Fastest players of all time.

by polotechnics Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:16 am

I was just watching a clip of Rupeni CauCau on You-Tube and it got me thinking, who are the fastest players of all time.

Is there an official stat.

Do their 100m 80m 40m splits exist?

Or do we just have to surmise who is the fastest.

For me it has to be Brian Habana. Nigel Walker. Christian Cullen. Shane Williams.

by caoimhincentre Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:17 am

Nyenga (wrong spelling i know) USA

by polotechnics Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:18 am

Yeah. I forgot about him; he is quick.

by **rodders** Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:22 am

caoimhincentre wrote:Nyenga (wrong spelling i know) USA

Yeah probably,you don't often see Habana left for dead.

Over 20 metres it has to be Jason Robinson? Rocokoco was lighening quick when he first come on the scene, faster than Howlett at the time who was an ex-sprinter.

With the ball in hand Cullen had a balance and acceration that no one could match but I'm not sure if he was the fastest sprinter.

by caoimhincentre Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:23 am

roddersm wrote:
caoimhincentre wrote:Nyenga (wrong spelling i know) USA

Yeah probably,you don't often see Habana left for dead.

Over 20 metres it has to be Jason Robinson? Rocokoco was lighening quick when he first come on the scene, faster than Howlett at the time who was an ex-sprinter.

With the ball in hand Cullen had a balance and acceration that no one could match but I'm not sure if he was the fastest sprinter.

Cullens change of direction at full pace was just amazing.

by polotechnics Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:25 am

I think that why Caucau was so fast because he didn't loose any speed when he changed direction. incredible really.

by caoimhincentre Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:27 am

polotechnics wrote:I think that why Caucau was so fast because he didn't loose any speed when he changed direction. incredible really.

even more incredible when you look at the size of the man. Even before he put on all the weight he was still a big man.

by westisbest Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:29 am

Geoghegan was pretty nippy back in the day.

by **rodders** Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:30 am

westisbest wrote:Geoghegan was pretty nippy back in the day.

Yeah he could shift alright!

by bedfordwelsh Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:32 am

Nigel Walker was an Olympic 110 metre hurdler so was pretty nippy.

Remember seeing him scorch the touchline against France once.

by Adam D Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:33 am

bedfordwelsh wrote:Nigel Walker was an Olympic 110 metre hurdler so was pretty nippy.

Remember seeing him scorch the touchline against France once.

Was just about to suggest him.

It must have been for speed that he was in the team - it certainly wasnt rugby skills!

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:36 am

Cacau chasing down O'Driscoll in Lansdowne Road. Leinster vs Agen think in 2005 is terrifying. The guy has a serious set of rocket boosters or something in that game.

BOD intercepted a pass on his 5 metre line by the East stand. Cacau was on the other wing maybe 10m out from the try line. Cacau being Cacau began sprinting, then got lazy and wondered if he was bothered then said 'ah what the hell may as well' and went for BOD. BOD had been sprinting the whole time (but was ill) and Cacau tackled him over the line. Try but serious gas from the big man. BOD threw up shortly after.

by kiwicraving Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:38 am

I wouldn't say shane williams, he's FANTASTIC my fave winger of the last 10 years by some distance but he's speed isn't the thing that sets him apart from other wingers, its his step and intelligence, his ablilty to wrong foot defenders, now of course he's very fast too, you have to be to a world class international winger. but he's not as fast as habana, joe roks or ngwenya.

by **rodders** Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:42 am

Yeah Pete that was amazing but don't forget a player can run faster without the ball than with it so I don't think a player catching another says too much. There's no doubt about Cacaus pace though!

by PenfroPete Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:42 am

Couple of Welsh guys could be in contention

NIGEL WALKER ( Wales career 1993 - 1998, 17 Caps , 12 Tries) - Olympic 110m hurdler (Semi Finalist 1984).
10.38 pb for 100m flat
13.51 pb for 110m Hurdles
http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2008/02/nigel-walker-100m-try-vs-pontypridd.html

KEN JONES (Wales career 1947 - 1957, 44 Caps, 17 tries. LIONS - 17 games (3 tests) 17 tries) - Olympic Silver 4x100 1948, European Silver 4 x 100 1954, Commenwealth Bronze 220 yards 1954
10.60 pb for 100m (Olympic Semi-Finalist 1948)

Scored the winning try against the 1953 All Blacks

by Submachine Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:45 am

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Cacau chasing down O'Driscoll in Lansdowne Road. Leinster vs Agen think in 2005 is terrifying. The guy has a serious set of rocket boosters or something in that game.

