Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Completely nuts' Premiership Immortals XV named by Austin Healey

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Ex-Leicester utility Austin Healey has named his Premiership Immortals XV in a very Austin Healey-like way – only selecting players that he played with at Tigers. Healey had 20 years’ worth of players from across the league to choose from, but he opted to keep things in-house at Welford Road, an approach that is sure to fire up English top-flight supporters.

ADVERTISEMENT

After fans had selected their Immortals XV via a series of online polls, Healey was the second of four BT Sport pundits to name his own XV ahead of a round-table debate show on May 27 featuring Lawrence Dallaglio, Ugo Monye, Ben Kay and Healey.

“This is a real opportunity,” he began. “Obviously, you have got to have a criteria to pick it and my main criteria was players that I played with. You don’t get to do this very often, it’s hypothetical. Most people would have shot my team down anyway. I was on a hiding to nothing, so what I did was I just picked the whole Leicester team that I played with.

Video Spacer

Wilkinson vs Farrell

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 2:27
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 2:27
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Wilkinson vs Farrell

    “It makes perfect sense. They won four titles, most of them are great blokes and I understand everything about them… there will be criticisms for this, but my aim was to get as many of my mates into that Immortals team as possible and almost all have got a valid case.

    “People will realise what a great team I have selected. You only get one chance to pick the Immortals team, so why would I want to pick a load of people I never played with? They’re very versatile, dynamic, strong, fast!”

    Related

    Healey went on to steadfastly defend his selection approach, naming a team that included usual suspects such as Martin Johnson, Neil Back and Geordan Murphy. But he will surely raise eyebrows regarding how he picked himself at No9, chose Andy Goode as his No10 and included a largely unrecognisable name at No11 instead of Alesana Tuilagi.

    Here is how he explained some of his choices, beginning with loosehead. “I have picked Graham Rowntree because he was probably ahead of his time. He was completely nuts, ran around the field just hitting ruck after ruck. I used to call him Shaun Edwards because in training he thought he was Shaun Edwards, the rugby league star, playing first receiver, distributing the ball, but he was an absolute rock in the pack.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “Didn’t go to the World Cup, probably wrongly so, but lots of appearances and wins. That is the key thing here, this team’s win ratio is better than every other hypothetical Immortals team that will be selected over the course of these TV shows.”

    Darren Garforth was Healey’s tighthead prop, with good reason. “In my first game for Leicester, his job was always to ruck and I went into a ruck and he came in and stamped on me and told me, ‘That is my job, get out of the ruck, I’ll look after you out there’, so I listened to him for the rest of my career and didn’t go near any of those areas.”

    As regards Johnson at No4, Healey reckoned: “One of his key attributes was his ability to run. His mum was an ultra-marathon runner, he used to go training with her. He had a phenomenal engine. He had one pace, it was average speed, but he didn’t stop. He’d start the game running at that speed, and he would finish the game running at that pace and that is why he had so many impacts on the game, both physical and mental in a lot of ways.

    “He was very pragmatic, very sarcastic, less so in the changing room, but he just dealt with black and white. He eliminated all the grey which is what great leaders do and he enabled the team to focus on what was really important, which was getting the ball to me.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Healey went on to tell an amusing in-between-pubs story about Martin Corry, his No8. “Nobody knows but he was the England captain and an absolute rock. Mentally one of the strongest individuals you will ever come across. On my stag-do, we arrived back at Newcastle train station after being out on an afternoon at Whitley Bay and I bet him a pound that he couldn’t do a forward roll all the way to the Quayside.

    “He did 400 forward rolls to the Quayside, put his hand out and went, ‘Where’s my pound?’ I gave him his pound, he went thanks and we went into the pub. So mentally, very, very strong. Never took a backward step ever. I remember a little bit of a punch-up with another guy I could have picked, Lawrence Dallaglio, and Martin won that fight.

    “He just stood in and just hit him repeatedly and we all stood back because he didn’t need any help. That is the reason why I didn’t pick Lawrence because if it came down to a scrap, he didn’t really have it in his locker.”

    Healey had no issues naming himself as his Immortals XV scrum-half. “A lot of people say, ‘I’m not going to pick myself’ but if you are the best player you should pick yourself and I was the best player in any one of those positions and we got four titles two Heineken Cups off the back of it. You will admit if you look at that pack, it’s a great pack but without the magic behind it it’s not winning titles… modesty is largely overrated. That is why I went for myself.”

