Yup I’m one of those guys who will have to eat their words about Jesse Kriel. He’s always been defensively very solid but for the first time in his Bok career he’s playing with genuine confidence on attack and he’s becoming a game changer. Hard to believe he’s already on over 70 caps. Eventually living up to that potential!
The great thing about having to eat your words about Jesse Kriel, is that the taste is pretty darned good. And huge credit to the man. Lukhanyo Am is a fantastic centre and stepping into those boots couldn't have been easy. But he has stepped up in a huge way and made that 13 jersey his own. Also serves as another reminder that it isn't players that win world cups, or even teams; it's squads. Having two outside centres of this quality is being really spoilt.
@SMacCuUladh was going to say this. Been very impressed with how good his defence has become. Thats why Chris Harris was brought in and why he was dropped
There’s so much world class talented 13’s. Lukhanyo Am went from probably being the worlds number 1 outside centre in 2021/22 to dropping to 7th place! I know he’s been injured but Jesse Kriel has rightfully grabbed that number 1 spot. Also watch out for Irelands up and coming 21yo Jamie Osborne who can play 12,13 & 15. Superb, gifted footballer and just recently beat South Africa in his first game at 15. Incredible player.
@@Pooler29 That’s why I said watch out for him. He’s 21 and has already beaten South Africa in South Africa. He’s also gotten to a champions cup final.
Agree Ringrose deserves #1 when he’s healthy, and his return v Boks looked like he’s back.. Huw Jones has been playing great and I expect him to move up the list next time.
I think you will see Billy Proctor push through this year, he is class and will be able to release the AB back 3 in a way we have not seen since Conrad Smith retired, Leonard Brown to cover 12 and 13 with Reiko either been forced wider or to the extended squad.
Slade is criminally underrated, from a kiwi. Good to see him on this list I do believe Am should be higher based in historical performance, and Ioane lower (seriously, if distribution skills are a key element of the position.....🤨). Proctor will likely move up and ALB maybe too, although wonder if he'll be used as bench cover for the remainder of his int'l career so play at 12 more
It would be interesting when you have finished to do a breakdown by country to see how closely that aligns with the world rankings. Maybe give the top tens a score from 10 for 1st down to one for 10th and then tally up the scores!
Funny to think that maybe 18 months ago people were saying kriel shouldn’t be in the Bon squad now look at him, probably the best 13 in the world and still improving at that, it’s great to see
For Ringrose the starting 13 position for the Lions is his to lose, if he keeps fit and form isn't terrible I can't see anyone but him in that position
As a rugby player, outside center is my favorite position (because it's my position). But for me the most difficult position to play is full-back. In small clubs, the full-back is often the best player in the team. He has to be good at attacking, impeccable at defending (because he's the last tackler), impeccable with his kicking game and must know how to play intelligently.
Excited that we have talent coming through at 13 as both Kriel and Am (and Serfontein) aren't spring chickens. Henco van Wyk and Jurenzo Julius who will put pressure on Moodie at 13. Hartzenberg might make the move from 14 to 13 for the Stormers as well.
Am was arguably the best 13 in the run up to world cup until he got injured. Ringrose is probably most important at 13 due his defense, and the fact he offers something different to the other option. Henshaw is v good at 13, but with Aki/McCloskey inside, they're all v similar.. Ireland could have an issue though in a few years, with Aki/McCloskey/Henshaw all the wrong side of 30 as well and noone pressing hard to break into t he team.
I know hes had like 1 competitive international game, but anyone who watch Glasgow often this year can back be up that Stafford Mcdowell is definitely one to keep and eye out for. Didnt put a foot wrong v ireland and played basicallt every minute of the regulat season.
I beg to disagree Tim as Henshaw started 11 out of his last 12 starts for Ireland, going back to the last of three Tests in New Zealand in 2022, at 13. Would that not merit his inclusion at 13? By the way always enjoy your videos 👍
Hi Tim, did you forget about 11 or you left it out on purpose? Are you saving the best for last or you are still having a hard time concluding who os ranked where?
