Top 6 Flankers in world rugby

Pick 6...

Jerome Kaino and Brussow not included as they havent played international rugby for a year.

What about Vito and Thompson?

should be a few more scots there :-)

Hard this one- can't believe 4 people picked Tipuric already...

Went for McCaw, Pocock (despite having a subpar summer), Dusautoir (can't believe anyone woukdnt pick him), Rennie, Kelly Brown (I think we will see this when he gets back) and Ferris. After that, the likes of Warbs, Robshaw, Alberts and SOB. Zanni also v underrated. List missing Gill, Higginbotham, Wood, etc

wales606 wrote:Pick 6...

Jerome Kaino and Brussow not included as they havent played international rugby for a year.

It's Aug 2012, they play in October 2011. A bit harsh I think. They're not dead or retire or anything.

Kaino can't play international rugby anymore either because he's in Japan.

Kaino will probably be at the next world cup. So I wouldn't get too excited. He would have played in the 4N like SBW aside from the injury and at any ways he is still the best 6 in the world whether or not he play in Japan. Sounds like some borderline discrimination against Japanese club rugby to me!!!

Brussow is not in Japan...

I would pick Burger as his impact on the pitch is unrivalled, his workrate on defence and attack makes him one of the best in the world, his game also evolved a lot in recent times and for a backrower his offloading game is superb.

McCaw must be there.

The rest in my opinion are still a ways off.

Biltong wrote:I would pick Burger as his impact on the pitch is unrivalled, his workrate on defence and attack makes him one of the best in the world, his game also evolved a lot in recent times and for a backrower his offloading game is superb.

McCaw must be there.

The rest in my opinion are still a ways off.

Still a ways off what? So the best six flankers ibn world rugby are McCaw and Burger? You're going to have to explain this one to me. Possibly quite slowly. And with diagrams. Who are the remaining four?

Not much to explain, there are plenty of class flankers, but for me difficult to pick them apart, so rather than just name 6, I named the two that in my opinion are great without a doubt.

I think that poll is pretty much spot with McCaw, Pocock and Dusatoir clearly out in front and a clutch of players around the same % due largely I imagine to a bit of National pride, after all I voted for Lydiate in my top 6

McCaw, Pocock, Dussautoir, Ferris, Alberts, Croft

Biltong wrote:Not much to explain, there are plenty of class flankers, but for me difficult to pick them apart, so rather than just name 6, I named the two that in my opinion are great without a doubt.

Fair enough. An honest "not sure" is a good answer.

I don't think Pocock is a top flanker. I think he is very good at the breakdown, but limited in most other departments.

Compare him to McCaw and Burger, they are brilliant defenders, brilliant ball carriers, in general play they stand out, McCaw can also pilfer, but that is only part of his make up.

When you take Pococks pilfering away from him, what's left?

Biltong wrote:I don't think Pocock is a top flanker. I think he is very good at the breakdown, but limited in most other departments.

Compare him to McCaw and Burger, they are brilliant defenders, brilliant ball carriers, in general play they stand out, McCaw can also pilfer, but that is only part of his make up.

When you take Pococks pilfering away from him, what's left?

22 - 0.

McCaw, Alberts, Pocock, Dusutoir, Croft, Ferris....Nice mix...

Croft? Give me a break!

gowales wrote:McCaw, Pocock, Dussautoir, Ferris, Alberts, Warburton, Croft

Hard call between Croft and Lydiate, but Croft has had more world class performances

But you've picked 7 already, so throw in Lydiate as well to make it an even 8 players in the top 6 list.

Dusatoir, McCaw, Burger are the top three (I know he's injured but I won't include Juan Smith or Ferris who I also rate). Then SOB, Lydiate, Croft and the Scottish players Rennie and Brown are a step down but very handy. Pocock was not right with his knee even before he was ruled out but I do agree he hasn't refined his game in other areas so he's at the same level.

thebandwagonsociety wrote:

gowales wrote:McCaw, Pocock, Dussautoir, Ferris, Alberts, Warburton, Croft

Hard call between Croft and Lydiate, but Croft has had more world class performances

But you've picked 7 already, so throw in Lydiate as well to make it an even 8 players in the top 6 list.

Yea just edited it

TJ wrote:Croft? Give me a break!

Yes...because what he does is unique and hugely effective...if you watched the last 6n...you would have seen that...

GeordieFalcon wrote:McCaw, Alberts, Pocock, Dusutoir, Croft, Ferris....Nice mix...

I'm pretty much in line with this except I threw in Zanni for Croft.

ChequeredJersey wrote:. List missing Gill, Higginbotham, Wood, etc

Higginbotham included in the no8 poll, because he played there last week - and the no8 poll was looking pretty weak, whereas he probably isn't in the top 6 flankers.

What about Vito and Thompson?

I thought about including them, but they are behind Messam for the ABs (who has been very good) and would be behind Kaino if he was playing. I have never been that impressed with either and I don't think they have ever put in a top 6 performance (unlike everyone else on the list imo)

GeordieFalcon wrote:

TJ wrote:Croft? Give me a break!