BOD intercepted a pass on his 5 metre line by the East stand. Cacau was on the other wing maybe 10m out from the try line. Cacau being Cacau began sprinting, then got lazy and wondered if he was bothered then said 'ah what the hell may as well' and went for BOD. BOD had been sprinting the whole time (but was ill) and Cacau tackled him over the line. Try but serious gas from the big man. BOD threw up shortly after.

I remember that well. Caucau was coasting and caugh BOD with a bit to spare. Momentum got him over the line. BOD then left his lunch on the halfway line and tried to clear it away by flushing it with the contents of his drinks bottle. It looked like an old school mound of sand for a kicking tee. He couldn't do another thing in that game.

by manofgwent Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:45 am

Rhys Thomas

Sorry. Thought it said fattest!!!

Anthony Sullivan was rapid. He joined Cardiff from rugby league.

by **rodders** Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:46 am

I know he spent most of his career in League but Martin Offiah had serious gas in his pomp. I remember Bath hardly being able to lay a finger in him in the cross code challenge in 1996(?). I remember him leaving Alan Tait for dead too in a Wigan v Leeds match too.

by Guest Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:47 am

Adam Jones? Oh sorry, I thought you said fattest!

by Guest Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:47 am

Sorry man of gwent, cross posted! Great minds and all that...

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Thu 23 Jun 2011, 11:51 am

Submachine wrote:
pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Cacau chasing down O'Driscoll in Lansdowne Road. Leinster vs Agen think in 2005 is terrifying. The guy has a serious set of rocket boosters or something in that game.

BOD intercepted a pass on his 5 metre line by the East stand. Cacau was on the other wing maybe 10m out from the try line. Cacau being Cacau began sprinting, then got lazy and wondered if he was bothered then said 'ah what the hell may as well' and went for BOD. BOD had been sprinting the whole time (but was ill) and Cacau tackled him over the line. Try but serious gas from the big man. BOD threw up shortly after.

I remember that well. Caucau was coasting and caugh BOD with a bit to spare. Momentum got him over the line. BOD then left his lunch on the halfway line and tried to clear it away by flushing it with the contents of his drinks bottle. It looked like an old school mound of sand for a kicking tee. He couldn't do another thing in that game.

Didn't he go on to score a hat-trick in that game? And Cacau foiled him twice more for certain tries too with try saving tackles

by **rodders** Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:00 pm

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:
Didn't he go on to score a hat-trick in that game? And Cacau foiled him twice more for certain tries too with try saving tackles

Yeah that was a master class by O'Driscoll, one of his best ever performances. Was it 2 or 3 he scored?

by Submachine Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:01 pm

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:
Submachine wrote:
pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Cacau chasing down O'Driscoll in Lansdowne Road. Leinster vs Agen think in 2005 is terrifying. The guy has a serious set of rocket boosters or something in that game.

BOD intercepted a pass on his 5 metre line by the East stand. Cacau was on the other wing maybe 10m out from the try line. Cacau being Cacau began sprinting, then got lazy and wondered if he was bothered then said 'ah what the hell may as well' and went for BOD. BOD had been sprinting the whole time (but was ill) and Cacau tackled him over the line. Try but serious gas from the big man. BOD threw up shortly after.

I remember that well. Caucau was coasting and caugh BOD with a bit to spare. Momentum got him over the line. BOD then left his lunch on the halfway line and tried to clear it away by flushing it with the contents of his drinks bottle. It looked like an old school mound of sand for a kicking tee. He couldn't do another thing in that game.

Eeehhhhmm. Yes, yes he did. Probably digging a hole for myself here but to my memory he had to go out on the wing and shaggy into the centre after that first run cos he didn't have the legs or lungs to make his tackles due to illness, but the ball kept coming to him.
Didn't he go on to score a hat-trick in that game? And Cacau foiled him twice more for certain tries too with try saving tackles

by Guest Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:04 pm

Apparently George North is breaking a lot of training records in the Welsh camp at the moment when it comes to speed training. I'll do a bit of digging and see if I can actually come up with some actual figures for you guys....

