3N Team of 2011

[Mica]

OK - now that the Wallabies have got there hands back on the 3N trophy, it's time for a bit of fun.

Who would be in your 3N team of 2011 (I know it's hard after last nights epic but remember that there were 6 games)?

To get things started, I'd go with.

1. S. Kepu
2. S. Moore
3. O. Franks
4. B. Thorn
5. K. Horwill
6. J. Kaino
7. R. McCaw
8. R. Samo (I know he didn't play many minutes, but what he played showed that he probably should have played much more!)
9. W. Genia
10. D. Carter
11. D. Ioane
12. M. Nonu
13. C. Smith
14. C. Jane (I think that this is the toughest spot to fill as there wasn't a standout, arguments for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and JOC (James O'Connor) here too)
15. K. Beale

16. B. du Plessis
17. J. du Plessis
18. D. Vickerman
19. K. Read
20. D. Pocock
21. P. Weepu
22. A. Ashley-Cooper

Well there you have it.

Not too many South Africans - Matfield is unlucky, but there are so many quality locks running around at the moment.

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

1. Kepu
2. Moore
3. J.du Plessis
4. Thorn
5. Horwill
6. Brussow
7. McCaw
8. Read
9. Genia
10. Carter
11. Ioane
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Beale

 

[Mojoman]

1. Kepu
2. Mealamu
3. O.Franks
4. Horwill
5. Thorn
6. Kaino
7. McCaw
8. Read
9. Genia
10. Carter
11. Ioane
12. Nonu
13. C. Smith
14. Jane
15. Beale

Res; J.DuPlessis, S.Moore, Matfield, Pocock, Weepu, Steyn, AA Cooper

 

[Braveheart81]

I'd have gone with Pierre Spies at number 8. I think he was one of South Africa's few shining lights.

 

[Bowside]

I think Brussow might have piped pocock for the bench spot. But its close.

And I would consider Sivi for the wing spot, he was in fine form at eden park before he got injured.

 

[PaarlBok]

Battleship not in 2 show a lack in rugby knowledge. Brussouw a shoe in @ 6 or your 7. Bakkies @ lock.

 

[Swarley]

3N XV:
1. Kepu
2. du Plessis
3. Franks
4. Thorn
5. Horwill
6. Brussouw
7. McCaw
8. Spies
9. Genia- Player of the Tournament
10. Carter
11. Ioane
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. O'Connor
15. Beale
-------------------------------
16. Moore
17. du Plessis
18. Matfield
19. Pocock
20. Weepu
21. Ashley-Cooper
22. Jane

Final count:
9 Wallabies
8 All Blacks
5 Springboks

Sounds about right to me, tough between Pocock and Kaino but Bam Bam's heroic effort last night got him over the line- might have been a different story if Kaino was on the field.

 

[Jay]

3N XV:
1. Kepu
2. du Plessis
3. Franks
4. Thorn
5. Horwill
6. Brussouw
7. McCaw
8. Spies
9. Genia- Player of the Tournament
10. Carter
11. Ioane
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. O'Connor
15. Beale
-------------------------------
16. Moore
17. du Plessis
18. Matfield
19. Pocock
20. Weepu
21. Ashley-Cooper
22. Jane

Final count:
9 Wallabies
8 All Blacks
5 Springboks

Sounds about right to me, tough between Pocock and Kaino but Bam Bam's heroic effort last night got him over the line- might have been a different story if Kaino was on the field.

Broussow is an openside - no offence, but putting a Bok 6 at 6 in "World XV's" is a pet hate of mine.

 

[Jnor]

Battleship not in 2 show a lack in rugby knowledge. Brussouw a shoe in @ 6 or your 7. Bakkies @ lock.

I'd say it shows different opinions more than anything.

BDP was very good in the minutes he played, but he played a lot less than Mealamu or Moore, both of whom were pretty damn good throughout the TN

 

[Scotty]

Not sure why brussouw and Mccaw are getting picked in the same side? They play the same position and if you wanted to play one at 6 surely it is Mccaw?

 

[Mica]

I'd say it shows different opinions more than anything.

BDP was very good in the minutes he played, but he played a lot less than Mealamu or Moore, both of whom were pretty damn good throughout the TN

There were a number of tough picks I thought.

Lot's of "depth" at lock.
If Bakkies is PaarlBok's preference I'd guess he's picking him over Thorn since they are both more the ball carrying kind of lock. Personally I think Thorn was outstanding throughout the TN, and I think he'd have a nice balance with Horwill.

I thought that Kaino was pretty close to the best player on the park in all the games he played.
There's definitely an argument for Brussouw over Pocock on the bench, with Kaino more likely to subbed than McCaw.
That said I would love to see both McCaw and Pocock on the field at the same time!! (not for the traditionalists I know, but what a tag team!)

