Rupeni Caucaunibuca

Just read that Brian O'Driscoll has a list of the 13 greatest players hes faced on his website and he has Rupeni Caucaunibuca ranked 3rd after Jonah Lomu and Tim Horan.  I know he is constantly spoken about as one of rugby greatest squandered talents but is he really as good as O'Driscoll rates him?

I found this article fascinating and it sums up how Caucau has gone from a potential superstar to now playing for Northland as his career draws to an end.
For some clips of when he faced O'Driscoll have a look at this vid - O'Driscoll scores a hatrick, one of which is nearly stopped by Caucau's ridiculous speed and Caucau also scores a try.  

http://www.espn.co.uk/newzealand/rugby/story/219727.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjh8RVQyLXw

Look at Caucau's two tries against Scotland at the 03 world cup to see how talented he was.

Caucau was just sublime...but just didnt have the professionalism to succeed as he should have.

I think its possible that his carefree attitude allowed him to do what he did on the pitch...he just went for it without a care in the world.

Great to watch...

1Jonah Lomu
2Tim Horan
3Rupeni Caucaunibuca
4Richie McCaw
5Jonny Wilkinson
6Yannick Jauzion
7Martin Johnson
8Joost Van Der Westhuizen
9George Gregan
10Jason Robinson
11Dan Carter
12Richard Hill
13Martin Williams

Surprised Gavin Henson didnt make the list.

GunsGerms wrote:Surprised Gavin Henson didnt make the list.

Me too, considering BOD judged him to be such a threat he gouged him

Gouged him?

Munkian, touché!

GunsGerms wrote:Gouged him?

6 Nations 2005

Considering it is players he came up against, I'm surprised he didn't have Clerc in there. That fella was the final nail in many a game for Irish teams.

munkian wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Surprised Gavin Henson didnt make the list.

Me too, considering BOD judged him to be such a threat he gouged him

..and pulled his hair wasn't it?

Gouged and pulled hair. Never be coy in presenting all unsubstantiated allegations.

I'm surprised he didn't mention any Irish players!

More ammo in Munster's belt fo the weekend. "So we're not good enough to be in your fancy list of best players who faced you, tis it??? Well take that!!! And that!!!......"

SecretFly wrote:

munkian wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Surprised Gavin Henson didnt make the list.

Me too, considering BOD judged him to be such a threat he gouged him

..and pulled his hair wasn't it?

Gouged and pulled hair.  Never be coy in presenting all unsubstantiated allegations.  

You can see something a bit naughty if you have the match on video   

No Gibbs?

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Considering it is players he came up against, I'm surprised he didn't have Clerc in there. That fella was the final nail in many a game for Irish teams.

8 tries in 9 games against Ireland I think? but do not worry he will be back in time for the world cup

SF, I suppose this list only includes players he faced when playing for ireland...

He once said Nick De Luca was underestimated and tough to play against so well... take it with a pinch or five of salt

munkian wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Gouged him?

6 Nations 2005

I presume O'Driscoll was found guilty of this offense?

whocares wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Considering it is players he came up against, I'm surprised he didn't have Clerc in there. That fella was the final nail in many a game for Irish teams.

8 tries in 9 games against Ireland I think? but do not worry he will be back in time for the world cup

SF, I suppose this list only includes players he faced when playing for ireland...

Im surprised he didnt include Clerc too but O'Driscoll also scored 8 tries v France more than against anyone else.

Its a good job BOD wasn't a loosehead!!!!

I guess because BOD was a 13 is the reason why the list is only made up of 13?

Scrumpy wrote:Its a good job BOD wasn't a loosehead!!!!

I guess because BOD was a 13 is the reason why the list is only made up of 13?

Is it?

oh only 13 on the list?.... oh yeah...some bright spark journalists little slice of link sales.

Joe rokocoko was caucau's bootboy at the blues. Shows what he could have been?

Had he played for one of the major nations he would have ranked along say the top 5 players the world has ever seen.

Playing for Fiji simply wasn't enough for a player of such quality. Quality rugby once every four years. No wonder he let himself get overweight, he simply didn't need to be fit... He was still better then most.

That is not the reason he got overweight. He continued to get bigger even when he was playing for Toulose.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:That is not the reason he got overweight. He continued  to get bigger even when he was playing for Toulose.

Put on weight playing the the Top14 where the game is centred on building massive bodies and flinging them into contact at every opportunity.

fa0019 wrote:Joe rokocoko was caucau's bootboy at the blues. Shows what he could have been?

