Who is the worst professional player you've ever seen?

Whilst commenting on another thread about Aussie call-ups for the upcoming Wales tour, I stated that Tom Carter was one of the worst players that I have ever seen...this thought got me in to many a conversations through the day (many mates agreeing with Carter, all mainly Waratah fans) and I was thinking of who else I felt was pants...

So...

Tom Carter
Matt Cardey
Derwyn Jones

So, who are yours? Who are the players that you dreaded seeing in your team's lineup? Or who are the one's you were over the moon with seeing in the opposition's?

Who has been the worst professional rugby player you've ever seen?

Lawrence Sepaka, from SA. Couldn't run 2 meters without falling over, couldn't scrum against a blow up doll, and yet were capped as a springbok.

Mal Arnold (Former Crusaders and Hurricanes Flyhalf) raises an eyebrow.....once upon a time was backup to Andrew Merhtens

Oh god, I do remember Sephaka...

Mates of mine suggested Earl Rose (for being 90% padding) and Jonathan webb

As well as a mate of ours which he didn't find funny...we did!

I had Earl rose all typed and ready to go, but then I remembered Sephaka.

A fat tub of lard with no place on the rugby field, at least Rose had his 15 minutes of fame.

For England:
Busby Barkley (right hon member for Bath) never had international credentials.
JSD also never had.
Andy Goode never had

And Brad Barrtt currently is a bed blocker.

Will James is another one from Wales.

Chris Patterson

Brian Smith for Ireland was pretty bad.

Brendan Laney for Scotland?

I think the more Kidney persists with starting D'Arcy, in a completely useless irish setup with zero game plan, he is going to be known more for his absolutely dire recent performances than his brilliant showings in his earlier career. A bit sad really.

Darcy isn't the problem. He has 69 international caps including one for the lions. Not possible if you are no good. He is exceptionally professional. The problem is the Irish management has no clue how to get the best out of the talent they have at their disposal. Granted he is not the player he once was but has a lot to offer to the right coach.

Darcy is the last schoolboy while still in school to be called up to the senior team. He had prodigious talent when 18.

Martyn Madden...big lad but not much use for anything other than getting in the way. Derwyn is probably the worst I've seen though. Signed for Banbury and never even turned up to play

D'Arcy wasn't in any way a bad (in fact he was a good ) international player. He is now. But he shouldn't even has his name on this thread. Not even remotely.

D'arcy was sensational when he came on the scene in 2004. Interspersed with injuries and loss of form hes had some real purple periods where hes been absolutely top class. Hes been player of the 6N twice I think 2004 and 2007 and has outshone BOD for periods during his career.

He's a shadow of his old self but definitely doesn't deserve a mention here.

LordDowlais wrote:Will James is another one from Wales.

Yeah I think thats the most recent case but there have been a few over the years and through our dark dark periods of the 90s

leinsterbaby wrote:Brian Smith for Ireland was pretty bad.

Brendan Laney for Scotland?

Dont be dissing "Chainsaw Laney" Leinsterbaby.
You never new what u were gonna get from Chainsaw but it was always 100%
Laney has provided me with some of my best and worst rugby memories!
Blame the Scottish RU and selectors who decided he was a test player.
They knew (or should have known!)what they were getting themselves into!

Sam Norton Knight... Why Blues why!?

Devin Toner - surely it wont last long, I think Arwel Thomas could shove him back in a tackle

C'mon my green and red friends I'm waiting for the barrage

Dan Lydiate. The rugby equivilant of Kaiser Soze......

Was never a big Justin Bishop fan though he probably wasnt te worst.

Toner should be better than he is. He is colossus of a man with shovels for hands yet at times as physical as Rog. He is improving at least.

He will first of all need to improve to get as physical as ROG

rodders wrote:D'arcy was sensational when he came on the scene in 2004. Interspersed with injuries and loss of form hes had some real purple periods where hes been absolutely top class. Hes been player of the 6N twice I think 2004 and 2007 and has outshone BOD for periods during his career.

