Best player in the world at the moment?

Leigh Halfpenny. Hands down. Certainly the most versatile back in world rugby at the moment.

Doesn't miss a tackle.
Commits his body.
World class kicking.
Sidestep and finisher.
Boy got gas.

Hmm. Nope.

He should make the Lions as a back-up to cover wing and full-back. He's good as a kicking option too.

He needs to sort out the charge-downs.

Possibly Wales' best player at the moment though.

The best player in the world at the moment...... No, not a chance.

One of the best players in the world at the moment, possibly yes.

Nope its Jimmy Gopperth...

Earl Rose. End of.

Best Player in world - Nope

Best in Europe - Nope

Guaranteed Lions tour spot - Yes

Lions Starter - Hell of a chance

Mr Consistent - Yes

Brave beyond his size - YES

I think I know this one - is the answer Robshaw?

Try again Barney!!

Is 1/2p best player in the world? No, but is he up there with the bravest and most effective? yes!

Unless people still want to make a case for Dagg being far better

BedfordWelsh - agreed

BedfordWelsh +1

His importance to Wales does skew certain people's judgement of him

Even without his kicking hes still a quality player. Takes the right option and is very strong defensively. A lot of rugby to be played buy at the moment he's the lions 15.

lostinwales wrote:His importance to Wales does skew certain people's judgement of him

A very good point. He stood out for Wales during that long, win-less spell and was one of the only players to come out with any credit. That tends to artificially increase his reputation.

Very good player though. Not so good with the boot for a while today.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Try again Barney!!

Is 1/2p best player in the world? No, but is he up there with the bravest and most effective? yes!

Unless people still want to make a case for Dagg being far better

Dagg easily. Playing well in the 6N- by its nature cannot make you the best player in the world. And not one poster agrees with the OP. nice.

Tell that to Savea taylorman...

good isnt he...worlds best winger you say? good point blue

pfft any Tom dick and Harry can look good in a substandard, low intensity competition like Super Rugby

I would actually agree with you there (as I did last autumn) Savea is class, but you don't see humiliation like that often, and Daggs season is going form bad to worse so early!

Perhaps, but in switching between channels during the matches, I was sure one was stuck on slow mo...couldnt quite work that one out.

You were mistaking golf for the Tah's again weren't you, it's easily done they have been awfull!!!

PS was the game itself any good, I only caught highlights.

I'm not sure anybody can currently stake a claim for best player in the world. Nobody seems to be playing consistently to their full potential or, to see it more optimistically, maybe that's a sign of greater competition between positions and individuals.

thebluesmancometh wrote: You were mistaking golf for the Tah's again weren't you, it's easily done they have been awfull!!!

PS was the game itself any good, I only caught highlights.

Same. Hit the sack after the Highlanders match to watch the overnight ones but the Tahs look well off the pace. Agree theres not a lot of star power at the moment and I'm glad we have several new players on the rise to look out for- many on for the Blues Bulls match later today. The ABs for one are going to look very different by 2015 based on the first couple of rounds here.

The oz team might look totally reworked for the lions tour too, with the likes of Hooper/Gill (Smith really??!!??!?) Mogg, and who's that big winger for the Tahs? and that tasty centre.

JOC looked like he was regaining a few touch's of class too.

JOC is class- really taken to the game- he was the biggest missed last year judging by his recent matches. I see hes still trying to get rid of that Justin Bieber look too.

Folau? Too soon to tell and his sides on the losing end so far. Oz will have several new players as some have been around a while. Deans reliance on the up and down Cooper will be interesting as he carries a huge risk factor with form and confidence. But judging by the Oz sides in the sxv so far I think theyre going to struggle again this year- bar the Brumbies who look to be working wel under White.

With Smith and the Chiefs and now JK and GH with the Blues top quality coaching really does make a massive difference. Its no coincidence that between the 3 sides that they have all won world cups.

Steve Walsh played a blinder today.
Joubert was poo.

It is a good point, although Cheiks has barely just arrived, the tah's were always going to take time to get going.

Is it Folau? If it's the guy I'm thinking of he's going to be an absolute star!!!

The Aus teams seem like theyre lacking some real dynamism up front, wheres Higginbotham? And how is Folatau Nau? Moore, Alexander and Robinson don't look in great shape, and I'm not seeing a natural succesor to Sharpe!!

Higginbotham is with the Rebels this year, doing his best in a struggling side.
TPN injured his leg last night. Robinson & Alexander had a nice little contest too. I can't believe Alexander stomped on his Wallaby teammate! Some healthy 'competition' for the Wallaby TH spot going on there.

