All players on the list are likeable. When it started with hooper at 10 i thought, how could there be nine better flankers than hooper, but, I was proven wrong. The list is spot on!
As much as I admire McCaw for his longevity, captaincy, and consistency, and may deserve the top ranking for that, for me Micheal Jones at his peak (before his knee injury) stands head and shoulders as simply the best player I have ever seen ever wear the No7 jersey. He could just dominate the game like no other, looked to be from another planet.
I always believed that Richie McCaw was overrated. Great defence great jackal but his running game was average. He is not the GOAT. I would have Michael Jones and Thierry Dusatoir over him.
Michael Jones is the best flanker I have ever seen - no one,and I mean no one matched his athleticism.He was the prototype for all opensides that followed.Second is McCaw, whose grit and determination made him the most influential player most times he took the field. For me,it's Jones no.1,McCaw 2.
One of the best players in the Bok jersey that seem to always get overlooked is Juan Smith. Great, consistent, tough as fuck, and level headed player. The Boks and Cheetahs had some of their best years when that man was on the pitch. An unsung great of the game.
He's such a good player its criminal that he's not rated higher by people. The man was brilliant, better than most on this list. As a side note, I believe that the 2007 Bok pack is the greatest pack to set foot on a rugby pitch
Actualy, once the ruck rule... Tackler must release and show clear daylight before stealing came into effect, brussouw lost his effectiveness as a jackal... His turnover rate drop dramaticly, where similer players like pockok and Mc caw adapted to the rule and continued pestering attacks.... Brusouw became ineffective.
Simon Poidevin, who I’d have nominated ahead of Hooper, said Josh Kronfeld was a level above every other flanker in world rugby. He retired young and was frankly, absolutely stunning, to the point where you could rarely pick a time he was beaten to the loose ball. Should be on this list a long way ahead of the other AB loosies mentioned.
agreed. I reckon Kronfeld was a Master. Collins was a Great (RIP). Kaino's place is Deserved imo. Most impactful player in the world for a season or two, in a team with McCaw and Carter..
This Irishman picking Liam Messam on the special mentions list ahead of All Black greats like Josh Kronfield and Allan Whetton is just crazy. No one I knew rated Messam.
@@JaemanEdwards well I could give you a formidable top ten of AB flankers going back to Whineray and Tremain and then ask you to insert internationals where you could. Given my personal top 4 selection would be Richie, Kronfeld, Jones and the outstanding Pieenar I’d be expecting absolute quality for the remaining 6. But kiwi flankers are usually pretty good. You’ve named the underrated Whetton but Lester Rutledge was all class as was Mourie and I’m one of that school who thought Zinny was a better 6 than 8. And of course we suffer from recency bias, only nominating those we’ve seen live or on tv, but for AB fans, if the trio of Whineray, Tremain and Lochore at their peak we’re representing NZ this year do you think we’d be worse off?
@@mikehendry34 You could add Ian Kirkpatrick and Waka Nathan to that list. The problem is the further you go back the smaller and less athletic the players are.
@@JaemanEdwards and vice versa...the amateur era had its own special hardness...no substitutes only injury replacement which needed doctor approval at test level...and let's not forget rucking and....well there was no pushing fights...the 30 minute warriors of today would be exposed ...
@@paulthomson2288 they were half the size, half the fitness half the speed and played half the amount of tests. I have great respect for rugby tradition and the legends that paved the way. But I'm a realist and like to look at things objectively.
If it was my list I'd probably substitute Juan Smith for Warburton - if Jerry Collins says you're the best he's ever played against, then ... plus I'd find a place (maybe special mention) for Reuben Kruger (Pienaar was a great leader, but in terms of talent, Kruger was that teams MVP). Also, yes, Kronfeld
The other talent that Richie McCaw had was the ability to push the rules to the limit and “work” the referee. As an Australian, this was extremely infuriating, as it always gave his teams that intangible edge…but I always loved watching him play (just not against Australian teams). I am NOT saying he cheated…I am saying he was adept at identifying the line between legal and illegal, and pushing right up to that line…which is a quality every team wants in their captain. Totally agree with his number one rating.
Yes, Micheal jones the top of the list, he broke my heart a few times in the final stages against the wallabies scoring against the runoff play. A clean and honourable player ..
Obviously the judge of these flankers have only taken the recent era in contention. The old All Black Ian Kirkpatrick, Spingbok Wahl Bartmann and a few others during tbe 70s and 80s was as good as the best.
No, he's not - he's great (in an amateur era), but nothing comes close to McCaws leadership, toughness, lack of injuries, 2x WCs, multiple Super titles - hands down the best in a professional era when all countries were tougher.
It's a tough list of who do you leave out... Buck Shelford, JP Reeves, Pete Winterbottom, Delaglio, Harinordoquy, Magne, O'Brien, Back, Willie O, Cabannes etc...