Had he played for one of the major nations he would have ranked along say the top 5 players the world has ever seen.

Playing for Fiji simply wasn't enough for a player of such quality. Quality rugby once every four years. No wonder he let himself get overweight, he simply didn't need to be fit... He was still better then most.

He chose Fiji over his native NZ, so may have been short on aspiration all along.

Interesting omissions from his list - no JD or Tana Umaga or Conrad smith.

Rupene: At his peak the best attacking player I've seen in union or league. Pace to burn, size, steps of wither foot, kicks off either foot, wonderful hands, great off loads, brilliant lines. Reads the game fantastically.

Apparently when he was in the Blues side he used to ask them how many tries they wanted him to score before the game. The undisputed star of the 2002-2004 blues, which had arguably the best attacking backline in world rugby at the time.

Good to see Lomu at the top of the list. The greatest ball carrier in the game. Well done BOD- good to see someone of quality recognises it.

interesting list:

not much tight five representation which probably reflects that BOD is, well, a centre. Johnson gets there, but that's it.

Three flankers: McCaw, Hill and perhaps more surprisingly M. Williams. Nothing against Williams, who was a very fine player, but interesting that BOD rates him alongside McCaw and Hill who would be for most included in an all-time XV debate.

Two scrum-halves, JVW and Gregan, no surprises there, the two outstanding SHs of BOD's era.

Two FHs, again no surprises with the names, but perhaps a bit surprising to see Wilko rated a decent distance ahead of Carter.

Two centres: Horan and Jauzion. Worthy of their spots certainly, perhaps a bit surprised not to see names like Greenwood, Umaga or even Conrad Smith in there (though perhaps with Umaga it's understandable ).

Three back three guys: Lomu, Robinson (unsurprising) and of course Caucaunibuca (already being discussed).

blackcanelion wrote:Rupene: At his peak the best attacking player I've seen in union or league. Pace to burn, size, steps of wither foot, kicks off either foot, wonderful hands, great off loads, brilliant lines. Reads the game fantastically.

Apparently when he was in the Blues side he used to ask them how many tries they wanted him to score before the game. The undisputed star of the 2002-2004 blues, which had arguably the best attacking backline in world rugby at the time.

Thats where I disagree bc. Doesnt rate better than Lomu on attack for me, plus he was and is still a loner, didn't have his heart in the game and went fat on the job. Couldnt fault Lomu in that respect, gave his all despite his failing health from the day he took up the job in 95.

Both demolished the opposition, but only Lomu did it on the International scene, BOD has him picked here purely from club matches.

In tests its 3 tries vs Scotland 4 vs Chile and 1 vs Italy and Arg or something like that so he's purely club level- fantastic at it but its still non tests, regardless of the reason.

Taylorman wrote:Good to see Lomu at the top of the list. The greatest ball carrier in the game. Well done BOD- good to see someone of quality recognises it.

The crazy thing is... BOD first played lomu in 2001 when he was half crocked and nowhere near his 95-97 best.

Lomu is a once a century player. We literally won't see another player like him for another 90 odd years. If he played today he'd still have the same impact.

I remember him bouncing off vickery, dillalgio and Johnson in 2002 like he was a colt playing a u13 side. He was working on about half a kidney then too!

Doug howlett and lomu were the perfect wing combos. Lomu smashed the defence to pieces. Next phase you had a 10.6 man to exploit the gaps lomu made. Doug owes lomu a few beers to say the least.... In fact every pro player today owes that man, if it wasn't for lomu the game may not even had gone professional such was his impact in 95. If it had the interest and money in the game would have been far far less.

GloriousEmpire wrote:

fa0019 wrote:Joe rokocoko was caucau's bootboy at the blues. Shows what he could have been?

Had he played for one of the major nations he would have ranked along say the top 5 players the world has ever seen.

Playing for Fiji simply wasn't enough for a player of such quality. Quality rugby once every four years. No wonder he let himself get overweight, he simply didn't need to be fit... He was still better then most.

He chose Fiji over his native NZ, so may have been short on aspiration all along.

I may be wrong, but didn't he and the NZRU try and change the eligibility rules to try and get him into the Black jersey?

Aw bless, 'she's' back with more wummery bless her.

Caucau is welcome at the Mighty Taniwha, we are not full of has beens considering one of our ex-players is about to turn Irish.

