"Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
- Jeff the Bear
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"Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
You may have thought we'd beaten the random XV horse dead, but maybe we've kept the best for last (or, alternatively, we haven't).
This is an XV made up of players that have put in the best performance ever in a given position. The exact game the performance took place, and a little description as to why you think that player deserves the spot will help. I'll start:
15. Rob Kearney - Lions v SA in 2009: Took pretty much every bomb, at altitude, in a virtuoso performance of ball catching
14.
13.
12.
11. Jonah Lomu - England v NZ in 1995: One man wrecking ball that smashed England almost single-handedly
10. Dan Carter - Lions v NZ's in 2005: Might just be the best performance ever by any player
9.
8.
7.
6. Thierry Dusautoir - France v NZ in 2007: Probably the only other performance to rival Carters with 38 tackles in the game
5.
4.
3.
2.
1. Mako Vunipola - England v Ireland in 2019: Put in a ridiculous shift including 27 tackles, 11 carries, and all round dominant display
This is an XV made up of players that have put in the best performance ever in a given position. The exact game the performance took place, and a little description as to why you think that player deserves the spot will help. I'll start:
15. Rob Kearney - Lions v SA in 2009: Took pretty much every bomb, at altitude, in a virtuoso performance of ball catching
14.
13.
12.
11. Jonah Lomu - England v NZ in 1995: One man wrecking ball that smashed England almost single-handedly
10. Dan Carter - Lions v NZ's in 2005: Might just be the best performance ever by any player
9.
8.
7.
6. Thierry Dusautoir - France v NZ in 2007: Probably the only other performance to rival Carters with 38 tackles in the game
5.
4.
3.
2.
1. Mako Vunipola - England v Ireland in 2019: Put in a ridiculous shift including 27 tackles, 11 carries, and all round dominant display
Last edited by Jeff the Bear on Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
- blackblackblack
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
11 Jonah v England RWC 95
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
11.Lomu v England 1995 RWC semi final.
- Jeff the Bear
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
7 - Richie McCaw vs Aus in Brisbane 06
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
(A slightly out of position) 12. Christopher Lamaison France v new Zealand 1999
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
And these don't count as they're not test level, but
Jeff Wilson - Otago vs Wgtn in about 97
Bill Cavubati - Wgtn vs NSW around 94.
Goldie scored about 3 tries, set up a couple of others and snuffed out a few from Wgtn. Was just impossible to stop.
And Big Bill rampaged through the NSW pack all day and managed to convince them he wasn't really an immobile unfit lard arse. He moved over to Sydney a few months later to play club rugby and only lasted a few months till they realised the performance was an aberration.
Jeff Wilson - Otago vs Wgtn in about 97
Bill Cavubati - Wgtn vs NSW around 94.
Goldie scored about 3 tries, set up a couple of others and snuffed out a few from Wgtn. Was just impossible to stop.
And Big Bill rampaged through the NSW pack all day and managed to convince them he wasn't really an immobile unfit lard arse. He moved over to Sydney a few months later to play club rugby and only lasted a few months till they realised the performance was an aberration.
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
4 Johnson v new Zealand 2003
5 Eales v new Zealand 2000 or oconnell v south Africa 2009 (he learned Afrikaans for God's sake)
5 Eales v new Zealand 2000 or oconnell v south Africa 2009 (he learned Afrikaans for God's sake)
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Richie McCaw vs Wallabies 2010
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Not necessarily the greatest performances ever in the position, but particular stand outs for me:
10. Thomas Castaignede against Wales in 1998 when France thrashed them 51 - 0 at Wembley. He could do no wrong that day, and ran the Welsh ragged.
4. Simon Shaw for the Lions in the 2nd test against SA in 2009. One of the all time great performances in one of the greatest tests ever (and a rare recipient of a mark of 10 from the Walrus)
10. Thomas Castaignede against Wales in 1998 when France thrashed them 51 - 0 at Wembley. He could do no wrong that day, and ran the Welsh ragged.
4. Simon Shaw for the Lions in the 2nd test against SA in 2009. One of the all time great performances in one of the greatest tests ever (and a rare recipient of a mark of 10 from the Walrus)
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Sean Fitzpatrick vs Springboks 1996
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Carl Hayman vs France 2004
Tony Woodcock vs France 2004
Tony Woodcock vs France 2004
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Lamaison was at 10 that day, although he was more often picked as a 12. He was superb and scored a full house as well (try, conversion, penalty and drop goal) on the way to guiding France to victory.rialtoblue wrote:(A slightly out of position) 12. Christopher Lamaison France v new Zealand 1999
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Ali Williams vs Lions 1st Test, 2005.
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Dan Carter vs France 2004Sonny Blount wrote:Carl Hayman vs France 2004
Tony Woodcock vs France 2004
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Weren't there a few tests in 2009 where Heinrich Brussow was unstoppable?
- danny_fitz
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
9. Conor Murray v All Blacks Nov 2018
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
What was that Haskell match v Aus where he was a machine and pretty much single handedly ruin their game ? 2017 first test ? Was on the Eng tour to Aus
- boere wors
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
9 Fourie du Preez vs England pool RWC 2007
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Jannie de Beer vs England, RWC 1999
Hugo Porta vs All Blacks, 1985
Hugo Porta vs All Blacks, 1985
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Sadly it was only for 40 minutes, but Finn Russell against England last year at Twickenham was astonishing, possibly the best 40 minutes i've seen from a 10.
However, would have to agree that Carter against the Lions was the most complete match by a 10, by a distance.
However, would have to agree that Carter against the Lions was the most complete match by a 10, by a distance.
- Muttonbirds
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
8. Buck Shelford
2nd Test Nantes 1986. Referee S Strydom (South Africa)
FRANCE’S national rugby union team was a vast consumer of amphetamines in the 1980s including in a famous win over the All Blacks
2nd Test Nantes 1986. Referee S Strydom (South Africa)

