Top 10 Greatest NUMBER 8s in Rugby History

In this video we Highlight 10 of the Greatest Players to ever play the Number 8 Position

[@ben_joven]

New rugby fan, my son played football and won state championships in high school but picked up rugby at and I must say I love it even though I’m slowly understanding the game.

[@abloccd]

Kieran Read had an underrated offload game, man was a baller.

[@BantuMadikizela]

Parisse was classy player..pity Italy didnt have any other players close to his skill set, except maybe Mauro Bergamasco

[@paulmulryne8405]

Greaat list. You'll never please everyone, but this comes close.

[@leplessis8179]

The Corinthian - Andy Ripley. And, of course, the guy who stood in for him when Andy was away on International duty. That was me.

[@MrT67]

Pocock was a great player, but not an outstanding no.8. He still played more like a flanker.

[@darrenharper6503]

Great list ! Can't argue 👌

[@peuple3993]

Zinzane Brook way above everybody

[@SoCalDreaming87]

Very good list, man!

[@georgetanga6757]

Buck Shelford for me is the ultimate 8. If there was a game of rugby between heaven and hell he would be my captain hands down.

[@stuartannetts300]

Which side is he playing for though?

[@teawaruaedwards274]

Never lost a test

[@dalenewton9697]

Good list, good straightforward, informative commentary. I'd have Duanne Vermuelen above Dallaglio.

[@TonyMccartan-nh8mb]

Honestly who can argue with parisse

[@johncreedon7847]

Read number 1 for me. Dude had sbw-esque off load skills

[@PhillipDawson10]

I would say that you need to update your name of this video, as you say, this is only those that you have seen, so not "in Rugby History", which is over 120 years, where you only have about a 20 years span (with the exception for some reason Wayne Shelford & Zinzan Brooke, so some google searches probably went on here). Hopefully you can see the obvious gap. Best Nr8's not on this list - Morne du Plessis --- one of the best captains ever, plus the one the first that made offloads in tackles,as we know then today. - Murray Mexted - Hennie Muller - Tiaan Strauss - 1995 would have hada different history, if he played, but in the end won the world cup with Ausralia in 1999 This

[@sniperx9]

Fine list sir!

[@MM-zw9db]

In history. Hmm. Mervyn Davies would be in the top 3 no problem at all.

[@pauledwards7340]

I'm Welsh but he was overrated .Scott Quinell and Jeff Squire far better players.

[@ngolinyirenda6421]

I would agree w must of these but I absolutely MUST make mention of Gregory Aldritt whk to me is the current most dynamic and best in World Rugby. I am no Ireland fan but Dennis Leamy was a rated player as well.

[@MooLaa-e1s]

Ever heard of a chap called MORNE DU PLESSIS.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Nah

[@moegamadadams1156]

Kieren Reid at his peak was miles ahead of the rest... Who can forget Kieren Reid running down the line terrorising outside backs

[@budyza180]

Zinzan.

[@jan-gertnel4556]

Pocock is a player that this Saffa rated very highly

[@rh5466]

Andre Roussimoff ("Andre the Giant") dominated the opposition from the No.8 position for Grenoble Rugby Club before turning to professional wrestling.

[@Mata-Miramar]

Rodney So'oialo is definitely up there, should be in the top 10

[@FrancoisSauer-ys3qc]

Top 3 Zinzan Brooke,Dwayne Vermeulen and Jerry Collins.

[@MrT67]

Jerry Collins wasn't a no.8. Played there occasionally, but didn't have impact. Didn't really have the skills for a number eight.

[@Una_caña_por_favor]

Thought Toutai Kefu might have got a mention at least.

[@apexit1]

Absolutely. Watched Kefu frequently menacing the allblacks

[@JohnPanto]

Cant argue too much!

[@ShiNooBi1986]

Sir Brian Lochore Mervyn Davies

[@subhuman119]

I think Pierre Spies, Kieran Read and Zinzan Brooke are the top 3. The order doesnt matter, they were all amazing players.

[@danatswape740]

I’m putting Vermulen ahead of Spies

[@MrT67]

Spies was vastly overrated. Fast sure, but didn't use it often and wasn't too much of a problem in the close in physical stuff.

[@daaichommie708]

@@MrT67 I think Spies' misfortune was that he was in the Springbok system of bif and bash. If he was a No. 8 in a French team, for example, he would have become a fucking legend. (More than he became).

[@MrT67]

@@daaichommie708 Maybe, but I also found his work rate pretty inconsistent. He'd drift in and out of games.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Duane

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Keiren Reid 1, Duane Vermuelen 2. Zinzan Brook 3. ….. the rest

[@johnlewis9745]

You named all the, ‘Greats’ but not in the correct order ?

[@LeanderAUT]

Jamie heaslip in there is an absolute joke! Average at best

[@erhardtjoubert3455]

I know this is opinion based, and you could make a case for Sergio... at top 5... maybe. But to outright rank him above KR (possibly the greatest rugby player ever, not just No.8, Brooke and Vermeulen (hind sight, because this appears to have been made between the 2019 and 2023 world cups)) is just wrong in my opinion. Ardie should be there abouts too (in hind sight as well) and soon Wallace Satiti will be on that list and may one day top it.

[@deniss2623]

Taulupe Faletau.

