What the fuck? This list is not the same as the 999 other team of the year lists all over the internet?! The uniqueness has made me so upset I'm compelled to write this comment instead of just leaving.
It’s not just that he goes for unique players, it’s that he picks a unique player but uses superlatives of actually the best players to describe them. For the fullback he picked Kildunne, that’s fine, but he then said she was best player in the world male or female, which is simply insane to say. So you can’t use that excuse.
Mauvaka is an absolute freak, man. I spent years wondering how the hell anyone is going to top Marchand and then France just spawn another freak who's somehow better. Why won't they let the NH rest???
I'm also scard about the number of players from the french southern pacific islands. new caledonia, wallis and futuna already have a few french internationals. once tonga catches on ill be very scared
@@098saw and there is a bloody number of physical freaks in French Polynesia. 😮 But around Tahiti, for the moment, they don't have much of a Rugby culture. But it could evolve 😅...
Might have missed it if it was in there, but if not it seems mad to me to not even give an honourable mention to Zander Fagerson - consistently putting in hugely impressive 80 minute (or thereabouts) performances, absolutely instrumental in the URC title run. Dude had a phenomenal year! Otherwise another great video from Squidge.
Glasgow don’t win any of the urc knock out games without him, let alone the final. He might not be Scotland or glasgows best player but he is their most important player and definitely deserved at least a shout out
Genuinely so happy to see Aoife Wafer in there; probably my favourite player in any format currently. That WXV game against New Zealand was one of the most dominant individual performances I've ever seen, and was such a revival for Irish women's rugby. I don't think Scott Bemand's phenomenal work can be overstated either.
How the hell does Zander not even get a mention. His back to back 80 minute performances in the URC semi & final alone deserved its plaudits. Pretty much nailed on lions starter if he continues his form in the 6N & definitely in contention with Lomax for best no. 3 in the men’s game this year
i am OVERJOYED to see aoife wafer in this XV!! quite simply a marvel! setting the standard for not only women’s rugby in ireland but women’s rugby as a whole..and at only 21!
Feel Scotland men's rugby has been a bit short-changed by this; Johnny Matthews the only mention. The Fagerson brothers for their efforts in the latter stages of the URC especially deserve a shout, Scott Cummings also had a big year. Otherwise, good work, carry on:)
Great stuff again guys! As always, it’s great that you highlight so many of the less obvious players of our beautiful game that I would never usually get to appreciate. Between your thoughtful, brilliant videos and Andrew Forde’s excellent compilations we get the most perfect combo of the world’s best RUGBY served up on a plate for our viewing / listening pleasure and your hard work is hugely appreciated. 👍 🏉
I'm a Zulu! I'm Farm grown! My FIRE (Keep going kak) comes from my number 1 BOKKE! Pieter Steph du Toi! My favourite Rubgy Player of all TIME! Ngoba iNkunzi! Indoda ema dodeni kumi! GO BOKKE!! Stronger together!
I always thought Schalk Burger was the best modern day forward we produced. But now we have 2 that are better, Eben and PSTD. And Siya the best captain of the game ever. What a time to be alive for a Bokke fan.
@@Amandla-Awethu Schalk was the best forward we had in that era. Rugby rules and play styles due to the rules have changed somewhat since then. That being said, Schalk was a machine and would still make our current team no doubt.
@@daaichommie708On that note, if you theoretically had Schalla now, how would you use him? Starter? Bomb squad? Alternate week on week with Kolisi? I agree he was absolutely dynamite on the field, but our current setup with Kolisi playing ±55 mins and then Kwagga coming on to steal every ball in sight is absolutely luxurious.
4 Welsh players in honourable mentions and no Scots. Ridiculous, not even Zander Fagerson. Basically just made a list of the best players in each position as well.
I feel I'm starting to notice a pattern with Squidge over the past year or two with a hesitancy to cover/acknowledge Scottish achievements and I have seen comments on previous videos echoing the same thing. He barely said a word about Sione last week also. I wouldn't suggest he has an anti-Scottish bias or anything but it does seem like he's just disinterested in the team at this point...
