Best Rugby...?

Question

I'm an American teen, but am interested in rugby. What is the best '07 rugby team, which games should I watch in the world cup? Who is the best all-time player, and who is the best modern still playing player?

Answer 1

Good answer given by HAWKEYE above,  NZ are the team to watch, they play incredible rugby, but certain players in all internationals teams are great but do not have the support from other weaker teammates!

Take the USA against England for example, some stood out for the USA others fecked up!  but considering the USA have, only in recent years, been playing this game and most are amateurs, whilst England players are pro's, this was a confidence boast for the USA !

The same goes for Georgia, who only have 8 rugby pitches and 300 players in their country, they were very unlucky to lose against a professional team like Ireland.

Dan Carter is the best modern player to date, but as for the best all time player, there are many, mostly from NZ, Australia and Wales!

Gareth Edwards, who played for Wales, was voted the all time best player in world of  rugby 2 years ago, but i do not agree with this myself.

You cannot compere the yesterday rugby to the modern day game, because the game moves on every year with different skills and techniques!

As for popularity, in the UK, soccer and Rugby are very popular, as popular as American football and baseball is in the USA!

Hope you do take it up, it is a great game and very entertaining to watch!

Good luck!

Answer 2

Another crash hot answer from Hawkeye.

Totally agree - MJ is the man and Hayman (just quietly) has no rival in any front row in the world. Woodcock has been the stand out player for me over the last half dozen games - just gets better and better.

I would watch all the games in the knock out rounds if you can. That's all four quarters, the two semis and of course the final. They won't start till next month. You have a little time to find out when and where to watch them - nothing beats live coverage even at 3am in the morning.

PS - Hey Hawkeye mate, I finally got blocked from Nonenzedder - strange, I should feel offended but I just can't stop laughing !

Answer 3

New Zealand are ranked #1 in the world right now and have been playing the best rugby leading into the tournament but any one of the top 4-5 teams can beat each other on any given day.

There will be endless debate about who the best player of all time is but my vote goes to a guy called Michael Jones who played for New Zealand and coaches Samoa right now.

The best current player inspires debate but the majority will say Dan Carter or Richie McCaw both of New Zealand.  Personally I think it is Carl Hayman of New Zealand.  He is the undisputed best at his position but doesn't get the glory because his position doesn't come with the glory.  Like a lineman in football that sits in the QB's shadow!

The differences between League and Union are numerous.  League originated from Union when players wanted to be paid years ago.  They split away and formed League.  They have 2 less players on the field, they have 6 tackles to score (like the 4 downs to gain 10 yards in football), after each tackle they play the ball between their legs while the defence gets back 10m so their are no rucks or mauls, they dont have lineouts and their scrums are not really contested.

Union is a much bigger game that is played around the world whereas League has few nations playing it with the top three being Great Britain, New Zealand and the almost always ranked #1 Australia.

I know how insanely big Football is in the states but I think that Rugby in New Zealand is even more idolised.  American Football actually developed from Rugby as well.  Rugby and League went to the states from Europe and split again to form American Football.  New Zealanders are fanatical about Rugby and that is true throughout the entire country/  It isn't as big in other countries although it is a major sport many.  95 countries have teams recognised by the International Rugby Board.

Answer 4

Hawkeye 74, you`re a book of knowledge, I was going to answer ,but read yours first,.......excellent explaination for those questions, except, I  personally, always rated Bruce Robertson as my all time best player.

Answer 5

Best 07 Rugby team is the Bulls from South Africa as they won the Super 14.

Best all time player is John Eales.  

Best current player is Victor Matfield or Richie McCaw in the forwards and Dan Carter or Matt Giteau in the backs