He brushes by tackles more than he breaks them. Martial art. He doesn't seem to need to give huge fends or wriggles out of tackles. He just glances to where he wants to go. Masterful
It wasn't just Rupeni's speed though. He had the best balance running I have ever seen (and probably ever will see) in rugby. He could move off both legs at top pace and use the tiniest amount of space to go through defenders. He quite simply scored tries no other person on the pitch could. He was a magician.
Still the most naturally talented player ive seen grace a rugby field! I showed this tribute to some guys who were wondering how I could question Jonah lomu not being the greatest winger of all time....to say there opinion changed is an understatement
I still say he was the best winger I've ever seen. Hell, he was one of the best ATHLETES I ever saw. pace, power, explosion; he had it all. If he had discipline he'd have been on his own level. sometimes I marvel at the physical ability of the fijians
watch 2;09.. now that i the most angled swerve i've ever.. i still don't see how he what able to maintain his balance and pace while weighing 109kgs..this doesn't even have too bother with a step.. truly remarkable..still and always will be the best winger to ever play rugby in our modern era.. if you can think of it, he's got it..all.
If anyone remember, the year before he got selected to play for Auckland Blues in the Super 12 at the time. He was playing for Northland in the NPC. They played Auckland and he smoked Doug Howlett on the outside to score a try. Unbelievable. But what a back line the Blues had the next season.
Best of all time... Including Jonah... No one in world Rugby has ever been able to do the things this man has been doing... He just not up there with other greats because we dont see much of him in International Rugby... But when we do he is taking teams apart on his own
Caucau on top form is possibly the best player to have ever played the game, certainly the most dangerous. Such a shame about all the problems he's had over the last decade, just imagine 10 more years worth of tries on this video.
One word comes to mind... FREAK!!! That guy was unbelievable, I was lucky enough to watch him in a Blues warm-up game, his marker, Wendell Sailor, absolutely taught him a rugby union lesson!
This is probably my favorite video on youtube- some of the things this guy did defy belief. I would love to see a remake with exactly the same clips and music but just updated quality.
"F@#k you i wont do what you tell me"... How fitting are those words for this guy. Still remember that Northland vs Auckland game, Northland with a bunch of no names against auckland star studed team. Single handedly tore auckland apart. Mad skillz.
Caucau has all the attributes of a top winger. Pace, vision, steps and most of all the balance. Note, whenever he change direction he still maintain the speed and that make it harder for someone to mark him (low centre of gravity). You can see the same in Shane williams.It does not matter the size but when you got pace and body balance you are one hell of a person to bring down.
Shane Williams was good but he would still admit that caucau was from another planet..if Brian Habana can mention Rupeni being one he looks up to and Wendell Sailor kindly admitting "I'm keeping my fingers crossed 🤞" after being asked about marking Rupeni in one of their super 12 games it speaks volumes of the man
I remember watching all these games when he was playing for the Blues. He was amazing. I watch a lot of football/soccer too. If Diego Maradonna was a rugby player, he would be Rupeni. the stocky master who could do anything he wanted to. When these guys want to play, no one can stop them.
Caucau smoke pot, relax at home.. Game time come.. Performs above any other player on the team.... Other players with all the training, diet play below average... Conclusion - naturally gifted player.. The best winger to have laced a pair of boots.. Plus unbelievably makes all tries looks so effortless.. He is The Winger.
@TheTotalRugby He didn't stopped playing rugby after leaving the southern hemisphere ! He had been top try scorer in France with Agen, stayed with the club when they went down to 2nd division (Pro D2), and became top try scorer in pro D2 (scoring 4 tries in the last game) this year, sending Agen back in top 14. I wouldn't say he's legendary, but at least he's a great player, and got that special something that could make him legendary.
