Clerc, The Best Wing Around?

[Gavin]

Vincent Clerc has certainly set this years Six Nations alive for the French. Having already scored five tries in two matches and performing very well during his International Career and at Club Level, is it time to stop talking about who you'd rather have, Bryon Habana or Josevata Rokocoko, but looking at the wings the Frogs have hidden away?

Perhaps it is because the Southern Hemisphere Rugby Coverage has yet to start and you can't tell how the big-name wings are performing but I believe Vincent Clerc is one of the best wings around.

Bring back the days of the old French wingers



Any thoughts?

 

[Sir Speedy]

Best winger (and player even) in Europe. I'll wait for the Six Nations to finish before I decide whether he's the best wing in the World, but he's in the top three, no doubt about that.

 

[nam97]

At the moment he's the best player in the NH no question. Too early to say if he's the best in the world, he's had a very good 2 weeks where as Rokocoko and Habana have been playing more or less at his current standards for the past 3 years. Definitely in the top 3, but you can't single him out as the best just yet.

 

[BLR]

Best winger (and player even) in Europe. I'll wait for the Six Nations to finish before I decide whether he's the best wing in the World, but he's in the top three, no doubt about that.
[/b]

World rugby doesn't finish when the 6N's finish....

 

[Ripper]

No, just No.

 

[thf2k2]

Hi,

I don't know if Vincent Clerc it's the best european winger, but every week, with the Stade Toulousain team, he play like that...

The best or no, it's no very important... it's simply an very good player !

 

[An Tarbh]

well it's not as if he's a new kid on the block, he's been tormenting Irish teams long enough that's for sure. Something like 20 tries in 30 tests, not many have a strike rate like that.

 

[RC]

No, just No. [/b]

Of course not, to contemplate anything other than a SH winger being great is just unheard of...

 

[Dmx#1]

No, just No. [/b]

:lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn: :lol2tn:

 

[Incredible Schalk]

He doesnt have an obvious weaknesses. For a small guy hes incredibly strong, very quick and a great poacher which you need to be to be considered one of the best. Hes in the top 3 but certainly not the best...yet..

 

[nam97]

He doesn't have:

1. The speed of Roko/Habana
2. The strength of Roko/Habana
3. The defense of Roko/Habana

They are all 3 large components which he himself does posses, but not to the similar standards of these other 2 who are considered the best in the world.

Best in the NH easily though....

 

[Steve-o]

He doesn't have:

1. The speed of Roko/Habana
2. The strength of Roko/Habana
3. The defense of Roko/Habana

They are all 3 large components which he himself does posses, but not to the similar standards of these other 2 who are considered the best in the world.

Best in the NH easily though....
[/b]

Oh my god the NH has crap wings.

He's the best in the NH

He'd be about 6th in SH

 

[Stillknox]

Vincent Clerc stats for 2007/2008 season:

World cup: 5 tries (in 6 games played)
Top 14 : 5 tries (in 6 games played)
H-Cup: 4 tries (in 5 games played)
6 Nations 2008: 5 tries (in two games)

= 19 tries

- Already 3 hat tricks this season. (against Castres, Namibia and Ireland)

- 30 caps for France : 20 tries.
The best try scorer in activity for France is Christophe Dominici with... 25 tries in 65 caps ! Rougerie scored 20 tries too... in 51 caps. Blanco is France's all time best try scorer with 38 in 93 caps.

Most impressive, uh ?

To me Clerc is by far the best finisher in NH. Has has the 'killer instinct': he's fast, strong, always at the right place. But for watching Toulouse every week I think his mate Cedric Heymans is even better than him: he's not as fast as Clerc but he has a deadly acceleration, a better pass, better sidesteps, better when he returns kick, excellent in defense, a good left boot... plus he's an utility player who can play at fullback. He's more altruistic too, that's maybe why he scores less tries.

His only weakness must be under the high ball... and yet we saw that only against Argentina.

 

[candybum]

lol at 25 tries in 65 caps and 38 in 93 lol nah jokes.. all good in the hood, they're legends.

