Guscott's World XV

[Antony]

In a BBC Q&A recently (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18509728) Jeremy Guscott named his current World XV as follows:

15. Israel Dagg
14. Julian Savea
13. Pat McCabe
12. Sonny Bill Williams
11. Bryan Habana
10. Berrick Barnes
9. Will Genia

1. Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Dan Cole
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Juandre Kruger
6. Scott Higginbotham
7. David Pocock
8. Kieran Read.

I don't mind the forward pack (maybe premature on the saffa second rowers - though they do look pretty talented), but that backline is controversial.

What are your thoughts?

 

[RugbyReg]

A third of the World XV coming from the Wallabies seems excessive. Higgers doesn't deserve selection from test performances.

 

[tigerland12]

Was he high when he wrote it? This is mine on the past 12 months of rugby that I've seen

1- Beast (Sharks, South Africa)
2- Bismark du Plessis (Sharks, South Africa)
3- Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester, Italy)
4- James Horwill (Reds, Australia)
5- Richie Gray (Glasgow, Scotland)
6- Sean O'Brien (Leinster, Ireland)
7- David Pocock (Force, Australia)
8- Kieran Read (Crusaders, New Zealand)
9- Will Genia (Reds, Australia)
10- Daniel Carter (Crusaders, New Zealand)
11- Digby Ioane (Reds, Australia)
12- Jamie Roberts (Cardiff, Wales)
13- Conrad Smith (Hurricanes, New Zealand)
14- Corey Jane(Hurricanes, New Zealand). (could of been anyone, Habana,North, O'Connor)
15- Israel Dagg (Crusaders, New Zealand)

Bench: Stephen Moore (Brumbies,Australia), Dan Cole (Leicester, England), Patricio Alabacete (Toulouse, Argentina), Jaques Burger (Saracens, Namibia), Francois Hougaard (Bulls, South Africa), Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs, New Zealand), Kurtley Beale (Rebels, Australia.

Not many good looseheads or locks going around currently. Backrow on the other hand: Warburton, McCaw, Kaino, Fernadez-Lobbe, Parisse, Burger

 

[What2040]

I think Pocock and Genia (to a lesser degree) are the only ones. To pick others is just nationalistic rubbish.

 

[matty_k]

I think Pocock and Genia (to a lesser degree) are the only ones. To pick others is just nationalistic rubbish.

Last I checked Guscott isn't Australian. So how is it nationalistic to pick more than two maybe three (to a lesser degree) Australians?

 

[Scarfman]

This is a mushrooms XV. Absolute madness except in a few places: Dagg, Beast, duPlessis, Pocock, Read.

 

[Bardon]

Wouldn't put much store into Guscott's picks as he's known to pick some crazy XVs. Next week if he was asked again he's pick a completely different, but equally crazy XV.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Guscott was a back. 'nuf said.

 

[Swarley]

My World XV (Based on form since 2011 Six Nations):

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Dan Cole
4. James Horwill
5. Richie Gray
6. Thierry Dusautior
7. David Pocock
8. Sean O'Brien
9. Will Genia
10. Daniel Carter
11. Digby Ioane
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. James O'Connor
15. Israel Dagg
----------------------------
16. Stephen Moore
17. Owen Franks
18. Jerome Kaino
19. Sam Warburton
20. Mike Phillips
21. Rhys Priestland
22. Kurtley Beale

Jenkins, O'Connell, Thorn, Cruden, Kahui, Smith and North are all close to making the 22.

I know Dusautior's technically an openside, but the French play left/right and so can this team. The same goes for O'Brien. He's shuffled around between all backrow positions over the last 12 months but he played brilliantly at #8 in the 2011 Six Nations, so he gets the spot.

