Top 4 Centres in world rugby

Pick 4

I could pick 3, they'd be from the same team in Black...

What poll is JOC going to be on?

I went for SBW, Smith, AAC and Steyn though Nonu and JD2 are still up there. Maybe BOD too. Only one Englishman on the list though...

I'm still reserved about Nonu. His game has been shown up as limited by SBWs efforts this year in terms of what could be.

He's our most predictable back by far and really needs to start showing some class in what he does do well at the twighlight end of his career or he'llget left behind.

Some of those guys are second five eighths.

ChequeredJersey wrote:What poll is JOC going to be on?

I went for SBW, Smith, AAC and Steyn though Nonu and JD2 are still up there. Maybe BOD too. Only one Englishman on the list though...

https://www.606v2.com/t34076-top-3-wingers-in-world-rugby

There you go, since he hasn't played centre at test level yet, so can only be compared on the wing.

Only one Englishman is real quality. I wouldn't put Barritt or Farrell up with Conrad Smith im afraid. Tuilagi only has 2 votes after all.

Conrad Smith
+ any other three. He's that good.

I actually went for Steyn, Roberts and O'Driscoll.

offload wrote:Conrad Smith
+ any other three. He's that good.

I actually went for Steyn, Roberts and O'Driscoll.

I agree, Conrad Smith is the best 13 by a distance, even with O'Driscoll.

NZ have too many awesome centres...

anotherworldofpain wrote:Some of those guys are second five eighths.

I often think when 2nd 5 eighths and centres are regarded as the one and the same,its over simplifying it far too much.

I think it is an interesting point that countries that think 2nd 5/8th and center as the same thing fail to produce quality players in either position. Just saying...

Or that a cratsman like 2nd 5 8th can set up the centre to create for his wings.

anotherworldofpain wrote:I think it is an interesting point that countries that think 2nd 5/8th and center as the same thing fail to produce quality players in either position. Just saying...

Yeah...Brian O'Driscoll isn't quality at all - but Rob Horne!!! Wow....

To be honest I think that Australia have all the best backs in the world at the moment they win games on their own, so for me it is all about Australia.

LordDowlais wrote:To be honest I think that Australia have all the best backs in the world at the moment they win games on their own, so for me it is all about Australia.

Are you living 1 or 2 years in the past?

wales606 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:To be honest I think that Australia have all the best backs in the world at the moment they win games on their own, so for me it is all about Australia.

Are you living 1 or 2 years in the past?

Will Genia , Quade Cooper, Anthony Fainga'a, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Kurtley Beale:- Would you man sausage your nose up to any of these players ?

Only Genia and Mitchell would make it into a Monmouthshire 2nd XV, the rest are pants.

LordDowlais wrote:

wales606 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:To be honest I think that Australia have all the best backs in the world at the moment they win games on their own, so for me it is all about Australia.

Are you living 1 or 2 years in the past?

Will Genia , Quade Cooper, Anthony Fainga'a, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Kurtley Beale:- Would you man sausage your nose up to any of these players ?

Fainga'a is ordinary. The rest are class, albeit all off-form or injured at the moment.

Funny how only the Kiwis think they are all crap.

LordDowlais wrote:Funny how only the Kiwis think they are all crap.

?
I only thought one of them was crap.

LordDowlais wrote:

wales606 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:To be honest I think that Australia have all the best backs in the world at the moment they win games on their own, so for me it is all about Australia.

Are you living 1 or 2 years in the past?

Will Genia , Quade Cooper, Anthony Fainga'a, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Kurtley Beale:- Would you man sausage your nose up to any of these players ?

And, and I know I sound like a broken record, also JOC

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Funny how only the Kiwis think they are all crap.

?
I only thought one of them was crap.

Yeah, and that was the crap one

Chequered, I think I hear you every time you play that, its about time you put JOC on disc.

ChequeredJersey wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Funny how only the Kiwis think they are all crap.

?
I only thought one of them was crap.

Yeah, and that was the crap one

If I was naming a combined Australasian backline (assuming all fit) it'd be:
Genia
Carter
Ioane
SBW/Nonu
C. Smith
Jane/O'Connor
Dagg

With a bench of
A.Smith
Cruden
Ashley-Cooper

There wouldn't be too many Aussie forwards represented mind you.

How can you rate Fainga'a?!?! He's a roadblock and nothing else!!

AAC is hindered by his lack of position, even though I think he's an excellent player.

The rest have hit some very low form, with only Digby and Genia able to match the best when they're not hitting their straps.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Funny how only the Kiwis think they are all crap.

?
I only thought one of them was crap.

Yeah, and that was the crap one

If I was naming a combined Australasian backline (assuming all fit) it'd be:
Genia
Carter
Ioane
SBW/Nonu
C. Smith
Jane/O'Connor
Dagg

With a bench of
A.Smith
Cruden
Ashley-Cooper

There wouldn't be too many Aussie forwards represented mind you.

I think Cruden is a better attacking 10 than Carter is now. Carter has lost a yard of pace. I also think that despite his ability Genia is gumming up the Australia back line at the moment because he is making some poor decisions and sniping on his own too much when there is space created out wide.

Cruden can be a better attacking 10, but is he a better 10?

Probably

Unpopular but maybe.

Maybe. But no offence, Cips looked like a world class 10 for a little while. Let's give him time at the top to show his consistency

Not yet AWOP but next year maybe.

So at this stage 92 votes that is 23 voters. 3 people think that C Smith is not in the top 4 in the world! I would love to see which 4 or more they think is better.

And LordDowlais
I'm fairly confident most Kiwis have a very fine respect for the quality of the Australian backs.

Also surprised that Richard Kahui isn't on the list at all.

On Saturday, on Sports Radio here in NZ, Conrad Smith was being interviewed and he was asked about who he thinks are the best other centres in world rugby. His answer was that during his playing career it was Brian O'Driscoll (although I think his best years are 3 or 4 years behind him) and Richard Kahui (when fit).

Pete C,

Not sure how you can put Genia in that Australasian backline at the moment - Aaron Smith has schooled him the last two weeks (admittedly behind a better pack) - and Genia has taken a mountain of wrong options and missed a ton of tackles. Not playing well at all IMHO.

I think there's too much pressure on Genia to save the whole team.
He single handedly won the first? test against Wales but has looked a bit tired since.
I don't think he should be captain. Give it to Sharp

Conrad Smith

SBW

Rougerie

Bod

Although Bod and Rougerie are coming to the end of the rugby life they was the best at one time.

3 Kiwi's with Smith and SBW to start if there was a world XV made. Nonu and Drico as the back up's.

I'd have Kahui on the bench if he was available, because he can also cover a wing.

Can't have Rob Horne and Berrick Barnes in that list, they ain't even the best centres in Oz ....... just that Deans has picked them due to injuries.

JOC and AAC are better I reckon

Agree OzT that combinator would real help the criminals in attack and defence.

Conrad Smith is my number 1. I also have $BW and Rougerie. I picked BOD too.

I don't think Rougerie has really been up there for a couple of year, similarly Brian O'Driscoll is not playing like he used to, I think Davies is the better 13 at the moment.

1.BOD
2.Conrad Smith
3.Wesley Fofana
4.Dollar Bill Williams

BOD, Fofana, Smith and De Villiers