Out of position XV

Simple really, what xv would you pick for your team not allowing any player to play in their main position or a position they regularly cover.. and why??

1. Bradley Davies - Big enough
2. Adam Jones - Has thrown in then the Hooker is off before
3. Jamie Roberts - See what happens
4. Sam Warburton - Dynamic 2nd row
5. Dan Lydiate - Does lineout catches
6. Mike Phillips - Wannabe flanker
7. Gethin Jenkins - Wannabe flanker
8. Matthew Rees - Strong, powerful runner
9. Shane Williams - Excellent feet and pass
10. Leigh Halpenny - big boot
11. Jonathon Davies - Quick + strong
12. Lee Byrne - good running lines
13. Alun Wyn Jones - Crash ball, pretty quick
14. James Hook - He hasnt played there....yet
15. Ryan Jones - Always catches restarts.

I think that team could take a few!

15 Moses - Well if he can part the red sea he can part any defence.
14 Adam Jones - Because it would be funny taking someone on the outside
13 Jonah Lomu - I think he;d make a good centre!
12 Gethin Jenkins - He's be great on a short charge!
11 Jordan - Stroppy cow with air bags, tacklers beware!
10 Ryan Giggs - I wonder what kind of fly half he would of been
9 Rhodri Giggs - I wonder how many hospital passes he'd of given Ryan?
8 Gareth "Alfie" thomas - Could you really trust him at the back of a scrum
7 Arnold Schwarnegger - Terminator at Openside where else!
6 Stevie Wounder - Blindside seems the best spot for him.
5 Nigel Owen - so Alfie has got somewhere to park.
4 Rebecca Loos - I saw what she did to the pig, god help the opposition front row in the scrum!
3 Brian O'Driscoll - I love it when he has a grumpy face, he'd have one here!
2 Dan Parks - well why not!
1 Ronan O'Gara - because he'd get squashed!

I would swap Byrne with North.

15. Devin Toner - High ball specialist
14. Sean O'Brien - He's got the gas
13. Isa Nacewa - Has he played there yet?
12. Cian Healy - Whole new meaning to crash ball
11. Kevin McLoughlin - to balace the back 3
10. Jamie Heaslip - Footballing brain
9. Richardt Strauss - Sniping breaks
8. BOD - Break from back of the scrum
7. Luke Fitzgerald - Honestly think he could do a great job at 7
6. Leo Cullen - All 2nd rows love the odd go at 6
5. Rob Kearney = Tall
4. Mike Ross - Reasonably tall, ballast
3, Rhyss Ruddock - Tough position needs a tough guy
2. Issaac Boss - Looks like hookers from 20 years ago, legs used to dangle off the ground during scrums
1. Gordon Darcy - Small and... Rotund

NZ's got a great tradition of playing people out of position at 13 in World Cups...

15 McFadden-quick, good defenece, excellent boot, good core skills
14 Horan-loves standing out on the wing waiting for cross kicks
13 Heaslip-good rugby brain, good step and offloading
12 O'Brien-go forward ball, good offloader, great tackler
11 Healy-a baby rhino, quick, compact, hard to take down
10 O'Driscoll-best rugby brain on the planet, excellent core skills
9 P.Wallace-great distribution
8 Trimble-quick and powerful off the base, option in the lineout
7 Cronin-low to the ground, quick, good tackler
6 Best-great tackler, work ethic, good on the floor but gives away penalties
5 Kearney-Great in the air
4 Horgan-great in the air, big man, strong in the engine room
3 O'Connell-a big lump of a man, strong, does the donkey work
2 Boss-good at the lineout, strong enough and low to the ground
1 Ferris-Strong man, lot of leg drive

1- Powell
2- Adam Jones
3- Ryan Jones
4- Lydiate
5- Warburton
6-Gethin Jenkins
7- Mike Phillips
8- Jamie Roberts

