Games don't compare but 'donkey-workers' survive
The biggest match in the rugby calendar is four weeks away. As part of the build-up to the event Gareth Le Prevost goes down Memory Lane and, with the help of a few 'experts', picks Guernsey's Best XV. In the first of three features he focuses on the big boys in the pack.
BEING somewhat uneducated on virtually any local rugby players before the late-90s, during the discussion I was frequently having to inject with the question, 'what position did he play?'
For much of the opening hour, the reply would come 'wing forward' (in more modern day speak 'flanker') or No. 8.
It seems that although backs are usually seen as the glory boys, it were those in the back row who mainly left an indelible mark on our panel of experts.
To be fair, a couple of the panel were no slouches in plying their trade there either.
Few people can boast having 25 years of first team experience for Guernsey, but when it comes to longevity not many can match Phil Daunt.
He keeps himself in such decent shape now that you do a double take when he talks about playing back in 1972.
But Daunt was not restricted to starring for Guernsey.
'He was brilliant for St Jacques as well – he had a tremendous influence on the other players,' said John Moxon.
The Saints kit also allowed Daunt to dream of turning out for the most famous rugby playing nation.
'I remember he told us that he thought he looked brilliant in all black,' a chuckling Moxon added.
