PLAYER POWER RANKINGS | 2. HOOKER

[@daggaboom]

I'm a minute in and what I've learned this year is that Codie Taylor is ridiculous. He stood out like a sore thumb in the tests vs the boks. I'm delighted we won but man did that guy impress me.

[@unjfdlnjnf]

@@Karma-qt4ji sheehan wasnt playing in the autumn internationals, still injured.

[@Karma-qt4ji]

@@unjfdlnjnf Yeah I went and checked after I posted my comment, saw I was wrong so deleted it. Sorry, thought I was in time but you beat me to it :)

[@markymark8]

daggaboom what a beautiful name, and agree with the comment 😆

[@josephharrington7129]

I was in Paris for the 1/4 France vs South Africa, and Mauvaka stood out for me. He gave the french side soooo much energy, power, dynamism. He is fantastic, a brilliant player that is a pleasure to watch (Irish fan)

[@9502937]

I don’t think it’s a coincidence at all that Ireland have looked noticeably worse since Sheehan has been injured. It’s hard to quantify what he brings to the team but it is truly irreplaceable and a key part of what has made Ireland great over the past few years.

[@EggchasersRugby]

Agree 100%. Sheehan is ELITE

[@liamwilliams6651]

Think it's more to do with Mike Catt leaving after the summer tour. Our attack has crumbled since then.

[@geoffnelson6756]

Also Neinaber changing the Leinster defensive system seems to have detracted from the attack,all players and coaches no longer on the same page which impacts on the Ireland system

[@etiennela4870]

Mauvaka moving from hooker to flanker to play the full 80mn was ridiculous 🤣🤣

[@lewisthornton3]

Gus Mcarthy did the same on his debut vs Fiji

[@zisssssou]

Mauvaka rise and level is even more impressive that he has to compete in Top 14 & national team vs Marchand. Having Servat and Ibanez in France staff is also quite helpful.

[@EggchasersRugby]

Both legends. Not bad people to turn to for help!

[@DirkCoetzee1982]

Marx is my man, but cannot argue at all with Mauvaka at 1. Incredible player. That is why I can´t wait for an international calender to see full strenght French teams tour the Southern Hemisphere. Full strenght Boks vs full strenght France up in the Highveld with crazy Bok fans will be epic.

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

For the match Sharks vs Stade Toulousain, you will see the next best thing to an international match; Toulouse will fiels their best players.

[@malibongwelekae7110]

No.1 here is undisputed what a player

[@TxuriUrdin-64100]

Agree with this. Nice ranking.

[@joshpaul9155]

Watch out for Gregor Hiddleston at Glasgow. He’s having a real breakthrough year since Turner left for Japan. Franco Smith has told him to model his game in Malcom Marx’s, he even supposedly gave Hiddleston his contact details to pick his brain.

[@markymark8]

Marx lineouts not his strength, but he is absolutely one of the world's top game changers. The moment he walks on the field the whole team puts their shoulders up and inevitably grind out the win! Absolute legend of the game.

[@zealanCA]

No Kolbe? 😂

[@EggchasersRugby]

😂😂😂

[@vdw_12500]

😂🤣

[@ndumisodatini3373]

Is he a hooker?? 😂😂😂

[@ndumisodatini3373]

Is he a HOOKER?? 😂😂😂

[@tebatsokolele4588]

😂He's number one in my heart. Can't wait to see him at tighthead😂.

[@nicholasdejager9]

Hi Tim, I would love to see the nationalities next to the names again, like you used to do. A nice subtle touch

[@mbulelobam7529]

I'll always remember the commentator on our feed reffering to him as"the replacement French hooker" because he didnt' know his name. From the next game onwards he said his full name every time.

[@heinschwartz7941]

Having played hooker all my life, you analysed it well and definitely made a good choice of the top 3.

[@randomlyfactual1943]

I tried to play hooker a few times. I wasn't very good at it. ... Couldn't get the people to pay me after, you know?

[@louisixlefourbe8075]

Mauvaka stamina is unreal. He played 80 min against the AB on November, despite that you can see him, how much energy he still has on that last action of the match while he's jumping on the last maul. Just unreal. To me, he's top 5 rugby player in the world and he's not 5

[@randomlyfactual1943]

Hooker is a weird one for me. I would actually pick Sheehan slightly over Mauvaka as #1 but I know that is picking nits. Marx is probably my favourite (maybe a bit of Bok bias, sue me) but his throw ins at the lineout is the weakest part of his game and has been dodgy this year. While he is great with ball in hand and probably the best hooker in the world come ruck time, his lineout throws costs him the top spot. That being said, him coming off the bench at sixty minutes is a luxury up there with having your own helicopter when you aren't in the mood for sitting in traffic.