9- Hook
10- Shane Williams
11- Byrne
12- Falatau
13- North
14- JD2
15- Halfpenny

If you take their first choice positon only

1 - Matthew Rees - could be a new Gethin Jenkins
2 - Jon Davies - solid lump, probably more accurate in the line out
3 - Ken Owens - see smiler
4 - George North - tall athletic lock
5 - Ben Morgan - big lump enforcer
6 - Steve Jones - bit of bulk to add to the pack, and can run crash ball
7 - Rhys Thomas - after all the openside is meant to cheat!
8 - Tavis Knoyle - always seems to want to join the forwards so this would be his chance

9 - Iestyn Thomas - always takes over if the scrum half is missing
10 - Morgan Stoddart - not a kicker but could be the Hook play maker
11 - Richie Pugh - i can honestly say his pace suprised me
12 - Peter Edwards - a big crash ball merchant
13 - Rob McCusker - just for ballence in the centre with Pete the meat
14 - Jon Edwards - large, powerful, and deceptively pacey
15 - Josh Turnbull - Solid under high ball and happy to run with the backs when needed

15 Thomas O'Leary
14 Stephen Ferris
13 Jamie Heaslip
12 Sean O'Brien
11 David Wallace
10 Geordan Murphy
9 Keith Earls
8 Jonny Sexton
7 Brian O'driscoll
6 Rory Best
5 Shane Horgan
4 John Hayes
3 Dan Tuohy
2 Cian Healy
1 Bob Casey

11 Tom Croft
14 Marcus Horan

Two forwards who just sit on the wing all day

Meh.

REAL countries test their out of position players in RWC knock out matches.

To that extent I think we've established that Cullen wasn't a center, Wilson wasn't a full back, MacDonald wasn't a center and Muliaina isn't a center.

TheGreyGhost wrote:Meh.

REAL countries test their out of position players in RWC knock out matches.

To that extent I think we've established that Cullen wasn't a center, Wilson wasn't a full back, MacDonald wasn't a center and Muliaina isn't a center.

and at the same time.

And speaking of out of position, whoever thought of playing Wayne Barnes as referee was clearly just as crazy.

TheGreyGhost wrote:And speaking of out of position, whoever thought of playing Wayne Barnes as referee was clearly just as crazy.

Paddy O'Brien?

So it was our fault

SSSSShhhhhhh!! Don't let the other's in on the Great New Zealand Secret, that we've been deliberately letting other teams win for the Greater Good of The Game.

Man, is it hard trying to find ways to blow it and look casual through. I'm so tired of having to complain about the Barnes guy.

roddersm wrote:15 Thomas O'Leary
14 Stephen Ferris
13 Jamie Heaslip
12 Sean O'Brien
11 David Wallace
10 Geordan Murphy
9 Keith Earls
8 Jonny Sexton
7 Brian O'driscoll
6 Rory Best
5 Shane Horgan
4 John Hayes
3 Dan Tuohy
2 Cian Healy
1 Bob Casey

Your front row are awesome!!!!!

Jonny Sexton at 8???? What's the thinking behind that one????

Murphy and Wallace are also good calls

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Your front row are awesome!!!!!

Jonny Sexton at 8???? What's the thinking behind that one????

Murphy and Wallace are also good calls

Thanks pete, they're a bit tall but I thought I'd throw a couple of big lumps in there.

Sexton at 8? Well he's a big lad and a good footballer and 8 is a pivotal position, he's tall enough for the lineout and can read the game.

In the real world of course he's probably too small but thought I'd go for someone not so obvious.

1 Waldrom
2 Caucau
3 Basteraud
4 Sheridan
5 Phillips
6 Visser
7 O'Driscoll
8 Banahan

9 Barclay
10 Martyn Williams
11 Spies
12 Heaslip
13 Mears
14 Jenkins
15 Croft

Been thinking that Healy could do a good job at 8 or even Cronin

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Been thinking that Healy could do a good job at 8 or even Cronin

Hmm, they're both pretty short. Was tempted to put Healy at 12 as a crashball center. Thought about Bowe at 8, also Horgan but I needed Horgan for 2nd row.

TheGreyGhost wrote:Meh.

