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Joined July 2011
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Kiwi raised in Perth, Australia. Huge passion for sport, Rugby Union above all else.
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Towards the end of last year, due to what I regard as some questionable decisions and a flawed voting system, I detailed my proposal…
The potential All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad has been under rampant speculation for months, with talks heating up recently as we approach the…
World Rugby Player of the Year (previously IRB Player of the Year) is an accolade awarded by the sport's governing body to the player…
Last week Steve Hansen dropped a bombshell when he declared that Julian Savea is "probably" a better player than Jonah Lomu. Allow me to…
What's your rugby World XV? My best rugby players in the world in each position (regardless of injuries) are: First XV: 1. Tony Woodcock…
[caption id="attachment_9120" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="All Blacks captain Richie McCaw celebrates a 39-10 victory over the Wallabies during the Rugby Union Bledisloe Cup Australia v…
Some good points there Jerry, definitely agree with you regarding his non selection in that quarter final. He was in fine form leading up to the game, six tries in the group stages alone with limited game time whilst Rokocoko was patchy.
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
In my opinion, Doug Howlett is perhaps the most underrated winger of modern times. Still the record try scorer for the All Blacks and the all-time Super Rugby try scoring record holder yet is rarely mentioned amongst the great wingers.
Incredible strike rate and not a weakness in his game.
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
Agreed, I can’t see any one ever accomplishing as much as he has over his career.
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
If you believe that nonsense than you’re a fool.
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
Nadolo is actually the same height and 5kg heavier than Lomu.
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
I actually meant to put Tim Horam ahead of Nonu in my team.
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
If you believe that nonsense [Mods. No name calling pls]
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
In terms of picking an All-Time World XV it probably makes sense to pick players based on how good they were at their best rather than their career longevity etc. If in fact you’d want this hypothetical side playing an actual match. For example if you were Steve Hansen at the World Cup you’re not going to pick Keven Mealamu ahead of Coles just because the former has had a better career. I’ve also only made players eligible for their best position even if they seem like a better player than the player chosen in a position they have been known to play. Here’s my team:
1. Os du Randt
2. Sean Fitzpatrick
3. Robert Paparemborde
4. Colin Meads
5. Victor Matfield
6. Richard Hill
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Gareth Edwards
10. Dan Carter
11. Rupeni Caucaunibuca
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Brian O’Driscoll
14. Doug Howlett
15. Christian Cullen
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
You haven’t even included Richie McCaw, the man most would agree is the greatest player ever in your Top 20, but included the likes of Kefu and Thorn, good players there’s no doubt but have no business being anywhere near a Top 20 of all-time list.
Agree with Lindsay on the point regarding you picking only players from the professional era and those who played no more than 10 years prior.
Not a good list at all.
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
I don’t think Adrian’s comment is a list of the greatest players in order but an all-time XV, so for example Nonu is picked at inside centre in his team.
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
A player with a high degree of athleticism doesn’t necessarily translate to them being a better rugby player compared to someone with a lower degree of athleticism, the rugby brain and skill set play a much larger part in determining a players worth. That’s not to say Michael Jones isn’t one of the best ever, but you can’t rate a player better just because they can run faster or have a higher aerobic ability than the other, otherwise someone like Pierre Spies would be the best player in the world.
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
These type of questions are difficult to answer, for how do you compare players across different eras, do you rate a player based on the longevity of their career and how long they performed at a very high standard during that career or base it on dominance over a short period of time and pure individual talent for example Jonah Lomu was a great there’s no doubt but he was only truly dominant across two seasons (95 & 99) in my opinion and Rupeni Cacaunibuca was the most prodigiously talented player I’ve ever seen but does that mean I should rate them above someone like David Campese who had a consistently brilliant career. I believe it should be a combination of all these variables. Here’s my Top 10:
1. Richie McCaw
2. Dan Carter
3. Gareth Edwards
4. David Campese
5. Brian O’Driscoll
6. Michael Jones
7. Colin Meads
8. John Eales
9. Jonny Wilkinson
10. Sean Fitzpatrick
Who has been rugby's greatest ever player?
Cheers mate, haha unfortunately he didn’t make the cut.
Time to rethink the World Rugby Player of the Year award (Part 2)
The players do have their own award; “IRPA Player of the Year” – IRPA is the International Rugby Players Association.
Time to rethink the World Rugby Player of the Year award (Part 2)
Couldn’t agree more.
Felt quite frustrated reading this article.
Is Tim Cahill second to Don Bradman?
I’m in agreement with taylorman on this one, it would also be very difficult to find a certain selection criteria in which to attain this lower rating.
The governing bodies of the three SANZAR nations all present an award to a player deemed the best over the Super Rugby season but I’d also like to see an overall award voted by SANZAR as a whole for the best player across all three nations during the season.
Keep the World Rugby Player of the Year for international performances.
In terms of your idea for renaming the award “World Cup MVP” in world cup years, I’d have to disagree with Dusautoir and Habana actually being the players of the tournament those years as highlighted in my article I’d say those titles belong to Kaino and du Preez respectively. But I will agree with you in why not like FIFA’s “Golden Ball” award actually naming an official player of the tournament as well as a player of the year. For example I believe du Preez was the player of the tournament at the 2007 Rugby World Cup but Habana had the better overall season so was justly awarded World Player of the Year, so being named player of the tournament would in no means guarantee winning the biggest award; World Rugby Player of the Year.
Just a thought I’ve had.
Time to rethink the World Rugby Player of the Year award (Part 2)
Can’t argue too much with your list Kane, solid.
Time to rethink the World Rugby Player of the Year award (Part 2)
Good to see you get it taylorman, it is just a fun exercise, cheers.
Yes, my proposal for the new selection criteria involved selecting the nominees after the final test of the year so it truly encompasses every game played so in this case the World Cup final would of still counted towards potential nomination.
Time to rethink the World Rugby Player of the Year award (Part 2)
It may not be a monstrous issue but for me personally I’d much rather see the accolades going to the right players.
I notice there are a lot of people that blow up all over the internet when they do get it wrong so consistently as well so I’d say there are a lot of people with the same viewpoint as me who care.
Time to rethink the World Rugby Player of the Year award (Part 2)
Best 12 of the past 10 years easily I’d say.
Possibly ever……
Time to rethink the World Rugby Player of the Year award (Part 2)
Cheers Highlander, no worries.
Performances like Ben Smith’s this year I notice tend to be ignored by World Rugby a lot of the time, preferring to nominate flashier players with a higher strike rate. Savea had one outstanding game all season in my opinion and that was the quarter final against France. He scored 8 tries this season but the vast majority of those were basically walk overs. I hope this is addressed in the future.
Agreed about Kieran Read. Alright, might have to take a moment to check them out.
Time to rethink the World Rugby Player of the Year award (Part 2)
Cheers frisky, due to the sheer size and content of the article I expected a lot of differences of opinion.
I selected the players I selected because regardless of which hemisphere they play in I regarded them as the best in that given year. It just turns out that in my opinion the southern hemisphere nations are typically better teams and in turn comprised of better individual playes and player performances throughout the season
I don’t miss a Six Nations match and watch all the June and November internationals between the northern and southern hemisphere sides so I am well aware of players form and can assure you I kept an open mind during my selection process and tried to steer clear of any bias whatsoever.
Time to rethink the World Rugby Player of the Year award (Part 2)
David Holwell who played flyhalf for Northland and the Hurricanes is worth a mention.
Who would make up a New Zealand Battlers XV?