Eddie Jones has a pretty strict criteria for what he considers world-class.
You can see what he is getting at but there is a certain squidgy, subjective logic.
At the Six Nations championship launch in London, earlier this week, the England coach was asked about a comment he made around the time he led his side to a dominant Grand Slam.
Jones had nothing but praise for his players but asserted that New Zealand were the standard bearers in world rugby. He also claimed his side had no world-class players.
When Jones was reminded of those comments, he bristled before explaining his logic:
“You’ve got to understand the connotation of world-class.
“If you’re a world class player then if someone picks a World XV. He picks that player. It’s a unanimous choice.
“If you look back at the New Zealand side in the past eight years. Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are the unanimous choices. They’re world-class players because in every game they played they were eight or nine out of 10. They never slipped down to a six or a five. That’s being world-class.”
Others may look at the best players from rugby’s Tier One nations and argue that they are world-class because they are mixing it with the best on the highest stage.
Others may meet Jones in the middle and recognise that there are a few players in each position, the globe over, that could easily fit into the world-class bracket.
By Jones’ logic, though, he may have a point and only a couple of Irish and Englishmen could possibly push for recognition as truly world-class. Here are our suggestions:
JACK MCGRATH
Has developed into a truly mobile, clued-in enforcer at loose-head. Keeps his side of the pack stable, provides meaningful ball carries, hits an inordinate amount of rucks, secures turnovers and is constantly in 10+ tackle territory. Successfully mixed it with the All Blacks and is favourite to get that Lions No.1 jersey. So good that Cian Healy is his back-up.
MARO ITOJE
Went through a period, for Saracens and England, where he was 30 games unbeaten [all wins]. A sheer physical specimen and a menace for the opposition. Caused Devin Toner nightmares at Twickenham last year and is capable of scary numbers in each and every outing – carries, tackles, turnovers, offloads, steals. Has yet to have a poor game for England. This lad has the full package and is only going to get better.
BILLY VUNIPOLA
Ever since England stopped messing around and threw him into their starting XV, Vunipolas has not disappointed. Delivers front-foot ball all day and all night. Takes multiple men to get, or slow, him down and he normally dishes out an offload on the way down. Only Kieran Read, who had a dip in form late last year, comes close.
CONOR MURRAY
The best scrum-half in world rugby right now. Proved that against Aaron Smith and Ben Youngs – his nearest rivals – in November and December and proves it with just about every performance these days. As canny as they come with a superb box-kick, innate ability to put players through gaps, on the money crossfield kicks, symbiotic relationship with key players, physicality and try-scoring ability.
ROBBIE HENSHAW
Unless you are sticking Owen Farrell in behind Johnny Sexton for the Lions Tour [we wouldn’t], then Henshaw gets the red No.12 jersey. Showed against South Africa and in Connacht’s title-winning charge that he is more than capable of being that creative 13 but is a natural at inside centre. Doesn’t only make tackles but drives men back and is hard man to [legally] get down.
Who do you believe Ireland and England’s world-class players are? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.
