Best League to Union convert
-
<p>Always a bit hard to rank players solely on what trophies they have won. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>SBW has won two World Cups, but how much did he really contribute to these victories? As opposed to a guy like Folau who played the full 80 as a key man in the losing side.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Obviously Thorn is the undisputed champion for trophies won, and was a key player in every side. But SBW has a similar pedigree without being nearly as central (for the ABs anyway).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="585392" data-time="1465256161">
<div>
<p>SBW has won two World Cups, but how much did he really contribute to these victories? As opposed to a guy like Folau who played the full 80 as a key man in the losing side.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>You've obviously blocked out the second half of the 2015 final out of your mind and fair enough too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I do agree with the general premise about judging by trophies however.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="585392" data-time="1465256161">
<div>
<p> As opposed to a guy like Folau who played the full 80 as a key man in the losing side.</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Did Folau even do anything of note in the final?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sabalom Glitz" data-cid="585400" data-time="1465259060">
<div>
<p>Did Folau even do anything of note in the final?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>He did a phenomenal '99 Jeff Wilson impression in defense if you watched carefully (easy to miss as often wasn't in frame when required). Ironically worst lapse was on the Nonu try SBW set up pretty much single handedly in successive phases.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="585393" data-time="1465256262">
<div>
<p>You've obviously blocked out the second half of the 2015 final out of your mind and fair enough too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>I do agree with the general premise about judging by trophies however.</strong></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Based solely on that Jonah and Cully were journeymen at best.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="585404" data-time="1465260428">
<div>
<p>He did a phenomenal '99 Jeff Wilson impression in defense if you watched carefully (easy to miss as often wasn't in frame when required). Ironically worst lapse was on the Nonu try SBW set up pretty much single handedly in successive phases.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>"set up"</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Heres the ball, on halfway, in heavy traffic, only 4 to beat. Its a walk in mate"</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It reminds me of David Kirk setting up Kirwan v Italy in 87</p>
<p> </p>
<p>SBW was very good in that half, but I'm not sure he was quite as good as the rose tinted lenses might suggest. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="585663" data-time="1465376496">
<div>
<p>"set up"</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Heres the ball, on halfway, in heavy traffic, only 4 to beat. Its a walk in mate"</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It reminds me of David Kirk setting up Kirwan v Italy in 87</p>
<p> </p>
<p>SBW was very good in that half, but I'm not sure he was quite as good as the rose tinted lenses might suggest. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yeah ive watched that try a few times and thought that , yes nice pass , but Nonu still had a shitload to do by himself </p> -
<p>I remember Merhts making jokes during an interview some years back about how he never got credit for setting up Jonahs awesome try in the 99 pool game against England. "All Jonah did was beat three guys, I was the one who made the awesome pass..." or something along those lines.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But SBW is like Origin......everything he does is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better cos it's him that did it.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="585798" data-time="1465431684">
<div>
<p>I remember Merhts making jokes during an interview some years back about how he never got credit for setting up Jonahs awesome try in the 99 pool game against England. "All Jonah did was beat three guys, I was the one who made the awesome pass..." or something along those lines.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But SBW is like Origin......everything he does is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better cos it's him that did it.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Hardly fair. SBW gave the offload to NMS which put the Aussie defence going backwards. He then took the ball on the very next play when the defence was less organised, took out 3 defenders and offloaded the ball to Nonu.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He played a huge part in setting that up, and deserves the credit he gets for setting up that play.</p> -
<p>SBW is awesome cos he is SBW: SBW is over rated cos he's SBW</p>
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="585591" data-time="1465345535">
<div>
<p>Based solely on that Jonah and Cully were journeymen at best.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Sorry I should have said I agreed with barbarians premise - that trophies don't necessarily mean greatness. The 1995 side for me is still the best we've sent to a RWC for example.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="585805" data-time="1465433284">
<div>
<p>Hardly fair. SBW gave the offload to NMS which put the Aussie defence going backwards. He then took the ball on the very next play when the defence was less organised, took out 3 defenders and offloaded the ball to Nonu.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He played a huge part in setting that up, and deserves the credit he gets for setting up that play.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Nonu deserves a lot of credit. But creating chances in RWC finals are not easy - scoring them from general play is even tougher. How far SBW opened the window for Nonu is up for debate but it was a shitload wider than almost any other playmaker has been able to in past RWC finals.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="585828" data-time="1465438978">
<div>
<p>Nonu deserves a lot of credit. But creating chances in RWC finals are not easy - scoring them from general play is even tougher. How far SBW opened the window for Nonu is up for debate but it was a shitload wider than almost any other playmaker has been able to in past RWC finals.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>SBW did very well but it was Nonu's play that was truly outstanding.</p>