He was magnificent in his real country's shirt, good for him, pity there were not a lot more who want to play for their country of roots.

dallym wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:

fa0019 wrote:Joe rokocoko was caucau's bootboy at the blues. Shows what he could have been?

Had he played for one of the major nations he would have ranked along say the top 5 players the world has ever seen.

Playing for Fiji simply wasn't enough for a player of such quality. Quality rugby once every four years. No wonder he let himself get overweight, he simply didn't need to be fit... He was still better then most.

He chose Fiji over his native NZ, so may have been short on aspiration all along.

I may be wrong, but didn't he and the NZRU try and change the eligibility rules to try and get him into the Black jersey?

I'm pretty sure they did actually. I think there was something about him having to wait 3 years though that put him off. The big money in France was just too good an offer to turn down.

GE- native NZ?

You sure about that? Born and bred in Fiji from all sources.

Yep born and bred in Fiji. Moved to Northland later. Not sure if he could have qualified for NZ as I seem to remember him playing 7's for Fiji about the same time he showed up in Northland.

Saying caucau is a native kiwi because he joined a club there would be like saying manu tuilagi comes from one of the oldest families in England.

I don't believe GE could have got his facts wrong... Rational thinking maybe, facts... not a chance!

ge has been wrong on many of his facts, even when they bite him on the bum he will not back down.

Caucau did demolish opposition at int level, Taylorman, he just didnt play as many matches and played in a weaker side than Lomu

Always insane to see the way Caucau could move that big frame around! You just can't help but wonder what may have been if he'd played for Tigers and perhaps had a bit more discipline about him...

That Blues side of the early century was just incredible.

Caucau has 9 tries in 7 matches for Fiji. Plus 1 in 1 for the Pacific Islanders. 2 from 2 for Barbarians sides

Wow interesting to hear that in 2004 we sent Rob Andrew and Johnny Wilkinson to NZ to sign Caucau for the Falcons. Instead he chose France and we got one of the Falcons legends Matt Burke.

Interesting how things work out.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Caucau did demolish opposition at int level, Taylorman, he just didnt play as many matches and played in a weaker side than Lomu

yes but thats not why boD picked him at 3. Remove his club appearances and you have a 9 test player, regardless of the reason. Caucau lacked so many attributes that would have seen him succeed over time internationally, and unless you succeed internationally, youre not up there.

Like laziness to train, he wasnt a team man, he wasnt loyal...he just went where it suited him.

Its kudos to caucau that he does get mentioned here such was his talent, but club form is what it is.

Caucau has said he wants to try get back into the Fiji tean for the next RWC. Imagine a backline of:

9. Niko
10. Bai
11. Nalanga
12. Goneva
13. Nadolo
14. Caucau
15. Nagusa..

Caucau would have to find his Auckland Blues form to start ahead of Talebula (13 tries in 17 games so far in the T14)

whocares wrote:Caucau would have to find his Auckland Blues form to start ahead of Talebula (13 tries in 17 games so far in the T14)

He will have his chance with the Mighty Taniwha and he will get great support off us fans.  

Taylorman wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Caucau did demolish opposition at int level, Taylorman, he just didnt play as many matches and played in a weaker side than Lomu

yes but thats not why boD picked him at 3. Remove his club appearances and you have a 9 test player, regardless of the reason. Caucau lacked so many attributes that would have seen him succeed over time internationally, and unless you succeed internationally, youre not up there.

Like laziness to train, he wasnt a team man, he wasnt loyal...he just went where it suited him.

Its kudos to caucau that he does get mentioned here such was his talent, but club form is what it is.

I think this is all true, but you could probably make a decent list of the things Lomu was actually not that great at - passing, kicking, under the high ball, defensive technique (at least to start) were all probably not top notch, although would be interested to know if people disagree and think I'm being unfair. Anyway, it didn't really matter, he was great.

GloriousEmpire wrote:Interesting omissions from his list - no JD or Tana Umaga or Conrad smith.

True, really interesting. We can only imagine how BOD must have agonised over whether to list JD or Lomu, such a tight call.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Look at Caucau's two tries against Scotland at the 03 world cup to see how talented he was.

I'd rather not to be honest!

Huge talent. Always wondered how good he could have been had he eaten less food.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Look at Caucau's two tries against Scotland at the 03 world cup to see how talented he was.

I'd rather not to be honest!

Huge talent. Always wondered how good he could have been had he eaten less food.

He was a little tubby then to be honest too. I think he tucked into food like he did because literally he could.... I stuff my face and still I run rings round you.