REAL countries test their out of position players in RWC knock out matches.

To that extent I think we've established that Cullen wasn't a center, Wilson wasn't a full back, MacDonald wasn't a center and Muliaina isn't a center.

I asked you on another thread the other day GG

Given that Conrad Smith hasn't played for a while and might be getting a bit more injury prone than before.
Who is your pick for back up at centre? Can you think of a good specialist?
If Conrad doesn't play does that mean we are going lose again

Just stick kahui in a padded cupboard until Conrad breaks down. He's such an effective player, but @&$) he is fragile the poor oh dear.

I think the auto replace thingy got me

SA

1.Danie Rossouw
2.Heinrich Brussouw
3.Schalk Burger
4.Lwasi Mvovo
5JP Pietersen
6Jaque Fourie
7Jean de Villiers
8 Bismarck du Plessis
9 Gio Aplon
10 Schalk Brits
11 Ryan Kankowski
12 Willem Alberts
13 Pierre Spies
14 Keegan Daniel
15 Andries Bekker

In any team of players picked out of position I don't think you could ignore Keith Wood in any of the Back Three positions.

Check out the fourth try: -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAwdpY4wzpM&feature=related

nganboy wrote:

TheGreyGhost wrote:Meh.

REAL countries test their out of position players in RWC knock out matches.

To that extent I think we've established that Cullen wasn't a center, Wilson wasn't a full back, MacDonald wasn't a center and Muliaina isn't a center.

I asked you on another thread the other day GG

Given that Conrad Smith hasn't played for a while and might be getting a bit more injury prone than before.
Who is your pick for back up at centre? Can you think of a good specialist?
If Conrad doesn't play does that mean we are going lose again

Surely it would come down to a SBW/Nonu combo in midfield or else the versatile Toeavea.

red_stag wrote:

nganboy wrote:

TheGreyGhost wrote:Meh.

REAL countries test their out of position players in RWC knock out matches.

To that extent I think we've established that Cullen wasn't a center, Wilson wasn't a full back, MacDonald wasn't a center and Muliaina isn't a center.

I asked you on another thread the other day GG

Given that Conrad Smith hasn't played for a while and might be getting a bit more injury prone than before.
Who is your pick for back up at centre? Can you think of a good specialist?
If Conrad doesn't play does that mean we are going lose again

Surely it would come down to a SBW/Nonu combo in midfield or else the versatile Toeavea.

I fear it might be Toeava's turn to be the fullback we play at centre ...

Well in Scotland we have lots of big slow backs and plenty skinny mobile forwards so this should be quite easy....

1. S Lamont
2. Morrison
3. R Lamont
4. Walker
5. Cuthbert
6. Danielli
7. Ansbro
8. Gray
9. Jacobsen (Scottish fans will get this joke)
10. Barclay (often has to play 1st receiver at line-out due to Ford's throwing)
11. McKenzie (No slower than Walker)
12. Rennie (better hands than Morrison)
13. Beattie (see try at Croke Park)
14. Dickinson (is there a faster prop out there?)
15. Vernon (Faster than Walker)

Smith, Kahui or Freuan at 13 I don't care. Any of those other jokers and I'll have a nervous breakdown.

jonah lumo at openside flanker- now you would have to feel sorry for the 10 he would have no chance

Kiwireddevil wrote:

red_stag wrote:

nganboy wrote:

TheGreyGhost wrote:Meh.

REAL countries test their out of position players in RWC knock out matches.

To that extent I think we've established that Cullen wasn't a center, Wilson wasn't a full back, MacDonald wasn't a center and Muliaina isn't a center.

I asked you on another thread the other day GG

Given that Conrad Smith hasn't played for a while and might be getting a bit more injury prone than before.
Who is your pick for back up at centre? Can you think of a good specialist?
If Conrad doesn't play does that mean we are going lose again

Surely it would come down to a SBW/Nonu combo in midfield or else the versatile Toeavea.

I fear it might be Toeava's turn to be the fullback we play at centre ...