Those commenting about not including women (or having separate videos, which is just a subtle misogyny that is still present): - Do you not know how much thought, effort it takes to create these videos? Editing, scripting, recording. "Just" make another video isn't so simple. -No one's angry he's using 'precious time' to talk about Portugal, Canada etc. teams that the majority here wouldn't watch much of, players we'd very nearly never see, players who don't have the capabilities of competing with the best, teams that play to a lesser quality. Huh, funny that... - Squidge is talking the greatest impact at each position. It's all relative. Just like comparing different eras, you forgo hard numbers for impact to the players' contexts. - This is a hypothetical team, and you're getting angry over it because one of your favourite player didn't get into it? How does that impact your life? You're letting it negatively impact your day, why are you choosing to do that? - You're basically acting ungratefully and immaturely. You're lucky Squidge and Will are so gracious in the comments.
Never ever give into the trolls Squidge. It’s the team of the year, not teams of the year. If you played rugby that year, you’re eligible. Great stuff as ever.
A bit sad you couldn't mention Meafou in the honorable mentions, he has been exceptionnal for Toulouse this year and played had his first caps for France.
Nice to see Dewi Lake get an honourable mention. One of the shining lights in a truly dim year for Wales. That man gives absolutely everything every single time he has the chance in a red shirt. We're going to miss him in the 6N.
Great TOTY, thank you for these great videos Squidge. As someone who doesn't follow feminine competitions (yet), this is a great way to get to know players, so I love that it mixes women and men. Perfect idea also to nominate the best ref - fully agree with Ben O'Keefe, he's been consistently excellent. Also, as a French supporter, I'm glad to see Mauvaka finally gets the praise he deserves so much, if it wasn't for Dupont... he's the man really!!
I don't have any specific issues with the team (was gunning for Mauvaka and Wafer especially) but Beirne 4 and Etzebeth 5 is just the wrong way round and I can't believe you'd torment us like this!
TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHINING ABOUT THIS TEAM: CREATE YOUR OWN TEAM AND PUT IN A VIDEO. You’re perfectly free to do so. As is Squidge. Simple as that. Great vid as always.
@@CameronM-p7w sure, be my guest! But that’s not the point. The point is that Squidge is perfectly free to choose a team of his liking. Many people argue that men’s and women’s should be separated and/or other players should have been picked. Those comments imply an obligation for Squidge to use specific criteria, which makes absolutely no sense, because (again) he is perfectly free to choose a team of his liking. Nonetheless people are of course perfectly free to make such comments. And I am luckily perfectly free to say those people are whining.
Great to see so many Irish players among the big names, really looking forward to the Six Nationses this year, the quality on all sides is unreal. Ps that Beirne try was in Marseille, not Paris 👍
The only omission, I think worth pointing out, is Muir and Matthews' Gloucester-Hartpury teammate, and newly appointed Red Roses captain, Zoe Aldcroft. I can't think of another example, where a club side managed to get 3 players in the world rugby team of the year. As many as the rest of England or the Black Ferns managed and more than any other national team. Last Sunday, with Ilona Maher, in front of a record crowd, making her Bristol Bears debut, the three of them combined to rain on that parade
Love the shout out to Tony Brown, but let’s be honest, it took Rassie’s genius to identify Brown’s game as something the Boks could pull off in their own unique way. When combined, it’s pure magic!
I don't get how Tony Brown qualifies. It's like calling Eddie Jones best coach at the 2007 RWC. And mixing the 2 means we now have no idea about who the best women's hooker, lock etc are.
@@randomlyfactual1943 I don’t think you can just put Brown into the English and Australia team and get them to win RWC2027. You need to get him into the mix, and then make sure that his style is adopted within a completely different style of rugby. And manage to mix those two styles together without losing anything. Very difficult juggle.
He might've only played half a year at the top level, but Courtney Lawes could've made at least the honorable mentions for me. He was integral to Northampton's Premiership triumph, both as a player and as captain. They definitely couldn't have won without him.
One player who was utterly brilliant this year that has got very little fanfare is Pam Buisa for Canada. Another Canadian who just effortlessly slotted into a 15s jersey from the 7s program, and having huge impacts all over the park. Canada didn't even seem to really miss SdG.
