Who would be a selector – trying to keep people happy but get results, consider strengths and weaknesses, balance the team, take into account characters, styles of play, combinations, attitudes, commitment, fitness, flexibility etc. And where do you place people who regularly played more than one position? Are they penalised by their versatility or selected out of position for convenience? Perhaps a few individual players stand out but not many simply pick themselves. And who have I forgotten or upset by leaving them out? , I’m hedging my bets somewhat by selecting a squad to represent the 1980s. So, here goes……

Full Back: Mark Smith (other candidates include John Ricketts, Dave Biggs and Dave Ponsford)
Wingers: Mike Sawyer / Paul Rogers / Dave Loader (and a host of other options such as Terry Gapper, Dixie, Ian Rosevear, Darren Hitchings, Pete Bladwell, Wayne Griffiths, Mark Tilley)
Centres: Tim Coles / Mike Rusca / Julian Orzabal (but what about Terry Cook, Darren Morgan, Chris Lander, Gary Frankcom or Kerry Weeks)
Fly Half: Terry Wynes (other candidates though include Chris Wyer and Mark Nicholas)
Scrum Half: Paul Bird / Mike Butcher / Brian Mallon (if only we had a hybrid incorporating Paul’s pass and kicking, Butch’s running and Brian’s physicality)
Props: Kirk Matthews / Bubbles Mallon / Paul Lovegrove / John Harrison (as is the norm nowadays, there are 4 props in the squad but that still excludes people like Vince Demiceli)
Hookers: Paul Knight / Berian Price (not to forget Shaun Reynolds and Mark Davies)
2nd Row: John Pitt / Rod Evans / Chris Nicholson (also in contention Ian Flower, Martin Flower, John Heard, Phil Raggatt)
Flankers: Bruce Bowie / Jim Inkster (not forgetting Ben Keeble, Mark Daniels, Dave Hoyte, John Davies amongst others)
Number 8: Trevor Howell / Simon Wilmot (plus Mark Bowler or some of his many aliases)