I can certainly see it happening. Could SBW not fill in there. He seems to have an ok skill set for it.

red_stag wrote:

Kiwireddevil wrote:

I fear it might be Toeava's turn to be the fullback we play at centre ...

I can certainly see it happening. Could SBW not fill in there. He seems to have an ok skill set for it.

Nonu and SBW as a 12/13 pairing didn't work especially that well in the AIs IIRC

Thinking about the Out Of Position XV, maybe we should as Gatland to come out with one as he tends to want to play people out of position

Don't like Nonu and SBW together really. If neither comes off then we're in trouble.

Toeava's hands let him down-still feel this way. Plus Jane's a better winger than him so I'd rather him not be in the squad but Henry loves him so am resigned to him going.

They also played McAlister at 13 in 07 and Mortlock had him on a platter.

disneychilly wrote:Don't like Nonu and SBW together really. If neither comes off then we're in trouble.

Toeava's hands let him down-still feel this way. Plus Jane's a better winger than him so I'd rather him not be in the squad but Henry loves him so am resigned to him going.

They also played McAlister at 13 in 07 and Mortlock had him on a platter.

Disney, I think the reason Toeava got the wing berth in the AIs was purely down to pace, he's got it in spades. Sadly I think Jane's SXV form will cost him his spot. Pity, as he's never had a bad game in Black.

Why not Freuan?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Why not Freuan?

He faded a bit late in SXV - defense got shown up a bit. I don't think there's necessarily room in a 30 man squad for 2 specialist outside centres who don't cover anywhere else. Though if Smith was invalided out of the tournament I'm sure he'd get a call.

Must have missed the last bit cos when I saw him he was electric. I was expecting a Carter, SBW, Freuan midfield just in black jerseys.

Would he not be a better bet than Toeava who I think can be pretty poor in defence regarding his positioning?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Must have missed the last bit cos when I saw him he was electric. I was expecting a Carter, SBW, Freuan midfield just in black jerseys.

Would he not be a better bet than Toeava who I think can be pretty poor in defence regarding his positioning?

I think he'd be a better bet. Toeava IMO will go as back-up full back (depending on Dagg's fitness) and possibly starting wing. But because he sort-of covers centre it may hurt Fruean's spots. NZ normally only takes 13 backs - so with 3 halfbacks, 2 10s (Weepu will be the emergency 3rd 10) you've got 8 spots to cover 11-15.
Nonu, SBW, Smith, Gear, Muliaina, Toeava, Sivivatu, and 1 more. And you'd want him to cover both 13 and wing - Kahui seeing as Ranger's faded. Fruean had to play a couple of games on the wing due to Crusaders injuries and was a bit anonymous.

One of the NZ rags has been running a RWC selection barometer here (it pre-dates the squad annnouncement and Donald being dropped). Note they assume 14 backs, and still Fruean misses out. A pity, as I think he could be starting at 13 next year.

Toeava will be a certainty for the ABs since he's seen as cover for almost the entire back line.

Toeava at 13, I could see happening.

I still think Jane's quick enough, and his positional play and space awareness compensates for whatever he gives up in speed to Toeava. Though the Jafa did well against Scotland.

Freuan I think benefitted from SBW inside him as since he's been injured Freuan hasn't done a great deal.

Fruean had a better season last year without SBW.

GG Toeava would prob be my pick outside of those three I mentioned.

Didn't see that much of Freuan last year so will take your word for it.

Seemed to me that Fruean's game last year was based around direct running and making the gain line through breaking the tackle.

This year I haven't seen so much of that, I'm wondering whether he's fallen prey to the requirement for a "more rounded game" and "being a better distributor". Or whether opposition sides have just sussed him.

SBW and Nonu combination = no leadership for the defense
SBW = really only plays 12
Kahui = brilliant but fragile and currently injured
Toeava = plays fullback now days mostly and still injured
Jane = pure quality and unlucky to be playing for 'canes and not a centre
Fruean = young/inexperienced/ limited at this stage in his career
Injured Conrad Smith = 4 more years