Finley Calder was hard as nails. Almost single handedly won Scotland the Grand slam in 1990 and captained the British Lions to victory over World Champions Austrailia.
McCaw, Jones and Kronfeld are the best I've seen in the last 25yrs. Jones on top by a nose from the other 2 just for the ability to play anywhere. I also saw Mourie up close and he was pretty smart too but it was a different game then but he would have excelled today too.
Olivier Magne is the best French flanker ever, with all due respect to Dusautoir. Also, Kaino is top 3 with McCaw and Smith, Richard Hill is definitely top 10. And, depending on how the next few years go, François Cros and JVdF will be in there.
Thomas mon cher compatriote je suppose, Olivier Magne était un super flanker, coureur, mais un peu trop souvent dans la ligne de 3/4, à vouloir marquer. Très utile en touche également. Mais je me souviens d'un 3 contre 1 contre l Irlande où il était aller s'empaler un peu comme Woki contre les Blacks. Je met Betsen devant, Dusautoir aussi bien sûr. Et selon moi même un Olivon en milieu de carrière qui est dans le même registre mais en plus grand et plus fort est déjà meilleur aussi. Mais je suis pas un hater d'Olivier, hein, j'aurais adoré avoir un dixième de son talent!
Michael Jones should be number one. He was the most versatile of all flankers, who shifted to 6 as he lost speed due to injuries. McCaw was more of a rucking specialist, almost one-dimensional, though not really. Kaino should be top five. Thursday ngt - May 11, 2023.
Great video. I would've included Josh Kronfeld, Olivier Magne, Ray Price, Corne Krige, Sean O'Brien or Neil Back but that's the beauty of these types of videos - it gets people talking. Plus, I didn't make the video 😁 Keep up the great work. Really enjoying your content.
I always felt George Smith had the edge on McCaw but if it were only based on a flankers ability Richie would be further down the list. His other qualities such as leadership, rugby IQ, resilience and sheer grit elevated him above not just other flankers but everyone else as well. He also did it with such quiet dogged kiwi determination it's not a wonder he's idealised in New Zealand.
Nah man thats a *fair list!.* Imagine a trio of 6 Kaino 8 Ardie 7 Michael Jones For those of us who witnessed the great Michael *Jones* 🇳🇿 we can see a similarity of ability in Ardie *Savea* 🇳🇿 Michael was a hell of a player, who would hit hard but never dirty, no doubt top 3 of all time. Schalk *Burger* 🇿🇦 one my all time favorites, as Jerome Kaino said "when Schalk played we were in for a hell of a game" 😂 David *Pocock* 🇦🇺 100% the *best jackyler* in the game, once he was over the ball you can kiss it goodbye 👋 practically built perfectly for jackyling the ball. Honorable mention to a No 6 a damaging ball running juggernaut Owen *Finnegan* 🇦🇺 a 2 meter tall 120kg meter eater giant, no one apart from Jonah Lomu *dented* the line consistently like Owen Finnegan and though Gregan, Larkem and others got the praises it was Finnegan who was damaging defense lines, especially our A.B'z 😂 with ball in hand the guy was a *wrecking ball* MY LOOSE FORWARD TRIO FINNEGAN 🇦🇺 7 RICHIE 🇳🇿 SCHALK *BURGER* 🇿🇦 20 MICHAEL *JONES* 🇳🇿
Pocock is really overrated.. He struggled with injury and form through most his career.. He ended his final years in the wallabies with a bang.. But if you remembered super rugby that same year 2015.. His performances were mediocre.. I rate Michael Hooper higher cause even in the bad games.. He was always one of their best players.. Pocock was never that guy.. Pocock is like Quade Cooper in his prime.. Best international rugby stats but he was losing the rucks to liam gill in super rugby like clearly and hooper was always hooper.. 110% all day Consistency should matter more to these ratings
Pocock on his team's off games.. He is almost non existent.. B4 Michael was captain.. They were gona give it to pocock and there was a game, where he took over the captaincy from stephen Moore In the 2nd half vs AB's.. It turned from a tight game to a trashing and he was making mistakes left and right.. Hooper and Folau were the ones playing against the tide
@@KnightWing274 on your analogy of lack of *consistent form* from Super rugby to Tests with Pocock then that means *Ma'a Nonu* is a failure then. He was always inconsistent with Super rugby but a All Time beast in Tests. Hopper is a class act but I'd still have Pocock rhe guy was impossible to move off the ball once he was over it.
Eddie Jones will openly say that George Smith was by a considerable margin the best player he had ever coached, old Eddie has seen some talent as well.
I recall most of his games vs the top teams Richard Hill out played George Smith and even Richie McCaw. Hill was England's best forward during their best era where the pack was winning them everything. Who to drop... Collins or Kaino. Brutal impact several Bok 6s also have, and several lock/6s have these days. and a certain Zimbabwean member of the Woolf Pack deserves a mention .
