The Fastest RWC relay squad!

[Jer1cho]

This was in reply to a post by James5000, but I thought it would be a fun discussion around all the hating going on in the official match threads. So what do you guys reckon? Especially the minnows???

Gio Aplon has to be the fastest man in world rugby over 40 meters. He is so damn fast.

I was just thinking today the bok squad must possess the fastest 4x100m relay squad at the world cup haha. I'd put my vcash on it!
They would easily beat NZ, probably Aussie, I reckon the Pom's would give them the closest run. What do you guys reckon?

If we were to pick the 4 fastest guys in the team, I would say the list, from fastest to slowest is:

4. Francois Hougaard
3. Pierre Spies
2. Gio Aplon
1. Bryan Habana

I know this because the team doctor gave a presentation at the varsity team I played for last year, and told us that they are the fastest guys in the squad. He also said that on a full 100m sprint, there is almost half a second between the running times of Pierre Spies, Bryan Habana and Gio Aplon.

The fastest guys in New Zealand with their current squad would probably be:

4. Israel Dagg
3. Richard Kahui
2. Sitiveni Sivivatu
1. Zac Guildford

That would be my guess anyway. For the Aussies:

4. James O Connor
3. Drew Mitchell
2. Kurtley Beale
1. Digby Ioane

England would probably be:

4. Shontane Hape
3. Ben Foden
2. Tom Croft (Only loose forward in the world that comes close to Spies regarding speed. Perhaps Stephen Ferris and Ryan Kankowski too, but Croft is DAMN fast)
1. Chris Ashton

I actually think that the Welsh team would also be pretty fast. But I do agree that we have among the fastest players in world rugby. Of course, it doesn't help that the New Zealanders have the better players. Except for Francois Hougaard.

 

[Darwin]

I don't think the AB's would do well if there was a relay, as they don't really have that many pure speeders in the squad. Sivivatu isn't in the AB's squad (and really isn't that quick anymore in any case). I'd guess Guildford, Dagg, Toeava, and Kahui/Jane would be the fastest members of the squad over 100m (with Guildford probably the fastest), though both Vito and Thomson are very quick. Colin Slade used to have a lot of pace, but he has suffered from a few groin injuries and doesn't seem to be as quick as he was before.

 

[Jer1cho]

I don't think the AB's would do well if there was a relay, as they don't really have that many pure speeders in the squad. Sivivatu isn't in the AB's squad (and really isn't that quick anymore in any case). I'd guess Guildford, Dagg, Toeava, and Kahui/Jane would be the fastest members of the squad over 100m, though both Vito and Thomson are both very quick. Colin Slade used to have a lot of pace, but he has suffered from a few groin injuries and doesn't seem to be as quick as he was before.

Yeah I forgot Sivi was MIA. I wonder how fast Nonu is over 100m... SBW I don't know, because it always looks like he jogs. lol.

If we had to pick a relay team from all the squads, Ngwenya would be the last runner. Fastest guy in the WC for sure.

 

[nickdnz]

The fastest guys in New Zealand with their current squad would probably be:

4. Israel Dagg
3. Richard Kahui
2. Sitiveni Sivivatu
1. Zac Guildford

He's not in the squad. I'd go with for New Zealand's current squad:

4. Victor Vito (Used to be a very quick winger in 7's, and he still looks very quick in space)
3. Richard Kahui
2. Israel Dagg
1. Zac Guildford

I don't think we have any out and out speedsters in our squad. Our fastest players are all out of the squad.

From any NZ player that is in the frame for AB selection:

4. Hosea Gear (Jville played against HOBM in the Wainuiomata 7's a few weeks back and he killed us pretty much by himself. So quick)
3. Lelia Masaga
2. Joe Rokocoko
1. Sean Maitland

 

[Jer1cho]

Is Vito really that quick!!!! Also, who is the 10 that plays for the Chiefs? Delaney is it? From what I saw of him, he looked really quick!

 

[nickdnz]

Is Vito really that quick!!!! Also, who is the 10 that plays for the Chiefs? Delaney is it? From what I saw of him, he looked really quick!

Unlikely you saw Delany or Donald, they're not that quick. Potentially Tim Nanai-Williams who is a very speedy guy.

