Most improved International team of the decade

[munster]

I started the topic international team of the decade and alot of people picked according to how much they won and others on how much they imroved... so heres a topic on the most improved...

I personally think Argentina have to be the most improved but some say they havent been very competetive since their brilliant world cup so Ireland could also be a good choice so give us your opinion...

 

[feicarsinn]

Georgia as an outside bet.

 

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMachine @ Jan 11 2010, 11:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Ireland could also be a good choice so give us your opinion...[/b]

Ireland are about the same level they've always been. However last year the French couldn't be bothered while neither England nor Wales could get a result against them.



I wonder if that'll goad "likes2surf" into a response...

 

[Gavin]

Italy have improved a lot over the past decade.

 

[gingergenius]

Argentina.

Wales are a distant second. The only others to have improved since 10 years ago are SA, Italy & Ireland... but not much. England are worse, Australia are worse, Scotland are always ****, New Zealand are always good, and France are never anything.

 

[stormer2010]

A 10 year period makes it difficult to pick but i'd say Ireland and SA, with Argentina have improved (although Arg have taken a dip again; always had a good pack but had the backs to back it up, no pun intended, in 2007) the most and I'd also say NZ, France and Scotland have remained pretty much the same with England and Aus worse off. Don't know much about Welsh rugby over the past 10 years; only noticed them in 2008 which might indicate in itself that they are the most improved.?

Italy and Fiji on the fringes.

 

[RC]

The furthese i could go back on the IRB board is 2003. But these are the top 20 teams as of Jan 2010 and Dec 2003

Jan 2010

1(1)

NEW ZEALAND 91.68
2(2)

SOUTH AFRICA 88.60
3(3)

AUSTRALIA 85.56
4(4)

IRELAND 84.60
5(5)

FRANCE 82.41
6(6)

ENGLAND 80.72
7(7)

ARGENTINA 80.56
8(8)

WALES 79.89
9(9)

SCOTLAND 76.59
10(10)

FIJI 75.90
11(11)

ITALY 72.59
12(12)

SAMOA 72.08
13(13)

JAPAN 70.59
14(14)

CANADA 68.80
15(15)

TONGA 68.11
16(16)

USA 67.05
17(17)

GEORGIA 66.85
18(18)

RUSSIA 66.21
19(19)

ROMANIA 64.62
20(20)

URUGUAY 60.89



Dec 2003

1(1)

ENGLAND 93.99
2(2)

NEW ZEALAND 90.12
3(3)

AUSTRALIA 86.58
4(4)

FRANCE 82.71
5(5)

SOUTH AFRICA 81.23
6(6)

IRELAND 80.53
7(7)

ARGENTINA 78.02
8(8)

WALES 76.92
9(9)

SCOTLAND 76.36
10(10)

SAMOA 73.46
11(11)

ITALY 71.88
12(12)

FIJI 71.82
13(13)

CANADA 68.55
14(14)

ROMANIA 68.04
15(15)

USA 67.65
16(16)

URUGUAY 64.88
17(17)

TONGA 63.15
18(18)

PORTUGAL 62.03
19(19)

GEORGIA 61.57
20(20)

JAPAN 61.42

 

[bristol-iain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RC @ Jan 11 2010, 05:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

The furthese i could go back on the IRB board is 2003. But these are the top 20 teams as of Jan 2010 and Dec 2003

Jan 2010

1(1)

NEW ZEALAND91.68
2(2)

SOUTH AFRICA88.60
3(3)

AUSTRALIA85.56
4(4)

IRELAND84.60
5(5)

FRANCE82.41
6(6)

ENGLAND80.72
7(7)

ARGENTINA80.56
8(8)

WALES79.89
9(9)

SCOTLAND76.59
10(10)

FIJI75.90
11(11)

ITALY72.59
12(12)

SAMOA72.08
13(13)

JAPAN70.59
14(14)

CANADA68.80
15(15)

TONGA68.11
16(16)

USA67.05
17(17)

GEORGIA66.85
18(18)

RUSSIA66.21
19(19)

ROMANIA64.62
20(20)

URUGUAY60.89



Dec 2003
1(1)

ENGLAND93.99
2(2)

NEW ZEALAND90.12
3(3)

AUSTRALIA86.58
4(4)

FRANCE82.71
5(5)

SOUTH AFRICA81.23
6(6)

IRELAND80.53
7(7)

ARGENTINA78.02
8(8)

WALES76.92
9(9)

SCOTLAND76.36
10(10)

SAMOA73.46
11(11)

ITALY71.88
12(12)

FIJI71.82
13(13)

CANADA68.55
14(14)

ROMANIA68.04
15(15)

USA67.65
16(16)

URUGUAY64.88
17(17)

TONGA63.15
18(18)

PORTUGAL62.03
19(19)

GEORGIA61.57
20(20)

JAPAN61.42[/b]

So on that basis Porugal are the most improved team in the 2000's.

