Telegraphs 100 Top Players - final Countdown

https://www.606v2.com/t57510-telegraph-s-top-100-current-players-80-to-50

49 Wyatt Crockett
Back in 2009 the All Blacks loosehead was chewed up and disdainfully spat out by Martin Castrogiovanni, but such bad days at the office are a rarity now and he gets through a mountain of work in the loose.

48 Tommy Bowe
As fine a predator as there is in the Northern Hemisphere. The Ireland wing averages a try every other game but frequently comes into midfield looking for work.

47 Marcell Coetzee
Comfortable playing across the back row and equally effective in each position as a relentless tackler and strong ball-carrier. Destined to fill the shoes of the great Schalk Burger.

46 Victor Matfield
Retired from international rugby in 2011 only to return to the fray last year. The Springbok lock remains one of the finest lineout technicians, even if the 37-year-old body creaks more than it used to.

45 Manu Tuilagi
A force of nature and one of the England backs who strike fear into opposition defences with his gain-line breaking power. England will be desperate for the Leicester centre to recover from an injury-ravaged season in time for the World Cup.

44 Francois Louw
The Springbok flanker is regarded as one of the kings of the breakdown but his physicality and power make him a versatile operator capable of playing across the back row.

43 Cian Healy
His ball-carrying has been a key plank of Leinster and Ireland’s success over the last five years and he would have started for the Lions against Australia in 2013 but for an ankle injury.

42 Owen Franks
The Crusaders tighthead prop has been an ever present rock in the All Blacks pack since 2009 and regarded as one of the most dominant scrummagers in the world game. Also a rugged defender and carrier.

41 Bryan Habana
The Toulon wing was one of the stars of the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup triumph, with his eight tries equalling the record set by Jonah Lomu in 1999. So fast he once raced a cheetah for charity.

40 Joe Launchbury
One of the world class talents in the England pack, Launchbury epitomes the modern-day lock – rangy, athletic and powerful with the speed of an openside flanker. Troubled by injury this season but best years still ahead of him.

39 Conor Murray
Having emerged as a bolter for Ireland during the 2011 World Cup, Murray was another outstanding performer on the 2013 Lions tour and regarded as one of the most dominating scrum-halves on the international stage.

38 Aaron Cruden
The heir apparent to Dan Carter, the Chiefs fly-half has brought a sparkle to the All Blacks backline with his running game, attacking instinct and kicking game but has been beset by off-field indiscipline.

37 Alun Wyn Jones
The Wales lock will go down in history as the player captained the Lions to their series-clinching win in the third Test against Australia in 2013. Backs up his physical edge with a relentless work-rate.

36 Rob Kearney
Shot to prominence on the back of an outstanding Lions tour in 2009 following Ireland’s Grand Slam triumph and remains one of the most potent attacking full-backs on the world stage and a fearless competitor for the ball in the air.

35 Marcos Ayerza
The Argentinian prop was recently name-checked by retiring Wales prop Adam Jones as one of the toughest scrummagers he ever faced. A legend at Leicester, he has been tormenting front rows for Los Pumas since 2004.

34 Peter O’Mahony
The Munster captain is not the most physically imposing flanker in world rugby, but more than makes up for it with his ferocious energy. A destructive defender, ferocious carrier and superb line-out operators make him an imposing back row force.

33 Ma'a Nonu
One of the most influential All Blacks of the last decade, Nonu made the No 12 jersey his own with his game-breaking power. The 32 year-old is on target to pass the 100-cap milestone this year before he heads to Toulon after the World Cup.

32 Tevita Kuridrani
The Brumbies centre has been forged a reputation as one of Australia’s most dangerous midfield players, combining lightning feet with his massive frame. Still just 23, could be one of the stars of the World Cup later this year.

31 Israel Dagg
One of the outstanding full-backs of the modern era, Dagg played in all of New Zealand’s 2011 World Cup winning campaign and his return of 14 tries from his 46 caps reflects his attacking prowess

30 Leigh Halfpenny
The Welshman once considered too small for professional rugby. Now a metronomic goal kicker among the very best in the world who is a brave last line of defence.

