World XV – Summer Tours 2012
There seems no better time than the present to roll out a TRB favourite and produce our writers’ respective World XVs. Before getting started, these selections are based on form over the last month. If we were talking about the great mythical battle to save earth through a rugby match, then they might look slightly different.
With that in mind, have a look through Ben and Charlie’s sides and post your own in the comments. We’re sure you’ll completely agree with our selections…!
Ben’s World XV:
15. Rob Kearney, 14. Leigh Halfpenny, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Will Genia; 1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Bradley Davies, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Dan Lydiate, 7. David Pocock, 8. Kieran Read
Replacements:
16. Rory Best, 17. Jannie du Plessis, 18. Nathan Sharpe, 19. Chris Robshaw, 20. Aaron Smith, 21. Berrick Barnes, 22. George North
A 10-5 split up front to the Southern Hemisphere is a fair reflection of the SANZAR nations record over their opponents in this month’s respective series, which including Scotland’s success makes it 8/10 victories for the Springboks, All Blacks and Wallabies combined against the Six Nations sides.
Starting upfront – Bismarck was one of the first names down due to that performance in the 2nd Test. Rumbustious and hideously physical, he took England apart. Tony Woodcock on the loosehead was consistently class but Dan Cole’s pick at tighthead shows just how well he performed in South Africa. Bradley Davies was a physical pain in all three test defeats, whilst Sam Whitelock plays beyond his years. In the back row, Dan Lydiate made his trademark outstanding number of tackles, whilst Pocock terrorised the breakdown and Kieran Read’s 1st Test performance showed his class.
Looking behind – Will Genia & Dan Carter pick themselves but what a pleasure it was to see Carter rejuvenated and recovered from his World Cup injury nightmare and playing so well. The timing, accuracy and agility of SBW and Snake in midfield means they are certainties. Bryan Habana may lack the pace of yesteryear but he is in a rich vein of form, edging out Digby Ioane, whilst Leigh Halfpenny has to be accommodated for his boot. As for Rob Kearney – a series to forget in terms of results, but the ERC European of the Year still showed those majestic touches.
In many ways, lots of players who were in our previous World XV after the Rugby World Cup disappointed in the Summer series – with the likes of Israel Dagg, Digby Ioane, Rhys Priestland, Sam Warburton and many more all dropping off the radar. It just goes to show that by the end of the November internationals, we could have a completely different side on our hands once more.
15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Frans Steyn, 11. Chris Ashton, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Will Genia; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Richie Gray, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Scott Higginbotham, 7. David Pocock, 8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. Rory Best, 17. Tendai Mtawarira, 18. Donnacha Ryan, 19. Dan Lydiate, 20. Aaron Smith, 21. Berrick Barnes, 22. Sonny Bill Williams
A nine-six starting line-up split in favour of the Southern Hemisphere victors reflects the pluck and progress of their opponents (the anomalous third Test capitulation of Ireland aside).
Cian Healy’s steady improvement at scrum-time and extra-curricular carries are enough to get him a place, while Richie Gray also makes the tight five on the basis of a 238-minute shift over Scotland’s clean-sweep. Having made 17 tackles as his side beat the Wallabies in Newcastle; he might have sealed a spot before the Pacific Islands. Elsewhere in the pack, Bismarck the behemoth, two effervescent Australians, an exceptional All Black and the battling Dan Cole get the nod. Jamie Heaslip – no doubt a very contentious name – anchors my forwards, having almost hauled Declan Kidney’s charges to a historic win in Christchurch amid a heady, emotionally-charged atmosphere.
The backline is directed by two hall-of-fame halfbacks at the peak of their powers – Will Genia was near-perfect in Brisbane and Dan Carter’s return reeked of unparalleled class. Francois Steyn shades the showier Sonny Bill Williams in the 12 shirt after two fantastic all-round displays against England, while Conrad Smith, the master of New Zealand’s counter-attack, slithers into midfield alongside him. Two series rivals take to the wings, Chris Ashton rewarded for his selfless industry, JP Pietersen for some elegant running and deadly finishing, almost certainly sponsored by invisible juice. Leigh Halfpenny, a totem of reliability, is my last line. With composure in spades and a heart the size of a lion, I trust him with my life.
But how makes your XV? Let us know right now in the comments.