If you’re mad about this list (because he has different picks or god forbid - there’s women) remember this is a video highlighting/celebrating the sport we love. It’s light, good natured fun. If it causes you anger that’s more a reflection on you than Squidge
Nah it's not that. It's that the inclusion of women in the list just kills those fun debates people love to have. Would you pick Lomax over Malherbe? Sure, Lomax is a better all round player, but Malherbe might be the best scrumming tighthead ever. How do you argue one way over the other? But no, now there's some woman in there who would get flattened by the second choice loosehead of our local under 15's team. It's kind of like nominating your nineteen year old son as the best boxer in the world because he won that one local title once.
@@randomlyfactual1943 Why are you trying to compare men and women like they play in the same league?? The women he’s talking about are pro international athletes at the top of the sport. They don’t need to be stronger than their male counterparts to be the best in their own right. There’s a million places you can have the “fun debates” you’re talking about, including here. Literally 1 video a year highlighting some women athletes is not a reasonable thing to be upset about.
François Cros should have made the official backrow. That’s the kind of player you don’t always notice, but when he isn’t on the pitch, the team plays noticeably worse
I'm genuinely surprised you didn't pick RG Snyman for 5 of the year. He's a deadly impact player who solidified the Boks' European victory when they faced England. When he's paired up with a vet like Eben, the forward side gains a massive advantage, especially in the lineouts.
Great team, as always. It's frustrating that each year I feel compelled to read the comments section here to get further gauge on the shape of certain people's narrowmindedness and stupidity. Not that the word has any application to Squidge's brilliant work, but I do wonder why the use of the word 'woke' is considered an insult. Anyone know? The only rugby channel that matters.
While yes, the word woke has very quickly gone from a word used within the far-left to more commonly used as an insult by the far-right. There are also many in the middle who recognise where the left have gone too far in the culture war and use the word woke to define that. This is mostly because that word was already used and widely understood to mean that
"They share the jersey", that is part of what will give SA the edge in the near future. While the myopic blog pundits still debate the Bomb Squad, SA moves ahead with growth. Great video.
The fact that the Big Ox wasn't even up for nomination for player of the year was a travesty. His current form is as good as I've ever seen from a loosehead. He hasn't been good, he hasn't been great; he has skipped right past to LEGENDARY. He doesn't win scrums, he absolutely demolishes them. He doesn't beat tightheads, he humiliates them. He is a Tyrannosaur in a human's body and it has been such a privilege watching this gentle giant ply his trade. Then as a special mention - for as good as your loosehead is, you don't win an inch in the scrums without your tighthead. Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch and Thomas du Toit has been immense this year too.
@Slipperygecko390 Yep. You can go back further than that - Heyman, Brown? Jones? Du Randt? Sheridan? Vickery? All of these players were absolute Titans for their team but their contributions are not considered world class by the governing body.
@@FG-ul6yi yeah it's actually a joke! This squidge guy got some woke tendencies to appease the masses when he is doing himself a disservice! Mens rugby and women's rugby are completely different sports. I can't stand watching them play they are nowhere near the level of the men's game yet he still includes women on the list. As if that team will ever play together! Go woke or go broke!
I still maintain that a combined team is an injustice. Men and Women must have their own team please. There’s two male players that we missed out and six women that could’ve been profiled on squidge.
Eben consistency is crazy 😮. I loved him with the RCT jersey as a RCT fan. He not had the same infuence than Bakkies had on the team. But still, a crazy good second row BUT during his Toulon period, he was less effective on an international level Why? Because Top14 is a crusher. And drain down the energy of players with a crazy amount of hard match. And I think it's one of the main raison of French Team struggle to keep a very high level of performance.
You are, I'm afraid, but you're not the first, and won't be the last. Irish names can be...interesting 😂 Phonetically it's Ee-fa. Not too different, but different enough any Aoife you meet would correct you on it 😉 I think Squidge had it right? It didn't stick out to me as being mispronounced anyway, but if I was to check, well, I might as well watch the whole video again, and I can't right now lol
@@Amandla-Awethu not it's PSDT. but PTSD would be funnier because it's post traumatic stress disorder, which is what you might have after playing against him.