As a South African there are so many SA players I'd take ahead of Burger. PSdT, Juan Smith and if older players are eligible the list will be very long. Also, Heinrich Brussow owned many of these top ranked players at the ruck as part of probably the only dominant Bok side in the pro era and if he had more caps I'm sure he'd be in there.
Brussow was too good and World Rugby changed the rules to make it illegal. I also liked Luke Watson, Francois Louw and the Argentinian Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Brussow broke rugby. Like literally broke it. He completely disrupted the entire game during the 08 and 09 seasons. Coaches had no idea what to do about him and it made for some saucy pundit conversations and columns in sports journals. But then he was made redundant by a single cycle rule change. Pity. The greatest ever jackler in a very niche and specific set of rugby laws.
As with any top ten list there are those who would miss out despite deserving a place on this list but I cannot deny the players that were picked fully deserved their spots on this list
WOW no Jean Pierre Rives, Graham Mourie, Jan Ellis, Peter Winterbottom, Josh Kronfeld, Ray Price, Rob Louw, Ian Kirkpatrick, Fergus Slattery, John Jefferies, Simon Poidevin, Waka Nathan, Kel Tremain
In my opinion. 6 and 7 are the best positions on the feild. Its critical the flankers are on top form for any team. They can win you a game with their ability to read an attack and snuff it out, Also by making breaks or simply supporting an attack dog
Greatest flankers in rugby history....yes if you look with one eye. I am a South African and I immediately wonder why Jean Pierre Reeves is not even in this guys top 10. What about a man like Rob Louw and Rassie Erasmus and Ruben Kruger and Whal Bartmann further back we have men like Jan Ellis, Thys Louwrens and Jan-Boland Coetzee.....and many more.
Mccaw is 💯 the best in my time of watching rugby. It's hard to put any other international 7 above him as I'm from new Zealand so I am biased. Best 7 nz ever produced in my time, I was a bit young to experience Michael Jones but from the comments and from listening to my old man, he was right up there 👍
All though its a pretty good list , Ardie Savea is right up there as one of the best and would have been on my list and being a kiwi i hate saying it, but Hooper would also be higher up and a few more S.A aswell
They never won a match at the World Cup but I remember a Flanker from Namibia who was at another level even though Namibia would be getting smashed he just kept going, can’t remember his name though.
Ian Kirkpatrick, Rives, (oui, automatically Skrela's name pops up,) Teague, Slattery ... I guess the creator did not go that far back to the amateurs, though everyone knew the French players were getting paid! I guess it's hard to compare the two eras.
Richie McCaw, when asked who, for him, the best flankers ever were, his top was Lewis Moody - the man was a "bloody beast" - McCaw's own words. He also had Schalk Berger in there, at 4th, Richard Hill (England) at 3rd, and Theirry Dusautoir (France) at 2nd
@@graemebrown5115 No apparently definitely Lewis Moody. Moody by name and Moody by nature they reckon. For me, though, as someone who plays 7 myself, Richie McCaw is the pinnacle of openside flankers. Plus his work ethic was something else; I remember reading about him and in the segment it said of how the other NZ players all had their boots cleaned by the staff responsible for this, but McCaw always did his own as he said it kept him honest and kept him accountable. I don't know how true that story is, but I like believe it's true.
I agree with all the players on this list They are surely the 10 best but I don't think we can rank them. Warburton, Dusautoir, Hooper or Collins... all these players were decisive for their team. But I can't come up with a name that's better than the others, personally.
Ruben Kruger from SA must be the unluckiest player in history... denied a try in 95 RWC Final and injured as Captain just before the Blue Bulls had their golden age. A humble soul who disliked the limelight yet played brilliant rugby. Played way to few tests for his country.
As much as i admire and respect McCaw, if i was forced to pick 2 for a World Cup final tomorrow it would likely be the combination of Michael Jones and George Smith.
Sam Warburton is a controversial top tenner when there’s blokes like Juan Smith and Serge Betzen out there. Warburton doesn’t come anywhere near those workhorses.
@@julyanpaul3688I completely agree that Waka Nathan should be there, along with his fellow flanker Kel Tremayne in NZ's greatest ever back row (with No. 8 Brian Lochore). If you watch footage of AB tests in the 1960s Nathan is always on the ball. A No. 6 who played like a No, 7.
MICHAEL JONES the best Flanker and top 3 missing the best of the best player NEIL BACK England, Lions, Leicester - World Cup win - national championship win - European cup win and the best efficiency in match, full athletic
Its hard for anybody to say, if you haven’t seen him play live, based on all the skills mentioned for a loosy, there is no way Michael Jones is anything less than 1st place. As good as Ritchie was, Iceman was even more quicker in pace and thought that rules for the game changed multiple times, he influenced Kronfeld who also should be on this list and finally McCaw. Like Carter, there is nobody who comes even close to Jones as the greatest 7 ever.
