Large's Top 50 Saracens - 40-31
Nick Lloyd
By Large
February 17 2009
With so many international stars playing here down the years, it's been tough choosing a top 50. Most players who have joined recently like Steve Borthwitck, Chris Jack and Michael Owen have been omitted and some like Jannie De Beer, Taine Randell, Christian Califano and Abdel Benazzi due to not living up to their previous reputations. Raphael Ibanez is omitted purely because he went to Wasps.
40 – Steve Ravenscroft – Centre
Another of the old guard who transcended the amateur/professional switch and performed right up to the millennium. Will always be remembered as the bloke next to Sella in the midfield, which is a shame as he was a great player and worthy of more than his two England caps.
39. Dave Seymour – Flanker
Here because if he wasn’t, Kat would kill me.
38 Roberto Grau – Prop
If you like your props old-fashioned; big, tough, strong, great at scrimmaging and a little on the dirty side, then Argy-Bargy is your man. Allegedly a victim of the implementation of the first salary cap, he had to go to make way for other, more expensive, less effective players, when neither he, nor we, wanted him to.
37. Nick Walshe – Scrum half
Worthy of a place here for being able to fill in admirably for Bracken and whoever was at outside half and for that quick tap-and-go down at Bath in 2001 that sent Timmy Horan over for the winner and the Fez into raptures.
36. Kameli Ratovou – Wing/Centre
Looked a little uncertain when he first arrived fresh from Fiji, but as he settled into his new life in the cold that goes with being a wing in the northern hemisphere, he realised quickly that he had to get involved with the others. Still not the finished article as far as I am concerned, but if he does get to that stage – watch out!
35. Ben Johnston – Centre
Seemed to be around forever but couldn’t quite find the consistency, due to form or injury, to keep him in the first team. Was capped at a young age (picking up two, just like his predecessor Ravenscroft) and we all thought he might go places. But not to Northampton whose medics found him too much of a risk to play for them after he had signed a deal to take him up the M1. Brive snapped him up, along with fellow Saints medical failure Steve Thompson and he’s still down there playing in the top 14. One wonders how he might have turned out at Saints. Then again, one doesn’t.
34. Ben Skirving – Number 8.
The heir-apparent to Tony Diprose, he was paraded as an 18 year old by Reebok as the next best thing alongside their truly awful shirts back in 2002. It all looked good for a while before he stopped his rapid early progress and settled into a rhythm that took him no further. Michael Owen’s arrival and competition for his place has helped him once again realise his potential.
33. Ben Russell – Flanker/No.8
Burst onto the scene against Wasps and proved he was no respecter of reputations as on debut he outplayed none other than Lawrence Dallaglio. Proved the same again after giving Martin Johnson a bloody nose in a scrap that got them both sin-binned which was a pity, as I was enjoying it at the time.
32. Noah Cato – Wing
I know he’s been around about five minutes and that the next best thing on the wing is a here today, gone tomorrow occupation, but you could tell instantly that Noah is something really special. Quick, big, strong, elusive, albeit in need of a haircut after which he will go a long way.
31. Nick Lloyd – Prop
Another one of those players who bided his time while others were picked ahead of him, but when he got his opportunity, he showed that was as good as any in the squad; probably in the league. A great ball carrier and no mean scrummager, a great asset to any squad in the modern age.
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I imagine i might have a few contentious comments about some of the 'bigger' saracens lower down the list. And Number 1 has got to be a fairly easy guess!
It is all relative
Grau - top player, but the game has moved on, hence Lloyd being higher in the list.
Any guesses as to which props might be above these chaps?
Who removed my H.R. Giger picture?
Definitely Cobus and Cencus
- Cobus just for that wave to Andrew Sheridan when he was leaving the field after being thoroughly demolished by Cobus
and Cencus for being the only prop willing to throw a dummy pass in his own 22 and then run the ball out of it - can't remember which game that was.
Graeme
Back row?
Back three?
Here's a clue: Richard Hill is in the top 10
Who removed my H.R. Giger picture?
So, I'm predicting a top three position for Kensuke Iwabuchi...
..I'll get my coat.
Back three - Gavin Johnson?
Locks - tougher. Abdel?
Back Row - Frankie P?
Locks - Big Simon - or maybe not due to his "is he going or staying" episode.
Back 3 - MTC, Barty, Brendan Whatsisface, shirley not Lucan?
Quote:Lurcherous
Problem is, do you put Ches down as a forward or a winger?!
Or Huge as lock, back row or fly half?
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
Back Three: Dan Luger, Muna Ebongalame
But in all seriousness, I would seriously hope to see Thomas Castaignede in the mix somewhere - I've said it before and I'll say it again - one of the most naturally gifted footballers of his generation.
And Darragh really ought to feature - I thought he was one of our more under-rated players when he was here.
Andy Lee?
Also, Craig Quinnell, will he get a mention ? - took us apart in the HC. We signed him and he didn't seem to have the same 'shock' effect when wearing black.
Who removed my H.R. Giger picture?
Cobus and Paul Wallace for the top two props though.
Dippy must be top 10. Danny Grewcock too?
If this was being done in 12 months time it would be interesting to see where Alex Goode would be, although Large obviously doesn't like his dad!
... He once scored two tries, and since then nutting
Una Paloma Blanca never sounded so good
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
Quote:NickL
RogerG, that would be Diego Albanese. Whoever replaced him was even worse. I don't think it was Balshaw, but it was the kind of performance we have come to expect from Brian Ashton's favourite player.
That's the bloke. What a night that was. Happy memories!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:05:14:25:09 by Wife of BS.