Players to build the team around?
-
@mariner4life said in Players to build the team around?:
@Chris-B said in Players to build the team around?:
@KiwiMurph said in Players to build the team around?:
Romain Ntamack
He's still just "promising" isn't he?
as opposed to your boy Richie who is, what exactly?
Possibly the best in the world.
Come up with a list of guys who are better!
The pool is shallow.
-
-
@Derpus Ordinarily you'd look to the World Champs to provide an option - but, I thought Faf was the guy driving the Springboks and Pollard was very subsidiary.
Edit: I agree Richie still has plenty to prove - I just don't see anyone who is compellingly better - unless it's Beauden.
-
@Chris-B said in Players to build the team around?:
@canefan Yeah - I keep thinking I must have overlooked someone obvious.
Barrett is better.
Although I think he is currently injured, Pollard is miles better.
Although I hate him, Farrell is better.
Sexton is better.
Ntamack is probably better, and that's not discussing Sanchez either.
You're a good fluffybunny, but you've swallowed all of the Crusaders coolaid if you think Mo'unga is the best 10 in the world.
-
@Chris-B Faf certainly slowed the ball down and controlled the pace with his Box kicks, but any playmaking that did happen came off Pollard. He also defends well in his own channel and kicks well out of hand and from the T.
Farrell is also better, he's just not as flashy. He's absolutely core to what England do though. In your face rush defence starts with him.
-
@Derpus I'd choose Farrell ahead of Pollard - and I'd certainly agree there's a case for him being the best - especially if you're playing a bit of 10 man rugby.
@gt12 I actually can't remember seeing Ntamack - but, he's just a kid. A 21 year old first five who's the best? Maybe..?
Sanchez isn't in the conversation IMO.
-
Dear Richie
If you read this thread don’t worry about some old codger @Chris-B. Sure he’s triggered a few with his musings, keep working on your game. Defence has improved but let’s get that kicking game going and varying your depth in attack. Chip kick use sparingly and find touch aye bro.
-
@Chris-B said in Players to build the team around?:
@Derpus I'd choose Farrell ahead of Pollard - and I'd certainly agree there's a case for him being the best - especially if you're playing a bit of 10 man rugby.
@gt12 I actually can't remember seeing Ntamack - but, he's just a kid. A 21 year old first five who's the best? Maybe..?
> Sanchez isn't in the conversation IMO.
He was easily the best 10 on the park last weekend, yet you are the one arguing that Mo'unga is the best in the world. That was kind of my point.
-
@gt12 Yeah - but Richie has probably outplayed him on every other occasion that they've met. He may even have been better on Saturday, but I don't think I can bring myself to check!
I'm not really arguing that Richie is an absolute gun first five, just that no-one else is either - except maybe Beauden and Richie is being preferred to him.
-
@Chris-B said in Players to build the team around?:
@Derpus I'd choose Farrell ahead of Pollard - and I'd certainly agree there's a case for him being the best - especially if you're playing a bit of 10 man rugby.
@gt12 I actually can't remember seeing Ntamack - but, he's just a kid. A 21 year old first five who's the best? Maybe..?
Sanchez isn't in the conversation IMO.
He has the same number of test starts as Mounga (14) and is 5 years younger.
-
@Chris-B said in Players to build the team around?:
@gt12 Yeah - but Richie has probably outplayed him on every other occasion that they've met. He may even have been better on Saturday, but I don't think I can bring myself to check!
I'm not really arguing that Richie is an absolute gun first five, just that no-one else is either - except maybe Beauden and Richie is being preferred to him.
Don't take this the wrong way, as I think you are a good fluffybunny and I like your take on stuff alot, but this sort of post would be an example of why many would say that kiwis are arrogant fluffybunnies.
I think you're being very dismissive of some incredible players.
-
@KiwiMurph I honestly can't comment on Ntamack - except to say that if a 21 year old is the best then I'm definitely right about the pool being shallow.
Dan Carter was just getting his feet wet at 2nd five at that age.
-
@Chris-B said in Players to build the team around?:
@KiwiMurph I honestly can't comment on Ntamack - except to say that if a 21 year old is the best then I'm definitely right about the pool being shallow.
Dan Carter was just getting his feet wet at 2nd five at that age.
I think you are confusing there not being a standout 10 and the pool being shallow.
Those two aren't the same thing.
-
@gt12 Well, I'm not trying to be arrogant - but, that there is a suite of different names being thrown up kind of indicates I might be right.
Take Sexton - he's been great for Ireland and probably had some time at No. 1, but he's 35 years old and on the way out. Last year's RWC QF is pretty indicative of that.
Pollard - well, I reckon he had a better set of forwards in front of him than we had last year - but we won the head to head game in Japan because the AB backs were better.
Farrell - a case can certainly be made, but he was playing 2nd five at RWC.
Beauden is a two time World Rugby Player of the Year, so no-one would have blinked a couple of years ago if we'd said he was the best. He's not been stellar this year.
-
@KiwiMurph said in Players to build the team around?:
@Chris-B said in Players to build the team around?:
@KiwiMurph I honestly can't comment on Ntamack - except to say that if a 21 year old is the best then I'm definitely right about the pool being shallow.
Dan Carter was just getting his feet wet at 2nd five at that age.
I think you are confusing there not being a standout 10 and the pool being shallow.
Those two aren't the same thing.
I think you need to give me a bit more credit than that!
-
-
@Chris-B said in Players to build the team around?:
@KiwiMurph said in Players to build the team around?:
@Chris-B said in Players to build the team around?:
@KiwiMurph I honestly can't comment on Ntamack - except to say that if a 21 year old is the best then I'm definitely right about the pool being shallow.
Dan Carter was just getting his feet wet at 2nd five at that age.
I think you are confusing there not being a standout 10 and the pool being shallow.
Those two aren't the same thing.
I think you need to give me a bit more credit than that!
It's hard when you suggest things such as that Mounga might have even been better than Sanchez on Saturday.
-
@mariner4life said in Players to build the team around?:
@nzzp said in Players to build the team around?:
@nostrildamus said in Players to build the team around?:
@Winger said in Players to build the team around?:
NZ haven't great player now. Clarke looked promising but only for one match
We were spoiled in the recent past. Starting with Carter and McCaw. But add in Brodie Allan Retallick and the likes of Nonu and Smith etc. Also Coles at his best. I'm sure they will come but not yet
Aaron Smith is a great player.
Greatest ever 9 for us? I think so looking at the list below:
Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables
ESPN Scrum.com brings you all the latest rugby news and scores from the Rugby World Cup, all 2015 Internationals, Aviva Premiership, European Rugby Champions Cup, RFU Championship, Super Rugby, Six Nations and Top 14.
greatest for us?
i would go a step further and say i have seen very few who were better for ANYONE
A Smith is weirdly underrated in a way, in that he has probably been our best and most important player for about 5 years, and yet still doesn't get the respect he deserves. And it's not like his body of work before that was already top drawer.
Yep, arguably our most important player since 2012 in terms of our preferred style of play. We simply wouldn't have been able to move the ball as widely and quickly as we have during that period without him.
