Telegraph's top 100 current players - 80 to 50

80. Tendai Mtawarira
Known fondly by fellow players and fans as The Beast, Mtawarira is a Zimbabwean-born South African who came late to rugby and was shifted from No 8 to loosehead, where his powerful scrummaging has been honed. Memorably destroyed Phil Vickery in the first Lions Test of 2009.

79. Richie Gray
One of Scotland’s genuine world class players on his day, the 6ft 9in lock came on to play his part in the winning Lions series team in Australia in 2013. A safe ball-winning option in the lineout, Gray also has pace, balance and decent handling skills for one so big.

78. Juan Smith
A key player in South Africa’s 2007 World Cup-winning squad. But perhaps even more impressive was the blindside flanker’s comeback from an Achilles injury that initially saw him retire in 2013. Offered another chance by Toulon, he grabbed it, winning the Heineken Cup, the Top 14 and an international recall.

77. Stephen Moore
The son of Irish parents who emigrated to Australia when he was five, Moore made his Wallabies debut way back in 2005. The hooker now has 95 caps to his name. Picked up a season-ending ACL injury on debut as captain last summer but still life left in him.

76. Steffon Armitage
Might have been higher in this list if he was a regular England player. Only 5 caps to date, at 29 years of age. The issue of the Toulon star’s eligibility for England will only grow if he keeps putting in the kind of performances which made him Europe’s player of season last year.

75. Tony Woodcock
The loosehead has played more than 100 times for the All Blacks and scored the winning try in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final. The 34-year-old is out for the season with a shoulder injury, but will return for the World Cup.

74. Handre Pollard
Has long been identified as the next big thing in his homeland, the outside-half did nothing to quell the hype with an extraordinary two-try performance against the All Blacks. Only 20 and could become one of the game’s greats.

73. Kurtley Beale
Has endured his fair share of controversy - most notably with the recent “Textgate” scandal involving a woman Wallaby official - but there can be no doubting tis talent as both a running and kicking outside-half.

72. Beauden Barrett
One of the All Blacks fly-halves trying to escape the shadow of Dan Carter, Barrett’s influence was critical in ensuring his country’s winning run against Wales continued in November. In 28 Tests, has only lost once.

71. Joe Marler
The Harlequins prop has emerged as one of England’s most consistent performers. has curtailed his fiery temper to become a fine club captain. Might not possess quality of a Corbisiero but has so much heart.

70. Digby Ioane
The Kiwi-born wing turned his back on the Wallabies after the 2013 Lions Test to take a reported £1m contract with Stade Francais and has proved a hit in Paris with his pace and ball-carrying skills.

69. Morgan Parra
It is little wonder that this wonderfully versatile half-back is so popular with both the French public and the French media. Le Petite General does everything, including goal-kick, as he showed when leading his country to 2010 Grand Slam.

68. Agustin Creevy
Worcester have embraced this Argentinian hooker, who happens to so mobile he has played at openside flanker. Also possesses a tremendous offload which makes him one of the game’s most exciting forwards.

67. Jonathan Davies
A mark of his quality came when Warren Gatland chose the Welshman over Brian O’Driscoll for the final Lions Test in 2013. As proven in defence as in attack, Davies more than justified the coach’s faith.

66. Dylan Hartley
If he could only learn to control his temperament and thus his discipline then the Kiwi-born Englishman could challenge for title of best hooker in the world. Allied to his throwing-in consistency, brings an invaluable physical presence.

65. Alex Corbisiero
The Lions loosehead was much missed by England during the autumn series when he was suffering with a shoulder injury. The archetypal modern day prop, who is as adept in the loose as in the set-piece.

64. Niko Matawalu
The diminutive Fiji scrum-half has proved a huge hit with Glasgow and a move to Bath awaits. The Rec faithful are certain to take to Matawalu, with his darting runs and quick-fire service.

63. Sean O’Brien
Anybody who has seen Ireland’s rampaging ball-carrier in destructive motion will not be surprised that he has undergone two shoulder reconstructions. His country needs him to retain all of his power and commitment.

62. Juan Martin Hernandez
In Argentina his nickname is “the rugby Maradona” and although that is stretching there is no doubting the quality of this fly-half who also does a more than passable impression of a world-class full-back or centre.