29 David Pocock
If you want to know what the term ‘jackal’ means, just watch the Zimbabwe-born Pocock and his work over the ball. Almost impossible to shift once in place.

28 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Surely one of Argentina’s finest ever players. Consistently effective and destructive, and is comfortable across the back row. Toulon do not sign too many mugs.

27 Jean de Villiers
The epitome of the modern-day inside centre, whose power and carrying make him so valuable there. A fine leader too. Has suffered from injury but always rallied defiantly.

26 Wesley Fofana
To think that France once tried to play him on the wing. What a waste. He is one of the classiest centres the game has seen; powerful, elusive and possessed of vision.

25 Sonny Bill Williams
The former rugby league player who has bucked the trend, playing at centre, which is so difficult for converts. Unsurprisingly Steve Hansen says he is the best athlete he has ever worked with. (Wales’ Gareth Thomas is second best, apparently).

24 Bismarck du Plessis
Hookers live on the edge and occasionally du Plessis has fallen off the cliff, but his raging dynamism and abrasiveness put him down as one of the feared front-rowers in the game.

23 Thierry Dusautoir
At the 2011 Rugby World Cup Richie McCaw said Dusautoir was the opponent he respected most. And Dusautoir may be 33 now, but the warrior mentality still lingers.

22 George North
Still only 22-years-old but already one of the most dangerous wingers in the world. He is behemoth at 6ft 4 inches tall and weighing nearly 110kgs, but he is also quick with a deceptive step.

21 Samu Manoa
What a signing Northampton made in 2011. Even they might not have realised how influential their American No 8/lock would become. There a few more physical players in the game.

20 Sam Warburton
An unremittingly physical openside flanker able to compete with the very best in the world on his day. His work over the ball certainly stands him apart in the northern hemisphere.

19 Sam Whitelock
The epitome of the modern-day lock. Can be rugged and abrasive but also possesses silky handling skills, long-striding running ability and remarkable athleticism. Brilliant at proving off-the-top line-out ball.

18 Jerome Kaino
Not easy to stand out in the New Zealand back row alongside McCaw and Read, but Kaino often does with his huge physical hits and wrecking-ball work at blindside.

17 Paul O’Connell
An Irish legend in the second row, three times a British and Irish Lion, once as captain. Even at 35-year-old he is still a huge influence upon Munster and Ireland.

16 Matt Giteau
Having moved to Toulon, he may not have played international rugby since 2011 but he remains one of the most gifted players of his generation, able to play for Australia at scrum-half, fly-half and centre.

15 Ben Smith
The other All Black wing, not quite as prolific as Savea on the other flank but with 16 tries in 38 tests, no slouch either. They speak highly of him in Bristol where he spent a formative year post-school before earning his spurs back home. Versatile, playing either full-back or outside centre, Smith is an important cog in New Zealand’s World Cup plans.

14 Sergio Parisse
His best days may perhaps be behind him but few players have graced the stage in the manner that Parisse has done for club and country over the past decade, a hard man as well as a sublimely talented one. And Parisse has done all this on the back foot, invariably mounting a rearguard action.

13 Eben Etzebeth
The South African lock has quickly picked up a reputation as the enforcer of the Springbok pack but he offers more than mere muscle and fight. He is mobile and lends great energy to the forward game. Etzebeth has made his mark in more ways than one.

12 Aaron Smith Small of size, huge of heart, Smith is the motor of the New Zealand team, keeping them ticking over, cajoling, directing and making sure that they play in the right parts of the field with the scrum-half’s kicking game a key component.

11 Michael Hooper
The Aussie breakaway forwards just keep rolling off the conveyor belt, from George Smith to David Pocock and on to Hooper, a classic openside in the way he is glued to the ball, always involved, always interfering or creating, a pest and an asset.

