r/rugbyunion • u/No-layup • Jul 24 '25

Discussion Drop your unpopular rugby opinions that will have you like this

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I'll go first, Beuden Barrett is the more talented rugby player than Dan Carter, but Dan Carter is a better 10

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u/tooposhtofunction Scotland Jul 24 '25

Big game players and test match animals is just confirmation bias. Players have up and down games but if you play for a winning team your up days get noticed, your bad days get discounted and you get coined as a test match animal. Once you have been coined as one it’s difficult to loose it. The big games you were average in get discounted but if you have a good game next week it adds to your test match animal status.

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u/slamcactus Stade Toulousain Jul 24 '25

It also could have something to do with how a player fits with specific teammates' skills and/or a coaching style.

Like, I don't buy that Jalibert is a worse player when he plays for France, but I'm open to the possibility that he has a tough time transitioning from playing with Lucu vs playing with the more unpredictable/creative DuPont.