[@Kid_Senekal]

Would love to see André-Hugo Venter here in 2 years time to receive the batton from Mbonambi

[@Eldiablofunk]

Great takes

[@lesliedickson-tetteh5197]

Love the videos. For me I would have had Codie Taylor higher as I think he was the best hooker in the world this year. All great players but not sure anyone has been better

[@AllInTheGame01]

Not a big name, but been liking what I've been seeing from SCO & Glasgow's Johnny Matthews this season, same goes for ENG & Sale's Luke Cowan-Dickie.

[@EggchasersRugby]

100%. It seems everyone but Townsend sees how good Matthews is. I'm hoping LCD is roaring right back into form for England too.

[@AllInTheGame01]

@@EggchasersRugby 👍

[@Deadlift14]

Beat me to it. Idk why GT doesn't pick Matthews. I'm pretty sure he led the URC in tries last season. He's good all around though. High work rate around the park attack and defense. Solid scrummager also.

[@AllInTheGame01]

@@Deadlift14 It's a head scratcher!

[@Deadlift14]

@AllInTheGame01 For sure. GT pulled this same garbage a few years ago with Finn at 10. Finn got out of the doghouse, hopefully Johnny can too.

[@natedogg8775]

I thought the point of “Power” Rankings was to show who is the most inform players in the world at this time or year?

[@michaelmartin2075]

My comment is similar to your first video. Sheehan, Lake and Kelleher are in the driving seat before the 6 nations to be picked for the Lions. Who are the next 2? To be honest, I would have George and Ashman ahead of Kelleher at this point.

[@EggchasersRugby]

George had a decent November and was in my thinking. As I say in the videos, I try not to only focus on current form and factor a longer time frame into my thinking, so the lists don't change wildly.

[@8eliott5]

No Jamie George🤣🤣🤣

[@davidwalker2402]

Gives out to the ref too much…🤣

[@Thudsrayz]

Is this based only on int'l or in club play too? I thought Taylor might be a little higher for Sheehan, as i personally thought he was close to the best player in the world at times in 2024. That said, if we're looking at body of work, he did only play a few games of SRP last year and I've found him a little inconsistent in previous years. On that basis, agree with the top 3. Stacked list though. All players are great to watch

[@EggchasersRugby]

Generally international rugby, although I don't rule out club stuff. When I say "body of work" I mean more the last few years. Players have dips in form and injuries, and I'm trying to make it so the lists don't change wildly on recent form alone.

[@dublin7]

For the Lions I would go with Dan Sheehan, Dewi Lake and a surprise inclusion..... Gus McCarthy, he is going to fly past Kelleher in the 6 nations and I just don't think Jamie George has done enough since the last ranking to be included in the Lions squad.

[@jmo8934]

I don’t know about that. Kelleher is an excellent player but irelands lineout went awry in the autumn in particular. I’m not sure how much of that is Kellehers fault though. If that is fixed and he puts in a good showing in the 6n I’d expect Sheahan and Kelleher to go on the lions tour. Lake I think is out of the 6n with injury.

[@dublin7]

@@jmo8934 Don't get me wrong I am a big fan of Kelleher, I just think that Gus McCarthy is primed to be an excellent player in the not too distant future. Great thrower of the ball, excellent with ball in hand, dangerous ball carrier (Not at Kellehers level there yet), really underrated scrummager and defender. Having said all that, I could absolutely see Farrell bringing Jamie George for his experience and leadership.

[@Forest9528]

I said the same thing last time you did the hooker rankings and ill say it again When Marx isnt injured theres nobody close to him

[@Karma-qt4ji]

Marx would be lucky to be considered top 3 over the last 12 months. Based purely on his own contributions over that period, compared to Mauvaka and Taylor. Never ceases to amaze me how the same fans who can fixate so much on a fly half's kicking woes, can completely ignore the hooker with probably the worst lineout stats of any top tier hooker for the year. By Malcolm's own standards, he has been woeful.