“The Eben Etzebeth award for the best Eben Etzebeth goes to Eben Etzebeth” was gold
The Antoine Dupont of rugby channels.
Is his crush...
What the fuck?
This list is not the same as the 999 other team of the year lists all over the internet?! The uniqueness has made me so upset I'm compelled to write this comment instead of just leaving.
It’s not just that he goes for unique players, it’s that he picks a unique player but uses superlatives of actually the best players to describe them. For the fullback he picked Kildunne, that’s fine, but he then said she was best player in the world male or female, which is simply insane to say. So you can’t use that excuse.
I'd suggset Zander Fagerson for tighthead with 3 back to back to back 80 minutes of knockout rugby to win the URC with Glasgow.
For real
Fabulous edition, wonderful descriptions of magnificent players. Loved the aoife wafers inclusion. Feel for the Argentinian.back row...terrific year
Hit the notification quicker than Danny Care signed his Quins extension contract
😂😂
That hit harder than a Tongan lock
Mauvaka is an absolute freak, man. I spent years wondering how the hell anyone is going to top Marchand and then France just spawn another freak who's somehow better. Why won't they let the NH rest???
I'm also scard about the number of players from the french southern pacific islands. new caledonia, wallis and futuna already have a few french internationals. once tonga catches on ill be very scared
Tonga is not French 😂 and some tongian players have played for the all blacks @@098saw
@@098saw and there is a bloody number of physical freaks in French Polynesia. 😮
But around Tahiti, for the moment, they don't have much of a Rugby culture. But it could evolve 😅...
A lil something to add about Mauvaka's playing that Squidge didn't mention and is worth mentioning is he can also kick some beauties.
Ox's game outside of the scrum has just gone up and up this year! His carries, tackles and hands are immense!
WAFER!!! Cheers Squidge, great list as always, and it's awesome to see you cover her in more depth. Can't wait for the W6N videos!
Might have missed it if it was in there, but if not it seems mad to me to not even give an honourable mention to Zander Fagerson - consistently putting in hugely impressive 80 minute (or thereabouts) performances, absolutely instrumental in the URC title run. Dude had a phenomenal year! Otherwise another great video from Squidge.
His 80 minutes in the pro 14 final was a performance for the ages.
Glasgow don’t win any of the urc knock out games without him, let alone the final. He might not be Scotland or glasgows best player but he is their most important player and definitely deserved at least a shout out
In scotlands game against the boks you immediately saw when he came off.
He is so important in the scrum. But he's also good in open play
Indeed. Worth a big shout out.
hits more rucks, makes more meters, makes more tackles than any other prop in world rugby and has added some distribution to game. an absurd omission.
Genuinely so happy to see Aoife Wafer in there; probably my favourite player in any format currently. That WXV game against New Zealand was one of the most dominant individual performances I've ever seen, and was such a revival for Irish women's rugby. I don't think Scott Bemand's phenomenal work can be overstated either.
How the hell does Zander not even get a mention. His back to back 80 minute performances in the URC semi & final alone deserved its plaudits. Pretty much nailed on lions starter if he continues his form in the 6N & definitely in contention with Lomax for best no. 3 in the men’s game this year
Was literally about to say the same thing
Because it's a massive video and there's a significant chance that any given player doesn't make it in
Ooooo Tony Brown as coach of the year is a good one!
Epic as always Squidgey! Please can we have best men's and women's player for each position next year!!!! GIVE US MORE!
i am OVERJOYED to see aoife wafer in this XV!! quite simply a marvel! setting the standard for not only women’s rugby in ireland but women’s rugby as a whole..and at only 21!
I f*****g love that this list puts women and men on the same playing field. As it should be! Thanks both❤
Surprised Du Pont didn’t get the nod for each of these. I mean what more does he have to do?