Ye that Alexander stamp was awesome, although as he explained it Robinson didn't look too impressed on the way off the pitch did he?

Ye saw TPN go off injured, any news?

Higginbotham is a huge player for Oz, and massively underrated IMHO!!!

No news yet on TPN.

That Savea try where he bumped off 2 Crusaders defenders reminded me a little of Jonah. Not as big a JL I know - but he's got great balance with the ball in hand and the right bump technique.

I said exactly the same thing when seeing the highlights this morning, listening to the comentators describe him a Rocko esque, he seemed far more destructive in contact!!!

I really hope he does a Bast and lets himself go a bit so he's not that destructive on the international stage too often!

What do you think of the Tah's winger Folau? (not 100% sure of his name)

And is Mogg going to see Oz action soon?

Blues, he was a huge Star in the NRL. He may get a saloon passage into the Wallabies but will need to earn it. The problem is that the Tahs (and backs especially) are no comparison to the Melbourne Storm, Qld* or Kangaroo teams. That's why I said at the start - he needs to play 12 or 13, probably 13... but the other night he said he was happy to play wherever the coach puts him.

Cheika had a few words to say after the match (not about Izzy but in general) and I'd just like to see Folau closer to the action... a la SBW. He's equal or better than him (potentially in union, more so in league) and we will need him running and offloading better for the Tahs before RD (who also rates him very highly... he wants him in for sure) can justify him for Wallabies selection.

*He's from Sydney but a Melbourne scout poached him and they ensured he played his first NRL grade game in Qld. We are still hissing about that but we were too slow (or lacking astuteness) to lock him into a team here.

thebluesmancometh wrote:And is Mogg going to see Oz action soon?

He's going very well. Nice to have him in such fine form should he be required for Tests.

Didn't realise he had such a big reputation, I think he looks like a potential star, but your right he spends too long in the wide wilderness when I think he'd do some real damage closer in.

Only seen him a few times though, but he's really caught my eye.

I like the look of Mogg but theres just something missing, I can't put my finger on it. He tends to step too much for some reason, and instead of pinning his ears back seems to look for more defenders to step.

His reputation is building up in SXV but he's still pretty young. He is a zippy sort of runner; not a huge bloke but he's got a good turn of pace. Not sure how well he's been tested in defence though.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Try again Barney!!

Is 1/2p best player in the world? No, but is he up there with the bravest and most effective? yes!

Unless people still want to make a case for Dagg being far better

I think Julian Savea has something to say about Dagg being the best

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RD4uAWAcKE

I think 2 of the best players in the world are in the worst performing team in the 6N.

Picomoles & Parra.

Halfpenny is a very impressive guy. His conditioning is up there with the best in the world. I'd say his conditioning is on a par with Cian Healy who is a prop with a sixpack. Puts Medard, Waldrom etc. to shame.

He is very grounded, diciplined, committed, brave, skillfull and smart. Very impressive individual. I think he is one of the best players in the world right now.

marty2086 wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:Try again Barney!!

Is 1/2p best player in the world? No, but is he up there with the bravest and most effective? yes!

Unless people still want to make a case for Dagg being far better

I think Julian Savea has something to say about Dagg being the best

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RD4uAWAcKE

Yes...but how come it takes another current AB to do this? and would other FB's seriously done a lot better? Doubt it.

I really dont think their is any NH player who could be called the best in the world.

Halfpenny if probably the(BEST)in Wales. And will more than like be the first/second name on the Lions tour.

My ageing mother called me after the Scotland game and said that she was so proud of young Leigh Halfpenny. She told me how she liked the fact that he didn't give up after missing three kicks in a row. She went on to rave about how lovely and polite he was in after match interviews before finally informing me that he was by far the best player in the world at the moment.

Now I'm not sure that recommendation ranks as a valid evaluation of young Leigh's standing in world rugby but if it's good enough for my mother, it's good enough for me.

majesticimperialman wrote:I really dont think their is any NH player who could be called the best in the world.

Halfpenny if probably the(BEST)in Wales. And will more than like be the first/second name on the Lions tour.

I think Cian Healy is the best loose head prop in the world.

Halfpenny is in great form.. Would like to see him back his pace a bit more.

I think Halfpenny is a terrific player, but not the best in the world (he's taking a rest).

Arguably the most consistent performer, along with Parisse, in the NH. Maybe it's the coaches' instructions to kick the ball, but Halfpenny rarely challenges the defence by having a run at them.