Top 10 Over-hyped rugby players

[Shovenose]

Apologizes for double post. Phone messed around

 

[Shovenose]

And he had smashing hair

Haha he was from SACS so you can't expect anything else.

I think Naas Botha was overrated. He played with some of the most talented backline players of his time and he chose to kick everything away.

 

[Big Ewis]

hey, Michalak ?!
Wtf is wrong with the writer ?! "absolutely no business being anywhere a test jersey" obvious trolling.
I mean yes he is inconsistent, but that means there's definitely an "up" in the up n down curve. I haven't often seen such excellent playmaking, pinpoint accurate passing and lightning quick decision making in a player as when he's on form.
And I haven't seen anyone as clinically accurate with the long kick passes to wings...it's kind of his specialty.

I agree with Hook n Ashton though...a little overhyped perhaps.

 

[Zed]

I wouldn't class Montgomery as overrated. He was a good fullback, not in the league of someone like Cullen (when he was in his prime), but he's certainly not overrated. Henson is an obvious choice, as in Cipriani. DC has 10 X the talent Henson does, but until he grows up and learns to tackle his career will mirror Hensons.
Other Overrated Players:
- Francois Steyn
- Quade Cooper
- Drew Mitchell
- SBW - good player, but not worth the hype
- lots of English wingers
- Jamie Roberts and a couple of giant Welsh backs. Can't remember their names. Lots of talk in the British press about how big their backline was, but they did fruck all against a pretty average Australian Side. Give me Shane Williams any day!
- I would have put Jonny Wilkinson, but his defence is phenomenal. Wish QC could tackle like him! And also his ability to kick off both feet his pretty good. So he doesn't make the list!

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

I nominate Jimmy Cowan.

 

[Thingimubob]

I wouldn't class Montgomery as overrated. He was a good fullback, not in the league of someone like Cullen (when he was in his prime), but he's certainly not overrated. Henson is an obvious choice, as in Cipriani. DC has 10 X the talent Henson does, but until he grows up and learns to tackle his career will mirror Hensons.
Other Overrated Players:
- Francois Steyn
- Quade Cooper
- Drew Mitchell
- SBW - good player, but not worth the hype
- lots of English wingers
- Jamie Roberts and a couple of giant Welsh backs. Can't remember their names. Lots of talk in the British press about how big their backline was, but they did fruck all against a pretty average Australian Side. Give me Shane Williams any day!
- I would have put Jonny Wilkinson, but his defence is phenomenal. Wish QC could tackle like him! And also his ability to kick off both feet his pretty good. So he doesn't make the list!

Roberts didn't tour Australia, was ruled out for the last half of the season after the 6 Nations, so bit harsh to call him overrated for matches he didn't even play in do see what you mean, bar North and Cuthbert the other 'giant' backs were meh, even if Jon Davies did score a lucky kick through try.

 

[Zed]

Roberts didn't tour Australia, was ruled out for the last half of the season after the 6 Nations, so bit harsh to call him overrated for matches he didn't even play in do see what you mean, bar North and Cuthbert the other 'giant' backs were meh, even if Jon Davies did score a lucky kick through try.

Ah OK. I do like the half back Mike Philips(?) though, he was good against us. And North gets better with each game, he's got speed and agility, as opposed to just being a big lump that tries to run over people. I do think some of the NH have a tendency to pick big guys, simply because they are big. England especially do this with wings Vanikolo, Banahan etc who were just **** for them.

 

[Thingimubob]

Ah OK. I do like the half back Mike Philips(?) though, he was good against us. And North gets better with each game, he's got speed and agility, as opposed to just being a big lump that tries to run over people. I do think some of the NH have a tendency to pick big guys, simply because they are big. England especially do this with wings Vanikolo, Banahan etc who were just **** for them.

Problem with Phillips is, when he's good he's fantastic, but has a habit of being awful too. His service is slow and the best of times too. Still, best we've got and usually a cool head from the base of the ruck. Yeah that's why I'm a big fan of North, he's got a very good rugby brain, knows when to pass to support too and doesn't get greedy. Set up a lovely try once where everyone thought he'd try and smash his way over the line at the corner but passed inside to sent someone else under the post. Just brilliant to watch! If he stays relatively injury free he's almost certainly got a shot at breaking Shane's try record!

 

[Zed]

Yeah I initially bagged GN when he came on the scene, but he's surprised me. He would walk into the Wallabies team for sure!

 

[cyRil]

Ah OK. I do like the half back Mike Philips(?)

He's only been around for the last decade, won 60 Wales caps and was the Lions scrum half for the tour of South Africa. You may have heard of him.

