RORooinek
Captain18,117 posts
RORooinekCaptain18,117 posts
15 Jul 2017, 09:20#1
Last year Beauden Barrett would have been most people's choice including the people who matter . . . World Rugby . . . but Barrett hasn't shown the same flair and match-winning ability this year and it struck me this morning while watching the Chiefs vs the Brumbies that the best player in the world today doesn't even play test rugby (yet).
My nomination for best player in the world right now is an absolute pleasure to watch every time he plays. He has amazing skills, even more amazing decision making, he's a model of consistency and almost every time he gets the ball (which is often for someone playing his position) he has a positive impact . . . take a bow Damian McKenzie.
Just watch this little oke in isolation in just about any game he plays in and see how well he reads the game and how much he creates.
What a waste that this rugby genius (and I don't use the word lightly) doesn't even crack the All Black bench! Sure his size counts against him but in terms of what he actually achieves on the field, I think his time on the international stage could still come.
15 Jul 2017, 11:11#2
Thats a big call Rooinek. It's really hard to point at one player. Do you go for strength and/or speed, a good boot or tactical kicking. My favourite player to watch with the ball is Christian Wade who can spark something from niks and is electric on attack (can't get a look in with the English squad). My missus raised a good point with me, she reasoned that sometimes the best player is not the fastest, biggest, most skilled but also not a ball hugging ego inflated plickus.
Is the person a leader and team person, can his mates and coaches look at him and know that he will give all and more for the team, when its cold and wet and every call goes against you can he rally the team for the last push.
Some one like Whitely or Willie Britz come to mind when I think of those qualities.
Damien McKenzie sure is exciting to watch.
BEBeeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BEBeeno1Captain40,032 posts
15 Jul 2017, 11:16#3
Damian McKenzie. Bwahhahahahahahahaha rooitwitterbug is always a treat!
15 Jul 2017, 11:48#4
He has all the talent in the world ... but it amounts to nothing without decent height and body weight.
Not sure who I'd nominate. Probably someone like Pieter Steff Du Toit or Vunipola.
15 Jul 2017, 11:50#5
Eye of the beholder and all I suppose.
MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
15 Jul 2017, 13:34#6
Damien McKenzie........hahaha.....Urinal in an unguarded moment has provided devastating insight into his pea brain. Look chump the clue is in something obvious you said; ' doesn't even play test rugby'. And then Turncoat nominates Stephanie!
..
LMAOFY!
JWJust_win
Captain18,570 posts
JWJust_winCaptain18,570 posts
15 Jul 2017, 13:57#7
I would still have Barrett high on my list, Retallick is up there also. What about fat Frans?
MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
15 Jul 2017, 14:11#8
I have lost a bit of elevation on Frans now that he lost weight. The best player in the World is likely to have played in the Lions series. Best players in the series were Davies, Murray, Itoje, Barrett, Retallik. Given that list Barrett is a likely choice. As for his not showing 'the same flair'.....saving a try with an interception and creating a try with a perfectly weighted cross kick seemed like flair to me.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
15 Jul 2017, 14:48#9
Frans lost weight - but he cannot run 60 meters at his slow pace without being totally out of breath. Fat Fransie has lots no weight - he is still grossly overweight at an estimated 115 kgs. Take a good look at him - his stomach was hanging over his pants after that circa 60 meter run - when he was bent over trying to breath.
AJArthur John
Pro1,748 posts
AJArthur JohnPro1,748 posts
15 Jul 2017, 20:24#10
I would have thought that Jantjies would have been the obvious selection for most if not all Saffers. especially after his brilliant display at fly-half in the test against the French.
My choice is that All Black #8 the guy with 100 test caps, captain and way out front as a player.
MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
28 Feb 2019, 01:57#11
Another historical classic.
28 Feb 2019, 08:42#13
What am I missing here? McKenzie has played a number of times, 23 to be exact, for the AB's, why are people talking as if he is yet to get a call up? In tests thus far he has battled to find his feet. I think the tighter game patterns in test matches don't suite a player like him that thrives in a bit of space. Huge talent, of that their is no doubt, but like many that have come before him, especially South Africans, he has battled to replicate his Super Rugby performances on the test stage. That may still happen, but there is a reason he is battling to cement his name in the starting line up for the AB's.
28 Feb 2019, 08:52#14
An obvious choice for best player right now would be Johnny Sexton. He has not been on quite the same level this year as last year, but he is still playing very well. As a tactical fly half he is is well ahead of Barrett, although his running game is not quite as good. Tests are very often won and lost by the tactical prowess of the fly half, and he is the best fly half tactically in he world at the moment.
RORooinek
Captain18,117 posts
RORooinekCaptain18,117 posts
28 Feb 2019, 08:56#15
Damian McKenzie seems to have lost a lot of his mojo since his switch to flyhalf and he's also facing much stiffer competition for the AB #10 jersey than he would be if he was competing for the #15 jersey.
He's still one of the most talented players in the game with the ability to break the line and create space like very few others.
Moffie re-posted this out of spite and as a retaliation to me reminding posters what he said about Andre Esterhuizen being slower than a prop, but if he's trying to embarrass me then he's failed because I still reckon Mckenzie could become one of the greats . . . but it does look like he may need to revert to fullback.
28 Feb 2019, 09:03#16
Oh snap. I didn't realise this was an regurgitated post, I thought it was a new thread . My bad.
RORooinek
Captain18,117 posts
RORooinekCaptain18,117 posts
28 Feb 2019, 12:55#21
If I had to nominate a player today (as opposed to the "today" in the original post on this thread which was in fact July 2017) then I'd be tempted to go for Malcolm Marx but would probably pick Louis Picamoles or Brodie Retallick.
RORooinek
Captain18,117 posts
RORooinekCaptain18,117 posts
28 Feb 2019, 14:24#23
Klown, please remember that Omlett and Omellete don't understand sarcasm.
28 Feb 2019, 15:52#24
Surprised Ben Smith hasn't been mentioned, not a single weakness in his game.
Edit: Didn't realise this post was from ages ago. This whole looking back at previous comments is tedious, times change and so do opinions. So boring and childish.
MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
28 Feb 2019, 17:08#26
Well.........hahaha.....I'd say recalling this certainly 'Trumps' Peeper recalling my very accurate post about Esterhozen.
I have to say though, looking back at Peeper's repertoire there are so few opinion pieces on rugby .....strings about other posters, strings about Fantasy rugby, strings about results, strings about player news....almost no views.
Pretty much an empty suit.....and then when he does come up with an opinion it's a laugh like McKenzie is the best rugby player in the world.
Stay down Peeper.
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
29 Sept 2024, 12:37#36
What a player PSDT is he has always been good physically but now we see his ball in hand added
In the top 3 best players in the game right now
DBDbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DBDbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
29 Sept 2024, 13:37#38
Eben is great, but PSDT is next level...probably the best player in the world ATM...
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
29 Sept 2024, 14:05#39
Long past work in progress he is pure class - they just need to refrain from interviewing him - those opening lines thanking Jesus - fuck sake