    Next came Goode at out-half. “I actually loved playing nine and 10 with him. He was a very intuitive player, fantastic right foot, he controlled proceedings, he attacked the line, he never took a backward step physically, people commented on his shape but he did what he needed to do every time you put it in front of him…

    “I used to know I would get to the breakdown and fling out a pass and he would always be there. He would know where the ball was going to. He has got a brilliant rugby brain and he knew how to use it.”

    Healey went on to reveal the menace of the bed-flipping Leon Lloyd, his No13, a habit that at one stage injured Healey and ruled him out of a Leicester match against Leinster. “You’d go in for a little afternoon nap on top of the bed and then he would come in and basically flip the bed and you would end up awake with the bed on top of you.”

    The most eye-raising Healey selection, however, was left wing Winston Stanley. “A lot of people won’t know this guy. I only played with him for a couple of seasons… this guy came out of nowhere and whenever you got the ball to him, he scored. He was unbelievably quick and really elusive quick. You could argue this team by itself won two titles and then he arrived and we won two more and two European Cups. He might have been the missing link that took us to the next stage.”

    Austin Healey’s Immortals XV: 15. Tim Stimpson; 14. Geordan Murphy; 13. Leon Lloyd, 12. Will Greenwood, 11. Winston Stanley; 10. Andy Goode, 9. Austin Healey; 1. Graham Rowntree, 2. Dorian West, 3. Darren Garforth, 4. Martin Johnson, 5. Ben Kay, 6. Lewis Moody, 7. Neil Back, 8. Martin Corry.

    • 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
    ADVERTISEMENT

    LIVE

    Vancouver SVNS | Day 1

    Boks Office | Episode 35 | Six Nations Round 2 Review

    O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 3 | France Week

    Second round of the Men's Six Nations | Whistle Watch

    Harlequins vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Saitama Wildknights | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

    The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

    Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    H
    Hindi Urdu 3 hours ago
    Simon Easterby quizzed on Ireland future ahead of Wales

    In the early months of 2025, I made a decision that would haunt me for weeks—a decision born out of greed and the allure of quick wealth. I invested 95,000 Bitcoin into an online platform that promised exponential returns. The website looked legitimate, the testimonials seemed convincing, and the numbers they presented were irresistible. But as the days passed, the platform went silent. My investment vanished, and I realized I had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam. I was devastated, feeling like I had lost everything.Desperate for help, I began searching for solutions online. That’s when I discovered *Galaxy Ethical Tech*, a company renowned for its expertise in blockchain forensics and digital asset recovery. Known for their ethical approach and cutting-edge technology, they had a track record of helping people like me recover lost funds. With nothing left to lose, I reached out to them, hoping for a miracle.The team at Galaxy Ethical Tech, led by a brilliant blockchain analyst named *Dr. Elena Voss*, responded immediately. Dr. Voss listened to my story with empathy and assured me they would do everything in their power to help. She explained that while the process would be complex and time-consuming, their advanced tools and expertise gave them a fighting chance.

    The recovery process began with a deep dive into the blockchain. Using sophisticated algorithms, Galaxy Ethical Tech traced the movement of my Bitcoin. They identified the wallets where my funds had been transferred and uncovered a network of interconnected accounts designed to obscure the trail. The scammers had used multiple layers of transactions to launder the funds, but Dr. Voss and her team were relentless.Weeks turned into months, and the team kept me updated every step of the way. They worked tirelessly, navigating the labyrinth of the blockchain and collaborating with international authorities to freeze suspicious accounts. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I received the news I had been praying for: Galaxy Ethical Tech had successfully recovered *85,000 Bitcoin* of my lost funds. The remaining amount had been irretrievably laundered, but recovering the majority felt like a miracle.When the funds were securely returned to my wallet, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Dr. Voss and her team didn’t just recover my Bitcoin—they restored my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital world. They also provided me with invaluable advice on how to protect my assets in the future, emphasizing the importance of due diligence and secure storage solutions.Galaxy Ethical Tech didn’t just save me from financial ruin; they gave me a second chance. Their commitment to ethical practices, combined with their unparalleled expertise, made them true heroes in my eyes. From that day forward, I became an advocate for their work, sharing my story as a cautionary tale and a testament to the power of technology used for good. Thanks to Galaxy Ethical Tech, what began as a nightmare ended with hope and a renewed sense of security. contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.com Whatsapp: +15072712442 Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

