Would-be hardmen thread
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@dogmeat said in Would-be hardmen thread:
Back in the mists of time Grant Batty was an angry little man. Would run halfway across the field to get involved in a bit of biff. Even though he would have need a step ladder in order to connect. Definitely compensating..
Met David Duckham at a sport dinner/event a few years back and he mentioned Batty as one of the hardest, toughest players he'd come up against.
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Danny Grewcock - Dirty bastard who really couldn't hack it when the opposition hard men politely questioned his actions.
Richard Loe. Always struck me as bloke who preferred sneaky foul play to actually being hard.
Dallaglio deserves a special mention for kneeing Jonah in the face at RWC 1999. Showed an unusual turn of speed when Jonah got up and went after him.
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@junior said in Would-be hardmen thread:
@rotated said in Would-be hardmen thread:
There is a former Reds and Australian hooker, not been mentioned yet who surely deserves this designation.
Foley?
Sean Hardman.
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@victor-meldrew said in Would-be hardmen thread:
Dallaglio.
Odd bloke, total narcissist. Outstanding player though.
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@sparky said in Would-be hardmen thread:
@victor-meldrew said in Would-be hardmen thread:
Dallaglio.
Odd bloke, total narcissist. Outstanding player though.
Actually worked in the same business team with him a few years back. Decent bloke, very professional at what he did, but didn't strike me as a team-player, surprisingly.
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@dice said in Would-be hardmen thread:
@sparky said in Would-be hardmen thread:
Proper hardmen:
Colin Meads
Kevin Skinner
Uli Schmidt
Buck Shelford
Richard Hill
Jerome Kaino
Jerry didn’t play favourites. He smashed anyone no matter how big or small they were.
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@sparky said in Would-be hardmen thread:
Proper hardmen:
Colin Meads
Kevin Skinner
Uli Schmidt
Buck Shelford
Richard Hill
Jerome Kaino@sparky Totally, I can imagine a few French in there though too?
That Jerry Collins tackle reminds me some some interviews Schalke Burger gave about him. No quarter given, just total respect (even if Schalke had touches of the red mist on the field from memory). Both were absolute gents off the pitch
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@l_n_p said in Would-be hardmen thread:
@sparky said in Would-be hardmen thread:
Proper hardmen:
Colin Meads
Kevin Skinner
Uli Schmidt
Buck Shelford
Richard Hill
Jerome Kaino@sparky Totally, I can imagine a few French in there though too?
That Jerry Collins tackle reminds me some some interviews Schalke Burger gave about him. No quarter given, just total respect (even if Schalke had touches of the red mist on the field from memory). Both were absolute gents off the pitch
Yep, inspiring seeing Burger and JC laughing over a couple of beers on the night of a test in Welly after smashing the shit out of each other hours earlier. Both genuine tough fucks ( even if Schalk was dirty at times )
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@sparky said in Would-be hardmen thread:
Proper hardmen:
Colin Meads
Kevin Skinner
Uli Schmidt
Buck Shelford
Richard Hill
Jerome KainoI enjoyed Jerome, he was big and physical and able. He could take the ball up better than just about any loosie I can think of, leaving a path of destruction (apart from Bono of course, a BIG man, the finest 7 in the game and later the finest 8 in the game
).Jerome offered maximum efficiency come scrum time, I used watch his set up and his front rowers would have greatly appreciated his presence.
He had a grand smile and a happy nature just like our Viliami Ofahengaue - with my son I watched Willie one day in Club, just in front of us on the reserves bench at Manly Oval. He had no idea what was happening in the game 'cos he was too busy playing hand shapes games with his similarly monstrous sized Tongan team mates, giggling like girls without a care in the world.
Jerome, like Willie, could belt anyone out there into next Friday fortnight, without even trying. They just didn't feel the need to demonstrate it! Being a bit lazy at times helped.
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If we’re talking proper hard men, pound for pound contender would be prop Brian Williams of Neath and Wales.
Played international loose head at 14st
Remembering rugby's bull-wrestler, 10 years after his death
Blessed with the strength of Popeye and the resolve of an ancient Celtic king, Neath and Wales forward Brian Williams was truly unique
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@victor-meldrew said in Would-be hardmen thread:
@sparky said in Would-be hardmen thread:
@victor-meldrew said in Would-be hardmen thread:
Dallaglio.
Odd bloke, total narcissist. Outstanding player though.
Actually worked in the same business team with him a few years back. Decent bloke, very professional at what he did, but didn't strike me as a team-player, surprisingly.
On retrospect, I think Clive Woodward managed LD incredibly well and knew how to get the very best from him within his team culture.
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@sparky Graham Price includes another couple of Frogs in his list of hardmen with Michel Palmie and Alain Esteve joining M. Cholley (ranked at number 1) on his list.
The front row legend was once named by pundit Stuart Barnes as the hardest Welsh player in history, so we asked Pricey to pick his own list of real, real rugby tough men
Jean-Pierre Garuet, Robert Paparemborde and Fran Cotton must have gone close to making the list as well but there are some seriously hardmen (but not necessarily dirty Bs) in Prices' lineup.
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@rotated said in Would-be hardmen thread:
@junior said in Would-be hardmen thread:
@rotated said in Would-be hardmen thread:
There is a former Reds and Australian hooker, not been mentioned yet who surely deserves this designation.
Foley?
Sean Hardman.
A bit too subtle there…
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@sparky said in Would-be hardmen thread:
French Rugby hardmen
Pascal Ondarts
Gerald Cholley
Eric Champ
Adelatif Benazzi
Olivier Magne
Jean Condom
Jerome Thion
Serge Betsen
Thierry DusautoirFrench flair had always been allied to French granite.
Abdelatif Benazzi was outstanding in play, vigorous, involved and mobile; scary big and genuinely tough, fearless, at a time when there were plenty of contenders for that title. I used enjoy watching him, especially taking the ball up - he loved the hard work.
Thierry Dusautoir was a talented player with the perfect temperament for captain - all class. He was not recognised enough for his superiority over others at open side, a bit like the indifference shown to Sir Richie. It was self evident that a powerful block resisted recognition of these exceptional players, in favour of a couple of blokes from the Southern Hemisphere who were "over represented"
in World Rugby awards and the like. -
@mick-gold-coast-qld Benazzi was a proper legend. One of my GOATs for sure. Pelous was great too but was always going to be tough to follow Benazzi.
Couple interesting takes on this thread 😜Def missing Troy Flavell…Simon Shaw…and I reckon a warranted special mention for Lavanini too 😂
