Top 3 Fullbacks in world rugby

Vote for your top 3.

Hard to choose who is top dagg or 1/2p. Dagg has a better counterattacting game and speed, but halfpennys awareness, boot and tackling are better than daggs!

At the moment, I would say Dagg. But Halfpenny's place kicking was superb in Aus (probably the best in the world at the moment). So Halfpenny is more valuable to the team even though Dagg is the more dangerous player.

If all options are playing at their peak.

Dagg

Beale

Kearney

Israel Dagg, Andre Taylor and Ben Smith

This is based on current form,

Beale is awful at the moment.

Dagg

Halfpenny

Kearney

I think Masi is being overlooked slightly. If he was in a good team he'd be outstanding, one of the best in the 6N championship.

I think the top prize is definitely between Dagg and Kearney with Dagg probably winning out

dallym wrote:Israel Dagg, Andre Taylor and Ben Smith

Though Ben Smith looked very good in the second half at FB.

Well 'currently' Foden hasn't been playing full back so on current form

Dagg

Kearney

Mike Brown

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:
Mike Brown

Hogg has looked very decent since his debut in the 6nations

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Hogg has looked very decent since his debut in the 6nations

That's why he made the list. I don't think he is top 3 yet though, but he definitely has potential to be, pity to see that he is out for a few months.

wales606 wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:
Mike Brown

Hey! I know you can't really judge his International form (got to do nothing in the 6N then had a good game against SA before breaking himself) but his European form was easily the best as an FB in the group stages of the HEC (damn you Connacht!) and he was by the far the best FB in the AP all season. Not in my top 3 but laughing is just mean

Where's Medard?

ChequeredJersey wrote:Where's Medard?

On the winger poll.

But I think he's a better fullback than winger and certainly as good a FB as Poitrenaud

Dagg by a mile at the moment.

Then you have Halfpenny and Kearney.

Then the rest.

wales606 wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Hogg has looked very decent since his debut in the 6nations

That's why he made the list. I don't think he is top 3 yet though, but he definitely has potential to be, pity to see that he is out for a few months.

Yeah it is a pity.
I think guys like him, Max Evans, Ansbro could have a huge impact on the way Scotland play in the next 2 years or so. Especially with guys like Denton, Rennie and Gray.

Scotland are gonna open up their game a fair bit more I think

Dagg has been outstanding this year.

Dagg, Beale, Kearney for me.

I'd have AAC ahead of Halfpenny, don't think he's anywhere near a top Int FB.

In order
Dagg, best in the world by a country mile.
Kearney
Foden

When Beale's on form he'd been in there ahead of Foden.

I just don't rate Halfpenny as a fullback, great goal kicker though..

What aspects of Halfpenny's game at FB are weak? Honestly, I want to know, personally I rate him as Wales' best back for at least the past season. I think he'd be better on the wing but at the moment I have him way ahead of Foden as a fullback

ChequeredJersey wrote:What aspects of Halfpenny's game at FB are weak? Honestly, I want to know, personally I rate him as Wales' best back for at least the past season. I think he'd be better on the wing but at the moment I have him way ahead of Foden as a fullback

I completely agree.

Foden had a poor 6 nations and was moved to the wing vs SA, Halfpenny has had a near flawless 12 months - yet Foden is ahead of him???!

Considering all the rugby is being played down south we are rather short of SH fullbacks of note...

Only thing Halfpenny has lost over the last season is the counter attack, was a brilliant counter attacker for the last few seasons.

Now looks hesistant at times, obviously worried about being isolated but I also wonder what Howley is filling his head with.

ChequeredJersey wrote:What aspects of Halfpenny's game at FB are weak? Honestly, I want to know, personally I rate him as Wales' best back for at least the past season. I think he'd be better on the wing but at the moment I have him way ahead of Foden as a fullback

Weak under the high ball and doesn't get himself involved in attack from fullback. Weak counter attacker as well, he seems to have lost his running ability all of a sudden.

I would say that Dagg and Kearney are undoubtedly the top 2 at the moment. When Beale's on form he competes with Dagg for 1.

Maybe i should have just voted the 2 and not mentioned Foden or Halfpenny...

Agree there GoWales, I'd have those 3 out ahead with Foden behind.

I think Halfpenny has been great under the high ball for the past year. Not as good as Kearney is, but as good as anyone else.

