Simply The Best
By Neville
June 13 2015
" It is the silly season. The season where we automatically reach for this parishes on switch at 12:02 only to find no " S'up" So wot we gonna do bou'i' somebody said near me on the train this morning. This is my 1996, (my first year as a Sarrie) to 2015 best Saracens XV with standardish bench. the team is selected to play a standard fixture against Mars, who have some big lads to field against us. so we going to have to be at our best. The players are chosen on the basis of their finest game for the club. So someone like Chris Jack who was a world-class player doesn't get selected because he played like a cnute for us.
Girls first.
15 Thomas Casteignede I remember him once receiving the ball in our in goal area. I bent down to pick up my pint looked up and he was on the halfway line. He hadn't touched it down and was clearly doing 2.3 seconds for the hundred metres. Fezzes off gentlemen and ladies.Voila, a genius
14. Chris Ashton. He has come on a ton since he's joined us. Defensively hhe is a different person and his kicking game has improved out of sight. For me he should simply start for England, end of story..
13. Philippe Sella. When he played for us he was aged 93 but the try he scored in the 97 cup final when he turned someone old enough to be his great-grandson this way and that and then showed a clean pair of heels has stuck with me from that day to this.
12 Tim Horan. I recall on telly watching him take a tap penalty against Bath I think put on the afterburners and left everyone in his wake. The thinking man's number 12 he was another one who had his best could almost be described as a genius.
11. Davide le Strettle. In the last two years hes gone from almost having an aversion to dotting down to being unstoppable. He has finished from the most acute angles in situations where he simply had not enough space to finish. And the piece of skill he produced prior to our third try last Saturday after Duncan Taylors little bit of chess is something I will not forget until the Sands of Time runneth out
10 God a.k.a. Michael Lynagh. We are very lucky to have had three superb fly halves in the last few years Glenn, Charlie and Owen in age order. But Michael was just on a different planet. The only man I've ever seen who could miscue kick to touch and still almost take out a bloke carrying a tray full of beers in the crowd.. Max respect
9. Kyran Bracken. another hard decision to make as to who choose. In his pomp his pass was the crispest we've ever had. he made breaks, he prompted he tackled he kicked. Perhaps the most complete scrum-half we've ever had. And he could dance the pants off of Hitler!
8 Billy Vunipola the phenomenon that is King Billy. The game against Munster this year seem like a school game when you're 14. when that kid whose grown-up faster than everybody else just tramples on everybody else's head. But Billy does that week after week and what's more he's young and will only get better especially since his mum gave him a ticking off.
7 the King. A.k.a. Richard Hill The only man ever to arrive at a breakdown half a second before the breakdown has occurred and in sufficient time to smile at his own genius reach down and pick up the ball. I thought his association with our club would last forever,and I am not at all clear exactly what it was caused him to leave my favourite all-time rugby player
6. François Pienaar in his first season with us a force of nature. Latterly a much more controversial figure but that's not my concern here.a great great player and in South Africa's game at Twickenham in 1996 (I think)became the only person I ever saw who utterly took Lawrence Dallaglio to the cleaners
5. George Kruis. Close one this as the lump behind the front row. Could have gone for Danny Checkbook.or maybe even Craig Quinnell. Perhaps not. But George is more mobile than most in that position possesses a fantastic engine and his lineout skills are improving exponentially. Is fast heading towards a regular starting England berth and the Lions one day too I am sure
4. Steve Borthwick captain. The supreme operator and a great leader. The picture of him under the posts in May 2014 looking on at JP Doyle as he trotted shamefacedly away after depriving Steve of a final victory is another image I will carry with me for a very long time.