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:09 pm

Hickie was pretty pace-y

by manofgwent Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:09 pm

No worries griff. It was a tap in!
Maybe we could set up a new post, fattest player of all time.
The quaver munching, lager swigging, cigarette smoking buffoon Thomas could be in with a shout. So could the man who mugged willy wonka, Adam jones!!
Also blobby Morris, but my winner would be Rhys Morgan. Played for Newport in the 80's. As a kid, I used to wonder how on earth they used to get that top off him after a game!!!

by caoimhincentre Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:11 pm

manofgwent wrote:No worries griff. It was a tap in!
Maybe we could set up a new post, fattest player of all time.
The quaver munching, lager swigging, cigarette smoking buffoon Thomas could be in with a shout. So could the man who mugged willy wonka, Adam jones!!
Also blobby Morris, but my winner would be Rhys Morgan. Played for Newport in the 80's. As a kid, I used to wonder how on earth they used to get that top off him after a game!!!

if you put both articles together Cacau could win both

by Guest Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:15 pm

if we were doing the fattest player, surely it would be Martyn Madden?

by disneychilly Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:21 pm

Probably that Yank fella IMO but in terms of being able to change direction at pace Cullen and Caucau were the best I've seen.

Williams and Robinson off the mark were phenomenal too.

by KiwiMatt Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:24 pm

Toderai Chavanga has done a 10.27
Rokocoko 10.66
Howlett 10.68
Jonah was also in the same league as these guys at 10.80 and at his size that is just plain scary and he must have had by far the most focrce (mass times acceleration an all that)

by welshy824 Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:24 pm

joe rocoko
lomu
Howlett
Shane
jason robinson-both him and shane over a short distance
Habana
Halfpenny and North are also pretty quick

by Guest Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:32 pm

right in June 2009, George North's 10 m - 1.66s , 20m - 2.82s 40m - 4.97s, with a PB over 100m at 11.04.

got the above figures from the summary that showed up on google after doing a search, it's for a youtube link to scarlets academy speed testing.

Word has it he's bettered those times this year (can't find any facts though!).

by **rodders** Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:34 pm

Pierre Spies can really shift too as can Tom Croft and to a lesser extent Stephen Ferris. I bet they could outsprint a lot of the backs over 100m.

by BATH_BTGOG Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:38 pm

Not sure about pros but we used to have a prop who would beat anyone over 8-10m to the bar for the after match sausage and chips.

by ScarletSpiderman Thu 23 Jun 2011, 12:39 pm

I don't have a clue on who the fastest is, but i know that it is not always the players that stand out as the fastest on the feild. Garin Evans was the fastest Scarlets player in 2006 ( believe may have been later) even though there were many players in the squad that would have been classed as flyers in comparison.

Also wasn't Croft the fastest Lion?

by Geordie Thu 23 Jun 2011, 1:06 pm

Andy Harriman the quins and England 7's winger was pretty quick.

Jason Robinson over 40m was electric....

by **Biltong** Thu 23 Jun 2011, 1:12 pm

Percy Montgomery was electric early in his career.

Gio Aplon is also quite nippy

by Guest Thu 23 Jun 2011, 1:23 pm

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Also wasn't Croft the fastest Lion?

Wouldn't that have been Monye?

by FerN Thu 23 Jun 2011, 1:27 pm

Bjorn Basson recently outran Habana in the Super 15, much to my dismay, as if he scored that we would have won. But Basson probably is the fastest in the S15 currently, not the best though - although the Bulls would want you to think that.

by Bazzer79 Thu 23 Jun 2011, 1:32 pm

Keith Wood...........like a mad potato on speed!!!!!!!!!

I saw Bryan Habana go the length of the picth at RWC 2007 and he is jaw droppingly fast when you see it real time. Not sure he's as quick these days?

I'd say out of the current crop of playes that Takudza Ngwenya (sp?) is pretty damn fast. I think that Ugo Monye may have been overlooked? I remember Scot vs Eng 2009(?) showing blistering pace the length and width fo the pitch for a try saving tackle!

Don't watch enough Super 15, but I know that Israel Dagg and Chevanga (?) are very rapid.

Closer to home and definitely one for the future..............Christian Wade of Wasps, absolutley electrifying and a real prospect. Also Caprice who was just stepped down from England 7's and signed for Biarritz, forming a potential wing pairing with Ngwenya............watch out Europe!!!!!!!!!!

The most impressive through the years (not necessarily fastest) in my eyes would be Rupeni Cau Cau, Jonah Lomu & Jason Robinson. Unstoppable in their pomp!!

Would be great for a sponsor to organise an annual event with timings etc. Should be in full rugby kit, with ball in hand on a rugby picth!

by Geordie Thu 23 Jun 2011, 2:01 pm

The question being of course Is it the fastest over the first 40m ala Robinson and shane williams...or fastest over the length of the field...ala Varndell.

