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So when is a player world class, and when is he the best in the world?

18th October, 2014
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Brodie Retallick has been the victim of a number of concussions. (Source: AFP PHOTO / Michael Bradley)
Roar Guru
18th October, 2014
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2288 Reads

Rugby union is the greatest game on earth. The subtleties and majesty of the game are undeniable and the intricate conundrum of its complex laws and their intricate designs are imponderable to say the least.

Yes, rugby union is a complex game that is very hard to understand and yet we sit with our families in the face of our televisions, engulfed in the carnage and grace that is this great sport.

But what makes it so special? Could it be because it combines the hundred kilogram human beings smashing into one another along with the mind boggling tactical ingenuity of actual warfare?

Or maybe it could be because it allows the attributions of kicking the oval, passing the pill or just inflicting physical domination on one another? It could be a lot of things.

For example maybe rugby is just awesome for Biltongbek because the best time for eating biltong and drinking an ice cold beer is when the Boks play the Blacks? Or because Harry Jones gets in touch with his inner frat boy poet when Duane Vermeulen does unbelievable things?

It could be that Brett McKay just finds inner peace when watching rugby. Scout Master General Diggercane watches rugby with his son just to keep the little rascal busy. Maybe Spiro Zavos watches rugby because then and only then can he really communicate with us best.

But the true reason rugby is the best sport in the world is because of our unique players from all around the world. Yes, George North the giant winger. Owen Farrell the perenial punching bag. Bismarck the destroyer. Kurtley Beale the great entertainer on and off the field. Oh let’s just be honest. Rugby union has Richie McCaw. Case closed.

Only us Roarers understand this. Only Kia Kaha and Armand van Zyl. The larvae.

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We love our rugby union players. Why? Because rugby is a complicated game that demands certain and all aspects from our players. Some players kick a rugby ball through a basketball hoop just because they can.

Some players can pass the ball perfectly on target regardless if there is a tornado hurling in the middle. Some players can side-step the living soberness out of you and certain players perform the ‘Maori Sidestep’ like dancing the tango.

Some players, those select few, can do almost all of those. Here comes the problem.

As rugby fans it is in our nature, it is ingrained into our DNA to compare players and subsequently claim them to be the honourable ‘Best in the world’. This can become problematic in the sense of come hell or high water we usually pick players from our own countries.

For my own health and safety I write this as a simple question and not a direct statement. What makes a player the best in the world?

Are we looking for a player who is most influential in a game? Or are we looking for a player with an all-round skill set? A player that scores tons of tries? Perhaps a player that creates tons of tries? I sit here knowing full well that we cannot draw a complete conclusion. But, heck, let’s humor the thought.

I find faults with all those topics. The player who is most influential in a team may look spiffy but what if that team restricts this player from playing an influential game? If a team is conservative then how could you tell? For all we know that player could be a superstar shackled by tactics.

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A player with a complete skill set sounds the best but again that does not necessarily mean that he would be a game breaker.

A player who scores tons of tries is a favourite but scoring alone does not necessarily make you the best. Catching a ball and dotting down is easy when the game was broken by someone else.

A creator of tries again sounds favourable but the same things make it problematic. Playing for a team that relies on the wow moments will free you from your restrictions. But those who do not?

I will now attempt to make an example. The best I can think of is the juicy examination of Julian Savea versus Bryan Habana.

So let’s take a gander. Savea, the Kiwi golden boy is obviously the better ball carrier. But Habana is faster than he is and infinitely more agile. Both of them have killer chip kicks (see 2013 Ellis Park Test for Habana and 2014 Ellis Park Test for Savea), and both have good tactical kicking. Both are excellent defenders. Can Savea win turnover penalties like Habana can?

Experience gives Habana the luxury of being far more open minded in reading certain situations, but if Savea gains experience? Different ball game.

Surely you will point at Savea’s try scoring records which are fantastic. But again how much more does he get the ball than Habana considering the teams they play for? How many of those tries have Savea created for instance? Shoving a player out of the way and scoring might make you the best finisher, but a better all round player? Ditto for Habs.

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How can you possibly choose?

What about Brodie Retallick versus Eben Etzebeth?

Strangely when examining their stats you’d see they were pretty even this year. Yet Retallick is recognised and not Etzebeth.

Skill set versus skill set, Retallick is by far the better passer and offloader as he is marginally the better lineout forward. He is also by far better with exposing open space. But Etzebeth is infinitely more powerful (refer back to 2012 when he destroyed Bismarck du Plessis and not to mention the fact that he does 75kg bicep curls).

Etzebeth is much faster than Retallick as was seen last year, the man can outran wingers (refer to Ellis Park 2013 against Ben Smith and against the Rebels for Habana’s try.) Steve Hansen himself called Etzebeth a freak of nature.

How do you choose who is better?

Duane Vermeulen versus Kieran Read.

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Read is obviously much faster and agile. Read possesses a pass and an offload that Vermeulen can only dream of. Lineout expeditions are about equal. Vermeulen is a far better ball carrier and dominating tackler. His breakdown work is also better.

How to choose?

My fellow Roarers those are but only a few examples that I didn’t even go into detail. The question for the week is “How do we choose who is the best in the world?” Can we come to some sort of standard?

Personally I refrain myself from conducting World XV surveys for exactly this reason. For me it is impossible to tell who is better than who. I would much rather apply a horses for courses mentality.

For example if a SANZAR team were to play the Lions on a wet pitch I would certainly have Duane Vermeulen at 8 any day of the week. But on a dry pitch then between him and Read things get tricky.

Please feel free to explore the subject, because I for one remain at a loss.

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