He's a shadow of his old self but definitely doesn't deserve a mention here.

Rodders, he used to be one of my favourite players. But surely he must be the worst centre in world rugby at this point in time. Like I said, his ship has sailed and he really shouldn't be playing, but he is. He has been pretty embarrassing for Ireland recently.

Ayoola Erinle anyone?

Andy Kershaw - if any one outside Ulster remembers him I'm seriously impressed. In fact I would be impressed by any Ulster supporter who has seen him play

Do you mean worst International centre? Surely he is better than Alberto Sgarbi or Nick deLuca. I would say he is the worst utilised centre aound. He definitely isnt as good as he used to be but if he can preform very well in the eineken cup then he cant be bad. Most Irish backs look average when playing for Ireland at the moment.

Tony Buckley - he is turning 32 years of age in a few months and is still just a big fat mess.

A bad work ethic, lacks the basics of a prop, a guy who was lucky enough to have a big build and ended up as a rugby player as a result.

Had he been born in any other country in the world bar Ireland at a time we needed props he would have made it to nothing.

red_stag wrote:Tony Buckley - he is turning 32 years of age in a few months and is still just a big fat mess.

A bad work ethic, lacks the basics of a prop, a guy who was lucky enough to have a big build and ended up as a rugby player as a result.

Had he been born in any other country in the world bar Ireland at a time we needed props he would have made it to nothing.

was gonna say buckley but I think he was ok in the loose and may have been the victim of poor coaching in terms of scrummaging. cant argue with much of what you say.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:
Rodders, he used to be one of my favourite players. But surely he must be the worst centre in world rugby at this point in time.

Nah ...that's Fergus McFadden.....

Richard Fussell, he is the rugby equivalent of David James, or Calamity James the old Liverpool goal keeper, you just never know where the next cóck up is coming from with him.

I panic every time he is in the Ospreys team.

Vainikola? Not only a poor player but 'served' most of his time as an EQed player at an RL club.

leinsterbaby wrote:

red_stag wrote:Tony Buckley - he is turning 32 years of age in a few months and is still just a big fat mess.

A bad work ethic, lacks the basics of a prop, a guy who was lucky enough to have a big build and ended up as a rugby player as a result.

Had he been born in any other country in the world bar Ireland at a time we needed props he would have made it to nothing.

was gonna say buckley but I think he was ok in the loose and may have been the victim of poor coaching in terms of scrummaging. cant argue with much of what you say.

One of the biggest myths around. He was capable (through sheer size) of doing one good thing per match. Sometimes it worked, more often that not it didnt.

But he got a few tries from 1m out and made one hit on Simon Shaw that earned plaudits. But he was far from a good player in the loose - he hadnt the fitness.

geoff998rugby wrote:Andy Kershaw - if any one outside Ulster remembers him I'm seriously impressed. In fact I would be impressed by any Ulster supporter who has seen him play

Wasn't he a radio DJ?

Ah Stag, Mushy threw Shaw around like a rag doll in Mycombe one time, worth losing the match to see that in itself. And while we were mullered last time in NZ, his off load for BOD's try would have had every Leinster fan in collective orgasm had it been D'Arcy. And a huge hit on Richie to boot, not to mention the fact that he dealt pretty well with Afoa that evening in the scrum.

In fact, that match had me thinking that the TH position was going to be ok, that Buckley had evetually copped on and knuckeld down. I mean with 14 men for 55+ mins (13 at one stage too) we scored 4 tries against the ABs. That has happened twice in the last 2 years, ourselves & Oz.

Portnoy wrote:For England:
Busby Barkley (right hon member for Bath) never had international credentials.
JSD also never had.
Andy Goode never had

And Brad Barrtt currently is a bed blocker.

Eh? He was awesome for England when given the chance, he was just too injured around international duty to be considered.

At the moment I'd go for Dave Lewis for Glos. I actually don't know what he brings to the table, bring on Cowan and Robson.