Both types are quick....but make different types of players...

by polotechnics Thu 23 Jun 2011, 2:11 pm

apparently Kristian Phillips of Neath, Ospreys, Wales 7's can cut up a 40m sprint as well.

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Thu 23 Jun 2011, 3:15 pm

Tom Croft couldn't have been the fastest Lion!!

Monye, Halfpenny, Earls, Kearney

Maybe the fastest forward??? Probably

by Shifty Thu 23 Jun 2011, 3:24 pm

Gareth Wyatt and Martin Giraud both clocked 10.5 for the 100 metres in their younger days.
Lomu got 10.5 also apparently.

by Boston Exile Mon 27 Jun 2011, 4:22 pm

Blistering quick (both now and then) wingers from the 80s were Patrick Esteve (F), Phillipe Sella (F - before moving to become one of the best ever centres), Patrice Lagisquet (F) and David Trick (E).

Nigel Walker mentioned above was really fast, although as also mentioned not much else.

In fantasy land (and maybe I shouldn't distract thread) if there were 2 players I'd loved to have stolen from American Football it would be the late Walter Payton and Willie Gault. Both played for the Chicago Bears in the mid-80s. Payton had incredible running and catching skills. Gault simply burnt fast fullbacks, he was a member of the 1983 Athletic World Championship and World Record setting US 4 x 100 team and like Walker was a high hurdler in individual events although much faster than Walker. His acceleration was mind boggling and he had ball skills too. Have never seen speed like his on a rugby park. It would have been like having Allan Wells or Linford Christie on the park.

by **rodders** Mon 27 Jun 2011, 4:33 pm

Dwayne Chambers ran 9.96 and was rubbish at Castleford. I wouldn't get too carried away with sprint times and athletics achievements as they mean very little without the awareness to spot a gap and the ability to read the game.

by Boston Exile Mon 27 Jun 2011, 5:03 pm

Roddersm, you are absolutely correct, the reason I mentioned these 2 players was because watching them on an American football field it took next to no imagination to see both being successful at rugby. Physically they are obviously quick, strong and tough, what set them apart from the many other runners and receivers in AF, most of whom I couldn't see playing rugby, was their natural running ability. Payton would draw good comparison with Shane Williams for jinky running. They both had good hands and great eyes for a gap. Give either a half metre gap and they were through before you could react. So yes you are right, and yes I took all of those points into account.

by dummy_half Mon 27 Jun 2011, 5:03 pm

Boston

Walter Payton could have been the best outside centre of all time - quick, agile and incredibly strong for his size (only about 15st and 6ft, so pretty much the standard size for a midfield back now).

I thought that Varndell was reputed to be the quickest guy in top level rugby now - certainly shines in 7s, where that absolute pace is vital. Offiah used to be able to shift a bit as well.

Good point that there is a lot more to being a good rugby player, even a winger, than ultimate pace - neither Shane nor Jason Robinson have / had stunning absolute speed (although not slow), but their acceleration and ability to jink at pace are the key to their success.

by cardiffstu Mon 27 Jun 2011, 9:35 pm

Boston Exile wrote:Blistering quick (both now and then) wingers from the 80s were Patrick Esteve (F), Phillipe Sella (F - before moving to become one of the best ever centres), Patrice Lagisquet (F) and David Trick (E).

Nigel Walker mentioned above was really fast, although as also mentioned not much else.

In fantasy land (and maybe I shouldn't distract thread) if there were 2 players I'd loved to have stolen from American Football it would be the late Walter Payton and Willie Gault. Both played for the Chicago Bears in the mid-80s. Payton had incredible running and catching skills. Gault simply burnt fast fullbacks, he was a member of the 1983 Athletic World Championship and World Record setting US 4 x 100 team and like Walker was a high hurdler in individual events although much faster than Walker. His acceleration was mind boggling and he had ball skills too. Have never seen speed like his on a rugby park. It would have been like having Allan Wells or Linford Christie on the park.

Payton was crazy fast at changing direction, Gault phenomenal in a straight line - he also pushed the US Olympic bobsleigh team.

Nigel Walker in the flesh was like lightening, great utube clip here:
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=USd_yIfiRos

Depends how you judge speed, all well and good flying in a straight line but it's the initial two/three steps that are key and both Shane Williams and Jason Robinson excelled in tight quarters.

by Cymroglan Mon 27 Jun 2011, 9:39 pm

I think that's the wrong link

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