The Man O' War Forward Pack

Just back from a mornings fishing on a stunning Waiheke day and starting to get fired up for the All Blacks VS Springboks rugby test match tonight at Eden Park.

With dinner sorted (fresh snapper with mussel fritters) very soon I will be pondering over which wine to have with it......unfortunately I won't have to ponder long as my little wee tiny cellar is looking a bit like mother Hubbard's cupboard, but I'm sure I'll find something that will suffice.

Whilst thinking about the wine and rugby I had a stab at putting together what would be my Man O' War forward pack. I'm sure there are plenty of arm chair selectors out there that are going to disagree.....great, let me hear it and have a crack yourself.

At,
1. Loose Head Prop - Man O' War Syrah - Youthful and full of energy yet with unexpected power when the heat comes on.

2. Hooker - Man O' War Chardonnay - Proven and reliable. Not a risk taker but solid.

3. Tight Head Prop - Ironclad - Grunty, Grizzly and The Rock. Masses of power worn proudly on the sleeve.

4. Lock (loose head side) - Man O' War Bordeaux Blend - Ballsy, Up front and with a schoolboy like charm, in your face. A worker but with flare.

5. Lock (tight head side) - Valhalla - Dependable, solidifies the whole scrum, tireless workhorse and your "go to" man.

6. Blind Side Flanker - Pinot Gris - A bit "out there", no time for self preservation. What you see is what you get and always delivers.

7. Open Side Flanker - Man O' War Sauvignon Blanc - Zippy, racy, always first to the breakdown and BBQ. Usually a bit sweaty.

8. Number 8 - Dreadnought - Power off the back of the scrum, but this isn't just a place for mussel. Intelligence required.

So there it is, the Man O' War Vineyards Forward Pack of 2010, my version anyway, whats yours?

Enjoy the game tonight and the rest of the tri-nations.
Matt.