FRANCE’S national rugby union team was a vast consumer of amphetamines in the 1980s including in a famous win over the All Blacks
Last edited by Muttonbirds on Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:49 am, edited 3 times in total.
- Ali's Choice
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Rupeni Caucau against Scotland at the 2003 RWC? Maybe Caucau can play 14 and Jonah Lomu circa 1995 can play 11?
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
2016, or you making a funny?danny_fitz wrote:9. Conor Murray v All Blacks Nov 2018
- eldanielfire
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
I agree, Simon Shaw in that 2nd Lions test that year as well. Still raved about today.handyman wrote:Weren't there a few tests in 2009 where Heinrich Brussow was unstoppable?
- eldanielfire
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
2016 2nd test I think.backrow wrote:What was that Haskell match v Aus where he was a machine and pretty much single handedly ruin their game ? 2017 first test ? Was on the Eng tour to Aus
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Great topic Jeff the Bear.


Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
40min effort. Starved of ball in the 2nd half. Possibly the most disappointing half of rugby I've seen from a test team. Fijians Fiji'd themselves out of the world cup.Ali's Choice wrote:Rupeni Caucau against Scotland at the 2003 RWC? Maybe Caucau can play 14 and Jonah Lomu circa 1995 can play 11?
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Dan Lydiate in one of our Grand Slam matches against France. Put in a Dusatoir shift. Ridiculous performance.
Scott Gibbs in the 2nd Lions test in 1997. Put in the moment of the tour and a defensive shift for the ages.
Scott Gibbs in the 2nd Lions test in 1997. Put in the moment of the tour and a defensive shift for the ages.
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Richard Hill with one good leg Heineken Cup QF against Pisspreys.
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
I think he may have been wearing 6, but could I shoehorn Betson in at 7 for his performance in 2002 against England. He utterly dominated Wilkinson (in the end I think Wilkinson was taken off) and I think Woodward said it was the best performance by an individual he had ever seen.
This was the defining performance of that years 6N leading to a France grand slam (and don't forget this is probably the peak of that England team when they were undoubtedly the best team in the world.)
This was the defining performance of that years 6N leading to a France grand slam (and don't forget this is probably the peak of that England team when they were undoubtedly the best team in the world.)
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
eldanielfire wrote:I agree, Simon Shaw in that 2nd Lions test that year as well. Still raved about today.handyman wrote:Weren't there a few tests in 2009 where Heinrich Brussow was unstoppable?

Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
5. Sam Whitelock in RWC2015 semi-final. He put in a massive shift and the icing on the cake came when he took a Bok throw-in from Matfield with a few minutes to go and only 25m or so from our tryline.
- boere wors
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
yeah, except that it has been done a dozen times alreadyTehui wrote:Great topic Jeff the Bear.

but nevermind, always entertaining again
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
1. Mtawarira SA v Lions 1st test 2009
- RuggaBugga
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
That is your criteria for the greatest ever performance by a fullback?Jeff the Bear wrote:
15. Rob Kearney - Lions v SA in 2009: Took pretty much every bomb, at altitude, in a virtuoso performance of ball catching
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Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Richard Hill on one leg when he virtually single handedly beat the Ospreys.
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
He's setting it up to have a go at ROG.RuggaBugga wrote:That is your criteria for the greatest ever performance by a fullback?Jeff the Bear wrote:
15. Rob Kearney - Lions v SA in 2009: Took pretty much every bomb, at altitude, in a virtuoso performance of ball catching
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
Late to the game as usual, Fatty.c69 wrote:Richard Hill on one leg when he virtually single handedly beat the Ospreys.
Re: "Greatest performance ever in a given position" XV
7: SOB against NZ in 2013.