Thomas Castaignede
Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Thomas Castaignede
By Large
February 24 2009
What with all the excrement that has hit the fan since the announcement of a Sarries clear-out, I thought of editing some of my comments, but thought that it would be better for all if I leave in those about the current players. Perhaps some will echo my sentiments about them but you are, of course, entitled to disagree if you so wish.
Thomas Castaignede
February 24 2009
What with all the excrement that has hit the fan since the announcement of a Sarries clear-out, I thought of editing some of my comments, but thought that it would be better for all if I leave in those about the current players. Perhaps some will echo my sentiments about them but you are, of course, entitled to disagree if you so wish.
20. Mark Bartholomeusz – Utility Back
Probably a job title that is hated by anyone labelled as such, but Bartholomeusz was Mr Dependable at fullback and centre, plus he could always cover at 10 in case of need. Left during the dark days just before the Gaffer’s arrival and I’m sure had he known who was coming in as DoR, he’d have not gone to Ulster who, er, under-utilised his talents. The fools.
19. Cencus Johnston – Prop
Side-stepping, 20-stone Samoan front rowers? You better believe it! Just ask Tom Arscott the Bristol wing who showed him the outside and was promptly skinned. Priceless. Now the complete package thanks to Cobus Visagie taking him through Scrummaging 101. Could well be in the next top 10 if he stays fit and stays with Sarries a few seasons more. A cult figure who is fast becoming what Andrew Sheridan is supposed to be, only Cencus can handle, run, side-step and has a brain.
18. Paul Wallace – Prop
Proof positive that good things come in small packages. Wal was a hero of the 1997 Lions tour and part of that 1998 Cup winning side with his own, unique brand of quite literally getting under the skin (and shoulder) of the opposition loose head. A very popular player with everyone, especially the Fez.
17. Moses Rauluni – Scrum Half
This bloke should have been christened Job, not Moses, as he waited patiently on the bench while a succession of starting scrum halves have don their bit. But when he has come onto the field his contribution, as it has been for Fiji and the Pacific Islanders has been full-on. It was such a cruel twist of fate that when he finally did get an extended run in the team due to someone else’s injury, he himself got injured. One of the true nice guys at Sarries and a great, great player.
16. Richard Haughton – Wing/Fullback
After many years of being labelled a sevens specialist, Del Boy decided when Alan Gaffney arrived that he was going to concentrate on the proper game and since then his unquestionable speed and elusiveness has been complemented by sound defence and increased bulk. It’s bad new for him, then, that in his position new, up-and-coming young things get capped for sidestepping a couple of props in an “A” match before being discarded for being the frauds that they inevitably turn out to be when they pull on the white shirt. Del is no fraud and really shouldn’t be too old to play for his country, should he?
15. Tim Horan – Centre
The great organiser. Without Timmy calling the shots in defence, Sarries were as porous as Emmenthal. Although the legs were not as quick as they were when he was voted player of the tournament in the 1999 World Cup, Horan always gave everything to the cause when he was out there on the paddock.
14. Matt Cairns – Hooker
Cairnsy is responsible for my single most memorable moment in all the time I have followed Saracens. Edgeley Park, Friday 10 March 2006. Sale 5m scrum. Sarries on the rack. Cairnsy takes the strike against the head. Sarries go on to win 15-9. Don’t forget he’s seen international hookers come and go while he has been around, normally due to him bettering them. Another who should have got more England recognition, methinks.
13. Francois Pienaar – Flanker
Forget Pienaar the autocratic CEO/Head Coach/Kit Man/Bus Driver/Tony Diprose punchbag, Pienaar the player was one who helped drag the club kicking and screaming out of the dark days of shamateurism and into the professional world by playing like a pro and sharing some of his World Cup winning tricks with the rest of the squad. A true great.
12. Gavin Johnson – Fullback
Never a great attacking threat (at least I can’t remember him being one during my Guinness-fuelled early years following the team) but rock solid defensively and under the high ball, not to mention a great goal kicker. Kept Sarries in the hunt throughout the 97-98 season when we came so close to pinching the title from Newcastle.
11. Thomas Castaignede – Fullback/Fly half
The Mercurial One lived up to his nickname in two senses. First he was the quicksilver cheeky chappie who left defenders for dead, second he was down as much as he was up. For me, it was sad to see him sitting forlornly on the touchline at Gloucester after being subbed during his final match for Sarries against the same team that was on the receiving end of a wonderful debut performance a few years before. One thing’s for certain, though, and that is that Thomas was always worth the admission price on his own.
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:Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: TheSaracens.com (IP Logged)
Date: 24/02/2009 22:42
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Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: Graeme D (IP Logged)
Date: 24/02/2009 23:10
Well it means one the following doesn't get in
From my other thread
Well I can think of 17 that could be in there any advance on these ?
Cobus
HRHRH
Cencus
MTC
Glenda
Ches
SuperKev
NDK
Sella
Lynagh
Dippy
FP
Paul Wallace
Del Boy
A Goode the second
Fabio
Cairns
Graeme
PS Must be Fabio or A Goode (can only be as he is so new)
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009:02:24:23:30:06 by Graeme D.
