Brian O'Driscoll The best player in the World?

jameshayes · 24-08-2007 8:44am #1

According to www.rankopedia.com he is....

then dan carter, then Jonah Lomu...

zAbbo · 24-08-2007 8:51am

Pfft...pinch of salt with that.

Steffano2002 · 24-08-2007 8:53am

Lolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

gosplan · 24-08-2007 8:58am

It's actually best player in the world....ever!!!

At least we know O'Driscoll hasn't been doing nothing during his recent lay off.

Refresh-vote-refresh-vote-refresh-vote

Interesting to also see that historically Ireland are second only to the all blacks!

High&Low · 24-08-2007 9:02am

It says at the bottom - based on 258 votes by 201 voters. So if multiple voting is allowed....

I see O'Gara is 21st!

redmca · 24-08-2007 9:27am

Call me an old fart, but for me the best player on a consistent basis I ever saw was GARETH EDWARDS, scrum half for Wales in the 70's.

He had everything, fantastic pass, fantastic break, fantastic speed, Lions SF on both 1971 and 1974 Lions tours. And of course that famous Barbarians try !!!

These polls are entirely slanted towards the present day players. Carter is good, but he generally plays behind a dominant pack, so its not that hard to look good. Compare that with Mike Gibson, who fed off crumbs for years for Ireland, for me a far superior player. I was privelidged to be in Twickenham in '74 when he scored 2 tries against England. The entire stadium gave him a standing ovation after the 2nd one !!

Danie Gerber · 24-08-2007 9:37am

Gareth Edwards
Sean Fitzpatrick
Zinzan Brooke
John Eales
David Kirk
Philippe Sella
Serge Blanco
Gavin Hastings
David Campese

kevmy · 24-08-2007 10:26am

Ok so ignoring the obvious bias that that particular site has, who is the best player in the world at the moment.

For me O' Driscoll would be up there, not saying he's the best but he's up there.
Only other Irish contender is Po'C for me.

Then you have Carter, McCaw, Habana etc.

24-08-2007 10:30am

Habana wouldnt come close.

Its either McCaw or O'Driscoll. Pierre Spies is one to watch for the future. Absolute sicko

MikeHoncho · 24-08-2007 10:59am

If O'Driscoll is that high up I think Darce should be up there too. Best player in the world at the moment though is probably Carter for me but McCaw would be a very close second.

jdivision · 24-08-2007 11:04am

Danie Gerber wrote:

Gavin Hastings

Interesting. I always thought he was vastly overrated.

mikedragon32 · 24-08-2007 12:14pm

Funny, I was watching an old RWC Semi final, France V Australia on ESPN the other night, and I couldn't help thinking how poor both sides were and they all looked ordinary compared to the modern players of the professional era.

I think BO'D et al, as the greats of the professional game would be right up there on the list.

buck65 · 24-08-2007 12:47pm

Aren't we forgetting a couple of our white shirted friends here?
Martin Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson spring to mind, pity about Jonny's injury troubles he is only a shadow of himself now.
Blanco was class too.

Morgans · 24-08-2007 12:55pm

Whatever about being overrated. O'Driscoll is the best Irish player of the professional era, with from reports and tv coverage Gibson really is his only Irish peer historically.

I not in love with the player, but he is up there at the moment with the very best, and has been for five/six years.

Danie Gerber · 24-08-2007 1:27pm

Make a distinction between The amateur and professional eras in rugby because mikedragon is right, the players pre 1994's just wasn't as big, strong or fast. The sport was played by people who had a day job and couldn't spend 3 hours in the gym every day...

Compare like for like.

If I had to pick my top 10 amateur era players:

1. Gareth Edwards
2. Serge Blanco
3. David Kirk
4 Frik du reez
5. Willie John McBride
6. Philippe Sella (even though he still played for France in 95)
7. Nick Farr-Jones
8. Danie Craven
9. JPR Williams
10.Mike Gibson

And a special mention to Danie Gerber who never got the chance to shine but had more natural ability than BOD and Darcy combined.

Pro era top ten:

1. Richie McCaw
2. Daniel Carter
3. BOD
4. Stirling Mortlock
5. Vic Matfield
6. David Campese
7. John Eales
8. Martin Johnson
9. Jonah Lomu
10. Sean Fitzpatrick

daveirl · 24-08-2007 3:00pm

This post has been deleted.

24-08-2007 4:06pm

Daves right, Carter sucks

kevmy · 24-08-2007 4:19pm

Deleted User wrote:

Daves right, Carter sucks

Ah thats right sure all those All Blacks are no good at all, at all sure with BOD and O' Connell, the DArce and ROG wouldn't we bate them out the gate any day of the week. This World Cup thing is only a walk in the park.

Seriously guys, maybe Carters form has dipped a bit and maybe he's a bit over-rated but he does not suck

Danie Gerber · 24-08-2007 4:24pm

Hmmm, yeah maybe you're right. Maybe I should move carter further down the order.

Then again, he is the out-half and king-pin of the most successful rugby union team since 1998... Must be doing something right. Can't just be luck surely.

Danie Gerber · 24-08-2007 4:39pm

Let's see...

Carter has currently scored a total of 636 test points (21 tries, 111 conversions, 102 penalties, 1 drop goal) in 41 tests, at an average of 15.5 points a game.

The All Blacks have only lost 4 games that Carter has featured in since his debut in June 2003 out of 41 played...

