Team of the Spring Tour

[rustycruiser]

From the Wallaby pack (for November only), I'd consider Pocock as a selection - he was very good against NZ, Ireland and Wales - all the games he started. But McCaw was fantastic, and played one extra game, having only skipped the Italy test. Benn Robinson would be a definite in my side (I'm curious to see if the Kiwis at TSF will vote him over Woodcock in their team of the year). I'd also consider Alexander and Palu.

Fabian Barcella has to be in with a shout as LH. He had a great EOYT as well.

 

[Scotty]

1. Benn Robinson

After that, pretty much nothing else matters. What a diamond that kid is - I TOLD YERS!!! I BLOODY TOLD YER

You certainly bloody did. Unfortunately when you were telling us you forgot to tell Link the same thing, which appears to be the main reason we didn't have the benefit of Robinson in the Wallabies earlier.

 

[Mojoman]

Jesus Christ..you would think the team that went through the NH tour unbeaten, without conceeding a try would get more representation.

I would include McCaw, Carter, Sivivatu and Muliaina in any "Team of the Spring Tour"

In the same vein I was surprised McCaw won IRB Player of the Year. McCaw was pretty average in some games during TriNations this year. Fourie Du Preez has been outstanding, particular in vs Lions and TriNations.

 

[chief]

Was McCaw as effective as Pocock at the breakdown? No he wasn't. Pocock was abrasive at the ruck. His ability to find his feet after making the tackle is amazing. Surely no one can dispute Pocock's position in this team.

 

[mark_s]

I would expect the paddy's and blacks to dominate this team with prob 3-4 players each. Robinson is the only Aus certainty for this team. Genia, Pocock, Palu and possibly Alexander would also be contenders but have some strong opposition. I don't think any of the other Aus players are in the running for the Spring team.

How quickly things have changed for the All Blacks. Prior to the win in Wellington they were a "club in crisis", with the nooses being prepared for the cartel. 6 games for 6 wins later and they are the form SH team and Henry has almost smirked himself to death.

 

[eddo]

Sad to say - there is far too much gold in there.. especially in the backs
Ireland goes undefeated and they get what ?

15. Rob Kearney (simple as that - he shut down the whole jaapie gameplan)
14. Sitiveni Sivuvatu (Dynamite)
13. Conrad Smith (no mess, just class)
12. Quade Cooper - ha.. jokes.. Yannick Jauzion.. (Though I like the option of sliding Gits out here, I'm not sure the rules allow it)
11. Corey Jane (gives life to the wing)
10. Dan Carter ( Picks himself by having 0 brain melts) (honourable up and comer Sexton from Ireland - finally someone to replace RO'G)
9. Julien Dupuy (Solid kicker to boot and I absolutely refuse to pick Cowan in any team no matter how good he his, he's still a f*cken arsehole)
8. Jamie Heaslip (honourable mention for Cliffy, but I'm going for consistency)
7. Richie McCaw (c) (hey, it's tight here, game winners all round, I'm going to pick the leadership of Captain though when nothing left to separate them)
6. Thierry Dusautoir (honourable mention to Jerome Kaino)
5. Paul O'Connell (was I the only one who watched him dominate with every touch against the Bokke pack)
4. Victor Matfield (I want someone to call the lineout in Afrikaans.. it just sounds better)
3. Ben Alexander (it's hard to rob him of this after having such a field day last week)
2. Stephen Polota-Nau (hard to choose - but I reckon Tatafu could have this tied up when having a good throw day)
1. Bennnnnn Robbo.


Bench?
William Servat, Tony Woodcock, Brad Thorn, David Pocock, Fourie DuPreez, Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper

 

[Mojoman]

Was McCaw as effective as Pocock at the breakdown? No he wasn't. Pocock was abrasive at the ruck. His ability to find his feet after making the tackle is amazing. Surely no one can dispute Pocock's position in this team.

So thats your sole measurement of an Openside? Breakdown work? If thats the case then Heinrich Broussow wins hands down. What about defence? Ball in hand? How about importance to their team? Inspiration? Leadership? As a complete package you can't go past McCaw. Plus (not that I agree with it) he won the IRB Player of the Year award. Was Pocock even a mention?

 

[Mojoman]

A Kiwi's perspective on Team of the Spring Tour;

1. Benn Robinson
2. William Servat
3. Castrogiavanni
4. Brad Thorn
5. Victor Matfield
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Richie McCaw
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Will Genia
10. Dan Carter
11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
12. Yannick Jauzion
13. Conrad Smith
14. Corey Jane
15. Mils Muliaina

Res: Andrew Hore, Ben Alexander, Paul O'Connell, David Pocock, Dupuy, Matt Giteau, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

 

[Scotty]

It wasn't IRB player of the spring tour award mojo. In fact, I doubt spring tour form even came into the reckoning. In saying that you could pick any of the 4 SH opensides and even Moody and be happy they'd do the job.

Your team looks pretty fair, however I don't think Elsom did enough to be picked in it. Palu most certainly did, and if you look at head to heads he dominated the game vs Ireland.

 

[Scarfman]

Curmudgeonly, Scotty, curmudgeonly.

 

[junior]

Was McCaw as effective as Pocock at the breakdown? No he wasn't. Pocock was abrasive at the ruck. His ability to find his feet after making the tackle is amazing. Surely no one can dispute Pocock's position in this team.

Brussouw is and was better at the breakdown than Pocock and had less support, so he makes my team if that's the sole selection criteria.

 

[junior]

Robinson / Barcella (can't split them)
Servat / Hore
Castro
Thorn
POC
Dussautoir
McCaw / Brussouw (both had outstanding games against the Frogs and played as expected in the others)
Palu
Dupuy
Carter
Siti
Tough but has to be out of Nonu and Jauzion
C Smith
Jane
Kearney / Mils (too close to call)

 

[Thomond78]

5. Paul O'Connell (was I the only one who watched him dominate with every touch against the Bokke pack)
4. Victor Matfield (I want someone to call the lineout in Afrikaans.. it just sounds better)

Then pick Bakkies, or indeed POC; turns out I'm now no longer the only Munsterman who can bellow out random numbers in Kitchen Dutch. Gert Smal taught the Irish pack enough Afrikaans to call the Bok calls back at them. :lmao:

 

[spectator]

Haven't seen enough of the other games played but there does look to be a little bit of gold bias in some of the selections. Would have been interesting to see how people selected if a team was picked before the Wales game?

On the McCaw v. Pocock argument, there's no doubt in my mind that Richie is still king. He and Carter first two picked.