I can tell you that I wish I was South African,
If you watched the same super 14 that I did you would have seen how Schalk Burger ate McCaw for supper. Stormers thrashed Crusaders 40 - 14.
Even Peter Grant played better than Dan Carter. Get your facts straight!
STOP being so patriotic and face the facts.
South Africa have dominated New Zealand in the last 3 years. They have beaten them 4 out of 4 times and twice in New Zealand.
If that does not tell you a story then I don't know!!!!
I thought that this was supposed to be about player ratings, not a squabble between the All Blacks and the Boks!
These two nations highest rated players should be:
South Africa
Fourie De Preez (probably the best half-back in the world) -
92
Morne Steyn (the Best goal-kicker in the world) -
91
Jon Smit (very solid hooker... getting a bit old though, great captain) -
87
Victor Matfield (best lock in the world) -
87
Pierre Spies (fantastic ball carrier, great no. 8) -
84
Francious Steyn (great versatile back who can play 15, 12 and 10 very well... and that boot!) -
86
Bryan Habana (very quick, great finisher) -
86
Schalk Burger (solid loose forward, great defender) -
86
Bakkies Botha (makes STUPID decisions but is still a formidable opponent at the line-out) -
83
Jean de Villiers (another versatile player who can play in 14, 13, 12 and 11) -
81
New Zealand
Dan Carter (best first-five in the world) -
94
Richie McCaw - (best open-side flanker/captain in the world) -
96
Conrad Smith - (great defensive player, one of the best centre's in the world) -
87
Piri Weepu - (fantastic half-back who can play 10 and goal-kick) -
87
Kevin Mealamu - (great ball carrier, amazing hooker) -
83
Mils Muliaina - (great full-back and a very versatile player who can play 15, 14, 13 and 11) -
84
Brad Thorn - (incredibly hard working lock... would have the best stamina in world rugby) -
83
Kieran Read - (great no.8, the new rule interpretations have really favoured his playing style) -
82
Cory Jane - (incredible 'fullback' but plays on the wing... what a fend!) -
83
Tony Woodcock - (possibly the best prop in the world...) -
84
Overall the Springbok team has great depth... the All Blacks do to, but their back-ups don't have the experience that the Boks do, Carter and McCaw would have to be the best first five and open-side flankers in the world (respectively) but without either of them the All Blacks really suffer. The boks seem to be able to manage much better when their top players are missing in action. To be honest until the tri-nations this year i would've ranked the Springboks ahead of the All Blacks but now i think i would sway slightly the other way... either way both teams are amazing! and in the context of a new rugby game we will hardly notice the difference between alot of these players who are all very close when it comes to their skill level and stats.