 

[smartcooky]

To be fair, Gregor Paul is a columnist, like Chris Rattue, Spiro Zavos, Stephen Jones etc. They pander to their readers; they write according to what they think their target audience wants to hear.

Stephen Jones in particular hates the All Blacks, and hardly ever has anything good to say about New Zealand or NZ Rugby.

Have a listen to this. Its Tony Veitch of RadioSport, talking about a couple of experiences he has had with Stephen Jones.



IMO, Jones in unbalanced in more ways that just the one

 

[Draggs]

I don't like Stephen Jones, but I find the NZ reaction to him hilarious.
That is exactly what he wants!

 

[donmcdazzle]

I don't like Stephen Jones, but I find the NZ reaction to him hilarious.
That is exactly what he wants!

It is weird that he has a hatred to anything NZ-related though. It is also weird that a UK-based reporter spends so much time bagging the country and it's sports teams. We have some pommy inflamer guy in the papers over here called Mark Reason who slags off the AB's among other things, but I can understand that as he is a NZ-based journo and has his stuff published in NZ papers. I don't get why Stephen Jones uses an English paper with a (presumably) mainly English readership to slag off a country on the other side of the world.

 

[Draggs]

It is weird that he has a hatred to anything NZ-related though. It is also weird that a UK-based reporter spends so much time bagging the country and it's sports teams. We have some pommy inflamer guy in the papers over here called Mark Reason who slags off the AB's among other things, but I can understand that as he is a NZ-based journo and has his stuff published in NZ papers. I don't get why Stephen Jones uses an English paper with a (presumably) mainly English readership to slag off a country on the other side of the world.

Proper journalism is dead. Writers need some 'act' to live on. Stephe Jones has found his (pathetic) role.
I ignore pretty much all writers and contributors to the Western Mail.

 

[smartcooky]

It is weird that he has a hatred to anything NZ-related though. It is also weird that a UK-based reporter spends so much time bagging the country and it's sports teams. We have some pommy inflamer guy in the papers over here called Mark Reason who slags off the AB's among other things, but I can understand that as he is a NZ-based journo and has his stuff published in NZ papers. I don't get why Stephen Jones uses an English paper with a (presumably) mainly English readership to slag off a country on the other side of the world.

Mark Reason is the son of John Reason (or as Pinetree used to call him, that "effing Pommie B*stard"). Reason's relentless ****-stirring was partially responsible for Keith Murdoch being sent home from the 1972/73 All Black tour of UK and France.

 

[admartian]

Aren't these the same sorts of guys that like to have a go at the haka, or are bemused at the fact that NZ has polynesian players?

Wonder how they feel about guys like Flutey, Tuilagi, etc on their teams...

 

[smartcooky]

Aren't these the same sorts of guys that like to have a go at the haka, or are bemused at the fact that NZ has polynesian players?

It was pretty much ignorance that led them to their conclusions. That and their own experiences in a "multicultural" society that plays out somewhat differently to what we are used to in New Zealand.

The English live in a country where there are people who were born there, and have lived there all their lives, but who call countries like Pakistan or India "home". While they generally understand and accept it as normal for people to call themselves a "French-Morroccan" or an "Afro-Caribbean" or "French Canadian", they also regularly see "brown" people with heavy "English" accents, who have obviously lived there for a very long time, waving Indian flags at an England v India cricket match.

The result of this conditioning is that when they see that a "brown" person, born and bred or raised in New Zealand, who sees himself as a New Zealander, and has a National pride for New Zealand and a passion to play for his country, they find it odd and they become suspicious.

Wonder how they feel about guys like Flutey, Tuilagi, etc on their teams...

The accusations of "poaching" from the "pots" have largely fallen silent since the players you mention have been selected, lest we "kettles" accuse them of being black too!! (no pun or racial slur intended)

 

[Feicarsinn]

Mark Reason is the son of John Reason (or as Pinetree used to call him, that "effing Pommie B*stard"). Reason's relentless ****-stirring was partially responsible for Keith Murdoch being sent home from the 1972/73 All Black tour of UK and France.

Was Murdoch the lad who went into hiding after the tour?

 

[Draggs]

Was Murdoch the lad who went into hiding after the tour?

Yes. Punched a security guard.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-territory/news/article.cfm?l_id=138&objectid=10348988

Interesting story.

 

[smartcooky]

Was Murdoch the lad who went into hiding after the tour?

Thats him.

Got sent home because he punched out some upstart glorified bellhop at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10742274

He got off the plane in Singapore and disappeared. Turned up years later living in Mt Isa, Australia.

