Fans debate our Tri-Nations XV

Wednesday August 25 2004

'Not bad, but needs a touch here and there...'

Phew! It seems most of our readers were reasonably impressed with our Tri-Nations Team of the Tournament, but that didn't stop them making some changes! Well, you can't please everybody, and we did ask you to judge our team - so here are your views:

Rathbone: Our wing comes under scrutiny

'GREAT TEAM, BUT...'

"Not a bad team I have to say but the odd change here and there. I really disagree with your number 4 and 14. You seriously can't be selecting Rathbone in that No.14 position? Also Bakkies is a much stronger and more hardworking lock forward than anyone else in the competition."
- Jacques, United Kingdom

"I actually think the side you guys picked is a great side. Despite Victor Matfield not playing for the entire tournament, I agree that he was the standout lock. However, I thought Nathan Sharpe with his bullocking runs and his high work ethic should be there ahead of Chris Jack.

"Jack didn't have the best of tournaments, and I thought Bakkies Botha had a better tournament. That would be my only dispute, but it is a good side. The No.8 could have gone between Joe and David Lyons, but the tournament wasn't really one the No.8s would remember. It was one for the flankers, and I'm glad Burger and Smith are there together!"
- Brian Kolia, Australia

"A good choice for team of the tournament, except for one small detail - is anybody in that team capable of captaining it? I don't believe there is. It's got to be John Smit of South Africa or George Gregan of Australia. Gregan could probably just edge it on experience at least for this year.

"While Tana is a great player, I think his leadership skills left something to be desired when they went up against the Boks at Ellis Park."
- Colin Kennedy, Auckland, New Zealand

"Agree on all positions except hooker. I think Jeremy Paul brought more to the feild than any other hooker in the tournament and he was overlooked because he had limited game time. Best forward in Perth and opened up the All Blacks in Sydney as he did the Boks in the short amount of time he got in Durban.
- Dave, Queensland, Australia

"A good list but for my money two changes. Rathbone is a true 'comer', but I think Paulse or Howlett is today slightly more dangerous. Latham instead of Mulianina. Looked far more threatening every time he fielded a punt & ran back, even when Boks had the OZ number in the 'Final' for 70 minutes.
- Jools, USA

"The selection was fair but one person you failed to mention at all is Jean De Villiers. Firstly his normal position is centre, and he had a world class performance on the wing. That should count for something. Secondly he scored three tries equalling the most tries scored by a winger in this tournament (also three tries by Lote Tuqiri )."
- John Dunn, South Africa

"Not bad, I feel Bakkies will be there next year. The only weakness is no good goal kickers! Who would you choose though, none of the fly-halves, fullbacks of the South come near Johnny's kicking ability. Except perhaps Mehrtens but yep I wouldn't want him in the team either."
- Nardo, Joburg, South Africa

'WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?'

"Clyde Rathbone? Based on what, the sympathy vote? Come on, the two best wings on display were Tuqiri and Rokocoko. Paulse was a close third and Jean de Villiers is a more complete rugby player than Rathbone by some margin. In fact the only two wings who should not have been considered for the 3N team are Rathbone and Doug 'Look ma, no hands' Howlett."
- André Duvenhage, South Africa

"'So there you have it - the 15 best players from the southern hemisphere! Or are they?'

"This remark makes me sick! This is a team selected only from the Tri-Nations, what of the Islanders, and what of Argentina? Don't get sucked in by the SANZAR hype, the Southern hemisphere has more to offer than the Tri-Nations. How about doing something to ensure the whole southern hemisphere competes in the tournament?"
- Justin, New Zealand

"There are many positions that one could dispute but there is one outstanding omission where I think the selectors have got it wrong and that is at hooker. I think the South African John Smit did more than enough to outshade the other two, particularly since Mealamu had a nightmare with some of his throwing in. Mealamu is good going forward but sometimes fails to do the basics. On top of that the South African scrum destroyed NZ's."
- Tim Culhane, Bookham, Surrey

"Rathbone?? Over Paulse? Breyton is back to his best and Clyde has been playing like a stumbling moron (Durban). Maybe a sympathy vote seeing as he is enemy number 1! Otherwise, spot on!"
- James, South Africa