10 Willie le Roux
The bit of magic in the Springbok machine, a player with light feet and searing vision, le Roux can create trouble all over the field, as he showed at Twickenham in November when reading the delicate chip kick from Pat Lambie to put Cobus Reinach in for a try.

9 Conrad Smith
Does this man ever make a mistake, ever fluff a pass, miss a tackle, take the wrong option, put his teammates into trouble? Smith rates alongside the likes of Tim Horan or Philippe Sella as one of the best centre three-quarters of all time.

8 Jonathan Sexton The coming man in the fly-half stakes, Sexton has shown for Ireland as well as the Lions that he has fully matured as an influential playmaker, helping his country in 2014 to one of their best ever years.

7 Dan Carter
Has the mighty one fallen, the once sure-fire bet to top any list of greatest players, a man regarded by most as the finest fly-half of all time? No, Carter has been rehabilitating for long stretches and there is no doubt that if he stays fit, he will be a star-turn of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

6 Israel Folau
A triple-code superstar, Folau has not had quite the impact of his initial switch-over year but nonetheless is a constant menace from the rear, forever on the look-out for openings and with the multi-layered ability to take full advantage.

5 Duane Vermeulen
Move over Kieran Read, there is another no.8 on the block, South African Duane Vermeulen, a different type of player, more direct, very much in the Springbok mould. Vermeulen offers more than mere strength, however, a link man as much as a battering ram.

4 Julian Savea
The fact that there was even cause for debate as to who was the greatest wing, Savea or Jonah Lomu, shows just what Savea has achieved in such a short space of time. Lomu transcended his sport while Savea has to be content with merely dominating it as the most potent try-scorer of his era with 30 tries in 33 Tests.

3. Brodie Retallick
Like former All Black lock, Ian Jones, before him, Retallick does not look the most awesome specimen. Lean but mean in what he does, with a fabulous work-rate and involvement, Retallick has been the mainstay of New Zealand’s forward play.

2. Kieran Read
Read has yet to achieve the immortal status of his back-row partner-in-arms but is on the way to be considered one of the finest no.8s in All Black history. The intelligence of his play, his support lines and athleticism, is what marks him out.

1. Richie McCaw
Mr Indestructible, Mr Noble, Mr Success – you can hang any number of complimentary monikers on the New Zealand captain and all would be appropriate. And still delivering. Greatest flanker of all time? Yes.

Folau is a bit high. He was very quiet in November. Giteau is ridiculously high.

21 Samu Manoa??? Really?

the-goon wrote:21 Samu Manoa??? Really?

Best player in the premiership - so one ahead of north looks ok.

Not sure how Samu Manoa can be 21 and Tommy Bowe 48. Thats crazy.

McCaw's legend just keeps growing.

I'd never have uttered the words "greatest ever..." around McCaw when the shadow of Michael Jones is still only 17 years old but even I must admit that McCaw has surpassed those feats of Michael Jones.

I guess the best way of putting it is Jones changed the way modern loose forwards play, McCaw perfected it.

Greatest player of all time....yep, hands down

chewed_mintie wrote:Greatest player of all time....yep, hands down

One of them yes, but hands down....hmmmm

I think Gareth Edwards would have something to say about that.

Assuming this is a list of greatest players who are still playing rather than the best players in the world currently?

LordDowlais wrote:

chewed_mintie wrote:Greatest player of all time....yep, hands down

One of them yes, but hands down....hmmmm

I think Gareth Edwards would have something to say about that.

Well that's the wonderful thing about debate. I was born in 1980, and I know the huge respect NZ has for Edwards and other players of the past. However, there is no player who has ever played the game of rugby to have had as much influence over as long a time as McCaw. He has been so consistently brilliant you could number his bad games on one hand. If you could pinpoint the games where he played badly that is!

There will be no other player as dominant in the game than McCaw.

chewed_mintie wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

chewed_mintie wrote:Greatest player of all time....yep, hands down

One of them yes, but hands down....hmmmm

I think Gareth Edwards would have something to say about that.