[@YoungKidT]

No. 1 should be Duane Vermuelen my guy. Rare specimen

[@Brilliantmind.234-r4h]

Wrong at about 20 secs in, all back row players, the flankers and 8, are allowed to pick and go from the scrum

[@cryptostormer2512]

Rob Louw, Gary Teichman

[@williamboulter8134]

No space at all for a double World Cup winning Duane Vermeulen? And no Ardie Savea? This list is terrible

[@RelentlessRugby]

5:12 Duane Vermeulen Ardie Savea received an honourable mention since he is still in the middle of his playing career and more than half of his test appearances were made playing flanker

[@Marilyn-x3r6d]

I understand that you can't include players you haven't seen, but Mervyn Davies is head and shoulders, the best British No8 ever, so automatically goes into the Top 5.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

automatically…. mmm…

[@waynelitherland4717]

Hey William Duane is there!

[@crispinswainstonharrison9042]

Murray Mexted.

[@daleyboyo3145]

Scott quinnell? Jerry Collins? Lawrence chabal? Owen Finnegan? Too many south Africans in this list lol 😂 pocock shouldn't be on here mate lol he's s a out and out flanker vermualen is the best sou🎉th African. This is my list NUMBER 1 SERGIO PARISSIE👍👍 NUMBER 2 KIERAN REID 2 NUMBER 3 DWAYNE VERMULEN NUMBER 4 SCOTT QUINELL NUMBER 5 ???????👍👍👍👍👍

[@meeshnozigqwaba8972]

what on earth do you mean too many saffas? y'all always have a problem with us, what do you mean a guy with 70+ tests, 2 world cups, a lions series win, a rugby championship win, world cup final player of the match & two time wrpoty nominee. plus a guy who is undoubtedly the most athletic physical specimen we've seen in the position are too much? duane in fact has a case for no.1 even though i think it's read that takes it. watch some rugby fam, this isn't 2007

[@WelahMan]

Falatau? Ik he's Welsh and ppl seem to hate the Welsh at the minute but rlly?

[@Centre14]

overrated imo

[@WelahMan]

@@Centre14 🤡

[@garetho7116]

Faletau has won knock out games in a world cup…… unlike Heaslip, plus won more 6 nations (4no). But apparently that makes him overrated?!

[@wahbyfar3725]

I’ve not read previous comments, but the number 8 isn’t the only player allowed to pick up the ball, that privilege is for the player furthest back (I apologise for my clumsy language, I haven’t checked the wording of the laws). If a scrum wheels, that could easily be one of the flankers. I won’t watch the rest of the video and will ask KZbin to not recommend this channel. It’s basics.

[@maximuswhyte]

Spies was a freak

[@SuperEdge67]

Steroids.

[@connorrice3873]

Read > Parisse come on man...

[@Centre14]

Vermuelen

[@brynscourfield398]

Really wanted to watch this but had to turn off commentary before I fell asleep. What a boring tone

[@Thecousins-_-tr1]

Ardie savea on top

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Pierre Spies the greatest athlete to ever play rugby. Only competition Lomu. Best tackler on your list is Brooke

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Spies was an unbelievable athlete

[@JoeTodd6]

Radike Samo

[@zlatanibrahimovic1691]

scored one good try

[@SuperEdge67]

Are you having a laugh.

[@davidanderson6639]

Willie Duggan?

[@danielharkin4147]

Parrisse are u having a laugh mate 😂

[@asct3674]

the greatest n°8s are Samoan (Pat Lam etc.)

[@gerhardcombrinck7026]

You clearly don't understand the no. 8 position.

[@leoncolwin8645]

Hennie Muller

[@williamcarter3933]

You missed Quinell and Dallaglio. Pococks a Flanker

[@RelentlessRugby]

Dallaglio at 6:00 I gave Quinell an honourable mention

[@thetalentedmrfitz]

Honestly never heard of that Italian guy at number 1 🤣 My number 3 would be Zinny, number 2 Ardie and number 1 Reado. 🇳🇿🖤

[@lafamillecarrington]

You've missed out. He seemed to be in the right place on the field at all times. Just a great athlete.

[@meeshnozigqwaba8972]

yeah you must be a springbok fan lol

[@MrT67]

Pretty sure that it's incorrect that the no.8 is the only player who can pick up the ball. From the base of the scrum.

[@ngolinyirenda6421]

No, it's correct, he's the only player who can either keep the ball in the scrum or break his bind to pick up.

[@MrT67]

@@ngolinyirenda6421 Well of course the halfback can also. But the rules state "the hindmost player". Where it specifically states the no.8 is when picking up the ball once it is at the feet of a second row player.

[@ngolinyirenda6421]

@@MrT67 NO. What should be specified is that the only forward who can do so is the #8, other players have to stay bound until he either makes it available to the #9 or picks up and passes or runs. Played 8th man for many years and through many law changes, my friend. The crucial element here is the bind, rhis is why flankers aren’t just picking up the bull willy nilly. But you’re right. Last feet.

[@MrT67]

@@ngolinyirenda6421 Check the wording of the rules.

[@spencerhailee9175]

😃 P r o m o s m

[@andredaniels2384]

You know absolutely nothing about rugby.

[@georginapaki9328]

Nope 👎