Carter scores a try every second match he plays in...

He's only 25 years old...

No I think I'll keep him where he is, if only for the potential the lad has... Got another 6 or 7 years left in him..

gosplan · 24-08-2007 5:02pm

Danie Gerber wrote:

The All Blacks have only lost 4 games that Carter has featured in since his debut in June 2003 out of 41 played...

Been watching the super 14 and IMO Carter's a genius. kicks like O'Gara and runs and tackles like O'Driscoll, I'd love him to be Irish.

Just querying the above stat. isn't that probably average for All-Blacks as regards win-loss rate with or without Carter?

buck65 · 24-08-2007 5:18pm

Carter is a class act alright, true it probably is easier to play on the front foot.

Hippo · 24-08-2007 5:20pm

Should that be Frik du Preez?

And special mention for Phil Bennett, made the legendary Gareth Edwards try, extraordinary talent who tormented us for years.

carlowboy · 24-08-2007 7:45pm

Danie Gerber wrote:

And a special mention to Danie Gerber who never got the chance to shine but had more natural ability than BOD and Darcy combined.

Kind of thing only a Saffa would say

And Campese is definately not Pro era.

nacho libre · 24-08-2007 10:51pm

Serge Blanco and Zinzan Brooke are the two best players in their respective positions i've ever seen.

PeteJones · 24-08-2007 10:56pm

Kind of thing only a Saffa would say

Well then let us introduce the legend to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHS10Kg9cHY

One of his 2 tries against Ireland in 1981

carlowboy · 24-08-2007 11:13pm

What do take me for? Of course I know who Gerber was. Horrendously over rated by Saffas who think he'd have been better than Bunce etc....even Gibson!

quagmire69 · 25-08-2007 10:49am

Carter is not that good. He has proven nothing yet. He looked very shaky in the Tri nations. Paddy wallace would be on that list if playing behind that NZ pack and with those backs outside him.
Not saying carter won't b great, just he's gotta prove it first.

Larkham now is a true great 10.

daveirl · 25-08-2007 10:33pm

This post has been deleted.

Pinetree Boy · 27-08-2007 11:07pm

Got to feel sorry for the fatties- none of these boys would be worth a dam without the sloggers up front. If I was naming a current world 15 Carl Haman would be the first name on the list.

matdabomb · 27-08-2007 11:55pm

I must say he is getting a lot of favoritism due to you all being Irish

Sangre · 28-08-2007 12:22am

I don't think anyone has actually claimed he is the best player in the world.

edit- shout out to joe roff and christian cullen (in his day). also a big latham fan.

Snickers Man · 28-08-2007 9:55am

redmca wrote:

Call me an old fart, but for me the best player on a consistent basis I ever saw was GARETH EDWARDS, scrum half for Wales in the 70's.

He had everything, fantastic pass, fantastic break, fantastic speed, Lions SF on both 1971 and 1974 Lions tours. And of course that famous Barbarians try !!!

He was a legend. Mind you, there were those who said he wasn't a great scrum half because his pass was too long and slow, whereas the best type of pass was a short fast one.

still, with the Welsh back line he could play with (John/Bennett, JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, JJ Williams) there was very little that could go wrong for them. One or other of those quys could always pull something out of the fire if needed.

redmca wrote:

Mike Gibson, who fed off crumbs for years for Ireland, for me a far superior player. I was privelidged to be in Twickenham in '74 when he scored 2 tries against England. The entire stadium gave him a standing ovation after the 2nd one !!

My God you're old!!!!!!

I remember watching that game on telly as a sprog. Gibson was a legend. Now he was a player who really had everything.

These online polls ae a load of ****e. Debate is your only man when talking about the greatest players of the game.

Snickers Man · 28-08-2007 9:57am

mikedragon32 wrote:

Funny, I was watching an old RWC Semi final, France V Australia on ESPN the other night, and I couldn't help thinking how poor both sides were and they all looked ordinary compared to the modern players of the professional era.

are you talking about 1987?

that was a super match, and the French had some majestic players then: Charvet, Sella, Lagisquet and the greatest of them all (as a player) Serge Blanco. Mind you as an administrator he's just a fat blodge.

nacho libre · 28-08-2007 6:29pm

Snickers Man wrote:

are you talking about 1987?

that was a super match, and the French had some majestic players then: Charvet, Sella, Lagisquet and the greatest of them all (as a player) Serge Blanco. Mind you as an administrator he's just a fat blodge.

ah Lagisquet and Sella:) That French team was the most talented bunch of players to play for France since the competition was founded. If the 1987 team could not win the RWC i don't see how the current crop can. Sorry Steffano:p

Snickers Man · 31-08-2007 10:28am

I dunno. Exciting teams usually DON'T win the world cup. England four years ago played 10 man rugby. australia before that were dull as dishwater and based everything on a great defence. In fact they conceded only ONE try in that whole tournament! (quick! without Googling: who was the only player to score a try against Australia in world cup 99?)

Four years before that it was south africa who, as usual, were as entertaining as a bucket of cold sick.

This French team with all those ugly blokes like Chabal and Ibanez could do it. Especially playing at home.

muboop1 · 03-09-2007 12:14am

any1 else notice that if u clicked on the irish peples votes, bod was only 9th!!! ha ha

nedward · 04-09-2007 12:00am

+1 Tyrone Howe

Brian O'Driscoll The best player in the World?

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