Michael jones was the best 7 i ever saw, jerome kaino probably the best 6. Graham mourie, Rives the french captain was a wonderful player, waka Nathan, ian Kirkpatrick, Kell Tremaine. Richie mc caw wasn't a bad player either.
![[FULL EP.14] เซียนหรั่ง สอน มาร์ชจุ จับปูนา ฮากระจาย | เฮ็ดอย่างเซียนหรั่ง | One Playground](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/M8mPjd_T2lo/mqdefault.jpg)
David Pocock is impossible to dislike, such a solid bloke
All players on the list are likeable. When it started with hooper at 10 i thought, how could there be nine better flankers than hooper, but, I was proven wrong. The list is spot on!
As much as I admire McCaw for his longevity, captaincy, and consistency, and may deserve the top ranking for that, for me Micheal Jones at his peak (before his knee injury) stands head and shoulders as simply the best player I have ever seen ever wear the No7 jersey. He could just dominate the game like no other, looked to be from another planet.
I agree
Absolutely! despite the plaudits, he's still one of the most underrated players of the game.
As talented as Micheal was, only Ritchie could win us those consecutive world cups.
I always believed that Richie McCaw was overrated. Great defence great jackal but his running game was average. He is not the GOAT. I would have Michael Jones and Thierry Dusatoir over him.
@@rosswilliams2303 Which makes him a better player overall, but not specifically a better flanker.
Michael Jones is the best flanker I have ever seen - no one,and I mean no one matched his athleticism.He was the prototype for all opensides that followed.Second is McCaw, whose grit and determination made him the most influential player most times he took the field.
For me,it's Jones no.1,McCaw 2.
One of the best players in the Bok jersey that seem to always get overlooked is Juan Smith. Great, consistent, tough as fuck, and level headed player. The Boks and Cheetahs had some of their best years when that man was on the pitch. An unsung great of the game.
He's such a good player its criminal that he's not rated higher by people. The man was brilliant, better than most on this list. As a side note, I believe that the 2007 Bok pack is the greatest pack to set foot on a rugby pitch
Nou praat jy. Dis die ou se meeting. Baie bokke uit gelos
Heinrich Brussow would have been on this list if he had a full international career.
he was a genius
He never lost as a Springbok vs All Back's he was "unbelievable" just built different!!!!
Actualy, once the ruck rule... Tackler must release and show clear daylight before stealing came into effect, brussouw lost his effectiveness as a jackal... His turnover rate drop dramaticly, where similer players like pockok and Mc caw adapted to the rule and continued pestering attacks.... Brusouw became ineffective.
He was so underrated. Should have been capped at least 50 or more occasions.
He made Riche look like a kid
Josh Kronfeld filled the gap between Jones and McCaw, and did so beautifully.
Simon Poidevin, who I’d have nominated ahead of Hooper, said Josh Kronfeld was a level above every other flanker in world rugby. He retired young and was frankly, absolutely stunning, to the point where you could rarely pick a time he was beaten to the loose ball. Should be on this list a long way ahead of the other AB loosies mentioned.
agreed. I reckon Kronfeld was a Master. Collins was a Great (RIP).
Kaino's place is Deserved imo. Most impactful player in the world for a season or two, in a team with McCaw and Carter..
This Irishman picking Liam Messam on the special mentions list ahead of All Black greats like Josh Kronfield and Allan Whetton is just crazy. No one I knew rated Messam.
@@JaemanEdwards well I could give you a formidable top ten of AB flankers going back to Whineray and Tremain and then ask you to insert internationals where you could. Given my personal top 4 selection would be Richie, Kronfeld, Jones and the outstanding Pieenar I’d be expecting absolute quality for the remaining 6. But kiwi flankers are usually pretty good. You’ve named the underrated Whetton but Lester Rutledge was all class as was Mourie and I’m one of that school who thought Zinny was a better 6 than 8. And of course we suffer from recency bias, only nominating those we’ve seen live or on tv, but for AB fans, if the trio of Whineray, Tremain and Lochore at their peak we’re representing NZ this year do you think we’d be worse off?
@@mikehendry34 You could add Ian Kirkpatrick and Waka Nathan to that list. The problem is the further you go back the smaller and less athletic the players are.
Jean Pierre Reeves and Graham Mourie from the Amateur era would be difficult to omit
Agreed. I'm Kiwi and would mention Kel Tremain and Brian Lochore also
As would Peter Winterbottom!
They would all struggle with the physicality of the modern game so no, not on the list.
@@JaemanEdwards and vice versa...the amateur era had its own special hardness...no substitutes only injury replacement which needed doctor approval at test level...and let's not forget rucking and....well there was no pushing fights...the 30 minute warriors of today would be exposed ...
