Your country's top 10 best players

[LittleGuy]

I'm glad to see Canada improving steadily (and I actually know about most of the players you mentioned). The more top teams there are at test level the better for the game.

Whats really exciting is all of those players(except sadly his Edness) could be available for the next RWC, Cudmore and Pritchard may have to accept reduced roles with either not starting every game or coming in off the bench. Everyone else though should be still in the peak years of their respective careers.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Fairly easy one for me....although some arguments could be made about the end of my list.

Demi-God: Ed Fairhurst
1: DTH Van De Merwe
2: Jamie Cudmore
3: Jebb Sinclair
4: Phil Mackenzie
5: Adam Kleeberger
6: James Pritchard
7: Aaron Carpenter
8: Jason Marshall
9: Matt Evans
10: Chauncey O'Toole

I can't argue with that list.

I'd also give an honourable mentions to Conor Trainor- I'm expecting a lot from him in the summer tests.

And I don't think it will be long till we see Cam Pierce in the 2nd row, he must be doing something right if he is sticking around so long in the Clermont Academy. Factor in that Evan Olmstead is in the Waratahs "A" side, Ray Barkwill is routinely playing for the Western Force "A" team, Conor McCann is also in Clermont and with Djustice Sears-Duru joining the Leicester Tigers Academy side, there is some decent talent that could soon join that list.

 

[nickdnz]

1. Dan Carter
2. Richie McCaw
3. Kieran Read
4. Conrad Smith
5. Ma'a Nonu
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Israel Dagg
8. Kevin Mealamu
9. Owen Franks
10. Cory Jane

 

[Larksea]

1, Richie McCaw
2, Dan Carter
3, Kieran Read
4, Owen Franks
5, Jerome Kaino
6, Kevin Mealamu
7, Conrad Smith
8, Richard Kahui
9, Isreal Dagg
10, Sam Whitelock

for me you could argue most spots but McCaw is #1 for sure 100% without a doubt.

Heck we won a world cup without carter -I dunno how people have him #1 I seriously doubt we could have done it without McCaw.

 

[LittleGuy]

I can't argue with that list.

I'd also give an honourable mentions to Conor Trainor- I'm expecting a lot from him in the summer tests.

And I don't think it will be long till we see Cam Pierce in the 2nd row, he must be doing something right if he is sticking around so long in the Clermont Academy. Factor in that Evan Olmstead is in the Waratahs "A" side, Ray Barkwill is routinely playing for the Western Force "A" team, Conor McCann is also in Clermont and with Djustice Sears-Duru joining the Leicester Tigers Academy side, there is some decent talent that could soon join that list.

Trainor is really improving quickly and hopefully he can fill in what has been a weak position for Canada for a while(although Smith was surprisingly OK for the RWC), I also heard that Pierce extended his stay at Clermont which is great news. Tyler Hotson in my humble opinion is another underated player in the Canadian setup certainly not in the top 10 but he was extremely effective coming off the bench last year.

I didn't know about Sears-Duru joining the Leicester Academy thanks for the heads up on that hopefully with Jebb Sinclair performing so well at London Irish other Aviva teams will look into signing Canadian players.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Trainor is really improving quickly and hopefully he can fill in what has been a weak position for Canada for a while(although Smith was surprisingly OK for the RWC), I also heard that Pierce extended his stay at Clermont which is great news. Tyler Hotson in my humble opinion is another underated player in the Canadian setup certainly not in the top 10 but he was extremely effective coming off the bench last year.

I didn't know about Sears-Duru joining the Leicester Academy thanks for the heads up on that hopefully with Jebb Sinclair performing so well at London Irish other Aviva teams will look into signing Canadian players.

And the great thing about Pierce sticking around is that after three years with an Academy side in France you no longer count as an import, so a lot more doors will open for him in the Top 14. And I agree with you on Hotson. However, the fact that he is somewhat undersized for a lock will, I assume, always prevent him from playing anywhere else but the RFU Championship.

 

[TNT88]

Dude, I don't think (Apart from Carter, and Nonu and maybe Thorn) any of those AB's players are better than the Aussie ones.