[@Forest9528]

@Karma-qt4ji Marx is so dangerous that when he came on against ireland Doris went and intentionally tried to break his leg within 5 minutes of him coming on Marx is by far the best hooker in the world and a top 3 player in the world when fully fit. His lineout might have been as good as it usually is but it was still nowhere near woeful and comparing it to Libboks kicking shows how little you actually know Libbok is lucky to be playing for the Stormers never mind the boks. He desperately needs to be dropped

[@daggaboom]

@@Forest9528 I’d say your opinions are dialled way too much. Lubbock isn’t nearly as bad as you think and Marx line outs have been the noticeable flaw in an outstanding player.

[@Karma-qt4ji]

@@Forest9528 Let's be honest here for a bit... Rassie clearly knows a lot more about rugby than you do and keeps selecting Manie. In CTS II he even says that if Manie could improve his kicking or if we had someone else to kick then he would undoubtedly be first choice flyhalf for the Boks. Rassie's words that you can actually watch Rassie saying! So putting your emotion aside for a bit, it seems that what you are trying to say is that Manie fails at one aspect of the job that he is supposed to be good at - that much is fair I suppose. Last year, both Bongi and Grobbelaar had better lineout stats than Malcolm (I will leave Wessels out of this because he only played 10 minutes) so the other two are, by your own measure, better than Malcolm. And if we can overlook all the try assists and playmaker skills Manie displayed last year in the Green and Gold, calling for him to be dropped even from franchise level (sigh), then why are we judging Marx on the fact that he wins turnovers when one of his core duties, lineouts, is ridiculously poor at this level? Doris intentionally tried to break his leg? Oh grow up!!! By the way, this flaw in Malcolm is not new. We lost a game against England because a) Pollard kicked two from four and b) Malcolm missed his jumper three times in attacking lineouts on and about the 5y line. Final score 12-11 and people like you blamed the referee for the loss because he did not penalise 'that' tackle.

[@Forest9528]

@Karma-qt4ji by refusing to drop Libbok your actively hurting his career. Dropping him will make him better just like what happened to Fassie. Fassies defense was unacceptable in 2022 and Rassie told him so to his face and said he wouldent be selected again until he fixed it. Fassie got better and now look where he is. Libboks needs that wake up call. Rassie definitely knows more than me but anybody with a brain can see that keeping investing in Libbok is a clear mistake. He needs that wake up call that he is not good enough but if he works on it he can be. Not the mention that at club level Mannie is being incredibly selfish by blocking Sacha from playing. Sacha will be our best 10 by 2027 and yet he's stuck playing 12 at club level and getting injured every single game because Libbok wont vacate his spot. Libbok is not good enough. Libbok is actively hurting the future of SA rugby by not stepping aside for Sacha If Marx is so bad from in a lineout then explain why he is constantly scoring trys from lineout moves and mauls. Malcom has literally being injured and has not fully recovered since the start of the 2023 world cup. He's allowed to have a small dip in his form because of it. When fully fit it's not even close between him and everybody else. That cheap shot by Doris was malicious and had intent to injure. It was a disgusting act of foul play that wasn't punished because he wears an Irish jersey. Same shit happened with the ABs in the final where their 6 intentionally injured Bongi because they knew Deon was the only hooker replacement. Same story of an act of disgusting foul play that was unpunished because of AB favoritism Pollard will have a bad kicking day 1 in 50 games. Libbok has 1 good kicking day 1 in 100 games. Pollard has earned the right to have a bad kicking day and not get slandered for it. When Libbok can solo kick us to 2 world cups with a 100% rate in the second one then he'll he allowed to have a bad day and not be judged. Not to mention we actually should have won that game because that tackle was clearly a penalty. There's a reason when when you look at lists and videos of the worst decisions ever made in rugby that one is always mentioned. To say it wasn't a blatant mistake by the referee is a fucking joke and shows your true bias

[@thierrylestranger2795]

La Rochelle really missing Bourgarit!

[@antoinerigaud_]

Marchand should be in the top 4

[@brucebeath9548]

Great review.

[@DarceG-jh1ik]

I think your ratings may be a little too sticky, I don’t see how Dan Sheehan justifies staying above Malcom Marx or Codie Taylor. Sheehan hasn’t player in a long time and struggled a little bit in the last months of playing before injury

[@EggchasersRugby]

Current form and historic form. Sheehan got injured vs SA in 1st Test. His precious games before that, in 6N he was sensational in an Ireland team which won the tournament. I didn't drop Marx down last year because he was injured in the RWC and therefore didn't play. This is why I don't just pick on recent games :)

[@jmo8934]

I didn’t notice Sheahan struggle at all before injury. He was consistently excellent up until then. Even in the game against SA when he got injured he was playing really well.

