BOD is, in my opinion, the best player to ever walk the planet. He was absolutely amazing and my hero, such a sad day when he retired. Great video, very enjoyable.
I can see why you say that. I personally don't think so but definitely understand why you do. Must always be in contention when talking about the greatest ever though
Makes you think how many 6 nations and possible WCs we could have won if we had a more consistent front row...Bod, Darcy, O'Gara, Kearney were all the best in the world at one point in their respective positions.
I am French and have to say he was the best all round centre I have ever seen. He could do everything. Usually players have some really excessively good traits, and lack in others but he had the complete package which you rarely see. Leadership, kicking, passing, speed, tackling, winning collisions, stealing the ball back off opponents on the ground, up and unders, offensive masterclasses and defensive masterclasses.. you just knew when he was playing you had a 100% solid player who can change a game in a heartbeat.
So many of his tries he just waltzed through with not a had layn on him. I'd say a large part of the modern defence meta-game was created in response to the man himself.
Those pickups.... Thanks for posting. I think that 2001 Lions one was my favourite. Still remember the pub I was in to watch that. And still gutted that brilliant Lions team didn't win that series.
I highly rate BOD but I feel like from 2012 - 2015, the partnership of Nonu/Smith was the best centre partnership in the world. Conrad Smith had 2 RWC gold medals and a higher win rate that Richie McCaw. It felt like Ireland struggled to find BODs centre partner in his later career. Full disclosure, I got into the game late (2011) so I missed BODs work during the 2000s.
@@katana723 agree but BOD was like 33 in 2012 most of his incredible physical abilities had left him by then but he had a well enough rounded game to outplay most of the NH centres in their prime at that point but a 33 or 34 YO BOD is not as good as a prime Nonu or Smith but when he was 23 or 24 he was untouchable for a couple of years from 2001 to 2009.
The try against France at 2:45 is almost a carbon copy of the try against France at 2:20, years earlier. Lineout - scrum half - fly half - BOD - outside break fending off the 10, cuts back inside final defender for try under the posts.
When you're putting together your greatest ever rugby 15, you could make cases for endless numbers of just about any position, but Brian O'Driscoll is an instant selection at outside centre. Was priveliged to watch him live at the 03 World Cup in Australia. Scored a great try that night.
Probably the best centre of the professional era. Lots of good ones in the amateur era that would give him competition though. I rate him the second best Irish centre ever after Mike Gibson and a ways behind Danie Gerber and Philippe Sella who I feel were the best centres I ever saw. I rate him in the top five of all time after those two , Tim Horan and Gibson.
@@AndrewDavidForde Was just about to write that bro, their closeness with Ireland didn't help ROG in that case! It's not even the catch of it for me.. More the bravery of taking the chance of being taken out of the game if he missed it/read it wrong. As the commentator here on a different try "fortune favours the brave".. Great video man, what do you think of our chances at the RWC, will we balls it up again? (I think/hope/pray that we have that little bit of an x-factor in this team..its not one dimensional it seems we can score from anywhere)
@@damotheman4196 watch him after he’s made the interception as well, it’s not just head down and sprint for the line. At full tilt he’s checking his left shoulder, right shoulder and staying fully aware of the picture behind him
@@newspaper9949 really?! Don't you watch much Rugby? Those two may get into the top 10 or 20. But nowhere near the top 5 NH players. Not in terms of overall quality. Wilkinson was England's Dan Bigger, world class GK that will put a shift in on Defense, but not much of a creator. Pretty sure most of the 70s Welsh side would come next after the five I mentioned. That's without mentioning the likes of Jonathan Davies, Shane Williams, Sam Warburton, Finn Russell,...Hell, in terms of Quality - Owen Farrell is a far better player than Johnny Wilkinson ever was.
The first try against Australia was replayed 4 times! You cant claim one try as being 4 of the best out of 10? Seriously though....aren't those tries BOD scored his ONLY tries?
Well he's the Six nations top try scorer of all time so no. You do know it's just showing the same try from different angles. This video has left out some gems like Argentina 07 Toulouse 06 and England and Wales 09.
You Northern hemisphere lot get carried away with yourselves. Almost no great British players would make any southern hemisphere teams. I notice alot ours get in yours though lol. Our C grade players
@@newspaper9949 He was a winner for sure, but a more manufactured player....limited attacking skills...nowhere near the all around talent of BOD. He also shone on two exceptional squads (England and Toulon)....wouldn't have had the same impact playing on some of those Irish teams BOD played on.
Aliestwill I actually disagree. Personally I think Johnny just had that natural winning ability that ROG didn’t possess, meaning that he easily would’ve walked into that Irish side. The presence of Johnny would’ve massively boosted that teams ability (if he was playing in that era) and therefore they would’ve done much better in tournaments like the 2007 and 2011 WC and other six nations fixtures. However if BOD was playing in 2003, there was so much depth in the centre position at the time (with Tindall, Catt and Greenwood all going for it) that I doubt BOD would’ve got a chance. However I respect your opinon.👍
@@newspaper9949 Dont think england could have won the world cup w/o Jonny, thats how important a player he was. He even dragged a very underwhelming England side to the Final of 2007 as well.
Best 13 ever . He is known for in offense in the SH but up north he known for being exceptional in both offense , defense and leadership. One player that i think the English, Scottish and Welsh all had the utmost respect for
The best all round player the game has ever seen. Great defensively in terms of tackling and jackaling, and offensively had the ultimate skill package. Pace, great hands and kicking game. And mentally, great awareness and leadership. I watched the game against France in 1999 with my Grandad who sadly passed away not long after, and he said that he was going to be a great player. My Grandad was never wrong when it came to Rugby. Some call him BOD. But he's much better than that.....
Drico was one of the best. Gorden D'Arcy was a big part of his try count for Ireland and lenster just worth saying D'Arcy was very selfless did a lot of the donkey work..
A claim to be 'best ever' anything can always be challenged. It is hard to see what more O' Driscoll could have achieved in the game. As an attacking centre he was unstoppable; tactically astute, supremely athletic and blessed with a game-winning mentality. Added to that was a defensive skill set that has rarely been matched in a 13 jersey since, at any level. Moreover, look at where Irish rugby was when he came into the picture - perennial wooden spoon candidates. Along with a few talented team mates - but with O' Driscoll as the key scoring threat - he transformed Irish rugby in a way that few, if any players since can be said to have done for a national side. He consistently performed for Leinster, Ireland and the Lions throughout his professional career, and countless players benefitted from playing alongside him. There is also the fact that he is one of those players whose influence and popularity transcended the game itself - he is a household name across the northern hemisphere, and synonymous with rugby globally. You're entitled to your opinion for sure, but I would respectfully disagree with it. The suggestion that O' Driscoll is one of the greatest players in rugby history is well founded.
Theres a reason he's not very well rated down in new zealand. He never really turned up against them and Gatland was right to drop him in the last lions test v australia. To be fair he played behind a forward pack that often struggled and even with that managed to produce moments of magic. He's definately a once in a generation player and im glad i got to see him play but he's definately far far away from being the "best ever"
@@zephanish if i may, we all might have had a greater chance to see him produce some goods within '05 if a hooker & a centre hadn't dealt those blushes.. What i'm trying to say is I hold no vigor for the 'spear' maybe I did in it's aftermath, but however shocked people were up in NH the only scar that hasn't gone away from that incident is the barbarism and cowardice folks thought of them, upon witnessing it & that's what will take longer to go away. For me, it was really just the question of it's necessity. Were people really worried he'd do damage on that tour?