 

[RC]

In 6 years, except for the likes of Japan and Romania who have climbed up more than 1 or 2 spots and portugal who is nowhere to be seen anymore, only a few of the big hitters have changed.
SA have climbed up a few, England and France have fallen a few...every one else is pretty much "as you were"

 

[Bullitt]

Being as the Tri nations are at the top and the points you're awarded are based on where your opponents are are in the list, there is an element of glass ceiling to the rankings anyway.

 

[Fa'atau82]

Without those stats, i'd have said Russia and Japan., with them it just confirms a massive improvement.

 

[munster]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gingergenius @ Jan 11 2010, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Wales are a distant second.[/b]

Wales have probably gotten even worse... they have had probaly only two good years and all the rest were pretty bad compared to in the past when they used to be one of the best teams in europe and dominate Lions selection.

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMachine @ Jan 11 2010, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gingergenius @ Jan 11 2010, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wales are a distant second.[/b]

Wales have probably gotten even worse... they have had probaly only two good years and all the rest were pretty bad compared to in the past when they used to be one of the best teams in europe and dominate Lions selection.
[/b][/quote]

In the 70s. Wales have had some good players in 2000s but they were ****-awful, as usual, for most of it, counting 2005 as a blip. Then 2008 they got good, and they're not such a bad side now. So I'd say they've improved a lot.

 

[elgringoborracho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gingergenius @ Jan 11 2010, 02:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Argentina.

Wales are a distant second. The only others to have improved since 10 years ago are SA, Italy & Ireland... but not much. England are worse, Australia are worse, Scotland are always ****, New Zealand are always good, and France are never anything.[/b]

France are never anything? :blink:

 

[C A Iversen]

My list for what it's worth:

1. Argentina (Might've just had a good world cup, but scattered throughout the 2000's they did a lot. Almost beat the All Blacks once and put more pressure on than most on another occasion for one)
2. Ireland (Are not "same as they've always been", look back to the 90's. If these guys achieve what the did transitioning from the 90's through the 2000's, then look out world in the '10's.)
3.South Africa (Are back to the most punishing side in world rugby from some highs and lows at the start of the decade)
4. France (Used to have surprise wins against the Tri Nations sides. Now it's a regular scare for one of the three).
5. Wales (Went through hell in the 90's at various points. Was wondered if they'd ever be a world rugby force again. Have made some inroads since then)
6. Italy (Regular competition is starting to show the promise of more regular results. They are really just narrowing scorelines more often up until now though)

As for the rest

Australia: Have been on a downwards slope for 18 months or so. This may change at any moment knowing them.
England: Went from okay very early in the decade to a great side for 3-4 years, to sliding as Australia have recently and are now starting to curve upwards again....slowly.
New Zealand: Have maintained standards and at other times dropped them. In no way are they a better "team unit" than what we had during most of the 90's.
Scotland: Been in a permanent nose-dive of which they are just pulling out of.
Samoa: Not been the force they were gradually becoming in the 90's.
Fiji: On again off again results against average countires. As always.

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (elgringoborracho @ Jan 12 2010, 08:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gingergenius @ Jan 11 2010, 02:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Argentina.

Wales are a distant second. The only others to have improved since 10 years ago are SA, Italy & Ireland... but not much. England are worse, Australia are worse, Scotland are always ****, New Zealand are always good, and France are never anything.[/b]

France are never anything? :blink:
[/b][/quote]
I think he means "never anything consistently ie. good or bad" - but France won 4 championships spread evenly over the decade. It's just a pity you'll have to spend the next few years losing to Ireland.

(Is the 6N coming up? I'd clean forgot!)

 

[Prestwick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (elgringoborracho @ Jan 11 2010, 08:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

France are never anything? :blink:[/b]

Yes. Never.