3. Cobus Visagie In his pomp he could destroy opposition scrums single-handed and get around the field making tackles against men half his size and with twice the speed. As he got older he retained his ability in the scrum but I do remember the occasion when he was isolated in his own half and the ball was punted upfield by the opposition towards him. It took him 20 seconds to bend down and pick it up.. The best scrummager I have ever seen
2. Schalk Brits. spent most of the season out of action but last year and in years past has been our main man.and will be again. An absolute matchwinner. His scrummaging is great and his work the lineout is top notch as well.. A wonderful player
1. Mako Vunipola. Until this year I would probably have chosen Roberto Grau or even Kevin Yates. But Makos scrummaging this year has come on in leaps and bounds and he has taken everybody to the cleaners whilst retaining his quite astonishing all court game
16. Jamie George
17. Roberto Grau
18. Paul Wallace
19. Neil de Kock
20. Glenda
21. Duncan Taylor
22 Alex Goode I reckon it will be us by 7 to 10
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:07:16:20:46:40 by Darraghgirl.
Ches dragging half of the Falcons side over the line for a try and demolishing their newly promoted England backs.
Hugh - forget the drop goal, his heart was in every game.
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
🌻🌻🌻
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:06:20:08:38:50 by AP.
European champions 2016 & 2017
Cobus starting for us meant so much; I think we won around 60% of games when he played. In one season we lost every game he didn't start
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:06:20:13:18:34 by JO'G .
He could not have done more for Saracens, and he was in a class apart from virtually all other players.
Regardez mon visage. Suis-je bovvered?
I would plump for a centre pairing of Sorrell and Johnston as two players who were dyed-in-the-wool Sarries and pushed themselves into international reckoning despite club performances.
For similar reasons I still can't look beyond Glenda as the best 10 to pull on a Sarries shirt and still wish he had stuck around for an extra year to lift a trophy.
Agree on above, there has to be a spot for Chesney...massively underrated outside Bramley Road and could carry, duff up the opposition and pop up on the wing.
I may find a spot for Wikus Van Heerden. One wonders how good he could have been surrounded by a better squad a few seasons down the line.
... then I looked back and saw that you started in 96 not 86!
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
The Ches .With may be Paddy Johns as some backup in case it cuts up rough
As of 10am, Monday 22 June 2015, my team would be:
Goode; Ashton, Horan, Barritt, Strettle; Jackson, Bracken; Mako, Brits, Visagie; Borthwick, Grewcock; Hill, Burger, Diprose.
Bench: George, Grau, Wallace, Johns, Pienaar, Wiggy, Lynagh, Castaignede.
Come back tomorrow and it's likely to be different.
Who removed my H.R. Giger picture?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:06:22:10:06:15 by To Mega Therion.
Quote:Convex Hull
The club lost a lot of Brownie points with me when HRHRH disappeared from the scene.
He could not have done more for Saracens, and he was in a class apart from virtually all other players.
I guess the only consolation on this particular point is that the person who orchestrated Hilly's departure is now also no longer at the club. "Dropped like a stone" and "trying to airbrush everything pre-2009 out of the club's history" are two comments of Mr Hill that stick in my mind.
I see Ches a couple of times a week in passing so I'll pass on the comments above. I'm sure he'll be chuffed (although I've told him enough times what the fans thought of him!).
Quote:Neville
Don't tell him I left him out first time round!
Oh I will Nev, together with your full contact details
Gavin Johnson was class at full back on par with Goode but quicker but not ashaccurate in front of the posts.
We also briefly had Thierry LaCroix who was pretty special playmaker.
Benazi Benaza ..mmm not at his best when at Sarries but courageous.
You forgot the one who got away - George Chuter - he was class before he got peed off not getting pick for England.
Ben Clarke also played for us post Stortford before he went off to Bath and then Richmond.
Kevin Sorrel, Kiran Bracken, Chris Chesney and Richard Hill - contemporary legends.
Ben Johnstone and Adrian Winnan (spelling?) togther with Stuart Hooper never had the breaks they should have had at Sarries with the annual coaching merry go round.
sure there are some i missed to ... nick walshe for many years cover for Bracken, quiet similar to Wrigglesworth - did not get the acclaim for his hard work.
Who were game changers (positive) v those who in the their day - might provide two interesting squads too.
VictorFez
VICTORfez following sarries and bees since '76
Best Hooker (for us) - George Chuter.
