Which one and why?

Building up a fresh 225, have all gaskets and seals except for the rear main. Rope? Rubber? If I were fishing one in within the car I'd say rubber hands down, easier to fish thru there. But on the stand, with a bare block to start, is rubber still better?
I know that if one was gonna go back with the rope a bare block on a stand would be a better time to. I hate redo's, only want to do it once.