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‘True man-mountain' included in Ugo Monye’s Premiership Immortals XV
Ugo Monye has become the latest BT Sport rugby pundit to name his Premiership Immortals XV. “It’s a nice process to think back the last 20 years, players that I played with and against, and it takes you back because we can often think quite short-term when you think about the greatest players. Hopefully, a good mix of personalities, high achievers and some brilliant contributors to the Premiership,” he said.
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After fans had selected their Immortals XV via a series of online polls, Monye was the third of four BT Sport pundits to name his XV ahead of a round-table debate show on May 27 featuring Lawrence Dallaglio, Ben Kay, Austin Healey and Monye.
He was chuffed with his selection, quipping midway through the process: “Great players select themselves and I have got an unbelievable pack who have contributed so well to the Premiership and while there is debate and this is totally subjective based on emotion coupled with just sheer performances, it’s actually hard to distil 20 years of Premiership Rugby into eight players in that forward pack.”
Come the finish, he reckoned his Immortals XV was the type of team he would love to coach. “With a pack like that, you can play any way you want, and the strength of this team – while you are absolutely certain of the defensive quality you have here, it’s about feeding the speed, feeding the pace, the power and the skill in this back three… I’d love to coach this team. It would be easy.”
Monye’s front five consisted of Marcos Ayerza, Schalk Brits, Dan Cole, Martin Johnson and Maro Itoje. Then came Joe Worsley at blindside. “I played with him at England and I enjoyed what he brought because he is one of the most destructive defensive tacklers to ever play the game, but to play against an absolute nightmare and that is a compliment for any back row player,” he explained.
“100 per cent, he was brilliant. When you think of Wasps and their defence wins championships mantra, there has probably not been a better defensive back-rower to play the game than Joe Worsley. The repeatability of these guys. When you look at the back row you need energy and it’s how they complement one another, but the amount of interactions and positive contributions he had in the game was absolutely phenomenal.”
Monye picked an old Harlequins teammate at openside. “My buddy, my skipper, champagne Chris Robshaw. We were fortunate to play together for a long time. In 2012 when we won the title, he was everything you would want from a player. He led by his actions. No seven that played in the Premiership has got more wins than him. His win percentage, for what he has done and what he stands for, he is my seven.”
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After naming Lawrence Dallaglio to finish out his pack and then Danny Care to start his backline, Monye spoke at length about his reason for going with Owen Farrell at out-half. “When you think about competitors, when you think about winners and natural-born champions, he is that guy.
“It is phenomenal what he has done and how driven he is. The metamorphose of Saracens from being this defensive kick team, the aggressor, to playing some beautiful flowing rugby, he has been at the heartbeat of that, forever driving those standards. An obvious choice for me at No10.
“We almost see his personality through his actions on the pitch, but that is Farrell the competitor but off the pitch, a student of the game, quiet, mega professional, hence why he has achieved all he has. He is going to be unfortunate in that we will appreciate him more when he has retired because of the standards that he has set and how he has driven every 10 in this country to be better.”
What Monye also especially liked about Farrell was how quickly he emerged despite the long shadow cast by his dual-code father. “When your dad is Andy Farrell, one of the greatest rugby league players ever seen in this country, you have a fear that you might forever live in his shadow. Well, he stepped out of that quite quickly, he was a teenager playing in a Premiership final. Over 100 caps now for England, multiple Premiership titles, multiple European titles, he is an incredible player in his own right.
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Monye plumped for Brad Barritt and Fraser Waters as his Immortals midfield. “The two of them in tandem, if defence wins championships there is not two better defenders and organisers. What Fraser Waters brought to the game we now appreciate, this blitz, the high-pressure defence was born from Wasps back in the early 2000s. The defensive systems we eulogise now were led by pioneers like Fraser Waters.”
Chris Ashton and Alex Goode were named in Monye’s back three and he was what he has to say about his left wing choice, Alesana Tuilagi. “One of the most feared wingers to have ever played the game, the sheer mass of the man to be able to run at that speed. I played against him in the 2012 Premiership final, played against him so many times.
“You speak to players about who intimidated you and I don’t think any professional would ever say they were intimidated but I was aware in terms of my job spec I had to be physical that day because that is what he brought. He created space for others, scored a load of tries. I felt when he was at his best there weren’t more complete players that played in our league.
“I wouldn’t ever say I tackled him. I’d said I assisted him to the ground. To say I tackled him was that I instigated some sort of contact – it was a case of I’m just standing here, I know what is coming, I’m just going to try and involve myself in this contact area to enable somebody else to finish it off. A true man-mountain.”
Ugo Monye’s Immortals XV: 15. Alex Goode; 14. Chris Ashton; 13. Fraser Waters, 12. Brad Barritt, 11. Alesana Tuilagi; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Danny Care; 1. Marcos Ayerza, 2. Schalk Brits, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Martin Johnson, 5. Maro Itoje, 6. Joe Worsley, 7. Chris Robshaw, 8. Lawrence Dallaglio.
- Watch BT Sport’s Premiership Immortals on BT Sport 1 from 1pm on Saturday, May 27, to see who makes the greatest Premiership XV of all time. The final episode will be followed by BT Sport’s exclusive live coverage of the Gallagher Premiership final from 2pm on BT Sport 1 btsport.com/immortals
Comments on RugbyPass
Forget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
21 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
14 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
14 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
21 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
21 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
14 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
21 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
14 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
14 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
21 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
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