 

[nam97]

Vincent Clerc stats for 2007/2008 season:

World cup: 5 tries (in 6 games played)
Top 14 : 5 tries (in 6 games played)
H-Cup: 4 tries (in 5 games played)
6 Nations 2008: 5 tries (in two games)

= 19 tries

- Already 3 hat tricks this season. (against Castres, Namibia and Ireland)

- 30 caps for France : 20 tries.
The best try scorer in activity for France is Christophe Dominici with... 25 tries in 65 caps ! Rougerie scored 20 tries too... in 51 caps. Blanco is France's all time best try scorer with 38 in 93 caps.

Most impressive, uh ?

To me Clerc is by far the best finisher in NH. Has has the 'killer instinct': he's fast, strong, always at the right place. But for watching Toulouse every week I think his mate Cedric Heymans is even better than him: he's not as fast as Clerc but he has a deadly acceleration, a better pass, better sidesteps, better when he returns kick, excellent in defense, a good left boot... plus he's an utility player who can play at fullback. He's more altruistic too, that's maybe why he scores less tries.

His only weakness must be under the high ball... and yet we saw that only against Argentina.
[/b]

Fully agree, no one comes close to him in the NH. In terms of best winger in the world, those stats would only be bettered by Habana, Rokocoko and Sivivatu (maybe). Clerc is a personal favourite of mine, so I'm not slagging him off, I just want to see him produce those numbers consistently for a year or so.

I'll try and find some stats...

 

[Sir Speedy]

<div class='quotemain'>
Best winger (and player even) in Europe. I'll wait for the Six Nations to finish before I decide whether he's the best wing in the World, but he's in the top three, no doubt about that.
[/b]

World rugby doesn't finish when the 6N's finish....
[/b][/quote]
Thank you, Captain Obvious. I was just saying that if he plays at this standard for another 3 or 4 games, he'll be the best in the World.

 

[melon]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
Best winger (and player even) in Europe. I'll wait for the Six Nations to finish before I decide whether he's the best wing in the World, but he's in the top three, no doubt about that.
[/b]

World rugby doesn't finish when the 6N's finish....
[/b][/quote]
Thank you, Captain Obvious. I was just saying that if he plays at this standard for another 3 or 4 games, he'll be the best in the World. [/b][/quote]
...but is quite likely to be overtaken again when the other major rugby tournament (Tri-Nations...not very well known this one, evidently) is either underway or finished. You would be "Captain Wise" to weigh up how good he is after both tournaments are played out (Clerc may well still be the best winger after this time, however its always good to see how the rest of the guys go). I think that is what BLR aka Captain Obvious was getting at my friend.

 

[BLR]

...but is quite likely to be overtaken again when the other major rugby tournament (Tri-Nations...not very well known this one, evidently) is either underway or finished. You would be "Captain Wise" to weigh up how good he is after both tournaments are played out. I think that is what BLR aka Captain Obvious was getting at my friend.
[/b]

Right on the money....

 

[nam97]

Joe Rokocoko career:

International: 43 tries in 48 tests

Super 14: 16 tries in 43 games

Air New Zealand Cup: 5 tries in 16 games

Sitiveni Sivivatu stats:

International: 21 tries in 21 tests

Super 14: 22 tries in 41 games

Air New Zealand Cup: 41 tries in 45 games

Bryan Habana stats:

International: 30 tries in 36 tests

Super 14: 24 tries in 39 games

Currie Cup: 21 tries in 27 tests

 

[Sir Speedy]

<div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
Best winger (and player even) in Europe. I'll wait for the Six Nations to finish before I decide whether he's the best wing in the World, but he's in the top three, no doubt about that.
[/b]

World rugby doesn't finish when the 6N's finish....
[/b][/quote]
Thank you, Captain Obvious. I was just saying that if he plays at this standard for another 3 or 4 games, he'll be the best in the World. [/b][/quote]
...but is quite likely to be overtaken again when the other major rugby tournament (Tri-Nations...not very well known this one, evidently) is either underway or finished. You would be "Captain Wise" to weigh up how good he is after both tournaments are played out (Clerc may well still be the best winger after this time, however its always good to see how the rest of the guys go). I think that is what BLR aka Captain Obvious was getting at my friend.
[/b][/quote]
Fair enough, I won't/can't argue with that. I still think Clerc can be the best winger in the World. He was solid against Rockococo (sp?) in the France-NZ game, but I won't dwell too much into that now. His form has certainly increased this season, but, like you said, we should wait until the SH boys have a go in July.