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Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21

Adam Powell
By Large
February 19 2009
The countdown continues with the next 10 players in the list. some of whom did many things over many years, and others who did one truly memorable thing that will stay in the memory a long time.

30. Simon Raiwalui – Second row

Top Bloke. The trouble was that he had the misfortune of heading up a squad of misfiring, misdirected Sarries in the middle part of this decade and his record wasn’t great. Famously binned a World Cup to come to Sarries, for which I and many will be grateful for a long time.

 

29. Rodd Penney – Wing/Centre

I like Rodd. I like the way he can pop up seemingly out of nowhere and run the ball back 50 metres for a try, just like he did against Biarritz. Probably another player who has been a victim of his own versatility as he starts more games on the bench than he does on the paddock, but worthy of a place here nonetheless.

 

28. Robbie Russell – Hooker

The Kilted Queenslander was a front row player who I liked watching, as he had good hands and was able to mix it with the big boys. It was a shame that he ran into Martin Johnson’s clenched fist that time just to prove it.

 

27. Adam Powell – Centre

Forget the fragile Anthony Allen, the over-hyped (well, he is at Wasps after all) Dominic Waldouck and the one-trick bosh merchant Jordan Turner-Hall, Powelly (PLEASE, someone, get him a proper nickname) is the real deal when it comes to the future of England’s midfield. Sarries’ future is in safe hands, providing he’s not enticed elsewhere.

 

26. Andy Farrell – Not a flanker

As soon as Faz’s move south was confirmed the press and fans of other clubs were queuing around the block to have a go. They had to wait ages while a succession of injuries robbed him of precious game time in the run up to the 2007 World Cup. And then they pounced. What they didn’t see was that Faz brought with him plenty of leadership and coaching nous from Wigan and will, I have no doubt, be a great coach at Sarries or anywhere else when he finally hangs up his boots.

 

25. Hugh Vyvyan – No8/Second Row      

Joined from Newcastle much to the horror of the Geordies and is one of the most hard-working players at Sarries. Never lets anyone down when drafted into the boiler room and definitely a player I would have in my squad any time. Loves scoring against the Falcons. Don’t blame him.

 

24. Danny Grewcock – Second Row

Before taking the well-trodden path down the M4 to the Roman City, the relatively unknown 1-cap Coventry lock shot to stardom at Sarries with his no-nonsense approach. Still going strong for club and was only recently cast aside by country. Still has his song sung by the Fez, albeit with the alternative “Cheque book” lyrics.

 

23. Darragh O’Mahony – Wing

Can’t remember much about Darragh’s contribution to any given match, but I do remember him being a consistent performer and first-rate finisher for many seasons, not to mention being extremely popular with the fans.

 

22. Thierry Lacroix – Outside Half

Here for one thing and one thing only. Nine penalties against Wasps when we beat them 27-26 in 1999. I need not elaborate any further.

 

21. Ryan Constable – Wing

A feeble claim to fame of mine is saying “I was there” for one of “Rugby’s Strangest Matches” – a book by John Griffiths detailing, well, y’know. One of those matches was Bedford v Saracens on 16 April 2000. The Wizard of Oz managed to cross the line for not one hat-trick, but two, and his round half dozen helped Sarries to a 57-29 win. Can’t remember much else about him, though, apart from he went to Ulster where he now broadcasts on their matches for the BBC.

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Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: TheSaracens.com (IP Logged)
Date: 19/02/2009 20:30

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Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: The Bard (IP Logged)
Date: 19/02/2009 21:31

Ryan Constabel only two places above Darragh? Different class altogether; scored tries in just about all our BIG games in 97/98, and seemed to be the quickest thing in rugby. A bit unfortunate for him to be run around 3 times by a young, blond Bath newcomer called Balshaw in his last season with us.
I reckon the combined distance for his 6 tries was about 20 yards. Nevertheless, he'd be in my all-time Sarries team.

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: Lurcherous (IP Logged)
Date: 19/02/2009 23:09

Could Brendan Daniel make the top 20?

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: ChrisR (IP Logged)
Date: 20/02/2009 08:27

Ryan Constable doing a very bad impression of a baseball player after his try in the TBC final, but one of my favourite players.