He had scored the only All Black try in their 19-16 win over Wales... hero to zero in a couple of days

 

[Draggs]

Thats him.

Got sent home because he punched out some upstart glorified bellhop at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10742274

He got off the plane in Singapore and disappeared. Turned up years later living in Mt Isa, Australia.

He had scored the only All Black try in their 19-16 win over Wales... hero to zero in a couple of days

Ah, serves the ******* right... Not like Murdoch was a mad one and lost it.

 

[smartcooky]

Ah, serves the ******* right... Not like Murdoch was a mad one and lost it.

Murdoch was no angel (again no pun intended), but depending on who you talk to you get a different story.

AIUI Murdoch was severely provoked by this guy when he went looking for more beer in the kitchens. A few insults were exchanged, there was some pushing and shoving, then the bellhop, Peter Grant (who was really a Security Guard and taller at 6 ft 4 in) struck Murdoch on the back. Murduch turned and felled Grant with one almighty blow and she was all over rover.

 

[Draggs]

Murdoch was no angel (again no pun intended), but depending on who you talk to you get a different story.

AIUI Murdoch was severely provoked by this guy when he went looking for more beer in the kitchens. A few insults were exchanged, there was some pushing and shoving, then the bellhop, Peter Grant (who was really a Security Guard and taller at 6 ft 4 in) struck Murdoch on the back. Murduch turned and felled Grant with one almighty blow and she was all over rover.

That could very well be the case, but I think this is one story where the facts will never be set straight.
If a player acted out like that today, they'd be done. Time have changed, but Murdoch simply was in the wrong then. It is a truly bizarre story from start to finish.

 

[donmcdazzle]

That could very well be the case, but I think this is one story where the facts will never be set straight.
If a player acted out like that today, they'd be done. Time have changed, but Murdoch simply was in the wrong then. It is a truly bizarre story from start to finish.

If players acted on the field now the way they did back then, half of them would be done too. Different times and all that.

 

[LittleGuy]

To be fair, Gregor Paul is a columnist, like Chris Rattue, Spiro Zavos, Stephen Jones etc. They pander to their readers; they write according to what they think their target audience wants to hear.

Stephen Jones in particular hates the All Blacks, and hardly ever has anything good to say about New Zealand or NZ Rugby.

Have a listen to this. Its Tony Veitch of RadioSport, talking about a couple of experiences he has had with Stephen Jones.



IMO, Jones in unbalanced in more ways that just the one

Veitch sounds like a grade A piece of **** himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Veitch

 

[Draggs]

If players acted on the field now the way they did back then, half of them would be done too. Different times and all that.

Yeah, imagine what would have happened to Ashworth if he tried his stunt on JPR these days.
Union then and now are essentially different codes.

 

[admartian]

Veitch sounds like a grade A piece of **** himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Veitch

Yeah he is.

And not just for the 'off-broadcast' stuff. I can't stand his pandering to the status quo, amongst other things..

Small man syndrome...

 

[smartcooky]

Veitch is a prick... not doubt about that. However, that is not related to his ability to be a good radio host.

Marc Cécillon was a very good rugby player who even captained France. He went on to brutally murder his wife. It doesn't take away from what a good player he was. Same goes for O.J Simpson....(lousy actor though).

 

[Draggs]

Veitch is a prick... not doubt about that. However, that is not related to his ability to be a good radio host.

Marc Cécillon was a very good rugby player who even captained France. He went on to brutally murder his wife. It doesn't take away from what a good player he was. Same goes for O.J Simpson....(lousy actor though).

Cécillon was released on parole last year. Found that out a few weeks back. Served four years of a 14 year sentence.

 

[LittleGuy]

Veitch is a prick... not doubt about that. However, that is not related to his ability to be a good radio host.

Marc Cécillon was a very good rugby player who even captained France. He went on to brutally murder his wife. It doesn't take away from what a good player he was. Same goes for O.J Simpson....(lousy actor though).

I think it does impact his ability to be a radio host for me at least, when he has a laugh at Stephen Jones for being a lonely, scoially awkward old man, who is a little over aggresive in trying to get a date. When meanwhile he's put ex-girlfriends in a wheelchair, I would never listen to piece of junk like this and I can't beleive there aren't people in New Zealand who feel the same way as I do.

The OJ Simpson and Cecillon incidents both happened after their careers were over and neither has attempted(a deliberate) return to public life, nor were either of them expected to be anything more than guys who can effectively carry a sack of leather around a field, while Veitch's job involves being in the public discourse daily.