[Casander]

Originally Posted by Tombo2001

I've long since given up on the notion that any Irish team might compete consistently aganst SH teams....

In August internationals in Lansdowne maybe......

Wouldnt be a massive rugby fan.

Evidently not.

[Klunk_NZ]

Ritchie McCaw aka the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)

Then Lomu

Then Carter

Campese

John Eales

Michael Jones



BOD is best Irish player of all time but wouldn't make my top 15 past or present.

[Teferi]

Originally Posted by Klunk_NZ

Ritchie McCaw aka the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)

Then Lomu

Then Carter

Campese

John Eales

Michael Jones



BOD is best Irish player of all time but wouldn't make my top 15 past or present.

New Zealand rugby fans are the most predictable fans in the world...

Originally Posted by Teferi

If Brian O'Driscoll was from New Zealand then he would definitely be in any Kiwis Top 20, however as he is Irish they will just about begrudgingly say that he is the best Irish rugby player.

[Klunk_NZ]

I think you would find the same opinions every single country outside of Ireland.
He wouldn't even be in the current 15 let alone all time, there's no easy way to put out a candle that soo many here rely on but its the truth.

[Teferi]

I don't think anyone is under the impression that he is currently one of the best in the world so don't misrepresent what you are reading here but he is one of the all time greats.

Anyway, I'm not getting into a tit-for-tat exchange that will go nowhere. I just find it funny that NZ rugby fans are predictable

[splashthecash]

I agree that Jonah Lomu burst onto the scene with ferocious power and speed and wasn't he primarily just a battering ram?

For me Brian O'Discoll has\had it all - pace, natural ability, rugby brain and defence....while all of the above haven't been in his game all at once throughout his years, he has learned to adapt to the changing of game in general and also due to himself getting older.

The likes of Genkins, Campese were great players but they didn't play against the quality of players nowadays and the pace, phsyicallity and technicality of the game has really increased in the past 10 years so the ability to be able to a consistent performer stands out to me, which I think by and large BOD has been.

[nerd69]

Originally Posted by splashthecash

I agree that Jonah Lomu burst onto the scene with ferocious power and speed and wasn't he primarily just a battering ram?

For me Brian O'Discoll has\had it all - pace, natural ability, rugby brain and defence....while all of the above haven't been in his game all at once throughout his years, he has learned to adapt to the changing of game in general and also due to himself getting older.

The likes of Genkins, Campese were great players but they didn't play against the quality of players nowadays and the pace, phsyicallity and technicality of the game has really increased in the past 10 years so the ability to be able to a consistent performer stands out to me, which I think by and large BOD has been.

thats unfair on the game has evolved and conditioning has improved big time but thats not there fault you can only judge a player against what they played and in the time they played how do you know if they would or would not be the same players not just bigger. if were thinking that way we cant select any player before the elvs.


on a separate note bod is up there as as one of the best of all time he was never given a fraction of the supporting cast howlett cullen lomu mccaw etc had it wasn't even close so he was never goin to have quite as many highlights because for a while when teams played ireland they game planned to stop bod and they had there entire back line watching bod he was abel to do a lot with far less resources

[splashthecash]

Originally Posted by nerd69

thats unfair on the game has evolved and conditioning has improved big time but thats not there fault you can only judge a player against what they played and in the time they played how do you know if they would or would not be the same players not just bigger. if were thinking that way we cant select any player before the elvs.


on a separate note bod is up there as as one of the best of all time he was never given a fraction of the supporting cast howlett cullen lomu mccaw etc had it wasn't even close so he was never goin to have quite as many highlights because for a while when teams played ireland they game planned to stop bod and they had there entire back line watching bod he was abel to do a lot with far less resources

Ok, thats a fair point - my vote would still be with BOD

[Klunk_NZ]

Hes definitely a top 50 player of all time.
But not exactly on the same level as Horan/Umanga for a midfield pair. An all time Lions Team vs an All Time Allblacks team would be my dream imaginary game -_-

[totallegend]

It's just so easy to name NZ players as the best in the world, isn't it? If you did a poll of the best hurler in the country, what are the odds it would be a Kilkenny player? Or a footballer from Kerry?

It's a lot harder to get recognition as a truly great player when you're part of a mediocre team and a lot easier to look world-class when you're part of the best team.

I'm not saying O'Driscoll is the best player in the world, but for anyone to suggest that all the best players in history have come from NZ and Australia is just nonsense.

And Jonah Lomu? Anyone who thinks he deserves a mention here has automatically lost the argument. He wasn't even the best winger NZ had in that era, let alone one of the best players ever.

[Klunk_NZ]

Originally Posted by totallegend

It's just so easy to name NZ players as the best in the world, isn't it? If you did a poll of the best hurler in the country, what are the odds it would be a Kilkenny player? Or a footballer from Kerry?

It's a lot harder to get recognition as a truly great player when you're part of a mediocre team and a lot easier to look world-class when you're part of the best team.

I'm not saying O'Driscoll is the best player in the world, but for anyone to suggest that all the best players in history have come from NZ and Australia is just nonsense.

And Jonah Lomu? Anyone who thinks he deserves a mention here has automatically lost the argument. He wasn't even the best winger NZ had in that era, let alone one of the best players ever.

I never suggested that, but will say the backline would be black and gold laced.

[Tombo2001]

Originally Posted by totallegend

It's just so easy to name NZ players as the best in the world, isn't it? If you did a poll of the best hurler in the country, what are the odds it would be a Kilkenny player? Or a footballer from Kerry?

It's a lot harder to get recognition as a truly great player when you're part of a mediocre team and a lot easier to look world-class when you're part of the best team.

You are right, its a lot harder to recognition for being a great player if you are on a mediocre team.

However, it makes a lot more sense.....common sense......that the teams which are the best teams are the ones with the best players......otherwise why are they the best teams......

They wont have had all of the best players; but they'll have had most of them.

New Zealand has had far and away the best teams......followed by SA and AUS......

This discussion is just too loaded, the notion of an Irish chat forum discussing whether BOD is the greatest player of all time.....there is not a single country in the world other than Ireland where he would be considered the best of all time......so are we the only ones who can see it?

[Klunk_NZ]

Lomus 1995 World Cup changed the blueprint for the winger. How much of his decline after 1999 was attributed to his kidneys failing and how much was due to people working him out is up for debate,

[totallegend]

Originally Posted by Klunk_NZ

I never suggested that, but will say the backline would be black and gold laced.

Really?

Originally Posted by Klunk_NZ

Ritchie McCaw aka the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)

Then Lomu

Then Carter

Campese

John Eales

Michael Jones

Not seeing too many non-antipodeans in that list.

[Klunk_NZ]

Originally Posted by totallegend

Really?


Not seeing too many non-antipodeans in that list.

I didn't touch on the tight 5. Which would be entirely SA/NH/JE