Rugby Freaks
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@catogrande said in Rugby Freaks:
Good call on Jones. I also take your points re Cullen but would say they weren’t freakish. Other guys had those attributes, just not all of them.
Richie, yes agree, what made him different was the motor and between the ears.
Cullen had physical gifts unmatched by anyone i have seen. Not the "huge islander who can move" gifts, but incredible acceleration, top end pace, the ability to change direction at pace, and he was freakishly strong for his size. There's never been another like him to have those attributes all to that level.
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see, i wouldn't have called Zinny a freak. Great player, my favourite 8 of all time.
But i feel you could learn to be him. Talented? Absolutely, but i never looked at him and thought "one of a kind"
Tongan Thor is a freak. The way that guy moves for his size is incredible. If he was a fraction less, lets graciously call it excitable, he's be World XV any day. Even with his shortcomings he an absolute weapon.
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@dice when he was interested...sometimes he didnt even look like he was trying!
It was Cully's explosive pace that covered up his positional deficiencies on defence allowing him to cover.
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Haven't read thread. I nominate the following three players without any prior thought.
- Lomu. Sure he was bigger than everyone else, but he wasn't a lumbering buffoon; he had pace, power and balance.
- Cullen. There's never been a better fullback. Never. Just look at any of his highlight reels on youtube.
- Caucau. For a brief period he looked like he was playing against park footballers.
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@taniwharugby said in Rugby Freaks:
@dice when he was interested...sometimes he didnt even look like he was trying!
It was Cully's explosive pace that covered up his positional deficiencies on defence allowing him to cover.
You're probably a better judge than me. I only really remember his defense for the Blues, which I found impressive.
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@majorrage I'd go Pierre Spies, that dude was a freakish athlete, although never really fulfilled the potential
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@taniwharugby said in Rugby Freaks:
@majorrage I'd go Pierre Spies, that dude was a freakish athlete, although never really fulfilled the potential
I remember saying he was going to be a star performer when he came onto the scene in the U21s.
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Pound for pound freaks
Props
Tom Smith, Scotland and Lions
Brian Williams, Wales -
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@arhs said in Rugby Freaks:
Cullen Campo J van der Westhuizen Serevi Hugo Porta would be my top 5.
Good call
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George Smith is as close to a complete rugby player as I've seen as well.
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@taniwharugby said in Rugby Freaks:
@majorrage I'd go Pierre Spies, that dude was a freakish athlete, although never really fulfilled the potential
He was a freakish athlete, no question, but he was a bit soft at the very top level. Not sure why, had all the attributes.
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Campese was also a freak player.His pace, goose step ability to size up situations was impressive.He could also kick goals and had a big boot on him.He was at another level at wing the first few years of his career, he made our wingers look pedestrian when he first came on to the international scene.
Pity he was such a tosser.
