THe Greatest Backrow Unit of all time...?

Who were the fastest, the best defenders, the best attackers, the slyest ball stealers, the cleverest ruckers, hardest maulers etc etc etc....!

This is going to be tricky as there have been some impressive units out there... Plenty to choose from..

Jean-Pierre Rives - Christian Beguerie - Jean-Luc Joinel - France Grandslamers in 1974 and bet the ABs in NZ 1979

Jones - Whetton - Shelford - AB World Cup 87

Hill - Back - Dallaglio - England circa 1999-2003

Willy Ofahengaue - Simon Poidevin - Troy Coker - Australia 91 RWC

Michael Jones Reuben Thorne - Josh Kronfeld - Zinzan Brooke - ABs mid 90s

Owen Finegan - George Smith - Toutai Kefu - Australia 2001 Lions Victory

Marc Lievremont - Olivier Magne - Christophe Juillet - France Late 90s

Roger Uttley - Fergus Slattery - Mervyn Davies - Lions 1974 beat SA

Ruben Kruger - Francois Pienaar - Mark Andrews - RWC 95

Mickey Skinner - Peter Winterbottom - Mike Teague - England circa 91- 92

G Smith - P Waugh - D Lyons - Australia RWC 99

Derek White - John Jeffrey - Finlay Caulder - Scotland Grandslam 90

Dallaglio - Hill - Rodber - Lions 1997 beat SA

Burger - Smith - Rossouw - SA RWC 07

John Taylor - Peter Dixon - Mervyn Davies - Lions 1971 beat Abs

Richard Hill - Martin Corry - Scott Quinnell - Lions 2001

Ben Clarke - Tim Rodber - Dean Richards - England mid 90s

Jerome Kaino - Richie McCaw - Kieran Read - ABs Current

I went for the England 2003 trio. The best balanced back row I've seen play.

For Scotland, I think the White, Hogg and Taylor combination in the mid 00's is probably the best we've had in my time, although the 1990 back row was also strong.

Currently I think the All Blacks are the top trio, Kaino, McCaw and Read, although Italy could form a surprisingly good trio at the WC of Zanni, Bergamasco and Parisse assuming they all stay fit.

funnyExiledScot wrote: although Italy could form a surprisingly good trio at the WC of Zanni, Bergamasco and Parisse assuming they all stay fit.

Isn't Bergamasco a Scrum Half?????

Have to go for the holy trinity of Hill,Back and Dallaglio. Maybe as individuals not the greatest in their positions but as a unit were immense.

Very difficult - the best backrows have a great balance and it should be this that people are voting for rather than great individuals.

I think that the Iceman, Whetton and Buck is unbeatable in terms of aggregate quality of player but a nod has to go to Uttley, Slattery and the Swerv - it must have been horrendous to be a half back with that trio bearing down on you.

BATH_BTGOG wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote: although Italy could form a surprisingly good trio at the WC of Zanni, Bergamasco and Parisse assuming they all stay fit.

Isn't Bergamasco a Scrum Half?????

No the Bergamasco they are referring to is definitely a Flanker or Winger, his brother is either a center or winger. There is unequivocally no doubt in that what so ever.

You should have the leinster trio of o'brien/elsom jennings heislip in there

D24tress wrote:You should have the leinster trio of o'brien/elsom jennings heislip in there

You have to ask the moderators if you would like to add anyone, I cant do it myself. That said, they were a great backrow unit but I dont think they were quite legendary status.

I went for the 87 NZ boys, but there are some fantastic units in that list - very tough choice this one.

I had to go with Kaino Read and McCaw, trully a fantastic combination of Speed, Power and aggression.

Kaino too is probably the most under rated blind side flanker in the world IMO.

maestegmafia wrote:

D24tress wrote:You should have the leinster trio of o'brien/elsom jennings heislip in there

You have to ask the moderators if you would like to add anyone, I cant do it myself. That said, they were a great backrow unit but I dont think they were quite legendary status.

I was half joking, but in time they will make the list

I'm probably biased but went for Hill,Back and Dallaglio

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:I had to go with Kaino Read and McCaw, trully a fantastic combination of Speed, Power and aggression.

Kaino too is probably the most under rated blind side flanker in the world IMO.

Blindsides are always underrated, and when they are gone you miss them...!

I'd have gone for Ferris, Heaslip and Wallace if had been there....

Based on the number of games they played together and the fact that they were GS, WC and Lions winners I'll go for the obvious one of Hill, Back and Dallagio.

Some of the AB combos including the current one are possibly better though.

roddersm wrote:I'd have gone for Ferris, Heaslip and Wallace if had been there....

You can't seriously think that they are the best 3 backrow players of all time rodders?

Just go back to the end of last year when Barclay Beattie and Brown thouroughly bested them in the 6N.

Brilliant players yes and arguably the form back 3 in the NH at the moment but the best of all time? Absolutley not!