@@paulthomson2288 they were half the size, half the fitness
half the speed and played half the amount of tests. I have great respect for rugby tradition and the legends that paved the way. But I'm a realist and like to look at things objectively.
If it was my list I'd probably substitute Juan Smith for Warburton - if Jerry Collins says you're the best he's ever played against, then ... plus I'd find a place (maybe special mention) for Reuben Kruger (Pienaar was a great leader, but in terms of talent, Kruger was that teams MVP). Also, yes, Kronfeld
Kronfeld is underrated. Fantastic support player
Seán O'Brien would have made my list
Oh yes of course, THE TULLOW TANK 💪
"Who the fook is that guy"
@@JaemanEdwards go check him out, during his prime he was an absolute machine.. such a powerhouse
@@CHIBOY4L will do
Neil back and richard hill. Hill was the silent assassin. They guy was a monster.
The other talent that Richie McCaw had was the ability to push the rules to the limit and “work” the referee. As an Australian, this was extremely infuriating, as it always gave his teams that intangible edge…but I always loved watching him play (just not against Australian teams). I am NOT saying he cheated…I am saying he was adept at identifying the line between legal and illegal, and pushing right up to that line…which is a quality every team wants in their captain. Totally agree with his number one rating.
Smith done much the same thing.
You mean cheat coz the refs were in the all blacks back pocket
Incredible analysis. It’s the intangibles that separate good from great
In France we call him RichieOffside ! This guy was the right to do anithing on the field and referees let him do, what a shame
@@barnabebatisse8552 talking bout the guys who ripped ballsacks outta people in rucks and shit? Don't talk child
Judging by the Highlights, Michael Jones was a beast
Yes he was. Easily the best pure flanker on this list when judging purely on skillset, athleticism and impact.
Yes, Micheal jones the top of the list, he broke my heart a few times in the final stages against the wallabies scoring against the runoff play.
A clean and honourable player ..
You are not wrong here.
MJ was the complete Flanker Period!!! 🇼🇸 🇳🇿
Below Pocock? Jokes bro…
Jaques Burger & Sean O'Brien have to be in the running.
Obviously the judge of these flankers have only taken the recent era in contention. The old All Black Ian Kirkpatrick, Spingbok Wahl Bartmann and a few others during tbe 70s and 80s was as good as the best.
Michael Jones is hands down the best loose forward ever!
No, he's not - he's great (in an amateur era), but nothing comes close to McCaws leadership, toughness, lack of injuries, 2x WCs, multiple Super titles - hands down the best in a professional era when all countries were tougher.
We love the Iceman here in South Africa,him and Josh Kronfeld,and what player Josh was too and then they have Zinnie behind them
It's a tough list of who do you leave out... Buck Shelford, JP Reeves, Pete Winterbottom, Delaglio, Harinordoquy, Magne, O'Brien, Back, Willie O, Cabannes etc...
Shelford and Delaglio were 8's.
Best no8 ever Sergio Parisse for Italy. Guy was immense.
My choice as no. 1 is Jean Pierre Rives. His work rate, tenacity and the rest for his size was incredible !
Neil Back tops him in my opinion for small flankers
Hooper has been a beast for Australia
Him , pockock and smith would've been very formidable
Lucky being a kiwi it never transpired
Hooper is a monster
I am French but he is my favorite flanker today 💪
My Aussies 🇦🇺
6 Finnegan 7 Pocock
8 Totai Kefu
19 George Smith
Great channel man - watched a bunch of your videos there. Love the pace and the detail and you clearly know your stuff. Keep it up. Hon Ireland 👊
Finley Calder was hard as nails. Almost single handedly won Scotland the Grand slam in 1990 and captained the British Lions to victory over World Champions Austrailia.
Richard Hill has to feature. One of the greatest 6s to play and a big reason England were dominant between 01-03
I'm a kiwi and I agree.
The forgotten man. He was amazing. Sad his knees gave out.
McCaw, Jones and Kronfeld are the best I've seen in the last 25yrs. Jones on top by a nose from the other 2 just for the ability to play anywhere. I also saw Mourie up close and he was pretty smart too but it was a different game then but he would have excelled today too.
Laurent Cabannes - great French flanker from the 90s
Jerome Kaino was fun to watch, an absolute beast with the ball in his hands.
McCaw...yes @ 1...YET..The ICEMAN, THE GREAT MJONES is above all flankers who played rugby👏👏👏👏🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿
Don't forget Jones didn't play on Sundays for religious reasons. Pretty impressive list man
What has that got to do with playing the game?
@@tiriarere Because he missed out on some games, if it was scheuduled to be played on a Sunday
@@tiriarereHe believed that keeping the sabbath holy meant devoting the day to worship. So, no playing.
@@tiriarere responding to the narrator - he didn't play many tests due to the Sunday rule for himself.
@@bremCZ what religion i wonder the BRAND.
You're good at this bro. Watched all your vids. You're spot on
He always omits crucial players.