Top 5 anyone?

5. Pienaar
4. Lynagh
3. Sella
2. Bracken
1. Hill

Jeez, that's a tough 5 to put in any order...

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: Neville (IP Logged)
Date: 20/02/2009 08:43

Top series Large One, and hugely enjoyable

Re Constable: He scored a cracker in the 98 Cup Final, standing up and rounding his man, for a classic wingers try. I was there at Bedford too. With 2 young kids of mine who are now grown up. Fond memories.(Sm103)

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: PhillFez (IP Logged)
Date: 20/02/2009 13:40

In THAT match Thierry not only scored the points but early on stood on Dayglo's head (by accident) in a ruck and wound him up to explosion point, I could see the neck veins from the East stand without the aid of binoculars (Sm6)

Ryan C was a gent as well as a super winger, at Noddy and Sella's last game at VR he took the trouble at the end to come over to the isolated north stand to address a few youngsters. I was at the Bedford match too, great days.

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: Eric Browett (IP Logged)
Date: 20/02/2009 17:36

I was at that Bedford match where Constable scored 6 and they were all, as I remember, catch the pass and jog over in the corner unopposed type tries. Hence whenever anyone scores a try with a simple finish the wife and I refer to it as 'a Constable'.

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: Wayoutwest (IP Logged)
Date: 20/02/2009 21:50

I think if we did a top 20 tries Rod Penney would probably have at least 2 in there. A quality player who does not get enough game time

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: McSaracens (IP Logged)
Date: 20/02/2009 21:53

Top 5 for me:

Chesney
Hill
Bracken
Sella
Horan

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: Bboonie (IP Logged)
Date: 21/02/2009 01:53

Re: Lacroix:
I thought about the hairless one in the Union Rooms, but we got side tracked somewhere - and for that exact game ( and Sale Away at HR).

Re: Constable
And don't forget - this is for you Kat - who passed him the ball for the his sixth when a certain Cheshire hooker could've claimed it. I know, it was right in front of me.

Bbooniie XXXX tttoo maanyy kkeyss.

Goodnight and god bless us Saracens.

XX

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: AlanE (IP Logged)
Date: 23/02/2009 18:34

Another "best thing" about Thierry Lacroix's nine penalties against Pests was that David Campese was a guest (I think of Saracens) at the game. Afterwards he repaid our hospitality by slagging us off in the press about how iniquitous it was that we won.

If he was in the Llarge squad he would be at 51!

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: Steve_C (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 16:57

My own top 5 or 6 or 10 or whatever....

Richard Hill
Tony Diprose
Ben Clarke
Kyran Bracken
Michael Lynagh
Philippe Sella
Jason Leonard
Floyd Steadman

Floyd who? If you don't know the name you are just too young :-)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:02:25:17:00:55 by Steve_C.

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: youngjaffa (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 17:08

Floyd Steadman? Wasn't he a boxer?

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: hertsman (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 17:17

I thought he was a TV chef....

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: Fozz1e (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 17:23

No, that's Alison Steadman

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: Graeme D (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2009 06:42

Quote:
Steve_C
My own top 5 or 6 or 10 or whatever....
Richard Hill
Tony Diprose
Ben Clarke
Kyran Bracken
Michael Lynagh
Philippe Sella
Jason Leonard
Floyd Steadman

Floyd who? If you don't know the name you are just too young :-)

Jason and Floyd and possibly Ben were pre professional era and excluded from Large's list.

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: AlanE (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2009 08:51

Quote:
youngjaffa
Floyd Steadman? Wasn't he a boxer?

Was your mouth out Young Jaffa!

Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: TonyTaff (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2009 13:09

If anything, I'd have placed Ryan Constable even higher. He was far more than a finishing winger, dotting down from a yard out; he was also excellent as an outside centre where he was often the reason why a promising attack resulted in a try, not always for himself.

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Re: Large's Top 50 Saracens 30-21
Posted by: Wife of BS (IP Logged)
Date: 05/03/2009 00:54

50/50 here .... but we can work with that!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:05:14:24:09 by Wife of BS.

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