He'd probably do an ok job at flanker given his breakdown skills
@@marnoster he did a lineout at Olympic 7s, this qualifies him as the best hooker of the season
Feel Scotland men's rugby has been a bit short-changed by this; Johnny Matthews the only mention. The Fagerson brothers for their efforts in the latter stages of the URC especially deserve a shout, Scott Cummings also had a big year. Otherwise, good work, carry on:)
Great stuff again guys! As always, it’s great that you highlight so many of the less obvious players of our beautiful game that I would never usually get to appreciate. Between your thoughtful, brilliant videos and Andrew Forde’s excellent compilations we get the most perfect combo of the world’s best RUGBY served up on a plate for our viewing / listening pleasure and your hard work is hugely appreciated. 👍 🏉
I'm a Zulu! I'm Farm grown! My FIRE (Keep going kak) comes from my number 1 BOKKE! Pieter Steph du Toi! My favourite Rubgy Player of all TIME! Ngoba iNkunzi! Indoda ema dodeni kumi! GO BOKKE!! Stronger together!
We need the Zulu Nation to start playing more rugby.
I always thought Schalk Burger was the best modern day forward we produced. But now we have 2 that are better, Eben and PSTD. And Siya the best captain of the game ever. What a time to be alive for a Bokke fan.
Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie
@@Amandla-Awethu Schalk was the best forward we had in that era. Rugby rules and play styles due to the rules have changed somewhat since then. That being said, Schalk was a machine and would still make our current team no doubt.
@@daaichommie708On that note, if you theoretically had Schalla now, how would you use him? Starter? Bomb squad? Alternate week on week with Kolisi?
I agree he was absolutely dynamite on the field, but our current setup with Kolisi playing ±55 mins and then Kwagga coming on to steal every ball in sight is absolutely luxurious.
4 Welsh players in honourable mentions and no Scots. Ridiculous, not even Zander Fagerson. Basically just made a list of the best players in each position as well.
I feel I'm starting to notice a pattern with Squidge over the past year or two with a hesitancy to cover/acknowledge Scottish achievements and I have seen comments on previous videos echoing the same thing. He barely said a word about Sione last week also. I wouldn't suggest he has an anti-Scottish bias or anything but it does seem like he's just disinterested in the team at this point...
Those commenting about not including women (or having separate videos, which is just a subtle misogyny that is still present):
- Do you not know how much thought, effort it takes to create these videos? Editing, scripting, recording. "Just" make another video isn't so simple.
-No one's angry he's using 'precious time' to talk about Portugal, Canada etc. teams that the majority here wouldn't watch much of, players we'd very nearly never see, players who don't have the capabilities of competing with the best, teams that play to a lesser quality. Huh, funny that...
- Squidge is talking the greatest impact at each position. It's all relative. Just like comparing different eras, you forgo hard numbers for impact to the players' contexts.
- This is a hypothetical team, and you're getting angry over it because one of your favourite player didn't get into it? How does that impact your life? You're letting it negatively impact your day, why are you choosing to do that?
- You're basically acting ungratefully and immaturely. You're lucky Squidge and Will are so gracious in the comments.
LOL" the metaphor got away from me (slightly)"... love the humour Squidge
Tip: DO NOT buy your wife a 'Salads don't win scrums' t-shirt. Especially not for Christmas.
That has divorce written all over it
Please tell me you did this 😂
I want my husband to give me that T shirt!! What a great idea!
Surprised to see no mention of Jack Dempsey!
Never ever give into the trolls Squidge. It’s the team of the year, not teams of the year. If you played rugby that year, you’re eligible. Great stuff as ever.
It's my sincere hope that one day there's an actual awards ceremony for squidge team of the year winners and little trophies of some kind.
"has more energy than a Solar-Powered Rabbit in a Swedish Summer" was a pretty special description.
And a non accurate one. Because even in summer, sun angle is not optimum to deliver power to the ground close to the polar circle.
Would be a nice addition to show a team sheet at the end of the video before/during credits
Mauvaka is like if Tualagi played in the front row, absolute handful and wrecking ball.
You can not imagine the vigour of the shout of joy I had when I saw Aoife Wafer
The fact that this isn't just your atypical 'Men's' Team of The Year speaks volumes to the rugby erudition of Squidge and this channel!
not a single mention for any Scottish male forward, interesting.
A bit sad you couldn't mention Meafou in the honorable mentions, he has been exceptionnal for Toulouse this year and played had his first caps for France.