42 Comments
Leave a Comment
Recent comments
Take us on at SuperBru
15. Israel Dagg
14. Bryan Habana
13. Conrad Smith
12. Sonny Bill Williams
11. Digby Ioane
10. Dan Carter
9. Will Genia
8. Kieran Read
7. David Pocock
6. Thierry Dussatoir
5. Sam Whitelock
4. Eben Etzebeth
3. Dan Cole
2. Bismark Du Plessis
1. Tony Woodcock
16. Roncero
17. Hartley
18. Franks
19. Romano
20. Fernandez-Lobbe
21. A. Smith
22. N. Evans
23. Halfpenny
15. Beale (on top of his game)
14. Ioane
13. Manu
12. SBW
11. North
10. Carter
9. Genia
8. Read
7. Pocock
6. Lydiate
5. Gray
4. Etzebeth
3. Alexander
2. Du Plessis
1. Healy
16. Hartley
17. Mtawarira
18. S. Whitelock
19. Mccaw
20. Youngs (on top of his game)
21. Cooper (on top of his game)
22. Dagg
1. Woodcock
2. du Plessis
3. Alexander
4. Etzebeth
5. Sharpe
6. Lydiate
7. McCaw
8. Read
9. Genea
10. Carter
11. Gear
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. Habana
15. Dagg
16. Moore
17. Healy
18. Whitelock
19. Pocock
20. Smith
21. Cruden
22. Jane
D’accord, Nicolas L., sur cette e9tonnante impuissance des Blacks e0 chngaer de plan quand e7a va mal ou e0 hausser tout beatement la cadence face e0 des adversaires qui vont tre8s, tre8s vite. Phe9nome8ne constate9 en super 15 en particulier lors de la finale Reds du Queensland contre Blues de Canterbury, deux e9quipes qui ont quasiment la composition et le fond de jeu des Wallabies et des Blacks.Quant au ralentissement, pour ne pas dire le pourrissement, syste9matique sur les rucks, de8s que les Blacks se montrent incapables de re9tablir la situation par aba0les voies le9galesa0bb, c’est du grand art. c0 croire que Graham Henry est tout simplement e0 la teate d’un cours d’art dramatique… La bonte9 de l’arbitrage envers les Blacks semble infinie. Privile8ge de grande e9quipe. Les Australiens ont d’ailleurs anticipe9 cet e9cueil et tout spe9cialement travaille9 le secteur des rucks qui leur avait valu tant de de9boires au match pre9ce9dent. M.D.
1.woodcock
2.du plessis
3.
4.gray
5.matfield
6.mccaw
7.pocock
8.
9.genia
10.carter
11.bowe
12.BOD
13.nonu
14.o’connor
15.kearney
1.woodcock
2.du plessis
3.alexander
4.gray
5.matfield
6.mccaw
7.pocock
8.williams
9.genia
10.carter
11.bowe
12.BOD
13.nonu
14.o’connor
15.kearney
16.best
17.healy
18.denton
19.parisse
20.blair
21.o’gara
22.fofana
23.beale
1. Cian Healy
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Dan Cole
4. Paul O’Connell
5. Sam Whitelock
6. David Pocock
7. Richie McCaw
8. Keiran Read
9. Mike Phillips
10. Dan Carter
11. Brian Habana
12. Owen Farrell
13. Conrad Smith
14. Sonny Bill Williams
15. Rob Kearney
16. Rory Best
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Richie Gray
19. Sam Warburton
20. Will Genia
21. James O’Connor
22. Israel Dagg
1. Cian Healy
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Dan Cole
4. Paul O’Connell
5. Sam Whitelock
6. David Pocock
7. Richie McCaw
8. Keiran Read
9. Mike Phillips
10. Dan Carter
11. Brian Habana
12. Owen Farrell
13. Conrad Smith
14. Sonny Bill Williams
15. Rob Kearney
16. Rory Best
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Richie Gray
19. Sam Warburton
20. Will Genia
21. James O’Connor
22. Israel Dagg
1crockett
2du plessis
3castrogiovanni
4etzbeth
5whitelock
6sean obrien
7mccaw
8read
9genia
10cruden
11savea
12sbw
13conrad smith
14jane
15dagg/beale
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Johnathan Davies
12. Ma’a Nonu
11. George North
10. Dan Carter
9. Kahn Fortoali’i
8. Keiran Reid
7. Richie McCaw
6. Dan Lydiate
5. Richie Grey
4. Eben Etzbeth
3. Owen Franks
2. Bismark Du Plessis
1. Cian Healy
15. Israel Dagg 14. Jesse Mogg 13. Manu Tuilagi 12. Jean de Villiers 11. Julian Savea 10. Dan Carter 9. Will Genia 8. Kieren Read 7. Michael Hooper 6. Siya Kolisi 5. Sam Whitelock 4. Eben Etzebeth 3. Owen Franks 2. Bismark Du Plessies 1. Beast Mtawarira 16. Flynn 17. Cole 18. Bekker 19. Robshaw 20. Hougaard 21. Cooper 22. Halfpenny