Top three players in the world in each position (pre June tours)

First topic message reminder :

I accept this debate is fairly arbitrary and can often produce unwanted arguments over national bias etc, especially in highly talented positions.

However getting a look at the general opinion before and after international windows also gives an interesting glimpse at how quickly opinions on certain players can change and how they have changed. So here it goes:

1. Ayerza, Healy, Mtawarira
2. Du Plessis, Moore, A Strauss
3. Figallo, Mas, Jones - A fit again Jannie Du Plessis should mount a big charge
4. Etzebeth, Launchbury, Retallick
5. Whitelock, Van Der Merwe, Lawes
6. Lobbe, Alberts, Gorgodze
7. Hooper, Louw, McCaw - Robshaw already very close and I'd back him to push harder in coming weeks
8. Read, Vermuelen, Picamoles

9. A Smith, Care, Du Preez - Murray has also been excellent. Shame Genia is still struggling
10. Cruden, Sexton, Barrett

11. Savea, North, Habana
12. Fofana, Nonu, De Villiers
13. C Smith, Davies, ? - Hoping for England's sake Tuilagi can fill that third spot!
14. B Smith, Huget, Pietersen
15. Folau, Brown, Le Roux - Hardest position and feel criminal leaving out Dagg and Kearney given what they're capable off. Already taken a cop out by consider Halfpenny amongst the injured to make life easier as well   

Players I'd consider up there in ability to the above but not considered due to injury or poor form:

Corbisiero
Cole
Genia
Cooper
Bowe
Carter
Halfpenny

Players who were considered who narrowly missed out:

Domingo
Hibbard, Hartley and Best
Jannie Du Plessis
O'Connell and Alun Wyn Jones
Messam, O'Brien and Wood
Robshaw
Parrise, Faletau and Billy Vunipola
Murray
Bowe and Cummins
Dagg and Kearney

[quote="MMaaxx"]AWJ would not get into the SA, NZ, Eng squads for me so not near the top three.

So is that the criteria for being classed as in the top 3 at the moment?

Top 3 teams at the moment, never mind irb rankings, would have the vast majority of the top 3 players...

It is a fair yardstick for most situations.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

MMaaxx wrote:AWJ would not get into the SA, NZ, Eng squads for me so not near the top three.

So is that the criteria for being classed as in the top 3 at the moment?

Is it really that controversial to argue that if there's 3 teams someone wouldn't get in to, those teams must have at least 1 better player at that position each?

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

Barney McGrew did it wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Only fair to allow you to cristise my take, this is obviously pretty subjective.

1. Mtawarira, Ayerza, Healy
2. Du Plessis, Moore, Hartley
3. JdP, Zirakashvili, C Johnstone
4. Retallick, Launchbury, Etzebeth
5. Whitelock, Van Der Merwe, Lawes
6. Lobbe, Alberts, Gorgodze
7. McCaw, Louw, Brussow
8. Read, Vermuelen, Vuinipola

9. A Smith, Care, Du Preez
10. Cruden, Sexton, Barrett

11. Savea, North, Habana
12. Fofana, Nonu, De Villiers
13. C Smith, Davies, Tuilagi
14. B Smith, Huget, Pietersen
15. Folau, Brown, Le Roux

Is that Baldrick Retallick or his brother Kevin?

Baldrick has a brother??????????
God help Blackadder

Todd's coaching these days.