61. Matt Toomua
A fly-half by nature and upbringing, the 25-year-old is in a battle with Christian Lealiifano for the Wallabies No 12 jersey, the playmaking Brumbie could emerge as world rugby’s new Jean de Villiers.


https://www.606v2.com/t57488-daily-telegraph-s-100-best-current-players


11 extra players added:

60. Mamuka Gorgodze
There cannot be many more terrifying sights on a rugby field than “Gorgodzilla” in full flight. After nine years of destruction with Montpellier, Toulon made the giant Georgian back row their latest galactico.

59. Liam Messam
Neck and neck in the battle with Jerome Kaino for the All Blacks blindside berth. With a background in sevens, Messam is an excellent link player with an abrasive edge.

58. Fourie du Preez
Would be far higher were it not for injury and choosing to play his rugby in Japan. The heartbeat of the side that won the 2007 World Cup and still the finest tactical scrum half on the planet.

57. Napolioni Nalaga
A Fijian giant with the feet of a ballerina. With momentum on his side, little can stop Clermont’s battering ram, which must be especially disconcerting when he comes into midfield. Toulon bound.

56. Louis Picamoles

The French and Toulouse No 8 has that unerring ability to consistently punch his way over the gainline and offers excellent control at the base of the scrum.

55. Jamie Heaslip
Never short of self-confidence so it is just as well the Ireland No 8 can back it up as one of only three players to have started five of the past six Lions Tests.

54. Adam Ashley-Cooper
The Wallabies’ elder statesmen is aiming for a final hurrah at the World Cup before joining Bordeaux. Extraordinary longevity and versatility to have won 104 caps across the backline by the age of 30. Also subject of this bizarre ditty.

53. Dane Coles
Progressed rapidly in 2014 to nail down the New Zealand hooking berth. His set-piece work is far more consistent while his mobility and his handling are among the best for a front-rower.

52. Courtney Lawes
There’s more to Lawes than just big hits now. Added to the potent mix of athleticism, dexterity and power, Lawes has now taken on the considerable responsibility of calling the lineout for England.

51. Chris Robshaw
Whenever the doubts have mounted, Robshaw has delivered not least against Australia in the autumn. Breakdown work is vastly underrated and the England captain rivals Kieran Read for his link play.

50. Jamie Roberts
Sending a centre crashing over the gainline isn’t particularly subtle, but it is mightily effective. As Northampton discovered against Racing Metro, even if you know what’s coming, stopping it is entirely another matter.

Joe Marler ahead of Tony Woodcock. That is all.....

Barret should be way above that lot...and what is parra doing there? did the telegraph journos stop watching rugby in 2013?

79. Richie Gray
One of Scotland’s genuine world class players on his day, the 6ft 9in lock..........................

He is at least 6'11", Hardly got any match time for the lions! he is not as good as his wee brother and I doubt anyone who has watched them both would disagree. But a good few places higher. Thats todays giggle

S.Armitage - "might be higher if the played for England" - what difference does that make to his skills?

This "top 100" has to be one of the most pointless and infantile exercises in rugby journalism to date.

MarcusHalberstram wrote:This "top 100" has to be one of the most pointless and infantile exercises in rugby journalism to date.

I concur

MarcusHalberstram wrote:This "top 100" has to be one of the most pointless and infantile exercises in rugby journalism to date.

Word. And yet it made me click. I don't know if thats an indication of how ultimately shallow I am, or how much I'm procrastinating.

MarcusHalberstram wrote:This "top 100" has to be one of the most pointless and infantile exercises in rugby journalism to date.

Infantile? Im not sure it is meant to be taken very seriously.

Notch wrote:

MarcusHalberstram wrote:This "top 100" has to be one of the most pointless and infantile exercises in rugby journalism to date.

Word. And yet it made me click. I don't know if thats an indication of how ultimately shallow I am, or how much I'm procrastinating.

Probably just a bit bored, eh?

There is a certain car crash element - waiting to see what happens.

I was beginning to think Ireland might thankfully escape being included at all, but then they put the best openside player ever in the world O'Brien in at 63, and you wonder who are they gonna include tomorrow?

They'll probably put in some New Zealanders by the time Friday comes around.......

Beale and Barratt can both be aggrieved

Some of these choices are comedy gold

Richie Gray? Really?

Agustin Creevy?

Alex Corbisiero? He rarely plays. Not included against Wales, probably because of yet another injury.

Sean O Brien - another crocked player.


More poor choices to follow I guess.

If anything, based on his form over the last year, Creevey should be up towards the top 30, he's been one of the best hookers in world rugby for me

How do these guys do this?

