Best Number 8 in world rugby

Who do you all think is the finest number 8 on earth?

100% Parisse, job done you can close the thread

Picomoles was better over the 6N than parisse.

Read is a class above

...which is why you voted picamoles?

Nah i Voted for Read. It would have been nice to pick 3

I voted Picamoles!!

But only by a gee hair over Read, Parisse 3rd for me. They all simply class.

Read

Picamoles

Parrise

In that order.

About 3/4 years ago Heaslip would have been in most peoples Top 3

bazalicous wrote:About 3/4 years ago Heaslip would have been in most peoples Top 3

?

His, his mam's and the Pope's, no one elses.

Read, followed by Parisse and Pickles, and one lad you missed off the list JMF Lobbe. The remainder are a class just below this group.

In my unbiased opinion, Faletau, Tom Brown and Ieuan Jones

Otherwise, if people don't find this acceptable Read, Picamoles and Parisse.

I think this position has become more competitive than number 6 a few years back when we still had Ferris, Kaino and Juan Smith. I was very impressed by Picamoles in the 6N and I hope he is able to make all three tests in NZ as that match up against Read will be enthralling to watch. Heaslip for me was the biggest disappointment of the major nations and I thought the captaincy seemed to burden him though I'm sure BOD was only too happy not to have it. I never thought he made a great captain. He was/is just a great player.

I never really mind who is best in their position. It's the team mates around them who make a player and frankly being the best team in a team game is counts. I think if you have the likes of Picamoles, Parisse, Faletau etc you're pretty happy with your lot and you wouldn't change your players and their combinations with the players around them. That's how I feel about Read in any event.

Picamoles outplayed Parisse in the 6N

Reid is better than both

No British or Irish players comes, even remotely, close

No Duane Vermeulen?

100%beefy wrote:100% Parisse, job done you can close the thread

Seconded. The man is a Demi-God

Parisse annoys me a bit. His skills are just fantastic and he would look at home in a black shirt due to those but there's no need for some of the other stuff he does. Carries on a bit like a footballer sometimes and is guilty of dirty play. But man is he a talisman-talk about carrying a team on your back-which makes him even more frustrating as Italy need his presence so much.

Sure Read is in a great team but he is a principal reason why that team is great. Didn't rate him when he first made the Blacks but he has turned into a colossus.

Picamoles is awesome and just a tank of a player but sometimes seems disinterested like a lot of French players.

Would give it to Read on consistency but there's little to separate these three and Lobbe who has been brilliant for the Pumas. A lot of other talent is there too-I'd pick Faletau ahead of the others at the mo. Heaslip has gone off the boil and for all his bluster is in danger of becoming the next Spies.

Lobbe is a good shout.

Parisse, Read, Picamoles are head and shoulders above the rest I think.

Read, Picamoles, Parisse for me, in that order.

Agree with Biltong that Vermulaen could be on that list too. Even though he's not in the same class as those I've listed above yet, he could be with more international experience.

He's an awesome player.

100%beefy wrote:

bazalicous wrote:About 3/4 years ago Heaslip would have been in most peoples Top 3

?

His, his mam's and the Pope's, no one elses.

In 2009 he was nominated for world player of the year so he made a few other peoples lists too.

Picamoles, all the way for me, closely followed by Keiran Read. Ability wise, Sergio Parrise is streets infront of them all but he is to much of a pre madona with his attitude at times, and he can tend to get involved in the nigglier side of the game too often. Heaslip seems to have already peaked, sadly, sorry Irish fans, and it is far, far, to early to include the likes of Faletau and Morgan. All the rest are just very good international standard no. 8's.

I went for Picamoles.

bluestonevedder wrote:Read, Picamoles, Parisse for me, in that order.

Agree with Biltong that Vermulaen could be on that list too. Even though he's not in the same class as those I've listed above yet, he could be with more international experience.

He's an awesome player.

Not in the same class as the above dozen?

Ah well, then I suppose he isn't even worth a mention.

Biltong wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:Read, Picamoles, Parisse for me, in that order.

Agree with Biltong that Vermulaen could be on that list too. Even though he's not in the same class as those I've listed above yet, he could be with more international experience.

He's an awesome player.

Not in the same class as the above dozen?

Ah well, then I suppose he isn't even worth a mention.

Biltong I meant the 3 I'd listed above in my response. It was a supportive comment.

GunsGerms wrote:

100%beefy wrote:

bazalicous wrote:About 3/4 years ago Heaslip would have been in most peoples Top 3

?

His, his mam's and the Pope's, no one elses.

In 2009 he was nominated for world player of the year so he made a few other peoples lists too.

and frankly it was the worst thing that could have happened, he has lost form and has gone from nailed on tourist and possible skipper to , in all honesty, unlikely he will go on tour. I think his appointment as Capt of Ireland was a poison chalice not least because BOD still thinks the role is his.

bluestonevedder wrote:

Biltong wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:Read, Picamoles, Parisse for me, in that order.

Agree with Biltong that Vermulaen could be on that list too. Even though he's not in the same class as those I've listed above yet, he could be with more international experience.

He's an awesome player.

Not in the same class as the above dozen?

Ah well, then I suppose he isn't even worth a mention.

Biltong I meant the 3 I'd listed above in my response. It was a supportive comment.

The newer players from the Bok pack are starting to sprout the tentacles of the monster they will become by the World cup.

SA has by far the biggest potential and with Alberts, Vermulaen, Etzebeth, Serfontein, Pretorius etc that physicality is starting to return. With that and the weird phenomenan of the side that plays the Lions eventually wins the 3N in the same year, this year is going to be a very tough RC. I think Argie will struggle to back up last year if they somehow think things will get easier for them. Last year they had the surprise factor...this year it will be pure hard slog.

Easy, Read.

Then Parisse and a big gap to the rest.

Easy louis picomoles, the man is magic and as storng as an ox.
Parisse not far behind, parrise is an athlete but I like my big ball carriers and therefore i just think picomoles is just by far easy pickings.
Dont see much in read sorry, he is just made to look good due to a good pack and team. A bit over rated in my eyes.

Read
Picamoles
Lobbe

Lobbe is a very good shout, is he still playing Internationals and can we hope to see him in the Rugby Championship this season?

Always forget about Lobbe Yappy, I'd have him above Picamoles who although a beast of a carrier doesn't have the around game of a Read/Parisse.

Mike Phillips.

I still can't help but think Parisse is over rated.

Picamoles for me is a different type of 8 to Read and Lobbe but he is fantastic at what he does.

Read can't be the best because he's an All Black and is made to look good because he is in a great team. In fact none of the All Blacks are great they just look great because of all the other average players in the All Blacks making them look great.
Personally I would love Victor Vito to play 8 for the ABs and move Read back to 6.