Well that's the wonderful thing about debate.  I was born in 1980, and I know the huge respect NZ has for Edwards and other players of the past.  However, there is no player who has ever played the game of rugby to have had as much influence over as long a time as McCaw.  He has been so consistently brilliant you could number his bad games on one hand.  If you could pinpoint the games where he played badly that is!

There will be no other player as dominant in the game than McCaw.

I love this I really do, I agree Richie McCaw is a god amongst men in the rugby world, but if you listen to my farther Gareth Edwards could walk on water. I think they are both as influential as each other, but at different times, Gareth Edwards was the model pro in an amateur sport, he revolutionised scrum half play, he was a trail blazer, who apparently NEVER had a bad game, lets just agree that they are both joint best ever.

The stat that stands out for me is that McCaw has won over 100 internationals, with over 80 of them as captain.

There are only 35 players who've ever won 100 international caps, and as far as I can see only O'Driscoll and Smit have come anywhere close to captaining their country 100 times, but that's games, not wins. If the numbers I've seen are correct, he's won more games as captain than either of them played as captain.

OK, so there are more international matches played these days than ever before, and McCaw has been part of one of the most dominant test sides in the history of the game, but that achievement seems very unlikely ever to be repeated. It speaks of a level of consistency and performance over an extended period that warrants the #1 spot.

As to the rest of the list, it's tosh.

Total Boll***s... I know that the list is subjective, but how can a list of 100 players include some of those names and exclude Shane Williams..

And yes, I'm a fan of Shane and yes I'm Welsh, but to keep it in perspective and not to be accused of being a typical "taff", look at it this way.. Talupe Faletau in a list of 100 but no Shane Williams. Talupe is a very good player, and maybe in years to come will prove to be one of the all time best. BUT at present, is he better than Shane was (as a player of course... bit silly really as how can you compare different positions.. but its not my list).

Just shows these lists are total cr@p designed to sell papers...

Would this be a bad time to point out that its a list of the top 100 current players (even though its a stupid list)

Looking at that list, we all might as well give up rugby and leave the Kiwi's to their own devices

Yeah..I think it needs pointing out.

This is the Top Schmidt List 100 of CURRENT players.

That truly must have been as painful as pulling teeth though for the guys who compiled it.

I don't know how they got through it so slickly and got it finished before the next millennium because we all know that if you put two rugby people in a room with no escape and they're told to compile a top 100 list between them................................... well, it's like commanding them to choose the winning lotto numbers for the week (not an attempt - the actual numbers)

So hats off to the boys.  They must have sectionalised the effort - one guy doing 1 to 20 and so on.  Not all that scientific if so, but I suppose the only way to finish one in under 100 years.

Sorry, my bad, I take my comment back...

We get so many of these damn lists, I was confusing it with another of Top 100 players of the Professional Era..

As this is CURRENT players, its obviously my man sausage up... Yet I stand by these lists being nothing more than a way to sell papers

Has Samu been that good this year? I don't have BT so don't see any Premiership. I know he's a man for the big collisions, but didn't know he was that good a player.

Fair play then. Looks like Toulon have yet another top class forward. I just hope we see him at the RWC this time around....

How is North that high, certainly not for his defence thats for sure

the-goon wrote:Has Samu been that good this year? I don't have BT so don't see any Premiership. I know he's a man for the big collisions, but didn't know he was that good a player.

Fair play then. Looks like Toulon have yet another top class forward. I just hope we see him at the RWC this time around....

He was been brilliant for Saints before Christmas, gone off the ball a bit now. But being a yank, we are never going to see him tested against the best.

To make these lists work, is you have to put a bit effort into the wine list first.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
To make these lists work, is you have to put a bit effort into the wine list first.

Well said, that man.

No John Hayes......

Waste of time that list.

Decent top 10, otherwise abysmal scoring

Just a thought: Top 20

Back three = 4
Centers = 1 (included Giteau in the halves)
Halves = 4
Loosies = 7
Locks = 4
Front row forwards = 0

Bismark is the highest ranked front rower at #24. The first ranked prop is Owen Franks at #42.