Yes...because what he does is unique and hugely effective...if you watched the last 6n...you would have seen that...

Really? I must have missed that. All I saw was a effective but not outstanding player. Certainly not one of the best in the world.

So Robshaw, Croft, Dennis and Tupiric have done more than the world cup winning flankers Thompson and Vito? I thought you said Kaino is in Japan so he doesn't count? you want it both ways?

anotherworldofpain wrote:So Robshaw, Croft, Dennis and Tupiric have done more than the world cup winning flankers Thompson and Vito? I thought you said Kaino is in Japan so he doesn't count? you want it both ways?

Yes. Robshaw has put in top6 performances - most recently in SA. As did Tipuric in the 6Ns and in Aus. Croft was the best 6 in the world at one point. David Dennis perhaps not.

Top skills. I almost read that like you meant it the first time! Very subtle!

Anyway, the whole poll is a bit rubbish anyway is my mind. You can't compare an open side and blind side and decide who is "best". Also the back row "best" is about best for the combinator and match to the skills in the tight to the optimum compromise for agility, breakdown service, carrying, defensive, lineout and scrum. So a mix-and-match of "best" make no sense and come to no conclusion.

Croft was the best 6 in the world at one point? At what point was that? Pretty sharp ended point. We can all have differences in opinion. Personally I have always rated Ferris above Croft, though they are different players. But that is a very bold claim.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Croft was the best 6 in the world at one point? At what point was that? Pretty sharp ended point. We can all have differences in opinion. Personally I have always rated Ferris above Croft, though they are different players. But that is a very bold claim.

Leading up to the last Lions tour if memory serves.

anotherworldofpain wrote: Top skills. I almost read that like you meant it the first time! Very subtle!

Anyway, the whole poll is a bit rubbish anyway is my mind. You can't compare an open side and blind side and decide who is "best". Also the back row "best" is about best for the combinator and match to the skills in the tight to the optimum compromise for agility, breakdown service, carrying, defensive, lineout and scrum. So a mix-and-match of "best" make no sense and come to no conclusion.

The reason I didn't have a separate poll for 6 and 7 is because is so there was a place for the French and SA Flankers who play left and right. Combinations are important, but this is about standout performances in their team. If you don't like the poll, don't vote of read it.

Well like I said, you are entitled to your opinion. I respectfully disagree and have always seen Juan Smith as the premier 6 but have unfortunately been deprived of seeing him play there due to cruel luck with injuries.

I think Croft has always been capable of big things but has lacked consistency in delivering that potential. Ferris in my view is much more consistent.

Well, I didn't vote for Croft as top 6 at the moment. I think I voted for Ferris actually.

I remember a thread a few months back and to me blindside flanker was the most competitive position in world rugby with so many strong performers.

There seems a dearth of quality though in quite a few positions in world rugby at the moment, which is alarming.

McCaw
--------
Dusatoir, Ferris, Pocock, Kaino, Brussow

I think Zanni is hugely underrated. Has been a good servant for Italy and would do well in virtually any any other side.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Well like I said, you are entitled to your opinion. I respectfully disagree and have always seen Juan Smith as the premier 6 but have unfortunately been deprived of seeing him play there due to cruel luck with injuries.

I think Croft has always been capable of big things but has lacked consistency in delivering that potential. Ferris in my view is much more consistent.

Ferris always surprises me with his consistency... consistently high level of performance while consistently being visibly carrying an injury (just think if that kid could get a run at an entire season fully fit).

Not quite as consistent in picking up injuries as Juan Smith but similar presence when they are fit and playing.

Went for McCaw, Pocock, Ferris, Alberts, Dusatoir and Warburton, all very good players.

Kind of surprised not to see Alberts get more votes. I probably don't watch as much rugby as some of the guys here, but that man is an absolute wrecking ball

probably cause it's early days yet, but yes, he is a big strong fella

Alberts is something else, he is so explosive it is unbelievible

If SA can use him properly it'd be great. Imagine what he could do with Burger or Smith or Brussouw alongside!

I did say recently that Alberts and Burger are the best options at number 8 for SA, way ahead of Spies.

Anyway top 6 flankers.... It's got to be the Irish back-row and then the rest catching up, right?

Richie McCaw
Stephen Ferris
Sam Cane
David Pocock
Sean O'Brien
Justin Tupuric

At this immediate moment?

McCaw
Pocock
Tipuric
Robshaw
Brown
Zanni

McCaw, Pocock, Tipiric, Robshaw, Brown and Dusatoir

Brown seriously? Even Tipuric seems a stretch in the company of mccaw and pocock

Pocock is good but he did get cuffed by Rennie in the summer when I last saw him play.

McCaw is on his own by some distance at the top. Not much between my other picks IMO.

This Poll and Thread should be split into Blindsides and Opensides because it's hard to have 2 flankers as different as Ferris and McCaw in same one...

If we are saying at the moment, McCaw isn't playing, Poccock is injured and has never looked like the player he was in 2011 since the RWC, Brown had an immense 6N and I've never seen him play badly and he has arguably better form (and certainly more consistently over a longer period of time) than the admittedly excellent Tipuric