Hypothetical Drafting

First topic message reminder :

Comparing players from different generations is an impossible task. When I think of Terry Wright and put him in the current NZ squad I would fear for his safety simply in the training sessions. Carl Hayman might be more at home in that respect but I'm not so sure a man of his size is suited to the new scrum laws.

But let's say hypothetically you are free to choose any player at the peak of his powers from any generation so long as he was once attached to the amateur era at some stage of his career. For example, I might be able to choose Lomu but not Muliaina.

You can choose one back and one forward and explain why you feel the need to plug your curre t squad with that player. For example, you might think as a Wales fan an alternative to Phillips is needed and why not draft in Gareth Edwards in his prime? Would class still apply in today's environment and would the squad benefit from his inclusion?

So as we're having a problem with centre I'd like to see Frank Bunce drafted in. I loved Smokin Joe with his upturned collar but Bunce and Little was my favourite partnership (that 95 team was perhaps my favourite) and Nonu and Bunce sound too similar but Id much prefer that than Nonu and Little. I think he'd shore up Nonu on defence and we'd gain a slight edge on attack.

I'd love to draft in Colin Meads just to see how he'd play but Craig Dowd or Olo Brown might be a better bet for our current scrum woes and I think Olo Brown look at my straight back would be a useful addition though I'm not sure how much we'd lose in attack with his inclusion. So I'll go with Fitzaptrick as I know we'd be better off on attack, defence and set piece with him in the side.

Who would you choose from your nation's amateur era to improve your current test side?

fa0019 wrote:

rodders wrote:Was Zinzan as good as Dallagio or Corry though?

Wasn't as good as Buck.

Again another interesting quandry, who do AB fans consider the best out of Shelford and Brooke. For me as a young aspiring back rower growing then Shelford seemed immense but then Brooke came along and seemed to take it to another level.

Though in Shelfords case any man who carries on playing with a split scrotum must be nails lol

Bring back Buck posters still pop up from time to time. But at the end Zinzan was outrageously good.

Buck had leadership when we needed it. Zinny had the skills. Both special players but Zinny every time.

Considering Wales missing four tightheads I would be grateful for graham price today

For Ireland Gibson at 12 is a no brainer for the backs.

The forward would be the best TH we had - let the debate begin on that one  

TH is our weakest position and Gibson offers a step up in class far greater than any other back

geoff999rugby wrote:For Ireland Gibson at 12 is a no brainer for the backs.

The forward would be the best TH we had - let the debate begin on that one  

TH is our weakest position and Gibson offers a step up in class far greater than any other back

Geoff,

Was Popplewell loose or tight? He seemed pretty damn good from what I can remember.

I am surprised more posters have not gone for Hookers. a hooker who has hooked all his career would be a huge asset now. Thats why I went for kevin McKenzie - a hooker from that era but also one who was a good footballer and had a bit of pace