I agree we are better than NZ in some positions. The NZ list are just players I like.

For instance, I rate Pocock as the best openside in world rugby and he is a mile ahead of Mccaw at the moment, and when you think about it, Mccaw has been exceptional, but has played with a good pack, something Oz have not always had until recent. However in the Kiwi list what about the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, perhaps one of the best ball players in Union, and Israel Dagg?

Yep, Pocock has been probably the best #7 recently. But McCaw is still awesome, always reliable when he hits the ball up. Solid in defence and puts a lot of pressure on the opposition at ruck time.

As for Dagg, yea he might be up there. I don't rate SBW in NZ's top 10 players though. Nonu and Smith are miles ahead of him. Thats why he was on the bench at the world cup.

On the NZ side, nice to see that Smith gets the acknowledgement that his importance and ability warrant. Seems to be a lot rarer these days, what with Boxing Bill now giving up his spare time away from the ring to don the black jersey.

Yea, I reckon Smith is one of the world's best players. People give Brian O'Driscol so much credit for being such a reliable outside centre, but Conrad doesn't seem to get as much credit from outside NZ.

I just remember the days of Mortlock at 13 for the wallabies. A world class #13 makes a team so much more threatening.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

OK I'll give this a shot, it's almost impossible to do but taking a shot in the dark, a lot of the players I've mentioned haven't really impressed in the first 2 games of super rugby but it's still a long time until June, anyway:

1. F Hougard
2. B du Plessis
3. A Bekker
4. F Steyn
5. P Lambie
6. M Steyn
7. J Goosen
8. D Vermulen
9. J Taute
10. H Brussow

Didn't really think about the order much but that's my top ten anyway.

I'd really like to see either Burger or Smith there as captain as the other players aren't captain material or don't have test experience. At least until the end of 2013 IMO. By that time things should have come into place a bit more and one would hopefully be able to see if there is someone else who have put their hand up.

Really a pity that we don't have a tighthead who's name would come to mind for top 10 important players. I'd also say it is somewhat strange to have 2 10's (Steyn and Goosen) and two 15's (Lambie and Taute) in the top 10. But like you said, we are at a place where we could see anything from 1 to 10 new faces in a Bok jersey (hopefully somewhere in the middle) and it's impossible to pick a top 10 for this year. Last year, yes, but who wants to look back at 2011 (except the bloody Kiwi's LOL)?

 

[Tomsey]

David Pocock
James O'Connor
Kurtley Beale
Will Genia
James Horwill
Digby Ioane
Sekope Kepu
Ben Tapuai
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Stephan Moore

 

[Tadginator]

1. cian healy
2. rory best
3. mike ross
4. paul O'connell
5. donncha ryan
6. stephen ferris
7. sean O'brien
8. jamie heaslip
9. tom court
10. keith earls

 

[monkeypigeon]

1. cian healy
2. rory best
3. mike ross
4. paul O'connell
5. donncha ryan
6. stephen ferris
7. sean O'brien
8. jamie heaslip
9. tom court
10. keith earls

Eh? Explain please...


Maybe if it were top 10 most important players (given our complete lack of props). Even then I honestly only see him as our prop on the bench because he's happy to cover both sides... Hardly the 10th best player in Ireland.

 

[big ginger 8]

Eh? Explain please...


Maybe if it were top 10 most important players (given our complete lack of props). Even then I honestly only see him as our prop on the bench because he's happy to cover both sides... Hardly the 10th best player in Ireland.

It's the pack plus two I'm pretty sure he's not serious.

 

[monkeypigeon]

It's the pack plus two I'm pretty sure he's not serious.

Don't ask me why...just deal wiv it roight?

 

[Prestwick]

We do not have "ten best players", only one: Iain Balshaw...


....what? What did I say? Why is everyone staring?

 

[Melhor Time]

On current form.....

10 Ayerza
9 Creevy
8 Bosch
7 Agulla
6 Contepomi
5 Bustos Moyano
4 Mieres
3 Imhoff
2 González Amorosino
1 Albacete