[@DarceG-jh1ik]

@ I honestly cannot say for sure, it was more the impression I had, it might have been Leinster but I also might be chatting shite. I suppose I have been very impressed with Taylor and Marx and not thought much about Sheehan - that is probably the point Tim makes about taking past form into account too 😃

[@mjh6115]

If all the Boks are at 4 on a list in their positions, we win another WC. YOU KNOW WHY! 💪

[@MrJames1988]

Don't understand the hype around kelleher. He looks decent in an exceptional team. Gus mccarthy will be ahead of him in the pecking order for club & country before the end of the season

[@kh7431]

A couple of years ago Kelleher looked as though he was going to be an Irish version of Marx. He was that good. Unfortunately since injuries his star has waned a bit and he has not taken his chance with Sheehan's injury ... not that he has been poor by any means. I think he is the guy Munster should be looking to sign if McCarthy continues to grow at Leinster as he has the bulk and carrying ability Munster need in the front row

[@EggchasersRugby]

He's dropped to 10. He was a British and Irish Lion in 2021 and was competing with Sheehan. I agree not progressed as I hoped he might (injuries played a part there) but that's why I include historic and recent form in my thinking...the rises and falls should be gradual not too reactionary.

[@petertaylor6479]

Codie Taylor every day!

[@ivanmynhardt]

your one and two are incorrect

[@romainviry3185]

hard to argue with this top 10 Eggie, looks totally fair. As a die hard Toulouse fan, I can attest that Peat' still a lot of room to grow. His partnership with Dupont is becoming deadlier each game, they work with each other creating offloads, try opportunities and havoc. He can do it all and would be a very good number 8.

[@EggchasersRugby]

Agree on that. Like Marx and Sheehan, could do a genuine job in the back row

[@aRugbyOpinion]

Codie Taylor anything not in the top 3 is criminal. It is proven with his minutes played and impact he has for the ABs. He would play 70min etc and aumua couldn't even get a look. That's from Razor. So to have him at 6 is crazy. To me he is the best hooker in world rugby at the minute. Great runner, can pass and can play 80. Montoya, sheehan and Bondi above is not right.

[@karelauberger1725]

He is 4th in this ranking but it’s very tight between the top 4. They are all fantastic mauvaka is my favourite ( im french so not a surprise) but Taylor is amazing sheehan is insanely good and marx is very impressive.

[@boerieroll]

This list is not complete without Deon Fourie at number 1.

[@kingpower4631]

Deon Fourie plays 6

[@EggchasersRugby]

Haha. You know how much I love Brannus

[@boerieroll]

@@EggchasersRugby Tim, I do indeed and we love you, a national treasure, rugby's greatest mouth piece but time to recognise Marx as better than Sheehan 😂. I spent all day looking for you at Twickenham for the Boks game and ran into everyone but you. Thank you for your service and thank you for my daily fix. We need you to spread Rugby across the globe. Onwards and upwards. I salute you sir and would love to braai you a steak at my home in NW London near Saracens, so if you ever make it down here look me up I promise you will never eat better steak in your life. God bless you

[@freddevilliers5142]

​@@kingpower4631Boerie is joking😂

[@davidpells4298]

Small disagreement Tim...or shud I rather say ..big one...Bok players themselves unashamedly call Malcolm Marx best nr 2 in the world ...I wud take that seriously...That he only plays 35min a game not his fault ..It's Rassies ...Super rugby Marx played full games and was sensational.. A unique talent.

[@daggaboom]

He does say the top 3 can be swapped around without any disagreement. And after Taylors performance in SA this year I would put him in that mix too.

[@cillianduffy9708]

Boks call a Boks player the best in the world? That's a surprise!

[@daggaboom]

@@cillianduffy9708 To be fair I think he's messed up the quotes a bit. The boks were saying he was the best player on the team at one point and I suspect that's what he's thinking of. Because yea it's hardly breaking news that a saffa rates a saffa as the best in the world.

[@EggchasersRugby]

I think he is immense. Possibly the fact he generally plays 35 minutes most often plays into it a bit. Also, the top 3 are so well matched. Marx is such a freak athlete, and could well be number 1 again.

