Tight Head Props- Greatest ever XV as voted by 606v2

Please forgive me any mix ups between TH and LH here, props are not my area of expertise! Fitzpatrick was our Hooker, so same rules again for TH. Some names will be in both prop lists as I do not know where all of them specialised (plus some were very adept at both sides)! Please correct me and suggest any missed men.

Call me biased but the Raging Bull for me

Richard Loe for me - total nut case!

Had to go for Jason Leonard - what a trooper!

this is the first position that i looked at the candidates listed and was
totally stumped!
Can someone tell me definitively what is a tighthead props
job description?
how do i differentiate Wilson Whineray from fran Cotton?
Loe vs Garuet in the thug stakes?

Olo Brown was my favourite AB tighthead. He had the straightest back in a scrum and was a fine example of technique over brawn and power.

When you think of players who are able to play both sides of the scrum, you realise their worth in a team as it´s very rare to be able to cover both prop positions well. Greg Somerville as well as having an amusing nickname - Yoda - was underrated for that very reason.

That said, my vote goes for Jason Leonard. I had the privilege of speaking to him in a friend´s Richmond gym and he was a top bloke. But he was a top player with over 100 games in that era and for probably the hardest position in terms of wear and tear this guy was an absolute legend.

Looking forward to voting for the Ox Os in the other poll. You´ll get a SA player in there yet Biltong!

Gunner wrote:this is the first position that i looked at the candidates listed and was
totally stumped!
Can someone tell me definitively what is a tighthead props
job description?
how do i differentiate Wilson Whineray from fran Cotton?
Loe vs Garuet in the thug stakes?

TH is very technical, so the players who could boss the scrums are key, offering a bit in the loose is even better.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Olo Brown was my favourite AB tighthead. He had the straightest back in a scrum and was a fine example of technique over brawn and power.

When you think of players who are able to play both sides of the scrum, you realise their worth in a team as it´s very rare to be able to cover both prop positions well. Greg Somerville as well as having an amusing nickname - Yoda - was underrated for that very reason.

That said, my vote goes for Jason Leonard. I had the privilege of speaking to him in a friend´s Richmond gym and he was a top bloke. But he was a top player with over 100 games in that era and for probably the hardest position in terms of wear and tear this guy was an absolute legend.

Looking forward to voting for the Ox Os in the other poll. You´ll get a SA player in there yet Biltong!

Du Randt is the SA player I strongly expect to make the 15 and ruin Biltong's planned counter SA 15

ChequeredJersey wrote:

Gunner wrote:this is the first position that i looked at the candidates listed and was
totally stumped!
Can someone tell me definitively what is a tighthead props
job description?
how do i differentiate Wilson Whineray from fran Cotton?
Loe vs Garuet in the thug stakes?

TH is very technical, so the players who could boss the scrums are key, offering a bit in the loose is even better.

And therein lies the problem. technique plays such a huge part in propping that its difficult for any non-prop to be
able to judge the quality of a prop. I doubt there would be any member of this site who has not been totally perplexed by
refereeing decisions regarding props and scrummaging.
we find it much easier to identify a poor prop than i good one. If a prop is getting screwed in the scrum it is easy to spot. (either meaning of screwed will do in this instance).
Many coaches now look very closely at a props abilty to lift in the lineout. this is a facet of play Whineray or Cotton never had to master.

In saying the above i will mull over the options and still choose R Loe. Every team needs a technical thug!

I

Dont get me wrong I have met the fun bus and the guy is a complete and utter legend but I don't think he was the greates ever.

I have plumped for the legend that is Graham Price though Meeuws is up there

Graham Price for sure, but most voters wont know who he is. Hence leonard who played most of his rugby as a loosehead.

as having only really watched for the last 15 years i went for castrogiavanni

Being a back I've no idea what makes a good prop so have to bow to those with more knowledge. Ken Gray and Kevin Skinner and were known as our best before I played and Olo Brown, John Drake (RIP) were two considered best of their time.

I'll go for Olo and Price- Price had a very good 77 Lions tour.

Do you get two votes?

Oh its only TH...so I got to pick 2 anyway...no one only validation I guess.
oops...

Being a hooker ice gone for the prop I would feel strongest with and that is sandy Carmichael. He had a great engine and could scrum ask day. Never took a backward step even when he was being battered.

maestegmafia wrote:Graham Price for sure, but most voters wont know who he is. Hence leonard who played most of his rugby as a loosehead.

Nooo Maesteg - stick to your guns, man.

I totally agree - it has to be Price - for those who don't know, he dominated the Lions shirt for 12 consecutive tests (1977: 4 Tests; 1980: 4 Tests; 1983: 4 Tests) and is the most capped front row in Lions history.

Price started off as a club winger but became the most respected prop of his era. He was simply unbreakable for the Lions, too technically good and physically strong for anyone to match him and seemingly impervious to pressure. Temperamentally perfect for his position and the big stage. A quiet legend.

George Carlin wrote:
Price started off as a club winger but became the most respected prop of his era. He was simply unbreakable for the Lions, too technically good and physically strong for anyone to match him and seemingly impervious to pressure. Temperamentally perfect for his position and the big stage. A quiet legend.

I agree with this 100%. The four key aspects for a tighthead are good shoulder positions, particularly the left shoulder, a nice low backside, a rigidly straight back and above all else, massive core strength. Price had all of those in abundance. Great player.

I am a little surprised that Carl Hayman has only received one vote though. I can't remember a single occasion that he has lost his personal battle over the duration of a game. Technically brilliant in the scrum, especially for a tall guy and was certainly the premier tighthead in the world for a good few years.

Jeff Probyn deserves a shout as well. Talks a whole bunch of rubbbish these days but he could scrummage. Bony shoulders, big fat backside and low body position made him an absolute nightmare for opponents back in the day.

I am a little surprised that Carl Hayman has only received one vote though. I can't remember a single occasion that he has lost his personal battle over the duration of a game.

agree

I went for Castro as letter C from the greatest front row ever (the ABC club) Garforth wasn't an option. Castro's all action style when the ball is in play coupled with his all knackered on his knees style when the ball is out of play is just great to watch. A real nice guy as well.

Price from THE greatest front row ever - The Viet-Gwent (aka The Pontypool Front Row - Price, Windsor, Faulkner)

LINK1

GRAHAM PRICE