At hooker I like Moore. In every game he played for the Wallabies he was close to our best on field. Also imagine having Bismarck come on for the last half hour or 20 minutes. It'd be like releasing the angry energizer bunny

 

[antipodean]

3N XV:
1. Kepu
2. du Plessis
3. O. Franks
4. Botha
5. Horwill
6. Kaino
7. Brussouw
8. Spies
9. Genia
10. Carter
11. Ioane
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. Jane
15. Beale

16. Moore
17. du Plessis
18. Matfield
19. Pocock
20. Weepu
21. Toeava
22. Dagg

 

[DPK]

4. Botha

Really?

I agree with Dagg on the bench; says a lot about his talent that he only played 1 game but still showed enough.

 

[Ruggo]

This depends if you can shuffle players out of position or not. There is a log jam in some positions. The Hooker is a good example.

 

[BDA]

Brussow played one very good game and that was it. Pocock played in all four games and outplayed his opposite number in 3 of those 4 games (including outplaying Brussow in SA). So he gets the bench spot IMO.

Stephen Moore and BDP were both stand-outs in every game. flip a coin to see who starts. Given that BDP played off the bench for most of the tournament that is where id have him in this team. Again Mealamu played in less games than Moore, two of which were losses and i dont feel as though he was exceptional in those games.

Probably have Spies at no.8 with Samo off the bench. Read only played one game.

Again Elsom was more involved than Kaino over the tournament.

 

[Ruggo]

Dannie Russouw should be in the side. He had a great tri nations.

Player of the Tri nations has to be Horwill. The bloke didn't even come close to having an ordinary game.

 

[Lindommer]

1. Kepu
2. Moore
3. J.du Plessis
4. Thorn
5. Horwill
6. Brussow
7. McCaw
8. Read
9. Genia
10. Carter
11. Ioane
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Beale

Saffers number their opensides 6, not 7, dunno why, ask them. Too many fetchers in this team, it needs a Finegan-style enforcer in the back row. Other that that it's a bloody good side.

Have another go, Bwmc.

 

[Richo]

Player of the Tri nations has to be Horwill. The bloke didn't even come close to having an ordinary game.

Second that. As excellent as Genia has been, Horwill has been the best forward on the park for Australia in every game and overall in half of them.

 

[James Buchanan]

3N XV:
1. Kepu
2. du Plessis
3. O. Franks
4. Botha
5. Horwill
6. Kaino
7. Brussouw
8. Spies
9. Genia
10. Carter
11. Ioane
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. Jane
15. Beale

16. Moore
17. du Plessis
18. Matfield
19. Pocock
20. Weepu
21. Toeava
22. Dagg

Not Sold on the reserve lock and 21/22 but otherwise this looks the business to me.

 

[Braveheart.]

It's a very hard team to pick given that NZ and SA had their eyes on the RWC by sending under strength teams on tour and the resulting turnover of players.

I've tried to be even-handed - but it's hard to pick many SA players given the Clown's selection policies and the fact they only one game, at home, against an under-strength blackness outfit.

1. Sekope Kepu (Aus)
2. Stephen Moore (Aus)
3. Owen Franks (NZ)
4. Brad Thorn (NZ)
5. James Horwill (Aus)
6. Jerome Kaino (NZ)
7. Richie McCaw (SA)
8. Piere Spies (SA)
9. Will Genia (Aus)
10. Daniel Carter (NZ)
11. Digby Ioane (Aus)
12. Ma'a Nonu (NZ)
13. Conrad Smith (NZ)
14. Cory Jane (NZ)
15. Kurtley Beale (Aus)

16. Bismark Du Plessis (SA)
17. Janie Du Plessis (SA)
18. Dannie Russow (SA)
19. Richie McCaw (NZ)
20. Piri Weepu (NZ)
21. Quade Cooper (Aus)
22. James O'Connor (Aus)

The easiest positions to pick would have to be Genia at 9, Carter at 10 and Nonu at 12. While there were other easy selections, these three guys were the first three picked.

James Horwill had a stirling tri-nations and was my first lock picked, but there is a plethora of class locks in the tri-nations at the moment. Thorne god the nod over the competition.

There is an embarressment of riches in the hooking department with Mealamu, Moore and DuPlessis all vying for the no.2 jersey. Moore gets the nod for super consistency and impact in all of the games. BDP had a strong couple of games, but had limited game time being behind the man who ate John Smit.

The backrow, too, was a nightmare to select with Brussow, Elsom, Roussow, Read and Pocock all having a good game or two. In the end, I went with Kaino at 6 and McCaw at 7 and Spies at 8. I think that's a reasonably well balanced backrow of industry, hardness, ball-running, grit and a cheat thrown in for good measure.

Smith gets the nod at 13 after showing what a great combination he and Nonu make at 12 and 13. Digby and Jane get the wing spots after showing good speed and finishing abilities.

I went for a 4-3 bench, with Dannie Roussow covering the second row and blindside. Ritchie can play 8 at a pinch, so the last forward reserve went to a specialist 7 in Broussow after industrious games against Aus and NZ in SA.

Overall, 8 Aussies, 8 AB's and four Saffas.