 

[Jnor]

The second rows are most confusing to me (and Higgers). Both obviously talented but nowhere near world XV

 

[Brisbok]

My World XV (Based on form since 2011 Six Nations):

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Dan Cole
4. James Horwill
5. Richie Gray
6. Thierry Dusautior
7. David Pocock
8. Sean O'Brien
9. Will Genia
10. Daniel Carter
11. Digby Ioane
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. James O'Connor
15. Israel Dagg
----------------------------
16. Stephen Moore
17. Owen Franks
18. Jerome Kaino
19. Sam Warburton
20. Mike Phillips
21. Rhys Priestland
22. Kurtley Beale

Jenkins, O'Connell, Thorn, Cruden, Kahui, Smith and North are all close to making the 22.

I know Dusautior's technically an openside, but the French play left/right and so can this team. The same goes for O'Brien. He's shuffled around between all backrow positions over the last 12 months but he played brilliantly at #8 in the 2011 Six Nations, so he gets the spot.

5 Aussies in the starting XV and 2 Kiwi's? 2 more Aussies on the bench and 1 Kiwi. Nice one....

Edit - 2 Kiwi's on the bench.

 

[Swarley]

5 Aussies in the starting XV and 2 Kiwi's? 2 more Aussies on the bench and 1 Kiwi. Nice one..

Who would you change? Pocock, Genia and O'Connor in particular are all freaks of nature. They're brilliant individuals. Horwill and Ioane are great players as well. That's 5/15 Wallabies; only third of the team. Australia are blessed with a select group of brilliant individuals, yet aren't necessarily a great "team"- the All Blacks, however, are. They truly are a team in which the final product is greater than the sum of the parts.
Which of those 5 Wallabies doesn't deserve a spot in the World XV?

 

[AlexH]

Who would you change? Pocock, Genia and O'Connor in particular are all freaks of nature. They're brilliant individuals. Horwill and Ioane are great players as well. That's 5/15 Wallabies; only third of the team. Australia are blessed with a select group of brilliant individuals, yet aren't necessarily a great "team"- the All Blacks, however, are. They truly are a team in which the final product is greater than the sum of the parts.
Which of those 5 Wallabies doesn't deserve a spot in the World XV?

James Horwill.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

James Horwill.

YES.
No way he would be in mine

 

[tigerland12]

YES.
No way he would be in mine

I can't name a better lock currently? Not saying he's been that good, but without Bekker, there aren't many brilliant locks. Richie Gray is a definate, but selecting his partner is hard.

 

[qwerty51]

It's crazy to think of the quality of locks that have just left us and are about to.. Thorn, Matfield, Bakkies, Vickerman, Sharpe all gone.

 

[Bullrush]

Who would you change? Pocock, Genia and O'Connor in particular are all freaks of nature. They're brilliant individuals. Horwill and Ioane are great players as well. That's 5/15 Wallabies; only third of the team. Australia are blessed with a select group of brilliant individuals, yet aren't necessarily a great "team"- the All Blacks, however, are. They truly are a team in which the final product is greater than the sum of the parts.
Which of those 5 Wallabies doesn't deserve a spot in the World XV?

O'Conner wouln't be there. At what position is he best in the world? Digby has a chance but I don't know if he is as complete a player as the likes of Corey Jane.Horwill internationally?? No. Not one of the two best locks in the world. And if we're looking at the last 12 months, Genia wouldn't be in either.

 

[qwerty51]

I don't even think Savea's mum would put him in the World XV after one good game..

 

[Brumbies Guy]

I don't even think Savea's mum would put him in the World XV after one good game..

Surely it's not just limited to International games? Otherwise all of them would be based on one or two games played recently if it was a true form team. And in that case, Savea's had a great season with the 'Canes.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

I can't name a better lock currently? Not saying he's been that good, but without Bekker, there aren't many brilliant locks. Richie Gray is a definate, but selecting his partner is hard.

I'd put sharpe ahead of him
Both pape an nallet were superb for France in the world cup
Thorn is still playing

Beast
Bismarck
Castro
Nallet
Thorn
Kaino
Pocock
Read could do lobbe or parisse
Genia
Carter
Jane
Roberts
Smith
Tuilagi
Dagg

Mealamu
Cole
sharpe
Obrien
Hougaard
Beale
sonny bill