Olivier Magne is the best French flanker ever, with all due respect to Dusautoir. Also, Kaino is top 3 with McCaw and Smith, Richard Hill is definitely top 10. And, depending on how the next few years go, François Cros and JVdF will be in there.
Jean Pierre Reeves if your a student of the game...
@@ShiNooBi1986 A student of the game would spell it Rives ;)
Tremendous player, Magne was better.
Thomas mon cher compatriote je suppose, Olivier Magne était un super flanker, coureur, mais un peu trop souvent dans la ligne de 3/4, à vouloir marquer. Très utile en touche également. Mais je me souviens d'un 3 contre 1 contre l Irlande où il était aller s'empaler un peu comme Woki contre les Blacks. Je met Betsen devant, Dusautoir aussi bien sûr. Et selon moi même un Olivon en milieu de carrière qui est dans le même registre mais en plus grand et plus fort est déjà meilleur aussi. Mais je suis pas un hater d'Olivier, hein, j'aurais adoré avoir un dixième de son talent!
I remember a guy called Cabannes. Open side flanker similar to Michael Jones in his prime.
@@thomas_corbet
Mt Rushmore
International Flankers
Schalk Burger
Thierry Dusautoir
Michael Jones
Richie McCaw
Great list. Michael Jones the GOAT. Might be better to have separate 7 and 6 lists.
He's definitely the GOAT
Excellent list. You nailed the order.
Michael Jones should be number one. He was the most versatile of all flankers, who shifted to 6 as he lost speed due to injuries. McCaw was more of a rucking specialist, almost one-dimensional, though not really. Kaino should be top five.
Thursday ngt - May 11, 2023.
He's no. 1 on my list
Great video. I would've included Josh Kronfeld, Olivier Magne, Ray Price, Corne Krige, Sean O'Brien or Neil Back but that's the beauty of these types of videos - it gets people talking. Plus, I didn't make the video 😁
Keep up the great work. Really enjoying your content.
Don't forget Jan Ellis and Piet Greying from the amateur days!
Ardie Savea and Josh Cronfield
you mean Kronfeld?
Savea is so good at flanker he plays at 8
I always felt George Smith had the edge on McCaw but if it were only based on a flankers ability Richie would be further down the list. His other qualities such as leadership, rugby IQ, resilience and sheer grit elevated him above not just other flankers but everyone else as well. He also did it with such quiet dogged kiwi determination it's not a wonder he's idealised in New Zealand.
Nah man thats a *fair list!.* Imagine a trio of
6 Kaino 8 Ardie 7 Michael Jones
For those of us who witnessed the great Michael *Jones* 🇳🇿 we can see a similarity of ability in Ardie *Savea* 🇳🇿 Michael was a hell of a player, who would hit hard but never dirty, no doubt top 3 of all time.
Schalk *Burger* 🇿🇦 one my all time favorites, as Jerome Kaino said "when Schalk played we were in for a hell of a game" 😂
David *Pocock* 🇦🇺 100% the *best jackyler* in the game, once he was over the ball you can kiss it goodbye 👋 practically built perfectly for jackyling the ball.
Honorable mention to a No 6 a damaging ball running juggernaut Owen *Finnegan* 🇦🇺 a 2 meter tall 120kg meter eater giant, no one apart from Jonah Lomu *dented* the line consistently like Owen Finnegan and though Gregan, Larkem and others got the praises it was Finnegan who was damaging defense lines, especially our A.B'z 😂 with ball in hand the guy was a *wrecking ball*
MY LOOSE FORWARD TRIO
FINNEGAN 🇦🇺 7 RICHIE 🇳🇿
SCHALK *BURGER* 🇿🇦
20 MICHAEL *JONES* 🇳🇿
Pocock is really overrated.. He struggled with injury and form through most his career.. He ended his final years in the wallabies with a bang.. But if you remembered super rugby that same year 2015.. His performances were mediocre.. I rate Michael Hooper higher cause even in the bad games.. He was always one of their best players.. Pocock was never that guy.. Pocock is like Quade Cooper in his prime.. Best international rugby stats but he was losing the rucks to liam gill in super rugby like clearly and hooper was always hooper.. 110% all day
Consistency should matter more to these ratings
Pocock on his team's off games.. He is almost non existent.. B4 Michael was captain.. They were gona give it to pocock and there was a game, where he took over the captaincy from stephen Moore In the 2nd half vs AB's.. It turned from a tight game to a trashing and he was making mistakes left and right.. Hooper and Folau were the ones playing against the tide
@@KnightWing274 on your analogy of lack of *consistent form* from Super rugby to Tests with Pocock then that means *Ma'a Nonu* is a failure then. He was always inconsistent with Super rugby but a All Time beast in Tests. Hopper is a class act but I'd still have Pocock rhe guy was impossible to move off the ball once he was over it.