    0 Go to comments
    H
    Hindi Urdu 3 hours ago
    Simon Easterby quizzed on Ireland future ahead of Wales

    In the early months of 2025, I made a decision that would haunt me for weeks—a decision born out of greed and the allure of quick wealth. I invested 95,000 Bitcoin into an online platform that promised exponential returns. The website looked legitimate, the testimonials seemed convincing, and the numbers they presented were irresistible. But as the days passed, the platform went silent. My investment vanished, and I realized I had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam. I was devastated, feeling like I had lost everything.Desperate for help, I began searching for solutions online. That’s when I discovered *Galaxy Ethical Tech*, a company renowned for its expertise in blockchain forensics and digital asset recovery. Known for their ethical approach and cutting-edge technology, they had a track record of helping people like me recover lost funds. With nothing left to lose, I reached out to them, hoping for a miracle.The team at Galaxy Ethical Tech, led by a brilliant blockchain analyst named *Dr. Elena Voss*, responded immediately. Dr. Voss listened to my story with empathy and assured me they would do everything in their power to help. She explained that while the process would be complex and time-consuming, their advanced tools and expertise gave them a fighting chance.

    The recovery process began with a deep dive into the blockchain. Using sophisticated algorithms, Galaxy Ethical Tech traced the movement of my Bitcoin. They identified the wallets where my funds had been transferred and uncovered a network of interconnected accounts designed to obscure the trail. The scammers had used multiple layers of transactions to launder the funds, but Dr. Voss and her team were relentless.Weeks turned into months, and the team kept me updated every step of the way. They worked tirelessly, navigating the labyrinth of the blockchain and collaborating with international authorities to freeze suspicious accounts. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I received the news I had been praying for: Galaxy Ethical Tech had successfully recovered *85,000 Bitcoin* of my lost funds. The remaining amount had been irretrievably laundered, but recovering the majority felt like a miracle.When the funds were securely returned to my wallet, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Dr. Voss and her team didn’t just recover my Bitcoin—they restored my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital world. They also provided me with invaluable advice on how to protect my assets in the future, emphasizing the importance of due diligence and secure storage solutions.Galaxy Ethical Tech didn’t just save me from financial ruin; they gave me a second chance. Their commitment to ethical practices, combined with their unparalleled expertise, made them true heroes in my eyes. From that day forward, I became an advocate for their work, sharing my story as a cautionary tale and a testament to the power of technology used for good. Thanks to Galaxy Ethical Tech, what began as a nightmare ended with hope and a renewed sense of security. contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.com Whatsapp: +15072712442 Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

    0 Go to comments
    F
    Florida Haniel 3 hours ago
    One rule for Europe's copycats, another for the Springboks

    From Helpless to Hopeful: My Crypto Experience"Hack Savvy Tech


    I initially started trading with Pips Global because of the variety of trading accounts they offered, including their Funded Next accounts. These accounts seemed like an appealing opportunity, as they gave traders the chance to trade with a larger balance after successfully passing a challenge. For someone like me who was looking to scale up my trading without having to risk a significant amount of my own capital, it seemed like the perfect option. At first, I started with their Micro account, which had high leverage, fast market execution, and tight variable spreads. All these features seemed to align well with my trading goals, and I felt confident moving forward.However, things took a turn for the worse as I continued trading. I ended up losing a significant amount, around 30,000 AUD, due to what I now believe was a scam. The trades I placed weren’t executing properly, and there were discrepancies with the spreads and market conditions. I tried to reach out to Pips Global’s customer support, but I wasn’t receiving the kind of help I expected. It became increasingly clear that the platform wasn’t as reliable as I had originally thought, and I felt completely stuck. In my search for a solution, I came across Hack Savvy Tech, a service that specializes in helping people recover lost funds from fraudulent brokers. Their team was highly professional, thorough, and patient. They guided me step by step through the entire recovery process, keeping me informed at every stage. They also provided me with solid advice on how to avoid falling into similar traps in the future. Thanks to Hack Savvy Tech, I was able to recover my 30,000 AUD, which was an incredible relief after such a stressful experience.If you’re considering trading with Pips Global, I strongly recommend doing thorough research before committing. While their Funded Next accounts and other account options might seem enticing, my personal experience with them was ultimately disappointing. I would advise anyone looking to trade with them to be cautious, especially if things don’t seem to be going as expected.If you find yourself in a situation similar to mine, I can’t recommend Hack Savvy Tech enough. Their expertise in fund recovery was a lifesaver, and they were instrumental in helping me get my money back. Thanks to their support, I’m now back on track, and I’ve learned a valuable lesson about being more cautious with online trading platforms


    mail: contactus@hacksavvytechnology.com

    Website: https://hacksavvytechrecovery.com

    Whatsapp : +79998295038

    27 Go to comments
    LONG READ
    LONG READ Super Rugby rolls back the years but challenges lie ahead Super Rugby rolls back the years but challenges lie ahead
    Search