"Let's give the mouthy social media asswholes something to get their teeth into and draw up a top 100 list"

?

Is that how they decide to draw up a list that next week, if asked to draw up another one with no reference allowed to the old one, they'd draw up a completely different list (and few of them couldn't even recite this one without looking at their notes).

How do you acquire the skills that tells you one player in one position is 85th whilst another player in a different position is 61st?

Fair dues to the analysis lads at the Telegraph, all those years of waffle is seriously paying off now.

Completely arbitrary, lazy, puerille sh!te.

I cannot wait for the next couple of parts.

Vickery will make the top spot - only fitting as this is probably his last season.

offload wrote:Vickery will make the top spot - only fitting as this is probably his last season.

Saw him cooking at the weekend on that godawful Two Faintly Funny Football Geezers Inna Kitchen show.  Didn't stick around to see the end result but if I was Lancaster I'd be concerned that's he's moonlighting during a very serious lead-in time for his career.

I look at these lists more like a bell curve. A heap of good players inseparably clumped together around the middle spreading out to the truly world class players at the thin end. It's only worth debating whether BOD is 15 or 3.

Since its current players, I can see BOD being number 1.

You just know the writer banged this together in an hour or so.
Farcical really some people get paid to write this garbage

aucklandlaurie wrote:
Since its current players, I can see BOD being number 1.

If it's current players then Phil Vickery is definitely in with a shout.

Given the Telegraph had Robshaw at 7 in their best WORLD XV, I don't think they have much credibility.

Yeah, Phil Vickory is an amazing up and coming talent. Hope he makes the England RWC squad but I'm not sure Lancaster has the time to bring him in and test him.

If we had full transparency regarding player remuneration, we could list the top 100 best-paid (perhaps with a cost-of-living-adjustment). That would be an interesting exercise.

Rugby Fan wrote:If we had full transparency regarding player remuneration, we could list the top 100 best-paid (perhaps with a cost-of-living-adjustment). That would be an interesting exercise.

Bath's lawyers would be in touch a long time before that would ever find its way into print.

Nematode wrote:Given the Telegraph had Robshaw at 7 in their best WORLD XV, I don't think they have much credibility.

When?

LondonTiger wrote:

Nematode wrote:Given the Telegraph had Robshaw at 7 in their best WORLD XV, I don't think they have much credibility.

When?

The Telegraph also once elected Will Carling as the greatest player ever in a poll.

maestegmafia wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Nematode wrote:Given the Telegraph had Robshaw at 7 in their best WORLD XV, I don't think they have much credibility.

When?

The Telegraph also once elected Will Carling as the greatest player ever in a poll.

You have said that before but still haven't shown us when this poll result occurred.

Rugby Fan wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Nematode wrote:Given the Telegraph had Robshaw at 7 in their best WORLD XV, I don't think they have much credibility.

When?

The Telegraph also once elected Will Carling as the greatest player ever in a poll.

You have said that before but still haven't shown us when this poll result occurred.

Oh I remember that!

..............em.......................eh............................ I can't remember specifically when but I know Will himself wrote the article

SecretFly wrote:

Rugby Fan wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Nematode wrote:Given the Telegraph had Robshaw at 7 in their best WORLD XV, I don't think they have much credibility.

When?

The Telegraph also once elected Will Carling as the greatest player ever in a poll.

You have said that before but still haven't shown us when this poll result occurred.

Oh I remember that!  

..............em.......................eh............................ I can't remember specifically when but I know Will himself wrote the article

Most "greatest player" polls give the accolade to Gareth E. Carling wasn't generally regarded as the best player in his team. He might have been voted England's greatest captain, which would have been a fair shout until Johnson built his record. All in all, though, I prefer to doubt that the result Maes mentioned appeared as he remembers it. His own silence on the matter appears to confirm this suspicion.

Well...............  that was a tad tongue in cheek.  The real deal is that the google search and destroy tool is a very nice thing to have to settle debates, when people get around to not being lazy enough not to use it

Anyway, only reference I can see is the list that - yes - does put Edwards at number one......... and the writer is Carling himself.  So maybe that's what Maes was thinking about and to use one of the always new Americanisms - he might be 'disremembering' it.

I'm just interested to see if Robshaw polls higher than Armitage and Haskell. If he does then we'll know it's a fix.

It's already a fix. Madloon Beale is 73

...which means there is going to be a bundle of ordinary folks well in front of him.