Would-be hardmen thread

[sparky]

@victor-meldrew said in Would-be hardmen thread:

Dallaglio.

Odd bloke, total narcissist. Outstanding player though.

[Victor Meldrew]

@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.

[Dice]

@sparky said in Would-be hardmen thread:

Proper hardmen:

Colin Meads
Kevin Skinner
Uli Schmidt
Buck Shelford
Richard Hill
Jerome Kaino

[MN5]

@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.

[L_n_P]

@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

[MN5]

@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 )

[Mick Gold Coast QLD]

@sparky said in Would-be hardmen thread:

Proper hardmen:

Colin Meads
Kevin Skinner
Uli Schmidt
Buck Shelford
Richard Hill
Jerome Kaino

I 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.

[MiketheSnow]

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

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/emotional-story-revered-welsh-rugby-12538756.amp

[sparky]

@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.

[sparky]

French Rugby hardmen

Pascal Ondarts
Gerald Cholley
Eric Champ
Adelatif Benazzi
Olivier Magne
Jean Condom
Jerome Thion
Serge Betsen
Thierry Dusautoir

French flair had always been allied to French granite.

[Higgins]

@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.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/10-hardest-rugby-players-who-18068046

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.

[ACT Crusader]

@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…

[Mick Gold Coast QLD]

@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 Dusautoir

French 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.

[Bones]

Brings to mind Cecillon...

[mantissanet]

@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

[MN5]

@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 Dusautoir

French flair had always been allied to French granite.

He was great on the burst

[pakman]

@mn5 said in Would-be hardmen thread:

Martin Johnson punched Justin Marshall from behind ( to be fair possibly knew what kind of commentator he would become ) and stood on Marty Leslies throat. Dirty, dirty fucker

That doesn’t count because JM called him a stupid Cnut to his face.

[sparky]

@pakman said in Would-be hardmen thread:

@mn5 said in Would-be hardmen thread:

Martin Johnson punched Justin Marshall from behind ( to be fair possibly knew what kind of commentator he would become ) and stood on Marty Leslies throat. Dirty, dirty fucker

That doesn’t count because JM called him a stupid Cnut to his face.

And to be fair, if Justin Marshall was standing next you and you had the chance to thump the piston wristed gibbon of course you would.

[Victor Meldrew]

@mantissanet said in Would-be hardmen thread:

Couple interesting takes on this thread Def missing Troy Flavell…Simon Shaw…and I reckon a warranted special mention for Lavanini too

Love the way Shaw studiously stays away from the retaliatory action when the Black forwards start taking exception to what he did and lets his team-mates bear the brunt of it. What a pistonwristedgibbon.

[Rancid Schnitzel]

@mn5 said in Would-be hardmen thread:

@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 Dusautoir

French flair had always been allied to French granite.

He was great on the burst

You could stretch him to the limit but he'd never break.