It was odd but every list is subjective.
Yeah neither Meafou nor Flament getting a mention was interesting, especially given the current form of the likes of Itoje...
fantastic to hear a nod to neve
jones as well - started playing rugby at my home club :)
Brilliant video and great team from 1 to 15. Your love of rugby comes through every second. 👏👏
In conclusion, there’s just unreal rugby players everywhere in the world
Thanks for the vids/team. Love the list.
Mauvaka also had to play 8 man to fill in for france this year.
He played 6 actually
Fantastic team. Wonderful to see such amazing players with all round skills
delighted to see Aoife Wafer here; what a year she’s had in the green jersey
Nice to see Dewi Lake get an honourable mention. One of the shining lights in a truly dim year for Wales. That man gives absolutely everything every single time he has the chance in a red shirt. We're going to miss him in the 6N.
Great call on Wafer.
Had my fingers crossed for her to get the nod.
I see what you see Sir.
Yessss Aoife wafer!!!
Great TOTY, thank you for these great videos Squidge. As someone who doesn't follow feminine competitions (yet), this is a great way to get to know players, so I love that it mixes women and men. Perfect idea also to nominate the best ref - fully agree with Ben O'Keefe, he's been consistently excellent. Also, as a French supporter, I'm glad to see Mauvaka finally gets the praise he deserves so much, if it wasn't for Dupont... he's the man really!!
I don't have any specific issues with the team (was gunning for Mauvaka and Wafer especially) but Beirne 4 and Etzebeth 5 is just the wrong way round and I can't believe you'd torment us like this!
No mention of Zander Fagerson is frankly obscene.
Good stuff Sqidge!
TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHINING ABOUT THIS TEAM: CREATE YOUR OWN TEAM AND PUT IN A VIDEO. You’re perfectly free to do so. As is Squidge. Simple as that.
Great vid as always.
🥱😴
Also perfectly free to discuss the team put forward. That's kind of the point.
@@CameronM-p7w sure, be my guest! But that’s not the point. The point is that Squidge is perfectly free to choose a team of his liking. Many people argue that men’s and women’s should be separated and/or other players should have been picked. Those comments imply an obligation for Squidge to use specific criteria, which makes absolutely no sense, because (again) he is perfectly free to choose a team of his liking. Nonetheless people are of course perfectly free to make such comments. And I am luckily perfectly free to say those people are whining.
@@jonask6646 What a waste of time reading that was. It's all just whiny bullshit, arguing against imaginary points.
@@CameronM-p7w quit whining darling
Really Squidge? Another New Zealander? I'm not even mad though...all my utmost respect to Tony Brown and his brilliant tactics in the Bok outfit.
Great to see so many Irish players among the big names, really looking forward to the Six Nationses this year, the quality on all sides is unreal.
Ps that Beirne try was in Marseille, not Paris 👍
The only omission, I think worth pointing out, is Muir and Matthews' Gloucester-Hartpury teammate, and newly appointed Red Roses captain, Zoe Aldcroft.
I can't think of another example, where a club side managed to get 3 players in the world rugby team of the year. As many as the rest of England or the Black Ferns managed and more than any other national team.
Last Sunday, with Ilona Maher, in front of a record crowd, making her Bristol Bears debut, the three of them combined to rain on that parade
Typical Munater bias . . . . followed by typical Leinster bias!! Brilliant! 🤣🤣🤣
Great to see a shout out for Cory Daniel with USA. He has maybe 7 years of rugby under his belt. 20:36
Love the shout out to Tony Brown, but let’s be honest, it took Rassie’s genius to identify Brown’s game as something the Boks could pull off in their own unique way. When combined, it’s pure magic!
🥱😴
I don't get how Tony Brown qualifies. It's like calling Eddie Jones best coach at the 2007 RWC. And mixing the 2 means we now have no idea about who the best women's hooker, lock etc are.
I mean Eassie is great and all, but any coach anywhere would love to have Brown working their setup.
@@randomlyfactual1943 I don’t think you can just put Brown into the English and Australia team and get them to win RWC2027.