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
You can't seriously think that they are the best 3 backrow players of all time rodders?

Give it time radge, give it time....

Put it like this, I wouldn't swap them for any of the trios on that above list (apart from Kaino, Reid and MCCaw or Brooke, Thorn and Kronfield maybe... ) ....

Heaslip is a brilliant ball carrying number 8 but in a differant way from Reid, Reid is more physical whilst Heaslip is more ellusive ( he has some step for a big lad ) .

Ireland seem to have an abundance of big physical blind sides (Ferris and SOB).

I prefer the more traditional set up for a back 3 a bit like Kaino, McCaw and Reid. Scotland's backrow of Brown, Barclay and Beattie is in the same mould a lighter 7, a slightly bigger blind side and a monstrous no8.

Perhaps if Livermont had created a stable team selection policy for France Harinordiqy and Dusatoire could have formed part of a fantastic backrow unit too, however Livermont is a madman and is almost certain to pick his team via dice rolls.

Fair enough Radge.

Maybe a wee mention for David Wallace though. A 2 time HEC winner, Lions test player and consistantly one of the best backrowers in Europe over the past decade. He seems to be overshadowed at times by Heaslip, Ferris and now O'Brien but he's been consistantly one of Ireland best performers.

I am positive that after this world cup there will be some new legends and it would be wonderful to see Ireland up there in the Final. They are certainly capable of it.

That hurt but I went for Teague Skinner and Winterbottom.

So far that has been the hardest one yet, there are some good combos there with some excellent stand out individual players.

Reeves was an absolute awesome player as was Swerve then likewise Shelford and Pienaar.

maestegmafia wrote:I am positive that after this world cup there will be some new legends and it would be wonderful to see Ireland up there in the Final. They are certainly capable of it.

Of course we are maestegmafia...but only in the sense that Andy Murray is capable of winning wimbledon......

Man I'm staggered the 96-97 AB backrow wasn't mentioned.

Michael Jones, Josh Kronfeld and Zinzan Brooke. Each the best in the world in their positions. IMO they're an easy pick.

disneychilly wrote:Man I'm staggered the 96-97 AB backrow wasn't mentioned.

Michael Jones, Josh Kronfeld and Zinzan Brooke. Each the best in the world in their positions. IMO they're an easy pick.

Ha I knew there was one missing, I couldn't remember if those 3 played together. Yup thats the best, no doubt about it. In fact that All blacks team might just have been the best ever too.....

That was easy, I've never seen a poll so clear cut

roddersm wrote:

disneychilly wrote:Man I'm staggered the 96-97 AB backrow wasn't mentioned.

Michael Jones, Josh Kronfeld and Zinzan Brooke. Each the best in the world in their positions. IMO they're an easy pick.

Ha I knew there was one missing, I couldn't remember if those 3 played together. Yup thats the best, no doubt about it. In fact that All blacks team might just have been the best ever too.....

Just ask a moderator nicely and they may add it for you.

You are right that was a pretty awesome combo...!

Though not sure it was better than Jones, Whetton and Shelford...? I saw them play on the 1989 tour of the UK. Frightening spectacle.

BATH_BTGOG wrote: That was easy, I've never seen a poll so clear cut

I am surprised that this is so clearcut, but I guess it reflects the average age of the members of the forum.

I've seen both backrows in the flesh. Reinforces my opinion that Michael Jones is the best player of all time.

I'd say Whetton wasn't the equal of Jones at 6-Buck at his pomp was Zinny's equal. Jones trumped Kronfeld but considering he was in the other team as well I'd say the 96-97 team takes it.

I think if there was a greatest ever individual back row player as opposed to a back row combo then Jones would be pretty near if not top of the tree.

Who decided that Reuben Thorne played in a unit with Zinny and Crusher Kronfeld? From memory Thorne appeared on the scene in 99, a year after Zinny retired from International rugby

Cleanse this list immediately!!!

Agree with Disney, by far the best backrow combo was the All Blacks in 96-97 with Iceman, Crusher and Zinny running amok. This list will continue to be considered a joke until Thorne is replaced by Jones!!!

Tony Shaw/Mark Loane/Greg Cornelson

Rob, forgive my ignorance, but you'll need to explain who they are?

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Rob, forgive my ignorance, but you'll need to explain who they are?

Wallabies backrow from early 1980 era - back in the days when tours took in 20 matches! Right when Ella brothers, andrew slack etc were breaking into the team. Loane and then Shaw were captains

OK, got see the Ella bros playing at Murrayfield, but I confess that I don't remember that backrow trio They'd have played against the likes of Jim Calder, John Beattie, Iain Paxton, Eric Paxton, etc.?

Theres gotta be a combo in there including the great Jerry Collins!
Surely Jerry matched up with Ritchie and So'oialo must be in the mix somewhere!
Thats a loose forward trio that any team would love to have.
All bases covered!