Matthew Tait? Wasn't great really? Ok he wasn't terrible but maybe didn't live up to his promise.

leinsterbaby wrote:Matthew Tait? Wasn't great really? Ok he wasn't terrible but maybe didn't live up to his promise.

A lot of people might disagree with that, but I don't. Had bags of pace in his early days but only put in a couple of memorable performances. Similar to Strettle imo, lost the spark.

Big Bill Cavibati a big lump of fat for Wellington and the Hurricanes who was always leaning on the ruck with one hand to catch his breath

red_stag wrote:

leinsterbaby wrote:

red_stag wrote:Tony Buckley - he is turning 32 years of age in a few months and is still just a big fat mess.

A bad work ethic, lacks the basics of a prop, a guy who was lucky enough to have a big build and ended up as a rugby player as a result.

Had he been born in any other country in the world bar Ireland at a time we needed props he would have made it to nothing.

was gonna say buckley but I think he was ok in the loose and may have been the victim of poor coaching in terms of scrummaging. cant argue with much of what you say.

One of the biggest myths around. He was capable (through sheer size) of doing one good thing per match. Sometimes it worked, more often that not it didnt.

But he got a few tries from 1m out and made one hit on Simon Shaw that earned plaudits. But he was far from a good player in the loose - he hadnt the fitness.

If Buckley was born in any other country he would have been a second row. 6' 5" is too tall to be a prop these days. The man has great strength and better hands than many backs.

As for being lazy, I'm afraid thats the biggest myth about Buckley. He weighs about 22st! Thats alot of weight to be carrying around.

Bayron Haywood is another from Wales, Darren Morris is another and he actually gat a Lions call up.

bathmad wrote:Chris Patterson

How?

MrsP wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:Andy Kershaw - if any one outside Ulster remembers him I'm seriously impressed. In fact I would be impressed by any Ulster supporter who has seen him play

Wasn't he a radio DJ?

Not that one !

Kershaw was a prop signed by Matt Williams and touted as the answer to our prayers.
Utterly useless - never played any representative rugby - not even AIB as far as I know.
Disappeared without trace.


Worst International centre ? - I give you Rob Dewey

Richard Smith was capped at scrum half by Wales not so long ago, well into the 2000's and I bet half of you have never heard of him. Warren Fury is a more famous 9

How about Chev Walker, Lee Smith or Willy Mason? Some pretty epic league conversion fails in there

My worse welsh XV Managed of course by Gareth Jenkins and coached by Steve Hanson

15 - Matt Cardey
14 - Arthur Emyr
13 - Boobyer/Sweeney
12 - David Evans
11 - Alun Edmunds
10 - Adrian Davies/Lee Jarvis/Sweeney
9 - Richard Smith
8 - Craig Quinnell
7 - Kingsley Jones (Capt)
6 - Popham
5 - Will James/Huw Richards
4 - Derwyn Jones
3 - Chris Horsman/Yapp
2 - Kevin Phillips
1 - Martyn Madden

Most from the late 80's and 90's is no coincidence - Some of these would not have made Regional teams

Portnoy wrote:For England:
Busby Barkley (right hon member for Bath) never had international credentials.
JSD also never had.
Andy Goode never had

And Brad Barrtt currently is a bed blocker.

Absolutely rubbish. All 4 of those players don't deserve to be mentioned.

Ruby,

Christian Loader was fantastic!! Loved him and Chris Wells down The Whites!!

Has to be Laney for Scotland.

The turning circle of the QE2.

The vision of colourblind ferret in a hedge.

The balls skills of an arthritic octagenarian trying to post a letter on a January morning.

The title is “worst pro player”, not worst international player. So I’d go for someone like Juan Gomez. A shockingly poor player at Leinster, last time I saw him he was being pushed around Tallaght stadium for the Argie Jaguars by Brett Wilkinson.

MonkeyOwain12 wrote:Ruby,

Christian Loader was fantastic!! Loved him and Chris Wells down The Whites!!

You have a point Monkey - Its sorted