Anyway, I voted Dagg then Kearney then blank as Beale and Foden are class but off form, and I couldn't choose between Halfpenny and Beale who frankly has still been good this year up until very recently and is more off a true match winner

New Zealand also have players like Andre Taylor, Isaia Toeava, (gone to Japan but still...) Ben Smith, Cory Jane who's a class fullback and Muliaina who's retired but still looked world class with the Barbarians! The list is endless!

So much quality.

While we've got Halfpenny and then.... Hook/Byrne (won't be considered in the next few years because of age)?

I'm one of those (biased as a Quins fan) that isn't convinced that Foden is the best FB in England never mind top 3 in the world on the past season's form- nowhere near his best and Brown has been more consistent and Goode has looked like making the team more threatening an that's ignoring May who is a winger but more of an individual threat recently or Miller or probably others I've missed. I think he is a more talented player than any of them but he isn't playing like it in enough matches

The AB's do tend to produce a fair few back 3 players....

I always though Armitage was you best overall fullback, good at basically everything.

I'm ignoring Armitage until he comes back to the UK

And learns to control his anger. He got yellow carded while playing for Toulon today!

Corey Jane is better than most on the list!

Cory Jane is not a recognised world class 15 as he hasn't played there at test level enough to be. I can't recall one single moment of Jane being good at fullback in a test. Surely there has to be one to be considered world class let alone make a final list.

Corey Jane is a full back playing at wing. He is a better full back than winger and only kept out by the plethora of full back options and current dirth of NZ wingers who can counter the current tiresome trend of relentless up-and-under attack.

Jane has pretty much converted to wing now. Note he plays there for the Hurricanes as well as the ABs.
But yes he was /is/would be a very good fullback.

Dagg
Halfpenney
Beal

(I'd choose Corey Jane if he was on the list)

Halfpenny is very underrated and Beal is a great attacker. Dagg is the number 1 currently.

Hogg has looked very good, Kearney is very good but might lack a cutting edge and Poitrenaud is the most intelligent attacker but inconsistent.

Billy 'the Kid' Slater is the best full back in world rugby

James O'Connor and Mark Lambie arent bad International fullbacks also.

Out of the list it would be. ( 1 ) Dagg ( 2 ) When on form Beale. ( 3 ) Kearney/ Foden.

although if he gets his form back Clement Poitrenaud would be a good shout at 2/3 he is a very good full back. But is not at his best right now.

Out of the list it would be. ( 1 ) Dagg ( 2 ) When on form Beale. ( 3 ) Kearney/ Foden.

although if he gets his form back Clement Poitrenaud would be a good shout at 2/3 he is a very good full back. But is not at his best right now.

Beale losing points for that haircut though.

For Me its is:

1. Dagg - country mile/daylight.

2. Beale - but only when on form - I know how relieved AB fans were in the RWC when we heard he was carrying an injury.

3. Kearney - but he didn't look all that in the June tests against the AB's.

After that I would throw in Lambie, Pietersen, Ben Smith (brilliant on Saturday night at both center and fullback), Muliaina (playing in Japan so still in the frame for this discussion), Andre Taylor (based on Super 15 form) and Robbie Robinson (on Super 15 Form).

First comment on here and can't really comment on the southern hemisphere teams but as far as the 6N goes Masi is consistently the best performer at full back but playing for Italy gets overlooked a lot.

Foden priceless.

poor kicking game,

always runs the ball back to around the half way line then gets turned over,

and his defence is shocking! he even tackles his own team mates.

Top 3 right now Dagg Beale then HalfP

I can't recall HalfP having a good game at FB, his aerial ball skills are non existant and his last line defense may as well not exist.

anotherworldofpain wrote:I can't recall HalfP having a good game at FB, his aerial ball skills are non existant and his last line defense may as well not exist.

?!

I went for Dagg, a slickster, getting better with every game and although for some reason you wouldnt think it, he is a solid.

Kearns, no one better under the high ball and when he is good, by God he is good.

Beale, although he had a horrid game against the All Blacks, on form he is the best attacking fullback in the world

I think Rob Kearney's the safest fullback, in that he's good under the high ball, tackles well, but lack the attacking flair of Beale or Dagg. So depends what you're looking for in a fullback.

For me it's defending abilities, and a bonus if he can counter attack, but as a fb I think number 1 is good defence first, why I vote Kearney then Dagg then Beale, though when he finds form again Beale'll go number 1, why? Cause he's an aussie!!

Best full back ever in my time will be Chris Lstham