World's Best Winger? Discuss.

[vyeung]

In some positions of international rugby, some stand head and shoulders above the rest - e.g. Matfield, Carter and McCaw

In my circle of friends, we can't decide the best winger at all.
Nominate and Explain please.

My vote:

Hosea Gear - international strike rate speaks for itself, particularly when you include performances for NZ Maori last year.

Cheers guys

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tommy Bowe and Cory Jane for me - may not have the try:match ratio of gear, but get through a lot of work around the pitch in support and setting things up etc.

Gear is certainly a great winger, and right up there - give him a few more games in a black shirt and he'll probably be no.1 for me too

 

[munstermuffin]

I think Ashton deserves to be in that bracket Olyy too.
Not proved it yet on international scence because he hasn't been around long at this level. I think he's a cocky git but hell he is a superb player who comes in off the wing picking majestic lines.

I think it hard to pick a solid number 1 because everyone expects different things from wingers and it depends on type of team they play in.
Like Bowe plays in a forward orientated Ireland team where an All Black winger plays in an awesome all round team and is more often on the offense and sees more ball flashed out wide

 

[Teh Mite]

He's been in **** form of late but Habana is still number one for me. Once P Divvy is out of the Boks setup, he'll find that spark again.

 

[vyeung]

The NZ Maori were very forward orientated, in my opinion - well, much more so than the All Blacks and Hurricanes so that's why I opted for Hosea Gear.

Ashton: Does pick lines well. In my opinion, relies on others to make breaks. Nothing without Flood or Foden. He has backs inside him better than that of Gear in Maori - Only McAlister would make it into England team.

Bowe - I still haven't seen the hype around him, mainly I because I genuinely fall asleep whilst watching Ireland.

Habana - totally agree. My reply would be: Would he have been able to score that try that Gear did against Scotland or the second one against Wales?
I don't seem him as the elusive runner that Shane Williams or Gear is. And probably bundled into touch by George North against Wales... :\

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Look a few years ago I would have said Habana but he has been off it for a while now and for club and country, although he looks for a helluva lot of work, he does make too many mistakes to be considered the best at the moment.

The contenders IMO and this is very subjective to what you want from a particular wing; Mitchell, O'Connor, Gear, Sivivatu, Ashton, Williams.

Sivivatu has been injured but it doesn't seem as if he has lost any pace or general influence. He is a deadly finisher but creates opportunities for others almost more than go for glory himself.

Mitchell was on fire last year but has had a few dud games for thw Waratahs in the last few months. Still in with a big shout IMO.

Gear offers a lot but at test rugby still needs a few games to cement his credentials.

O'Connor is a great talent and even though he plays at 10 or 15 for the Force, he should be considered as wing is where he has played his last few test matches (he's just too good to keep this utility back on the bench).

As for the NH wings, I can't say too much but Williams is always a threat and Ashton seems the business if you look at what he has achieved in such a short space of time.

 

[Teh Mite]

The NZ Maori were very forward orientated, in my opinion - well, much more so than the All Blacks and Hurricanes so that's why I opted for Hosea Gear.

Ashton: Does pick lines well. In my opinion, relies on others to make breaks. Nothing without Flood or Foden. He has backs inside him better than that of Gear in Maori - Only McAlister would make it into England team.

Bowe - I still haven't seen the hype around him, mainly I because I genuinely fall asleep whilst watching Ireland.

Habana - totally agree. My reply would be: Would he have been able to score that try that Gear did against Scotland or the second one against Wales?
I don't seem him as the elusive runner that Shane Williams or Gear is. And probably bundled into touch by George North against Wales... :\

Seems to do quite a lot without Flood during the real season.

 

[vyeung]

I am actually a Northampton fan, but my main point was that Ashton relies on others to make the line breaks for him.

 

[Teh Mite]

That could describe any winger

It's the centre's job to create the space and put the wingers away! For the very same reason that Rocokoco tuened poo once Auckland lost all their good centres.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Shane. End of debate.


Erm, perhaps I should elaborate on that a bit. As said above, 90% of wingers rely on other people to put them in, the difference with Mr. Williams is that he so often does that the other way around- He'll put people in after creating the space, (See Byrne & Halfpenny V Scotland last year, Nikki Walker V Toulon, and in a paralel world, Lydiate's try against Italy if Stoddart had of passed, to name but a few examples) but is also a deadly finisher (2nd try against Scotland in 08 being the prime example). In terms of finishing, he may be behind Bowe and Gear and his lines aren't quite up with Bowe or Ashton, but he does everything well.

Tommy Bowe would be second in my opinon, followed by Hosea Gear.

Oh, and watch out for Tim Visser in a years time when he qualifies for Scotland. He could be utterly insane.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Sivivatu as, when he is in shape, he's deadly
Masaga, really fast winger and yeah, just like he's game.

 

[vyeung]

Gear and Bowe are much bigger in defence than Williams.

 

[DorceOutSide]

drew mitchell his speed power and finnishing ability that no other winger has.
tommy bowe 2nd for his ability to break the backline and speed and power combinations

 

[DorceOutSide]

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Gotta say, I'm a massive fan of Mitchell

 

[vyeung]

Personally, I think Gear ticks all of mitchell's boxes and maybe a little more, maybe its just me...

 

[Darwin]

It's an interesting debate, as there is no obvious choice. One of the main issues is that the 'form' of a winger, more than any other position, can depend on the performance of the rest of his team mates - if he gets quality ball he can look world class, if not he can look ordinary.

Over the last two years Sivivatu and Jane were probably regarded as NZ's top wingers, with Gear possibly taking that mantle now... who knows who will be the top rated wing come RWC time. Mitchell has been impressive for Australia, while the likes of Ashton and Bowe also look good.... overall I have no idea who the worlds best winger is

 

[dan the man]

Cory Jane would be my pick... He's got a great skill set and is extremely strong for a little guy. I don't think you'll find a better fend than Jane's.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

The composure of Jane for those 2 tries is immense

 

[dan the man]

The composure of Jane for those 2 tries is immense

Yeah, he's a pretty composed dude, defensively he's very sound to... I think it comes from spending so much time at fullback.