Carl Hayman
19.Sam Whitelock
20.Kieran Read
21.Fourie Du Preez
22.Johnny Sexton
23.Hosea Gear


Quite bias towards the irish lads i know, and for that i apologise, green tinted glasses!!

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:I've been mate. The stadium's a disgrace but the fans are great entertainment value. They're actually doing quite well this season. They were as high as fourth.

If I remember correctly you would get a perfect view from an apartment block on one side. Is that still the same? Its an awful part of Madrid too.

Awful is harsh. A colourful part! A little further up and you have at Alto Arenal and you have great views of the city. And yes, still possible to see some of the field from the apartments on the other side of the road.

The San Silvestre 10km race on New Year's turns off Avenida de Albufera at the stadium. Nothing climb but most people get psyched out there.

My dream XV - needs to have pace in the 3/4s, good ball skills at half back, tough and uncompromising in the back row, ability to really jump in the second row, a bit of ballast at prop and a hooker.

All at the peak of their careers, 15 to 1:

Kate Beckinsale
Vicky Pendleton
Jess Ennis
Lindsey Vonn
Danica Patrick
Gabrielle Reece
Anna Kournikova
Denise Lewis
Trish Stratus
Gina Carano
Yelena Isinbayeva
Amy Acuff
Kelly Brook
Suzy Favor Hamilton
Holly Willaboobie

Your pack is lightweight and lacks punch Tiger. But that backline is stunning.

I'm a Madridista bg virtue of my dad being a Spaniard who ended up in Gauteng. So I really hope to one day visit the Bernebeau. Being a junior sports reporter, I may get paid to do that one day!

Can't think of a stadium in a major city which is in the heart of the city. Think you'd be disappointed though if you go to see a match there. The Real supporters are much like the bullfighting snobs. They only applaud amazing play and for most of the match the stadium has the atmosphere of a library. Get much better value as an experience seeing Atletico de Madrid or Rayo Vallecano. Though obviously seeing teams with fewer stars and teams with fewer trophies. It depends on what you want in a match. Frankly when it comes to football I'm more enthusiastic for the drinks before and / or after the match. That said, football has its moments like Tuesday night for example. Most of the time I find it frustrating with all the theatrics. That's why stadium atmosphere goes a long way for me to pull me through the 90 minutes.

Try watching a dead cricket match at the Wanderers. Eventually it just becomes a beer fest. And the beer snake comes out

That sounds fun.

kingraf wrote:I'm a Madridista bg virtue of my dad being a Spaniard who ended up in Gauteng. So I really hope to one day visit the Bernebeau. Being a junior sports reporter, I may get paid to do that one day!

That would be nice. Hope that works out for you. The Bernebeau is a good stadium. Atmosphere can be a bit muted but its a real experience to see Madrileños munching on pipas and the wiff of porros.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Can't think of a stadium in a major city which is in the heart of the city. Think you'd be disappointed though if you go to see a match there. The Real supporters are much like the bullfighting snobs. They only applaud amazing play and for most of the match the stadium has the atmosphere of a library. Get much better value as an experience seeing Atletico de Madrid or Rayo Vallecano. Though obviously seeing teams with fewer stars and teams with fewer trophies. It depends on what you want in a match. Frankly when it comes to football I'm more enthusiastic for the drinks before and / or after the match. That said, football has its moments like Tuesday night for example. Most of the time I find it frustrating with all the theatrics. That's why stadium atmosphere goes a long way for me to pull me through the 90 minutes.

Have you been to Ventas? There is a true Madrid experience.

Yeah but it's not an experience I'm in any hurry to repeat. Not out of squeamishness. Seen un rejoneo as well as una corrida. Ticked it off and no need to return. Definitely una experencia madrileña cien por cien.

By the way, I loathe pipas. Disgusting practice.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Yeah but it's not an experience I'm in any hurry to repeat. Not out of squeamishness. Seen un rejoneo as well as una corrida. Ticked it off and no need to return. Definitely una experencia madrileña cien por cien.

By the way, I loathe pipas. Disgusting practice.

I love pipas. Used to build a nice spit pile in plaza mayor and watch the world go by.

Bullfighting is fairly rotten IMO though.

Que asco tio!!! One thing I find really frustrating with the Spanish. They are quite guarro (filthy) when it comes to littering.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Que asco tio!!! One thing I find really frustrating with the Spanish. They are quite guarro (filthy) when it comes to littering.

Dont you just love the way they throw all their rubbish up against the bars, sardine heads, tissues, nut shells, all fair game. They are alright.

kingraf wrote:I'll tell you what hes playing:
$$$$

It's not Sonny Bill, it's Dollar Bill!!

LT

I'd want Ana Ivaonvic in there somewhere, and surely Gabrielle Reece should be in the pack for her line-out skills (although someone might have to teach her to palm the ball down a little more gently...)

Are you envisaging them allowing Isinbayeva to use the pole in the lineout? Would make her damn near unbeatable .

Just did a quick search for Suzy Favor Hamilton - can see why you picked her at hooker.

Dream team:
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Rory Best
3. Adam Jones
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Alyn Wyn Jones
6. Dan lydiate
7. Mccaw
8. Louis Picomoles

9. Genia
10.Carter
11.Cory Jane
12. Wesely fofana
13. Conrad Smith
14.James O'Conner
15. Israell Dagg

16. Mismark Du plesis, 17. Marcos Ayerza, 18. Nicholas Mas, 19. P O'Connell, 20.Pocock, 21. Kahn Fotuali, 22. Johnny Sexton, 23. Adam Ashley Cooper

1. Healy
2. Bismarck
3. Cole
4. Whitelock
5. Etzebeth
6. Alberts
7. Tipuric (I'm not even Welsh, but as McCaw isn't playing tests atm)
8. Read
9. Genia
10. Carter
12. Fofana
13. Tuilagi
11. Savea
14. Habana
15. Dagg