[@Chingalo2006]

I'm Irish, But I just think nobody will compete with Sheehan over next 4/5 years. nobody scores as many tries, incredible scrum intelligence, and can throw like him. he is just like cody taylor, explosive, catch him on the wing, chipping , side stepping and he is just insanely quick. OK, Marx is a freak, and master of the jackal, but that's only one facet, and I just think Sheehan will be phenomenal this year and the coming few. I wouldn't have mauvaka at 1, he's not experienced enough and yeah, he was immense in world cup, but I'm sorry, I back sheehans pedigree way more. just more strings to his bow. cheers!

[@randomlyfactual1943]

I think you hit the nail on the head there. It's Sheehan's all-round game that puts him at #1 for me. Being South African I absolutely love Marx and yes he is an absolute nightmare for ripping away possession, but lineout throwing, carrying etc I would put my money on Sheehan. Mauvaka is great no doubt, but if you told me that I had a choice of the two of them it would be Irishman that (by n hair) clinches it.

[@takeitdown-y4r]

None of them have the complete game like Sheehan, possibly weakest part of his game is raw scrummaging and that's not even that bad

[@jaydenvisser754]

6min is crazy

[@jameswyatt4443]

I’d go Marx first.

[@08padam]

In the rucks, def. But Mauvaka ads so much more. Ball in hand he is just ridiculous and can actually play 80min and switch to 6 or 8 at then end of a game

[@jameswyatt4443]

@ You say that like Marx isn’t those things. Marx could go 80, but the Springboks trust their whole squad, and they’re the ones winning world cups, so maybe playing front row players 70+ minutes isn’t the way to go.

[@bigscaryman7421]

@@jameswyatt4443 Malcolm Marx does not have the athleticism of Mauvaka, watch them both play for like 5 minutes and you will see. Its just a case of when it comes to athleticism, nothing can beat those islander genetics. Also you say playing a hooker for 70+ minutes isn't the way to go to win world cups just shows me you don't know what your talking about because the Springboks literally played Bongi Mbonambi for 70+ minutes in the QF and the full 80 in the semi and would have done the same had he not gotten injured in the final. On top of that, the idea that because a strategy works for team a doesn't mean it works for team B because different teams players have different strengths.

[@Karma-qt4ji]

@@jameswyatt4443 Mauvaka is a class act although I haven't seen that much of him this year, and in a NZ team heavily under fire, Taylor has been putting up his hand every weekend. Even as a SAFFA, I would put those two ahead of Malcolm on current form. Matter of interest... why are Malcolm's poor lineout performances just ignored? It's part of his job, you know? Unless Cheslin takes over....

[@rileyfreeman9726]

​@@jameswyatt4443Marx is required to play much more minutes for the Spears and looks absolutely gassed after 50 mins.

[@eoinh3816]

Dewi Lake is so overrated. It’s just a case of being in an awful team and looking a bit better than the rest. He’d be fifth choice Irish booker behind Sheehan, Kelleher, Stewart and Gus Mccarthy

[@ant208]

I think he is underrated

[@michaelmartin2075]

I think that is green tinted glasses. Kelleher at 10 is generous given our line-out troubles. Kelleher is much better than Stewart and G McCarthy at this stage of their careers.

[@EggchasersRugby]

We'll see if Andy Farrell agrees after the 6 Nations. Big year for all of them.

[@theschoolformen3665]

Marx played the most minutes last year, he does not play 35 min a game, that's just lazy analysis, and isn't he in the WR XV of 2024, then how are there 2 players ahead of him??

[@marlonchung2407]

Because world rugby xv isn’t accurate

[@kingpower4631]

@@marlonchung2407 yeah after snubbing thw world cup winners in the xv team of the year

[@EggchasersRugby]

Marx minutes in 2024: Vs Wales: 35 mins Vs England: 35 mins Vs Scotland: 35 mins Vs Argentina: 37 mins Vs Argentina: 69 mins Vs New Zealand: 35 mins Vs New Zealand: 37 mins Vs Australia: 36 mins Vs Australia: 43 mins Vs Ireland: 35 mins Vs Ireland: 31 mins Vs Wales: 45 mins I don't think my analysis was lazy, was it?

[@DavidSmith-yi8ou]

I thought Marx was below par this year. His lineout throwing was generally quite poor. For that reason he is not top 3 at the moment. Maybe around 5-6 until he gets his throwing back in order.

[@Brendan_M_]

@@DavidSmith-yi8ou He was fairly poor but all the lineouts seemed to be called by the scrumhalf befroe the lineout, so I think there was also a major issue with lock/jumpers there as well rather than Marx being solely responsible.