From my other thread
Well I can think of 17 that could be in there any advance on these ?
Cobus
HRHRH
Cencus
MTC
Glenda
Ches
SuperKev
NDK
Sella
Lynagh
Dippy
FP
Paul Wallace
Del Boy
A Goode the second
Fabio
Cairns
Graeme
PS Must be Fabio or A Goode (can only be as he is so new)
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009:02:24:23:30:06 by Graeme D.
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: PhillFez (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 07:48
Agree about TC's last appearance
TC farewell
TC farewell
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: T (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 08:50
Disagree with the sentimentality that surrounds TC. He was never a player that i'd pay to see, as 80 times out of 100 he wouldn't be playing, the remaining 20 games 19 of them would be spent sulking on the pitch and limp off with 'a knock' after about 50minutes of missing tackles and being run all over before trying to run the ball out from under his own posts. And 1 time in 100 he had a performance he was paid more than hansomely for which had everyone muttering about how he was 'world class'. IMHO The single biggest waste of money in Saracens history... Still he was a nice guy apparently.
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: Welwyn RFC Saracen (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 09:35
Quote:One word...........eh?!T
Disagree with the sentimentality that surrounds TC. He was never a player that i'd pay to see, as 80 times out of 100 he wouldn't be playing, the remaining 20 games 19 of them would be spent sulking on the pitch and limp off with 'a knock' after about 50minutes of missing tackles and being run all over before trying to run the ball out from under his own posts. And 1 time in 100 he had a performance he was paid more than hansomely for which had everyone muttering about how he was 'world class'. IMHO The single biggest waste of money in Saracens history... Still he was a nice guy apparently.
TC was a very good player, on numerous times he had outstanding games for us and was always one of those players who could make a try from nothing!!!
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: TruthAndLies (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 09:36
I loved seeing him beat the Cheaters single-handed a few seasons back.
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: ExLoosehead (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 09:47
Errrrrrrrrrrrr, Wally was a tighthead.
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: T (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 11:02
IMHO TC was vary rarely world class for us and mostly injured. The fact that the media labeled him mecurial rather than World Class pretty much sums the guy up. Yes he could make a try from nothing, but frequently didn't, or didn't even appear to fancy it.
His best season was his last one, where he looked fantastic for the most part but his form badly dipped towards the end of the season which for me summed his career up at Saracens. Promising in patches aweful in others.
I did say that i was probably going to be on my own on this one as he is a widely loved player but for me he never lived up to his name or his undoubted natural talent.
His best season was his last one, where he looked fantastic for the most part but his form badly dipped towards the end of the season which for me summed his career up at Saracens. Promising in patches aweful in others.
I did say that i was probably going to be on my own on this one as he is a widely loved player but for me he never lived up to his name or his undoubted natural talent.
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: the 'ead 'itter (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2009 11:26
top
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: phil_rich tea_now in leeds (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2009 14:58
19. Cencus Johnston – Prop
Side-stepping, 20-stone Samoan front rowers? You better believe it! Just ask Tom Arscott the Bristol wing who showed him the outside and was promptly skinned. Priceless. Now the complete package thanks to Cobus Visagie taking him through Scrummaging 101. Could well be in the next top 10 if he stays fit and stays with Sarries a few seasons more. A cult figure who is fast becoming what Andrew Sheridan is supposed to be, only Cencus can handle, run, side-step and has a brain.
Doesn't look like he will make it in to the top 10 now
Side-stepping, 20-stone Samoan front rowers? You better believe it! Just ask Tom Arscott the Bristol wing who showed him the outside and was promptly skinned. Priceless. Now the complete package thanks to Cobus Visagie taking him through Scrummaging 101. Could well be in the next top 10 if he stays fit and stays with Sarries a few seasons more. A cult figure who is fast becoming what Andrew Sheridan is supposed to be, only Cencus can handle, run, side-step and has a brain.
Doesn't look like he will make it in to the top 10 now
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: The Bard (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2009 17:19
I think by your own admission Gavin Johnson is far too high up the list- I always thought Matt Singer was a better player, and dare I say it suffered because he wasn't a South Afican mate of FPs (no chance of that happening again, though, is there?). Ryan Constable, Brendon Daniel and Richard Wallace were much better candidates for such an elevated ranking.
As for Census, what team in the world would not want such a talented and committed individual who is STILL IMPROVING?
As for Census, what team in the world would not want such a talented and committed individual who is STILL IMPROVING?
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: nicsue (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2009 17:25
Quote:The Bard
As for Census, what team in the world would not want such a talented and committed individual who is STILL IMPROVING?
A crowd pleaser who IMHO puts bums on seats. (Hope EG is reading this.)
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: Wife of BS (IP Logged)
Date: 05/03/2009 00:57
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:05:14:22:46 by Wife of BS.
Re: :Large's Top 50 Saracens 20-11
Posted by: Ellie :) (IP Logged)
Date: 09/03/2009 18:33
Quote:liceboy
I loved seeing him beat the Cheaters single-handed a few seasons back.
That was the first game i watched at sarries and i loved thomas! I do agree that he wasn't always on top form but when he was it was a delight to watch
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