.
Sole was never the best scrummager, which is kinda his job, altho I think he's been our best Captain.af73 wrote:These list are ok I suppose for a bit of COVID-19 lockdown fun. If nothing else they do give an insight into contributors rugby spectating lifespan, and the inevitable "this generation better/worse/can't compare era's" debates.
Before you get into that we should probably clear up from the above (and probably muddy it still further) by highlighting;
Renwick was a 13, not 12.
Hastings (S) actually started as a 12 when D.Johnson (who started out as a 12) was 13.
Irvine was capped at 14 by Lions and Scotland (when Bruce Hay, an 11, was at 15) but obviously more recognised as a 15.
Sole was 1 (loose head) and Milne was 3 (tight head).
Right, onto the playing merits of inclusions and omissions [emoji38]
15.Hastings, Irvine or Hogg? Too hard.
14.Reckon Tony Stanger is in the conversation. Apart from the 1990 try he is the national record holder, jointly...with Ian Smith....from the 1920's
13.Renwick yes, Jones should be in there by now given his 2017/18 trajectory.
12. Lineen brought some Kiwi smarts to 2nd 5/8th. Then Leslie modernised it and worked well with GT. Philip and Dewey emerged and that was it for them unfortunately.
11. Tukalo had a good try tally, still weep when thinking about what might have been with Thom Evans. Alex Moore I though might kick on & likewise Roly Reid. Darcy and VdM give some hope for future.
10. Rutherford yes. Had it all in his day. Russell can't be left out (3rd beer or not). Townsend for a year or two. Chalmers has the 1990 t-shirt.
9. Bloody hell - Armstrong, Laidlaw (R), Redpath, Lawson (A & R), Cusiter, Blair, Price, Horne....
8. Paxton, White, Beattie (snr) (Beatie jnr) - all tops when fit and in possession of the jersey. It's why we had 5 x No.8's at Twickenham 87....if only it hadn't rained!
7. David Leslie would be my choice but think of all the others, some only fleetingly. Rennie, Mower, Leslie (M) now we have Watson and some understudies likely to be pushing hard.
6. JJ probably, Jim Calder, Wainwright (6/7/8). Ritchie and Crosbie look to have the goods.
5. Doddie - has to be in the team for all sorts of reasons.
4. Scott Murray or Chris Gray
3. Milne and Murray
2. Deans - years ahead of what we now call the 'modern day hooker'
1. Sole for leadership, Tom Smith was bloody good though and a worthy successor.
Really hard to settle on a Xv though....unfortunately it was often easier at the time as the mockers gods saw to it that for each generation they were hardly ever fit all at the same time.
Scott Hastings was ok, of his type tbh.Puja wrote:That's... special. First time I've ever seen Scott Hastings as being called best at anything, unless you count "Best third best rugby player in his family," as a category.
Puja
Geech was a very good centre, likely better than Renwick imo.af73 wrote:These list are ok I suppose for a bit of COVID-19 lockdown fun. If nothing else they do give an insight into contributors rugby spectating lifespan, and the inevitable "this generation better/worse/can't compare era's" debates.
Before you get into that we should probably clear up from the above (and probably muddy it still further) by highlighting;
Renwick was a 13, not 12.
Hastings (S) actually started as a 12 when D.Johnson (who started out as a 12) was 13.
Irvine was capped at 14 by Lions and Scotland (when Bruce Hay, an 11, was at 15) but obviously more recognised as a 15.
Sole was 1 (loose head) and Milne was 3 (tight head).
Right, onto the playing merits of inclusions and omissions
15.Hastings, Irvine or Hogg? Too hard.
14.Reckon Tony Stanger is in the conversation. Apart from the 1990 try he is the national record holder, jointly...with Ian Smith....from the 1920's
13.Renwick yes, Jones should be in there by now given his 2017/18 trajectory.
12. Lineen brought some Kiwi smarts to 2nd 5/8th. Then Leslie modernised it and worked well with GT. Philip and Dewey emerged and that was it for them unfortunately.
11. Tukalo had a good try tally, still weep when thinking about what might have been with Thom Evans. Alex Moore I though might kick on & likewise Roly Reid. Darcy and VdM give some hope for future.
10. Rutherford yes. Had it all in his day. Russell can't be left out (3rd beer or not). Townsend for a year or two. Chalmers has the 1990 t-shirt.
9. Bloody hell - Armstrong, Laidlaw (R), Redpath, Lawson (A & R), Cusiter, Blair, Price, Horne....
8. Paxton, White, Beattie (snr) (Beatie jnr) - all tops when fit and in possession of the jersey. It's why we had 5 x No.8's at Twickenham 87....if only it hadn't rained!
7. David Leslie would be my choice but think of all the others, some only fleetingly. Rennie, Mower, Leslie (M) now we have Watson and some understudies likely to be pushing hard.
6. JJ probably, Jim Calder, Wainwright (6/7/8). Ritchie and Crosbie look to have the goods.
5. Doddie - has to be in the team for all sorts of reasons.
4. Scott Murray or Chris Gray
3. Milne and Murray
2. Deans - years ahead of what we now call the 'modern day hooker'
1. Sole for leadership, Tom Smith was bloody good though and a worthy successor.
Really hard to settle on a Xv though....unfortunately it was often easier at the time as the mockers gods saw to it that for each generation they were hardly ever fit all at the same time.