Richie McCaw - The Best Ever?

[Thomas]

with the tackled player allowed to hold on to it for a split second longer there are less and less chances for a one on one steal...

So having someone who is very skilled at pilfering the ball will be a good thing. Pocock turned the ball over plenty of times this year under the new rules.

Of course, being an Aussie, a kiwi will never EVER admit that he is a good player. Pocock's linking skills are rather good but I'd rather he turn the ball over and give his team possession.

I think the reason McCaw has changed his game this year is because he's not as fast the breakdown as he used to be.

 

[Te Kaha]

So having someone who is very skilled at pilfering the ball will be a good thing. Pocock turned the ball over plenty of times this year under the new rules.

No more times than McCaw did... but McCaw also topped the tackle counts and was the last pass in plenty of tries... THAT is what an openside needs to do these days.

Of course, being an Aussie, a kiwi will never EVER admit that he is a good player. Pocock's linking skills are rather good but I'd rather he turn the ball over and give his team possession.

Funny... i have already said an australian was a good player... Smith... Pocock is a good player as well... but unless he improves the rest of his game he isnt going to be as effective as McCaw is now.

I think the reason McCaw has changed his game this year is because he's not as fast the breakdown as he used to be.

nope... he changed it because he knew where the game was heading.

 

[Thomas]

The All-Seeing Richie!

Is there anything this man can't do?!!

Oh yeah, win a world cup...

 

[shiznit]

lol... at these newbies talking about how fast guys are to a breakdown... winning turnover is more about vision than speed. anyone whos actually played the position would know that.

McCaw was never the fastest openside around... infact he would almost be one of the slower all black opensides from memory.

and as someone who actually played openside for over 10years... i can tell you theres more to an opensides job than pilfering pill....

just as important is how much momentum theve killed from slowing ball down, sealing off attacking ball, making effective tackles, kick pressure etc...

McCaw is the best player in the world at picking the RIGHT moments to effect a breakdown... not just turning the ball over... slowing the ball down & sealing off his own ball.

Pocock is one HELL of a talent... but McCaw has been doing this for 9 seasons...

i remember when Schalk Berger first came on the scene... he won the IRB player of the year and was lauded as the best openside in the game... 6 years later and hes well in McCaw's shadow...

Pocock may well end up the best... but bloody hell... hes a couple of seasons into his career... hes got a hell of alot to prove...

 

[shiznit]

:lol:

All those accolades, yet he comprehensively chokes on the biggest stage of all.

actually skeepe... as youve pointed out... McCaw hasnt played in a RWC final... so he hasnt choked on the biggest stage of them all....

George Smith however.... :lol:

 

[shiznit]

The All-Seeing Richie!

Is there anything this man can't do?!!

Oh yeah, win a world cup...

i dont know about you... but i find Australia's inability to back a good performance up a lot worse than NZ's World Cup record.

 

[Te Kaha]

And just to top it off Ritchie gets his unprecedented THIRD IRB player of the year gong... Smith was good, but anybody who thinks he was better than McCaw is, is an idiot... and yes i mean you skeepe.

 

[skeepe]

And just to top it off Ritchie gets his unprecedented THIRD IRB player of the year gong... Smith was good, but anybody who thinks he was better than McCaw is, is an idiot... and yes i mean you skeepe.

:lol:

McCaw at his absolute best isn't even fit to shine the shoes of Smith at his absolute best.

There is no doubt that George Smith is the best openside flanker in history, and nobody has come close.

 

[Te Kaha]

:lol:

McCaw at his absolute best isn't even fit to shine the shoes of Smith at his absolute best.

There is no doubt that George Smith is the best openside flanker in history, and nobody has come close.

With no facts or stats at all to back it up... its clear, once again, you really dont know what you are talking about... McCaw leads the bunch followed by Jones and a distant third is Smith.

 

[skeepe]

With no facts or stats at all to back it up... its clear, once again, you really dont know what you are talking about... McCaw leads the bunch followed by Jones and a distant third is Smith.

You'd think if McCaw was so good he would have at least once won the Super Rugby player of the series, an accolade that George Smith has won on 3 occasions.

You'd think if McCaw was so good he would be able to lead his side to a World Cup final, something that Smith was able to do.

As far as I can see, the only thing McCaw has over Smith is his winning of the rigged IRB player of the year award, an award that is clearly biased against Australians. So that doesn't count.

 

[Meth]

wow Skeepe

McCaw is the best player in the world right at this moment for mine. No question. Pocock is close, and rising. McCaw v Pocock is always a great contest

 

[Te Kaha]

You'd think if McCaw was so good he would have at least once won the Super Rugby player of the series, an accolade that George Smith has won on 3 occasions.

You'd think if McCaw was so good he would be able to lead his side to a World Cup final, something that Smith was able to do.

As far as I can see, the only thing McCaw has over Smith is his winning of the rigged IRB player of the year award, an award that is clearly biased against Australians. So that doesn't count.

You really are dummer than pigsh*t... Smith didnt win Super Rugby player of the series... he won Australian super Rugby player you stupid gimp... hardly a decent award...

How many super rugby titles does Smith have?? a whole 2
How many Super rugby titles does McCaw have ?? a much better 5
How many Bledisloe series wins does Smith have?? another whole 2
How many Bledisloe series wins does McCaw have?? a whopping 8
How many Tri-nations does Smith have?? A single solitary 1
How many Tri-nations does McCaw have?? an impressive 7

And the IRB awards are in no way biased against australians... they are just simply not good enough.

 

[Alehana]

mmmm, i dont rate pocock as highly as everyone here does, watching him come thru the ranks at the force hes always had huge potential, the shear size of him is amazing for such a young age, but he is one dimensional, hes got great core skills for a flanker, ie tackling and winning ball at the break down, and hitting the ball up, but thats about it, i cant imagine him being taken seirously as a line out jumper, stepping a player, offloading, tactical brain or that extra spark that is needed to be the best player in your position in the world, no doubt hes a great player with huge potential, but, i'd rather have richie, the guys a genious.

 

[kovana]

When will Mccaw win a RWC?

 

[shiznit]

hopefully next season...