You need to get him into the mix, and then make sure that his style is adopted within a completely different style of rugby. And manage to mix those two styles together without losing anything. Very difficult juggle.
@randomlyfactual1943 Boks won 2rwc without Tony. Scored lots of tries too. I'd give it to the Head Coach.
Fagerson brothers, Darren and Dempsey should have been mentioned purely for their URC performances alone
Both Fagersons but Zander in particular a big big miss.
@cameronround4277 all are serious contenders for the Lions in my opinion
He might've only played half a year at the top level, but Courtney Lawes could've made at least the honorable mentions for me.
He was integral to Northampton's Premiership triumph, both as a player and as captain. They definitely couldn't have won without him.
One player who was utterly brilliant this year that has got very little fanfare is Pam Buisa for Canada. Another Canadian who just effortlessly slotted into a 15s jersey from the 7s program, and having huge impacts all over the park. Canada didn't even seem to really miss SdG.
GREAT shout. Buisa is a beeeeeast
Confused. Why was Tadhg Beirne picked at 4 and Eben at 5? Shouldn't it be switched?
No, the numbers are misleading, Beirn is a loose head lock traditionaly a #4 and Etzebeth is a tight head lock #5.
Great as ever
At 20:08 that's not Aseza Hele, that's the scrum half Unam Tose.
Huh. Commentator called her Hele. I should’ve checked regardless. Sorry about that.
If you’re mad about this list (because he has different picks or god forbid - there’s women) remember this is a video highlighting/celebrating the sport we love. It’s light, good natured fun. If it causes you anger that’s more a reflection on you than Squidge
Nah it's not that. It's that the inclusion of women in the list just kills those fun debates people love to have. Would you pick Lomax over Malherbe? Sure, Lomax is a better all round player, but Malherbe might be the best scrumming tighthead ever. How do you argue one way over the other?
But no, now there's some woman in there who would get flattened by the second choice loosehead of our local under 15's team.
It's kind of like nominating your nineteen year old son as the best boxer in the world because he won that one local title once.
@@randomlyfactual1943 Why are you trying to compare men and women like they play in the same league?? The women he’s talking about are pro international athletes at the top of the sport. They don’t need to be stronger than their male counterparts to be the best in their own right.
There’s a million places you can have the “fun debates” you’re talking about, including here. Literally 1 video a year highlighting some women athletes is not a reasonable thing to be upset about.
@DustyD47 you're asking ME why I'm trying to compare men and women?
When I'm making a case decidedly to NOT compare them?
Not sure Eben is a beanpole. He's bean there, taken the poll, and eaten it.
Love watching PTSD think he's a power ranger winger. He makes it look too easy. Never gets cards and an absolute gentleman off the field
François Cros should have made the official backrow. That’s the kind of player you don’t always notice, but when he isn’t on the pitch, the team plays noticeably worse
I'm genuinely surprised you didn't pick RG Snyman for 5 of the year. He's a deadly impact player who solidified the Boks' European victory when they faced England. When he's paired up with a vet like Eben, the forward side gains a massive advantage, especially in the lineouts.
One day squidge will spell caelan correctly, but today is not that day 🙏
Love that you keep doing a mixed gender team, one of my favourite things about the team of the year!
Happy to see Mauvaka on the list. He can also plays 6 and not just to fill a position for 5 mn when needed.
"Now, now, with Locks, Nobody is Perfect", its true, I heard this quote myself from former Wallabies Captain John "Nobody" Eales.
No mention of Thibaud Flament ? I don't follow all games so I'm wondering what you guys think!
Beirne's excellent performance against France was in Marseille not Paris Squidgey
Wallace Sititi absolutely sat Kalen Doris down on home turf, he's the 8 by a long shot. You can't hide from the ABs forever squdge.
One performance
Great team, as always. It's frustrating that each year I feel compelled to read the comments section here to get further gauge on the shape of certain people's narrowmindedness and stupidity. Not that the word has any application to Squidge's brilliant work, but I do wonder why the use of the word 'woke' is considered an insult. Anyone know? The only rugby channel that matters.