Professional teams pay good money for props, Not many of these assessments ever seem to give them much credit.

20 Sam Warburton

Not sure he is the 20th best back row in the 6 nations lol

Where's Phil Vickery?

Parisse is crap

37. Alun Wyn Jones. 86 Wales caps 6 Lions caps
21. Samu Manoa 10 caps for USA.

These articles are just there to get people wound up and to get people to click on them because they so ridiculous they need to be seen to be believed.

Chunky Norwich wrote:37. Alun Wyn Jones. 86 Wales caps 6 Lions caps
21. Samu Manoa 10 caps for USA.

These articles are just there to get people wound up and to get people to click on them because they so ridiculous they need to be seen to be believed.

As much as I agree with your general point, the two players you've chosen are definitely not a good example (assuming you're wondering why Manoa is higher than AWJ)

Matfield at 46.... there is hope for the return of Willie John yet at this rate.

Total jokes. The only reason the guy is playing rugby is because he married Meyer's daughter.


ok - so a bit of a lie but there has to be some reason similar to that. More like Meyer's bloed is blou and he has as much vision as David Blunkett.

It has everything to do with compromising photos FA

Matt gitau at 16 is the biggest joke...Was put out if the Wallabies 5 years ago for consistently failing, mostly against England.

Then he pops up in the baa baas club of Europe and is up at 16?

Was the net for this selection cast as wide as non test playing sxv, ITM or Currie cup players?

Riskysports wrote:20 Sam Warburton

Not sure he is the 20th best back row in the 6 nations lol

I'll bite: tell me your reasoning for this comment?! WUM or serious? I know you use LOL, but out of a list of 100 players why pick Warburton? Genuinely interested. Not just because I'm Welsh! Just because out of 18 first choice back row players in the 6N I reckon he could fit in somewhere (as first choice).

Griff wrote:

Riskysports wrote:20 Sam Warburton

Not sure he is the 20th best back row in the 6 nations lol

I'll bite: tell me your reasoning for this comment?! WUM or serious? I know you use LOL, but out of a list of 100 players why pick Warburton? Genuinely interested. Not just because I'm Welsh!  Just because out of 18 first choice back row players in the 6N I reckon he could fit in somewhere (as first choice).

I rate Warburton highly - but is he even the best openside in Wales if we are basing it on form? Navidi?

One thing I do like in this list is how highly Peter O'Mahony is rated - what a player.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Griff wrote:

Riskysports wrote:20 Sam Warburton

Not sure he is the 20th best back row in the 6 nations lol

I'll bite: tell me your reasoning for this comment?! WUM or serious? I know you use LOL, but out of a list of 100 players why pick Warburton? Genuinely interested. Not just because I'm Welsh!  Just because out of 18 first choice back row players in the 6N I reckon he could fit in somewhere (as first choice).

I rate Warburton highly - but is he even the best openside in Wales if we are basing it on form? Navidi?

Warburton at his best is Wales' best openside purely because of his destructive work at the breakdown, hes not as good in the loose as Tipuric but hes more physical.

IronMike wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Griff wrote:

Riskysports wrote:20 Sam Warburton

Not sure he is the 20th best back row in the 6 nations lol

I'll bite: tell me your reasoning for this comment?! WUM or serious? I know you use LOL, but out of a list of 100 players why pick Warburton? Genuinely interested. Not just because I'm Welsh!  Just because out of 18 first choice back row players in the 6N I reckon he could fit in somewhere (as first choice).

I rate Warburton highly - but is he even the best openside in Wales if we are basing it on form? Navidi?

Warburton at his best is Wales' best openside purely because of his destructive work at the breakdown, hes not as good in the loose as Tipuric but hes more physical.

Plus Navidi plays more at 8 and 6 than 7. Warbruton and Tipuric are great at what they do but are different types of player so always difficult to compare.

Who put Launchbury and Tuilagi in the list?

They're English and not even playing! Without them in the team England would be thrashed by Wales who have four players in the top 50.