What we heard around the grog bowl 1 nite.When Rups played for the blues, every training session they would send a car to pick him up from his apartment to the ground. Soon as he reached the training ground, he spreads his mat in the corner and lays there while all the other players do laps, and fitness. Then while they had match tactics and drill the couach would send sum1 to call rups then he would join the team. Come Match day, he scores the most tries meters gained, he was just a freak
How he stayed cool while running across field in front of 3 defenders (0:30) is beyond me, it goes against all logic in the game of rugby. Its as if he knew no one could stop him, I mean these a world class players, Larkham, Gregan and so on. Ran in front of them as if they were school kids, unreal!
His hips are so big that he has a really low center of balance but the pure strength in his legs and his fast twitch muscles means that he can change direction and sidestep pretty easily while moving at pace, thats why he was such a great runner of the ball.
....back in the 60s, 70s, Fijian rugby league players used to light the NW league grounds with their power-running and display of try-scoring exploits; absolutely magical and a full-house was always guaranteed whenever they were in town.
I love Caucau and the people who have criticised him for weight gain etc wish they were 1 tenth as brilliant as he is. Rupeni and Lomu would be my wingers in an all time dream team - the best ever by a country mile. I was lucky enough to be at that Blues v Brumbies game and never seen anything like that before. The All Blacks did try to get him but he wasn't eligible - he would have been unstoppable.
Rupeni did get a lot of game time at the blues....bearing in mind they had such an awesome squad...with the likes of Rocokoko and Howlett as well... The won that Super 14 comp with ease that year... With King Carlos at his prime also...
His coordination is the best ive ever seen, side step is perfect off both feet too and he also has a good goose step. Pace and acceleration was unbelievable. Decpetively strong too, when he took the straight route he would go through players. i just wish his work ethic was better. he was a natural to rugby but struggled with the professional life style training, dieting no drinking rules etc. Easily a better wing than Lomu, as Rupeni was relatively good on defense too. His vision is 2nd none.
I'm sure if Jonah was at his best and not playing with an illness most of his career we would have zero doubt his the greatest greatest... It's scary to think
@@danesmith8913 Lomu was great too but one dimension..Rupeni did things that defied belief..Lomu did what we all know he would do because of his size.. you wouldn't see Lomu scoop up a bouncing about ball on a greasy surface in top flight, you wouldn't see Lomu put on a grubber recollect and pace off the mark leaving would be defenders grasping for air, you wouldn't see Lomu changing direction on top flight without stepping caucaus first try against the crusaders when he marnuvoured past Ben Blair..you wouldn't see Lomu glide like Rupeni and the list goes on..to be brutally honest I'm a big Lomu fan loved him playing footy because not only was he a clean player he's very humble and down to earth..one thing that caucau can't do is or you don't often see is him bumping off players something that Lomu specialises in but he does run through them..both legend's for me..
@@moapebatinikeli3176 I am sorry but I disagree, youtube Jonah's first game for the Canes he put a sweet little chip kick over the top and regathered the ball and scored. He had a monster fend, could bump off players and run around them and side step too. He also developed a nice lil offload game ask Cullen and Wilson, they scored alot of tries from Jonah passing a ball over a player to them. So no he was not one dimensional. Must be remembered Jonah unlike other players could not work on his other skills as much during training or the off season because of his illness. He would mostly have had to spend his time working on his fitness, pace and explosive power. So yes Rupeni and Jonah both once in a lifetime players who we never truly saw at the peak peak and that is sad. But I think I have to give it to Jonah, if he was illness free with 120kg weight and running the 100meters at 11 seconds. Must remember Jonah ran the 100meter at 11 seconds when he was 18/19 meaning he could have gotten faster as his developed. That kidney illness truly took away alot from him and he achieved so much regardless.
@@danesmith8913 I disagree Lomu running around players like Rupeni did but yeah most of his tries he bumped off players..you could see how not fast Lomu was when he fended off Vunibaka in their NPC final and Vunibaka quickly caught up with him again ..I did not say chip I said grubber something Lomu couldn't do because he preferred uterlising his size bumping off players..
