Google Favourites <\/a>for nonstop RUCK content!<\/p>\nEvery player on this list has, at some stage, deserved that status. Some have won World Cups, others have starred for the British & Irish Lions, while several were once almost automatic selections in a World XV.<\/p>\n
But rugby moves quickly.<\/p>\n
To be clear, most of these players remain very good \u2014 some are still outstanding on their day. This is not a list of players who are finished, washed up or no longer capable of performing at Test level.<\/p>\n
It is simply about the very top table.<\/p>\n
Based on their current level, can they still honestly be described as one of the very best players in the world in their position?<\/p>\n
For these 10 superstars, we\u2019re no longer convinced.<\/p>\n
10. Tom Curry<\/p>\n
At his peak, Curry was one of the most feared flankers in world rugby.<\/p>\n
The Sale Sharks and England star was relentless over the ball, brutal in defence and mature far beyond his years, becoming a British & Irish Lion and one of England\u2019s most important players.<\/p>\n
He remains a very good international forward, and this is certainly not a claim that he is finished.<\/p>\n
But injuries, time out of the side and the rise of other elite back-rowers mean Curry has slipped from the very top table.<\/p>\n
Still excellent? Absolutely.<\/p>\n
Still world-class? That is now a much tougher argument.<\/p>\n
9. Sam Underhill<\/p>\n
Underhill produced one of the great England performances against New Zealand in the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final.<\/p>\n
At his best, the flanker was a brutal defender capable of completely changing the momentum of a match.<\/p>\n
His partnership with Curry became the foundation of England\u2019s run to the World Cup final, with the pair briefly considered among the finest back-row combinations in the game.<\/p>\n
Underhill remains an excellent player who can still produce huge performances.<\/p>\n
However, injuries have taken their toll and he is no longer the terrifying force who once looked capable of dominating any back-row battle.<\/p>\n
Very good? Without question.<\/p>\n
Among the best flankers in the world right now? Probably not.<\/p>\n
8. Ga\u00ebl Fickou<\/p>\n
For several years, Fickou had a genuine claim to being the most complete centre in world rugby.<\/p>\n
Powerful, intelligent and exceptional defensively, the Frenchman was a central figure in his country\u2019s return to the top table.<\/p>\n
His defensive leadership was particularly important, while his ability to cover both midfield positions made him invaluable.<\/p>\n
Now deep into his international career, his influence has inevitably declined.<\/p>\n
Fickou remains a classy and hugely experienced operator, but the gap between his reputation and his current standing among the world\u2019s best centres has grown.<\/p>\n
Still very good. No longer world-class.<\/p>\n
7. Bongi Mbonambi<\/p>\n
A two-time Rugby World Cup winner and one of the most physical hookers of his generation.<\/p>\n
Mbonambi was once an automatic contender whenever the best front-rowers in the world were discussed.<\/p>\n
His aggression, set-piece work and ability to impose himself on major matches made him a key part of South Africa\u2019s dominance.<\/p>\n
He remains an important player and an intimidating opponent.<\/p>\n
However, age and injuries have begun to catch up with him, while a new generation of elite hookers has emerged.<\/p>\n
Mbonambi is still capable of operating at the highest level, but is he still among the very best number twos in the world?<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not convinced.<\/p>\n
6. George Ford<\/p>\n
Ford has been one of England\u2019s most intelligent and influential players for more than a decade.<\/p>\n
At his peak, his game management, tactical kicking and ability to control matches made him one of the finest fly-halves in Test rugby.<\/p>\n
Few players can read a game better.<\/p>\n
He can still take control of a match and remains a very good international number 10, but world-class is a different standard.<\/p>\n
It is increasingly difficult to argue that Ford belongs in the same bracket as the very best fly-halves on the planet.<\/p>\n
Still a top player. Just no longer at the very top table.<\/p>\n
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The term \u2018world-class\u2019 gets thrown around far too easily in modern rugby. At RUCK, we believe the label…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":679475,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[5903,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-679998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-rugby","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=679998"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679998\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/679475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=679998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=679998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=679998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}