Upfront_1979
4th-December-2006, 15:23
<DIV =storyLayout>
<H2>November's Team of the Tests</H2>
<DIV =storydate>Monday November 27 2006</DIV>Easy choices as All Blacks dominate once again
That was quite a month! Another irresistible clean sweep by the All Blacks, the plunge of England from average to downright mediocre, the emergence of Argentina as a top-six rugby nation, and of Ireland as genuine Rugby World Cup 2007 contenders.
@@@@SPAN id=intelliTXT>Plenty to talk about, but much of it about the future. For now, picking a dream team of performers from the last month was childishly easy. New Zealanders dominate our World XV!
15 Chris Latham - As Australia's backs faltered behind the shaky pack, so Latham gave the rest of his team a timely reminder of just what strength and adrenalin means. The number of people bouncing off Latham in the tackle this November was nothing short of phenomenal, as was that try to give Australia back the lead in Cardiff.
Back-up: François Steyn
14 Joe Rokocoko - Proved once again that he is no ordinary Joe, giving three matches of all-round finery from his wing, rounded off with tries at Twickenham, Lyon and Paris. He is in the middle, covering at full-back, hanging wide for the kick... every wing-game dimension possible has been added and worked on, and it makes for a fearsome weapon.
Back-up: Rico Gear
13 Stirling Mortlock - Truth be known, outside centre was a tough call. We had four different choices between us, and in the end, Mortlock won not only because of his belligerence, leadership and goal-kicking skills in adversity for much of the series, but also because he was the better of the two from our chosen four who played in the middle nearly all the way through! Just pips Brian O'Driscoll to the posts as BOD was overshadowed somewhat by his own Irish colleagues.
Back-up: Brian O'Driscoll
12 James Hook - Stood out as one - some might say the only - Welsh back who was able to consistently get over the gain-line in even the tightest of situations, and also one - again some might say the only - Welsh back to put boot to ball at the right moments and with the necessary accuracy and authority. Read the game superbly at every turn. A big future beckons for the young Osprey.
Back-up: Gordon D'Arcy
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu - Keeping it in the family on the wing, Sivivatu joins cousin Joe on the opposite side of the field. This series exploded the myth that he might only be about power and pace; some moments of timed running and sleight of hand, especially in Lyon against France, were mesmerising. Finished off with a hat-trick against Wales, testament to his skill and work-rate that he was in position every time.
Back-up: Christophe Dominici
10 Dan Carter - It seems that he can do no wrong. Barely a mistake from hand or boot all month. He still thinks he can improve. We don't.
Back-up: Stephen Larkham
9 Agustín Pichot - As the years have gone on, so those daring tap and goes from penalties and breaks from the scrum have decreased and the mane has got shorter, but Pichot rolled back the years like he rolls back his sock-tops this November with three outstanding performances, none better than that at Twickenham where he inspired his team to their most famous victory ever.
Back-up: Dwayne Peel
8 Denis Leamy - Ireland are spoilt for choice in the back-row, but Leamy is a cut above the rest. A relentless charger with ball in hand, and a relentless supporter/tackler without it. Has risen to the top of his game just in time...
Back-up: Elvis Vermeulen
7 Richie McCaw - The one everybody generally mentions when the words 'breakdown' and 'cheat
<H2>November's Team of the Tests</H2>
<DIV =storydate>Monday November 27 2006</DIV>Easy choices as All Blacks dominate once again
That was quite a month! Another irresistible clean sweep by the All Blacks, the plunge of England from average to downright mediocre, the emergence of Argentina as a top-six rugby nation, and of Ireland as genuine Rugby World Cup 2007 contenders.
@@@@SPAN id=intelliTXT>Plenty to talk about, but much of it about the future. For now, picking a dream team of performers from the last month was childishly easy. New Zealanders dominate our World XV!
15 Chris Latham - As Australia's backs faltered behind the shaky pack, so Latham gave the rest of his team a timely reminder of just what strength and adrenalin means. The number of people bouncing off Latham in the tackle this November was nothing short of phenomenal, as was that try to give Australia back the lead in Cardiff.
Back-up: François Steyn
14 Joe Rokocoko - Proved once again that he is no ordinary Joe, giving three matches of all-round finery from his wing, rounded off with tries at Twickenham, Lyon and Paris. He is in the middle, covering at full-back, hanging wide for the kick... every wing-game dimension possible has been added and worked on, and it makes for a fearsome weapon.
Back-up: Rico Gear
13 Stirling Mortlock - Truth be known, outside centre was a tough call. We had four different choices between us, and in the end, Mortlock won not only because of his belligerence, leadership and goal-kicking skills in adversity for much of the series, but also because he was the better of the two from our chosen four who played in the middle nearly all the way through! Just pips Brian O'Driscoll to the posts as BOD was overshadowed somewhat by his own Irish colleagues.
Back-up: Brian O'Driscoll
12 James Hook - Stood out as one - some might say the only - Welsh back who was able to consistently get over the gain-line in even the tightest of situations, and also one - again some might say the only - Welsh back to put boot to ball at the right moments and with the necessary accuracy and authority. Read the game superbly at every turn. A big future beckons for the young Osprey.
Back-up: Gordon D'Arcy
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu - Keeping it in the family on the wing, Sivivatu joins cousin Joe on the opposite side of the field. This series exploded the myth that he might only be about power and pace; some moments of timed running and sleight of hand, especially in Lyon against France, were mesmerising. Finished off with a hat-trick against Wales, testament to his skill and work-rate that he was in position every time.
Back-up: Christophe Dominici
10 Dan Carter - It seems that he can do no wrong. Barely a mistake from hand or boot all month. He still thinks he can improve. We don't.
Back-up: Stephen Larkham
9 Agustín Pichot - As the years have gone on, so those daring tap and goes from penalties and breaks from the scrum have decreased and the mane has got shorter, but Pichot rolled back the years like he rolls back his sock-tops this November with three outstanding performances, none better than that at Twickenham where he inspired his team to their most famous victory ever.
Back-up: Dwayne Peel
8 Denis Leamy - Ireland are spoilt for choice in the back-row, but Leamy is a cut above the rest. A relentless charger with ball in hand, and a relentless supporter/tackler without it. Has risen to the top of his game just in time...
Back-up: Elvis Vermeulen
7 Richie McCaw - The one everybody generally mentions when the words 'breakdown' and 'cheat