Rupeni. My favourite rugby player ever by a mile. I doubt we'll see that kind of freakish talent again. Most of the time he's just in cruise mode which is still as fast as Howlett, Tuquiri etc when they are at full pace. But then you see when he puts on his bursts of pace its just freakish speed, eg the try v France, the 1st try for Northland. No one can touch him when hes in that kind of form. Fastest player ever. It's a pity we cant mute Tony Johnsons commentary in this clip.
those fijians are amazing repeni i loved how he carved up teams i heard wen he was at the blues he wasnt geting payed dat much how sad he should of been the highest paid
Amazing. At his best he would routinely make the best backline players look silly by running around them. Who else could just glide past Joe Roff, Aron Mauger etc? And seriously, 3:44 - WTF? How does that work?
spot on bro yeah its a shame he didint stick around longer but things happend for a reason lets just sit back and count ourselves lucky to have lived in a time of a winger if his calibre to have graced us
@kiwi328i I absolutely agreed with you. He got it all, my only regret that he didn't stay a bit longer in NZ and tried to make into the All Blacks. With quality players around him to provide that cutting edge....no doubt in my mind that he will be best ever rugby winger in the world.......its a shame to think that he didn't show case his talent abit longer at top rugby club just for people like me and you to enjoy and behold this truly talented athlete.
FRU has given him another crack at playing for the home team at the Pacific Nations cup..in the training squad but thats a start...hopefully we'll get to see him again this year playing international test matches
yeah and his speed is so deceptive as well, it looks like he's jogging half the time but hes going faster and faster and faster. Scientists should study his body.
he could of been the greatest winger of all time had he played for the all blacks, but big upz to him for pickin his home country. it sucked when he went to france hes definately the best winger ive seen play..
Well..the world have seen Caucaus brilliance invidually with the great players..and it doesn't have to be the all black 2 be great.. still today, I have never seen such a versatile and dynamic winger to ever grazed any ground like the great Rupeni Caucau.. because he can create anything out of nothing given any world class opponents..let alone the great Lomu on that matter.. Caucau was a class of his own... will always remembered! Well done Rup! For your talent.. always Thank God 4 that..! GB..
rupeni is the greatest winger ever no one is even close to him too strong too fast too agile unstopable uncatchable he's so good he makes it look easy he makes them look like a bunch of social grade piss heads the best ever
Is it just me or does he just look so effortless when he runs? He just has these massive bounding legs and can hit the gas, move and shift a defender, run good lines, or if need be just barge straight ahead
You know how commentators sometimes say a guy has another gear but it's really b.s. because most guys with space will always be running flat out? It's a little hard to see but check out 3:53, he's already running faster than everyone and then he just decides to shift it into 5th and leave everybody behind! My eyes see it but I still don't quite believe it.
Rage Against the Machine andRupeni Caucaunibuca. PERFECT MATCH that was another poster, personally i think it suits as both are "rebelous" if u get what i mea.
In spite of Caucau's problems, he is in my book the BEST winger the world may have ever seen so far. Look at the quality of his tries, the balance and power in his legs, the speed, the hand skills, its all there. That's the quality a brilliant winger should have. Caucau has it all. In terms of the best winger in 7s rugby, I think it has to be Marika Vunibaka. his support play in 7s rugby is excellent which is one vital aspect a winger should have in 7s.
I agree Corny, he is still around, and still Carving up. But im pretty sure he's 28, and in rugby terms, its a shame knowing that players dont really go into there 30s playing as good as they used to. Most retire. Theres always new and improved coming thru....cant wait to see the next CauCau!!!! Fiji always produce great wingers...Joeali Vindiri, Joe Rokocoko, Sitivini Sivivatu, Rupeni CauCau,...The List Goes On!
The theoretical love child of Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen. Pace aplenty, but the body movements and stepping is awesome. Lovely balance too. As good as our current All Blacks are, especially in our wings, this guy has a better balance/speed/power/hands/step/run and kick game overall than anyone now. Perfect size deceptive pace step is of the highest level kick and chase vision is up with the best Pace and strength come no better then this
