The Ultimate Judgement Day XV
On the latest Sportin Wales podcast, Alex Cuthbert, Gareth Anscombe, and Ellis Jenkins selected their ‘ultimate Judgement Day XV’ ahead of this weekend’s rugby.
Hosted by our new sponsors Sinclair Group at their BYD showroom in Cardiff, the boys discussed the upcoming weekend of rugby action, including the 10th edition of Judgement Day, as well as Wales vs Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations.
Check out the latest episode on our YouTube channel. Let’s get into their picks!
Loosehead Props: Gethin Jenkins
Could there be better player to kick this team off than ‘melon’? The Cardiff and Wales legend was a trailblazing prop. As good in the loose as a flanker and as mean a scrummager as anyone in the game, Jenkins captained Cardiff at three Judgement Days.
Judgement Day Highlight
By far Jenkins’ best performance came in 2017, when he captained Cardiff to a dominant 35-17 victory over Ospreys. With all three podcast guests also in the Cardiff team that day, it is no wonder they picked their old captain!
Hooker: Ken Owens
A near ever-present at Judgement Day, Ken Owens is synonymous with Scarlets and their success in the mid 2010s.
Captain for much of that period, Owens was a fantastic set piece hooker and would often pop up with a key try or two.
Judgement Day Highlight
A winning try as captain in 2015 as Scarlets beat Dragons 10-29.
Tighthead Props: Taufa’ao Filise
Perhaps the most underrated of the players selected, ‘Fa’ao’ was a force to be reckoned with. The tighthead was the cornerstone of the blue and black scrum for many years, ending his career as Cardiff’s record appearance maker.
Judgement Day Highlight
Dismantling an all-Wales international Scarlets front row in 2014, as Cardiff won 17-13.
Lock: Jake Ball
Wales have been blessed with a number of quality second rows in the last decade, but none were as hard hitting as Jake Ball on his day. The Wales international was another key part of the successful Scarlets side that won many a Judgement Day match in the mid 2010s.
Judgement Day Highlight
As part of a international-quality pack that included Tadgh Beirne, John Barclay, Samson Lee, and Rob Evans that bullied the Dragons in a 16-21 victory.
Lock: Alun Wyn Jones
How could you not pick him? Undoubtedly Wales’s best player of the professional era, Alun Wyn Jones was just as passionate about playing for Ospreys as he was for Wales.
Judgement Day Highlight
Captaining the Ospreys to an inaugural Judgement Day victory over Cardiff in 2013.
Blindside Flanker: Olly Cracknell
Another uncapped player, Cracknell was a powerful forward who Ellis Jenkins in particular hated playing against. Now carving it up at Leicester Tigers, do not be surprised if the new Wales coach takes a fancy to the former Ospreys man.
Judgement Day Highlight
Besting a back row of Josh Navidi, Sam Warburton, and Ellis Jenkins to help Ospreys to a 27-40 victory in 2016.
Openside Flanker: Josh Navidi
Has as just be mentioned, Cardiff has no shortage of international level back row talent over the years! With Judgement Day often failing just after the Six Nations, it was common for teams to rest players. For Cardiff, that meant letting Josh Navidi off the leash!
Judgement Day Highlight
Back-to-back try scoring performances in 2015 and 2016, albeit in defeats to the Ospreys.
Number Eight: Nick Williams
The New Zealand bruiser was not in Wales long, but what an impact he made! One of the hardest hitting and carrying players that Welsh rugby has seen in a long time, Williams had all the guile and skill of a modern flanker in the body of a small SUV.
Judgement Day Highlight
A 35-17 victory over Ospreys for Cardiff in 2017, in which Williams scored the third of four tries.
Scrumhalf: Rhys Webb
Similar to lock, Judgement Day has seen some top class scrum halves ply their trade in the last decade. In this team, Rhys Webb just pips the likes of Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Lloyd Williams, and Rhodri Williams.
Judgement Day Highlight
A brace of tries as captain in Ospreys’ 27-40 win over Cardiff in 2016.
Flyhalf: Dan Biggar
Despite podcast guest Gareth Anscombe holding the record for the most points scored in Judgement Day fixtures, he graciously selected the recently-retired Dan Biggar in the team. Wales’ undisputed flyhalf was a titan for Ospreys and there was something about Judgement Day that raised his level even higher.
Judgement Day Highlight
A virtuoso 21-point performance, that included a try and a 77th minute drop goal to beat Cardiff 23-26 in 2018.
Left Wing: Liam Williams
Described by Alex Cuthbert on the podcast as a ‘bag of spanners’, Liam ‘Sanjay’ Williams has been a handful for defenders throughout his career.
Judgement Day Highlight
A try-scorer in Scarlets’ 10-29 victory over Dragons in 2015.
Inside Centre: Hadleigh Parkes
An adopted Welshman, few embraced Welsh rugby more than New Zealand-born Hadleigh Parkes. An integral part of that Scarlets side on the mid-2010s, Parkes was a true all-rounder, and later carved out an impressive international career for Wales.
Judgement Day Highlight
Key performances in three victories over Dragons in three years (2015, 2016 and 2017).
Outside Centre: Rey Lee-lo
The most consistent player in Welsh rugby in the professional era? Rey Lee-lo is somehow still going at the age of 39 and will appear in his eighth Judgement Day match this weekend.
In the words of Ellis Jenkins, “any team I pick has Ray in it.” Who are we to argue!
Judgement Day Highlight
A key part of Cardiff’s 21-38 victory over Ospreys in 2023, registering two assists.
Right Wing: Rio Dyer
The youngest of the team, Dyer has been a shining light for Dragons during their recent struggles.
Judgement Day Highlight
Dragons’ 31-14 victory over Scarlets in 2023, a performance that marked him out as Wales’ next elite winger.
Fullback: Dan Evans
Evans has appeared at Judgement Day for three different clubs – Scarlets, Dragons and Ospreys – excelling at all three. An ultra-consistent player capable of playing fullback, wing, or flyhalf, Evans in a rare thing – a Scarlets player who became an Ospreys legend.
Judgement Day Highlight
A try-scoring performance from fullback at Ospreys to beat Cardiff 23-31 in 2015.
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