Thierry Dusautoir 6
Michael Jones 7
Zinzan Brooke 8
@@JaemanEdwards solid az
That's a great list! Thank you!
Eddie Jones will openly say that George Smith was by a considerable margin the best player he had ever coached, old Eddie has seen some talent as well.
Josh Kronfeld deserved a mention. He was revolutionary in the age of the" lazy line".
Him picking Liam Messam on the special mentions list ahead of All Black greats like Josh Kronfield and Allan Whetton is just crazy. Ignorant Irishman
Jean-Pierre Rives
Ruben Kruger
Richard Hill
Ian Kirkpatrick
Lewis Moody
I recall most of his games vs the top teams Richard Hill out played George Smith and even Richie McCaw. Hill was England's best forward during their best era where the pack was winning them everything. Who to drop... Collins or Kaino. Brutal impact several Bok 6s also have, and several lock/6s have these days.
and a certain Zimbabwean member of the Woolf Pack deserves a mention .
Hill should definitely be on the list. From a kiwi
Not often enough though.
As a South African there are so many SA players I'd take ahead of Burger. PSdT, Juan Smith and if older players are eligible the list will be very long. Also, Heinrich Brussow owned many of these top ranked players at the ruck as part of probably the only dominant Bok side in the pro era and if he had more caps I'm sure he'd be in there.
Brussow was too good and World Rugby changed the rules to make it illegal. I also liked Luke Watson, Francois Louw and the Argentinian Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Brussow broke rugby. Like literally broke it. He completely disrupted the entire game during the 08 and 09 seasons. Coaches had no idea what to do about him and it made for some saucy pundit conversations and columns in sports journals. But then he was made redundant by a single cycle rule change. Pity. The greatest ever jackler in a very niche and specific set of rugby laws.
As with any top ten list there are those who would miss out despite deserving a place on this list but I cannot deny the players that were picked fully deserved their spots on this list
Josh Kronfeld redefined flankers so was unlucky not to be mentioned. And Ardie Savea would be on the list now I expect. But a great list. Well done
that's a pretty fair list and an intelligent appraisal of their skills and ranking....
WOW no Jean Pierre Rives, Graham Mourie, Jan Ellis, Peter Winterbottom, Josh Kronfeld, Ray Price, Rob Louw, Ian Kirkpatrick, Fergus Slattery, John Jefferies, Simon Poidevin, Waka Nathan, Kel Tremain
In my opinion. 6 and 7 are the best positions on the feild. Its critical the flankers are on top form for any team. They can win you a game with their ability to read an attack and snuff it out, Also by making breaks or simply supporting an attack dog
Josh Kronfeld, Corne Krige, Owen Finegan
Brilliant summary!
Michael Ice Man Jones was a phenom
George Smith was leagues above Pocock. That's from a Saffa
From a kiwi. I agree
Really agree with this selection!
sean o brian mate, for his grit
Greatness is subjective.
Pretty solid list
How did Reuben Krueger not make the list?
The silent assassin, feared by the All Blacks
Michael Jones was the Michael Jordan of Rugby pure athleticism and skill🤙
Jean Pierre Reeves was the greatest because he did it with just one functioning shoulder. Would want to play wiith someone that tough, not against.
No David Wallace, the pace of a winger and was incredible at the breakdown, but there have been so many greats 👍
He didn't have any irish players. Typical anti-irish media.
Great commentary ! Unless I am wrong you also narrate an athletics channel too ?
Thanks, yes I do
Heinrich Brüssow could steal a ball through a key hole. He was David Pocock's kryptonite. He was also a player who won penalties at huge moments.
Greatest flankers in rugby history....yes if you look with one eye. I am a South African and I immediately wonder why Jean Pierre Reeves is not even in this guys top 10. What about a man like Rob Louw and Rassie Erasmus and Ruben Kruger and Whal Bartmann further back we have men like Jan Ellis, Thys Louwrens and Jan-Boland Coetzee.....and many more.
Tullow Tank?, the only man that took a blind hit from Courtney Lawes and wasn´t smashed in the process
Mccaw is 💯 the best in my time of watching rugby. It's hard to put any other international 7 above him as I'm from new Zealand so I am biased. Best 7 nz ever produced in my time, I was a bit young to experience Michael Jones but from the comments and from listening to my old man, he was right up there 👍
Yes your biased because the legend tell this guy was born offside !
All though its a pretty good list , Ardie Savea is right up there as one of the best and would have been on my list and being a kiwi i hate saying it, but Hooper would also be higher up and a few more S.A aswell
💯 agree with your list
I think Dussautoir should be higher ranked. Nice video and picks though 👍
I agree.
1. Michael Jones
2. Thierry Dusatoir
3. Richie McCaw
Du Toit gets an honourable mention. Kolisi not even mentioned.