Best Hooker (did not play well for us) - Rapheal Ibanez
much that i like Britzs flair, he does make some mistakes at the break down and tries too hard to force the game. whereas Jamie, promises to be of Chuter class and depedency but still early.
VICTORfez following sarries and bees since '76
There will always be debate as to the absolute best we have had some cracking players over the decades it's just great we have them at the same time now!
Mentioned in dispatches, apart from those above:
Brendan Daniel a classy winger who would always beat the first tackler. Ditto Kameli.
Thiery has to get a mention just for making the veins on Dayglo's neck bulge
Quote:victorfez
Thanks Nev, some fun. We certainly had some past their prime/ not got the best out of them ie Ibanez, Goode.
Gavin Johnson was class at full back on par with Goode but quicker but not ashaccurate in front of the posts.
We also briefly had Thierry LaCroix who was pretty special playmaker.
Benazi Benaza ..mmm not at his best when at Sarries but courageous.
You forgot the one who got away - George Chuter - he was class before he got peed off not getting pick for England.
Ben Clarke also played for us post Stortford before he went off to Bath and then Richmond.
Kevin Sorrel, Kiran Bracken, Chris Chesney and Richard Hill - contemporary legends.
Ben Johnstone and Adrian Winnan (spelling?) togther with Stuart Hooper never had the breaks they should have had at Sarries with the annual coaching merry go round.
sure there are some i missed to ... nick walshe for many years cover for Bracken, quiet similar to Wrigglesworth - did not get the acclaim for his hard work.
Who were game changers (positive) v those who in the their day - might provide two interesting squads too.
VictorFez
Very good points, Victor. Can I take issue with a couple.....
Raphael Ibanez. A very good acquisition who put zero effort in. He was then acquired by Wasps who made no secret at all that he was in the last chance saloon unless he upped his effort levels. He did and Wasps were the beneficiaries.
George Chuter. Certainly a very good player but a far worse tale. Tigers at the time were the top payers, getting the same amount of ill-informed bile that we get now. George was offered a deal when he still had either one or two years on his deal with us. He feigned mental/stress-related illness and that he needed some time away to "find himself". Sarries went along with it and released him from his contract. George disappeared off "round the world". Three months later he signed for Tigers.
Quote:TOKS
George Chuter. Certainly a very good player but a far worse tale. Tigers at the time were the top payers, getting the same amount of ill-informed bile that we get now. George was offered a deal when he still had either one or two years on his deal with us. He feigned mental/stress-related illness and that he needed some time away to "find himself". Sarries went along with it and released him from his contract. George disappeared off "round the world". Three months later he signed for Tigers.
With a significantly smaller nose.
Who removed my H.R. Giger picture?
Quote:To Mega TherionQuote:TOKS
George Chuter. Certainly a very good player but a far worse tale. Tigers at the time were the top payers, getting the same amount of ill-informed bile that we get now. George was offered a deal when he still had either one or two years on his deal with us. He feigned mental/stress-related illness and that he needed some time away to "find himself". Sarries went along with it and released him from his contract. George disappeared off "round the world". Three months later he signed for Tigers.
With a significantly smaller nose.
Ah that Marillion song, He knows, you know!
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
No-one has mentioned Darragh O'Mahoney (it drove me mad when other announcers got his name wrong).
It has to be Horan for 12; Brad is good; Tim was simply world class. Did we also had a cameo from Rod Kafer or did he only coach?
Speaking of the coach, there's quite a selection to choose from - Evans, Brenda, Mark, Alan Gaffney, Solomons, Kafer, Shelford, Jones, Piennar,... My choices Evans, Sanderson & Gaffney.
And maybe a little cameo role from delboy, agreed not the greatest the club has had but very much one of my favourites.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:06:24:09:06:03 by whyisitnevereasy.
Nous sommes l'armée noir et rouge !
Perhaps if Gustard had been the defence coach under Gaffney we'd have been multiple Heineken Cup winners!
Quote:Where's Kenny?
And Muna ???????