Hi this is not related but I would like Rassie to try the additional following players this year that include: 3. N Fouche, W Louw 5. R van Heerden 8. C Hanekom 9 Nohamba 10 Masuku 11 Hartzenberg 12 D Kriel 13 M van Wyk, E Hooker and 15 T Green
Fickou had a tough year with club and France. Too much steorotypt in his game going only straight forward and not passing the ball quickly. The outside défense has been terrible for France in the first 6 nation game and he is suppose to be the captain of the défense. But I think he is more a 12 and with deportere and Coste coming up he can go back to 12 shirt where he is the best
The drop in form from danty and fikou I think was what really hurt the team in the 6 nations. Went from probably the best center combination, the 6ns prior to probably the second worst only in front of wales
@@bigscaryman7421 i agree but also not having ntamack and Dupont in defense can explain the drop and the more exposure in defense. However it is more offensively that is scarring me, they only go straight forward and with no flair or creativity. I think danty with deportere, fritch, moefana or coste is for sure finish in bleu
As a kiwi, I actually question whether Ioane deserves to be ranked as high as he is. I thought he was a better winger than center. I also want to see Billy Proctor given an opportunity in the AB center position against the tier 1 sides, as he's a better distributer and would offer something different in the AB backline.
@@randomlyfactual1943 Hopefully we see Will Jordan at fullback instead. The ABs has quite a few players playing in the wrong position. Ardie should go back to 7.
I definitely think he's better on the wing. As an Ireland fan when I see him on the wing I'm scared, at center not so much. Not that he's bad there but I think he's a lethal winger.
I was always pleased when Kriel played against the ABs because he wasn’t that good. However the last 18 months he’s been class and I can understand the argument for the no.1 ranking here. If Ioane can develop his passing he has a chance at ranking higher. No faster centre in world rugby.
Interestingly, Gaël Fickou is possibly much better as a 12 than as a 13. Jonathan Danty being a bit tired lately, lot of French fans call to replace Fickou as a 12 and associate a youngster with him, as France has plenty of talents coming in (Nicolas Depoortere and Emilien Gailleton being the most promising ones, but there is also Frisch, Moefana and plenty of others)
So, I was expecting Paul Coste to enter the list (evne if I am not entirely sure is not en inside center actually. But then, Chocobares would be an outside center?) , but when I see the top 10, I agree is not there yet.
Im French and don’t think Fickou should be on this list. He has caps because he was the ‘default’ until Gailleton, Depoortere and Moefana got old enough. I think Fickou shouldn’t even make the squad anymore - he always just keeps the ball. Never seen him pass it
I watch with desperation, day after day, hoping you’ll mention a Welsh player in these lists, and you go and namecheck Owen Watkin…. Christ 😂😂. Not a chance. Fingers crossed Grady will be in the 13 shirt for the Autumns alongside Eddie James, and we’ll maybe start to see a Welsh centre partnership worth talking about.
Nothing to do with this content, but the 2024/25 Leicester Tigers home and away kit is terrible, why can't they get it right? The away kit may as well have a V stripe and would probably be better. If you do a kit review, please give them some grief. I support Tigers by the way.
I cannot believed you put Slade at 9. He is a top 2 player. What he has done for club and country this year is of the scale. No you are way off with Slade.
He's played 3 times in 18 months. 1 full Test in over a year. Hard to justify him getting in on that. Not sure who you'd drop with that playing record.
He did not choose the best club to shine (RCT) and has serious concurrence for the french team. That said he was incredible for his intentional debuts against Argentina. He directly and naturally acted has a leader surrounded by youngsters as if he always played for France and he showed how good he understand the game and how good he is in adjusting with the other center. With galleton they ruled the center in perfect harmony. Very promising.
Kriel has played amazingly well and already it was a coin flip between the two. Open side the guy who was #1 last time is Ollivon, now in blindside list and no 7 has played so well it could oust how incredible Botia was for past few seasons. Ce la vie
Where exactly did they end 8th? I was't aware that there was a 5-8 place play off in the WC. Ireland were clearly one of the four best teams in the WC, got unlucky with the draw
unpopular opinion but I think Kriel is overrated. If Am hadn't had all the injuries he wouldn't be starting and I predict that Am will come back in soon. For me Ringrose is the best all round 13 and Ioane is the best attacker. I'd have those two 1 and 2.
Agree that Kriel might be overrated, but he keeps delivering Agree Am for the 13 bok jersey but needs to get back to form Agree Ringrose is fantastic. Nail the lions 13 in his back now Disagree with Ioane. Cannot distribute. Either doesn't pass or will attempt miracle offloads in the tackle, never draw n pass. I'm a kiwi and I'd say he's the least effective long term centre NZ has had in my lifetime (and I'm old)