They never won a match at the World Cup but I remember a Flanker from Namibia who was at another level even though Namibia would be getting smashed he just kept going, can’t remember his name though.
Jacques Burger
Olivon is very impressive imho. played an amazing 6 nations.
Ian Kirkpatrick, Rives, (oui, automatically Skrela's name pops up,) Teague, Slattery ... I guess the creator did not go that far back to the amateurs, though everyone knew the French players were getting paid! I guess it's hard to compare the two eras.
As a kiwi I liked Keiran Read and Zinzan Brooke also. I think other countries fans could name one or two flankers they might like as well.
Both 8's
A great list however was surprised that Thierry Dusautoir wasn't there (NZ Fan)
no one's mentioned Martyn Williams - brilliant, smart
Lewis Moody & Ruben Kruger the most fearless.
Some absolute greats here, but from an SA perspective, Kruger is on my list!
SA Flankers Jan Ellis Piet Greyling Thys Lourens and Burger Geldenhuys
Richie McCaw, when asked who, for him, the best flankers ever were, his top was Lewis Moody - the man was a "bloody beast" - McCaw's own words.
He also had Schalk Berger in there, at 4th, Richard Hill (England) at 3rd, and Theirry Dusautoir (France) at 2nd
I thought he said George Smith
@@graemebrown5115 No apparently definitely Lewis Moody. Moody by name and Moody by nature they reckon. For me, though, as someone who plays 7 myself, Richie McCaw is the pinnacle of openside flankers. Plus his work ethic was something else; I remember reading about him and in the segment it said of how the other NZ players all had their boots cleaned by the staff responsible for this, but McCaw always did his own as he said it kept him honest and kept him accountable. I don't know how true that story is, but I like believe it's true.
Hard to argue with this line up
I agree with all the players on this list
They are surely the 10 best but I don't think we can rank them.
Warburton, Dusautoir, Hooper or Collins... all these players were decisive for their team.
But I can't come up with a name that's better than the others, personally.
Sean O’Brien….seriously? Has to be on the list
Jones Hill Rives but also loved watching Teague Skinner Champ Winterbottom Cabannes and Kronfeld. Collins was really an 8.
Winterbottom Teague skinner and champ were great players and rives and I’m a Welshman
@@tommyhassan3545 also Fergus Slattery.
Josh Kronfeld for sure
David Wilson, Australia as well?
Ruben Kruger from SA must be the unluckiest player in history... denied a try in 95 RWC Final and injured as Captain just before the Blue Bulls had their golden age. A humble soul who disliked the limelight yet played brilliant rugby. Played way to few tests for his country.
McCaw at the top, rightfully so .
As much as i admire and respect McCaw, if i was forced to pick 2 for a World Cup final tomorrow it would likely be the combination of Michael Jones and George Smith.
Josh kronfeld ?
Sam Warburton is a controversial top tenner when there’s blokes like Juan Smith and Serge Betzen out there. Warburton doesn’t come anywhere near those workhorses.
So the 10 greatest flankers of all time ALL played in the last 25 years?
I don't think so.
Proffessional players who get paid to train are always going to be better than amatures
How about Waka Nathan? Budge Rodgers, anyone?
@@julyanpaul3688I completely agree that Waka Nathan should be there, along with his fellow flanker Kel Tremayne in NZ's greatest ever back row (with No. 8 Brian Lochore). If you watch footage of AB tests in the 1960s Nathan is always on the ball. A No. 6 who played like a No, 7.
can you make top 10 greatest prop video
I’d have Hill and O’Brien on my list
MICHAEL JONES the best Flanker and top 3 missing the best of the best player NEIL BACK England, Lions, Leicester - World Cup win - national championship win - European cup win and the best efficiency in match, full athletic
Ruben Kruger.
The unsung French Flanker Abdullahtef Benazir
Los Pumas Pablo Matera another
Its hard for anybody to say, if you haven’t seen him play live, based on all the skills mentioned for a loosy, there is no way Michael Jones is anything less than 1st place. As good as Ritchie was, Iceman was even more quicker in pace and thought that rules for the game changed multiple times, he influenced Kronfeld who also should be on this list and finally McCaw. Like Carter, there is nobody who comes even close to Jones as the greatest 7 ever.
Jan Ellis
Top 10 greatest flankers in Rugby History since invention of TH-cam, plus Michael Jones.
Jean Pierre Rives, Fergus Slattery, John Jeffrey, Roger Uttley, Neil Back?
Kevin Everleigh,we called him hayburner here in new Zealand
Currently I rank Peter Steph Du Toit as best player with Ardie a close 2nd
Michael jones was the best 7 i ever saw, jerome kaino probably the best 6. Graham mourie, Rives the french captain was a wonderful player, waka Nathan, ian Kirkpatrick, Kell Tremaine. Richie mc caw wasn't a bad player either.
There are other nationality
As a South African, I could not stand George Smith. Cool piece.