While yes, the word woke has very quickly gone from a word used within the far-left to more commonly used as an insult by the far-right. There are also many in the middle who recognise where the left have gone too far in the culture war and use the word woke to define that. This is mostly because that word was already used and widely understood to mean that
Loved the political joke about Tony Brown, very clever. 😂
5:10 TEN? No Tommy Bowe???
Squidge man you're losing your touch!
"They share the jersey", that is part of what will give SA the edge in the near future. While the myopic blog pundits still debate the Bomb Squad, SA moves ahead with growth. Great video.
The fact that the Big Ox wasn't even up for nomination for player of the year was a travesty. His current form is as good as I've ever seen from a loosehead. He hasn't been good, he hasn't been great; he has skipped right past to LEGENDARY.
He doesn't win scrums, he absolutely demolishes them. He doesn't beat tightheads, he humiliates them. He is a Tyrannosaur in a human's body and it has been such a privilege watching this gentle giant ply his trade.
Then as a special mention - for as good as your loosehead is, you don't win an inch in the scrums without your tighthead. Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch and Thomas du Toit has been immense this year too.
The front row never get it, even when Tony Woodcock and Owen Franks were absolutely first class where OX is now they got no credit for their part.
@Slipperygecko390 Yep. You can go back further than that - Heyman, Brown? Jones? Du Randt? Sheridan? Vickery?
All of these players were absolute Titans for their team but their contributions are not considered world class by the governing body.
Why did you put Tadhg at 4 and Eben at 5? Should have been the other way round surely...?
Beirn is a loose head lock traditionaly #4 Etzebeth is a tight head lock traditionally #5 but wears #4
@@patrickchilds2987 Thanks for the explanation.
No zander even in mentions ooftt
Having a woman in #3 is laughable
@@FG-ul6yi Did you watch her play?
@@FG-ul6yi yeah it's actually a joke! This squidge guy got some woke tendencies to appease the masses when he is doing himself a disservice! Mens rugby and women's rugby are completely different sports. I can't stand watching them play they are nowhere near the level of the men's game yet he still includes women on the list. As if that team will ever play together! Go woke or go broke!
I still maintain that a combined team is an injustice. Men and Women must have their own team please. There’s two male players that we missed out and six women that could’ve been profiled on squidge.
World Rugby should get a 6 month suspension for not nominating Ox Nche for men's player of the year.
Eben consistency is crazy 😮.
I loved him with the RCT jersey as a RCT fan. He not had the same infuence than Bakkies had on the team. But still, a crazy good second row
BUT
during his Toulon period, he was less effective on an international level
Why?
Because Top14 is a crusher. And drain down the energy of players with a crazy amount of hard match.
And I think it's one of the main raison of French Team struggle to keep a very high level of performance.
This video is not sponsored by squarespace????
I think we may have to refer to facing du Toit as P-PSDT-TSD
Cheers. 🍻🇿🇦
Wallace Sititi was phenomenal this year! At least as good as this video.
Tony Brown has added a layer Of Attack On Springbok
Under Rassie, Tony Brown has contributed...
Itoje has arguably been the form lock for club and country since the wc. Not had a bad game.
Penalty machine every match.
You don't win scrums with salad! You don't win scrums with salad! You don't win scrums with salad!
Nice video as always
World rugby could never lol
s/o Tony Brown!!
LOVE
Flament-Meafou deserve the honourable mention
Cameron Hanekom
This guy seems to have an affinity to a blue scrum cap XD
Aoife is pronounced the same as Eva if I'm not mistaken
You are, I'm afraid, but you're not the first, and won't be the last. Irish names can be...interesting 😂
Phonetically it's Ee-fa. Not too different, but different enough any Aoife you meet would correct you on it 😉
I think Squidge had it right? It didn't stick out to me as being mispronounced anyway, but if I was to check, well, I might as well watch the whole video again, and I can't right now lol
For the 8 I think Aldritt is a reeeaaaaaal challenger for the TOTY
surely his nickname should be PTSD?
It is
@@Amandla-Awethu not it's PSDT. but PTSD would be funnier because it's post traumatic stress disorder, which is what you might have after playing against him.
I preferred when it was several short vids dripfed over a week or 2.