Challenge Cup : Lyon est revenu de loin pour soumettre Cardiff

1. Kitshoff=De Groot - EdG was really good and Kitshoff still in world-class form.

2. Mbonambi<Taylor - Taylor has been the best hooker for years now, I will hear nothing on the subject.

3. Malherbe<Lomax - Lomax is arguably the best TH in the world, pretty unplayable at times. Malherbe isn't bad, but he isn't a great like Lomax will be.

4/5. Etzebeth & Mostert & Snyman < Whitelock & Retallick & Barrett - Whitelock and Retallick, even at their age, are both better than Etzebeth, and their pairing is the greatest of all time.

6. PSDT > Frizell - Frizell is good, PSDT is one of the all time greats. Unplayable that night.

7. Kolisi > Cane - Cane was unlucky, but Kolisi is the second best captain and second best 7 of all time, right behind McCaw.

8. Savea > Vermeulen - both legends of the game, but Savea was WPOTY, so yeah.

9. De Klerk < Smith - FdK is another great player, but AS is the greatest halfback of all time, and one of the greatest ABs. Scored a try in his final game in a RWC final.

10. Pollard = Mounga - Pollard is the definition of maturity at the highest level, and Mounga is like this piece of magic every time he gets the ball. This one is so close, I can't really call it. Mounga really demonstrated his brilliance at this WC, shame he couldn't carry it over to the next year, and Pollard is the greatest knock-out footy player ever. Call me biased or whatever, but I've watched RM for years and I'm calling it even.

11. Kolbe > Telea - Kolbe was the 2nd best player in the world in 2023, behind Savea, and he is just an absolute legend.

12/13. De Allende & Kriel > Barrett & Ioane - JB/RI have so much potential, and I hope Razor helps them reach it, but they were definitely only firing at 50%ish at this RWC, while DDA and JK were just incredible, operating like extra forwards. JB and RI just have these clunky skills that they aren't fitting together with each other, and they aren't using RI's pace enough. Need more grubbers, more offloads, and a LOT more over/under lines from them.

14. WJ > Arendse - no discussion here.

15. Barrett > Willemse - Barrett is sheer class, and Willemse is unproven at test level tbh.

Forwards bench: SA > NZ, the bomb squad is possibly one of the most innovative measures in rugby history, behind the pod system set up by Graham Henry. The ABs tried to counter it, and nearly did with their walking behemoths in Taukei'aho, Williams, and Laulala, but were utlimately not up to scratch against the sheer numbers and energy off the bench

Backs bench: SA < NZ, DMac and ALB are such a good combo off the bench, with DMac providing creativity and pace while ALB adds some physicallity and shutdown defense. WlR is great, and Kwagga is so good to have, but they aren't as good in their specialist roles as DMac and ALB.

Overall: NZ 8; SA 5; 2 tied

Folau isn't even close to the same player as WJ. Not physically, not mentally, not emotionally. WJ puts in enough effort to get by so he has energy for his big moments and buys himself time to scan the pitch, though he always puts in a sizeable amount of effort on both sides of the ball, often leading the charts in tackles and carries.

2023 18 foreign players

2019 9 foreign players

2015 12 foreign players

2011 10 foreign players

What's going on, Rassies visionary status is bogus? WC year was different. I can see they opened up eligibility fully only in 2019? Surprised I couldn't find much fan content on about it, not in english?

As I've always said, 2025 will need to be the breakthrough year for Razor. Bring it on.

Thats you thinking like a NH rugby fan NB. NZ doesnt do "honeymoon" periods. I remember when it was far easier for coaches to blood players as we were playing 3 test series and win the first 2 and play the regies in the 3rd. Thats why you see many NZ players getting debuts v Aus in the 2nd bledisloe cup game each year. Its almost the only opportunity these days. Razor went way to conservative, Got all panicky Id say. Games like the Fijian, Italy and Japan games were crucial for the new guys but Razor failed to use those opportunities as he could have. Japan was really the only game he selected outside the incumbents.