 

[Jer1cho]

Unlikely you saw Delany or Donald, so they're not that quick. Potentially Tim Nanai-Williams who is a speedy guy.

Donald is pretty quick for a 10. Nanai-Williams is by far my favorite New Zealander to watch. Love the way he runs.

 

[jawmalawm24]

Is Vito really that quick!!!! Also, who is the 10 that plays for the Chiefs? Delaney is it? From what I saw of him, he looked really quick!

Vito isn't that quick, he's only quick for a Flanker but put up against most wingers would get stripped good and proper. Sherwin Stowers is quick off he mark he smoked Lachie Turner at the Commonwealth games to win the 7's.

Yep most likely it was Tim Nanai-Williams he's pretty quick. Corey Jane use to be quite fast when he use to play winger with his long hair but playing fullback most of the time he's more of a all round player and doesn't count on his speed most of the time. Guildford looks really quick in a straight line but probably doesn't possess the agility like some of the other wingers.

 

[UilamOsa]

He's not in the squad. I'd go with for New Zealand's current squad:

4. Victor Vito (Used to be a very quick winger in 7's, and he still looks very quick in space)
3. Richard Kahui
2. Israel Dagg
1. Zac Guildford

I don't think we have any out and out speedsters in our squad. Our fastest players are all out of the squad.

4. Toeava
3. Richard Kahui
2. Israel Dagg
1. Zac Guildford

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10742075
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10747894

I'm sure i've heard the AB's being interviewed (maybe small blacks tv or something) and they all said Ice was the fastest.

 

[Jer1cho]

Surely Rene Ranger is also one of the fastest in NZ? Still can't believe he didn't make the squad. Best finisher outside of Ioane in the Super 15 this year imo.

 

[ranger]

Its probably hard to tell just from watching rugby. Its usually the guys you least expect.
I know Sione Laukai always posted the fastest 40m times when he was with the chiefs. (Quicker than Sivivatu, Mills etc). And if we are choosing from the whole country, a few relitive unknowns would probably be in the conversation. Cody Rei and Jackson Ormond spring to mind

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

For players in the RWC squad for SA..

I'd guess

1 Habana
2 Aplon
3 Spies
4 Petersen or Hougaard probably

I'd suggest Wales, USA and Fiji should be right up there as well along with probably England and Aus.

 

[Sam Owen]

Everyone seems to be picking the current teams outside backs which is fair enough but forgetting about countries speedsters that dont make their starting 15 eg. Australias Rod Davies, Kurtley Beale and Lachie Turner are probably the quickest for the Wallabies.

 

[peks89]

caucaunibuca, delasau, bobo and goneva

 

[dullonien]

The Welsh relay team would have to include Halfpenny, Lloyd Williams, Shane and North. Shane or Lloyd Williams on the anchor with their acceleration. If a forward needed to be selected it'd probably be Warburton, great acceleration to make an outside break against England in the warm-ups. Gethin Jenkins could do ok as well (probably only prop that could). Halfpenny is the true 100m man though, the rest are better over 40m or less, although North could be good over the longer distance as well. I think that's probably the problem overall with rugby players doing a 4x100m relay, very few train to be good at 100m, it's all about the first 10m - maximum 40m really. Very rarely does a player need to sprint the length of the pitch.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

England's wouldn't be that impressive:

1. Ashton
2. Foden
3. Armitage
4. Tuilagi

If it was just in general we'd do a little better with Varndell/Monye/Wade in there

 

[peks89]

shane williams stepping those 4 samoan players made my jaw drop...damn that boy is fast!

 

[TNT88]

None of our guys are super quick. Turner and Davis (who aren't in the WC squad) are probably our best 100m sprinters. JOC/Beale/Ioane/Mitchell have great pace, just not a great top speed. (well all good rugby wingers don't anymore because the need to bulk up)

 

[james5000]

England's wouldn't be that impressive:

1. Ashton
2. Foden
3. Armitage
4. Tuilagi

If it was just in general we'd do a little better with Varndell/Monye/Wade in there

lol Tuilagi wouldn't beat half the forwards would he? He looks like slow motion from what i've seen any way

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nah, he's decently fast but has good acceleration
Not slow by a long shot