The Back Row | Squidge Team of the Year 2023

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3 ай бұрын

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It's here! The finale of Team of the Year, and only a full week late. It's time to dive into the most competitive postions and find out who were the best back rowers of 2023...
If you've enjoyed any of the channel's content, you can also support Squidge Rugby on Patreon by visiting / squidgerugby , so I can etc

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@SquidgeRugby 2 ай бұрын

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@vaovao1665 3 ай бұрын

If this video was made a few hours later, squidge would have the chance to make the funniest Rees-Zammit and VPN joke ever

@MyCousin82 3 ай бұрын

Glad our Kwagga is getting his dues. Albertus Stephanus Smith, aka "Wrong Turn" has been such a valuable player in the Rassie era.

@long-shotlouie 3 ай бұрын

He was my back row of the tournament, what an animal that guy is

@ronanlee3606 3 ай бұрын

As an all blacks fan, he's been my favourite foreign player for a long time. He has been awesome for many years. Was so good when he was playing for the lions in super rugby

@bigfatty2536 3 ай бұрын

With a face only a mothe... with a face the whole of South Africa loves.

@tonic8945 3 ай бұрын

Siya,Ardie and PTSD are the dream team with Kwagga as sub

@Bobbydyland 3 ай бұрын

This.

@monunyabidness5949 3 ай бұрын

Kwagga, Kwagga, and Kwagga are a close 2nd.

@pegse536 3 ай бұрын

PTSD? Do you mean PSDT

@abrahamtomahawk 3 ай бұрын

As a Scot, that moment in the tunnel before the SA game, when Kolisi was belting out that song did two things to me. First, it gave me chills up my spine. Senondly, it made me think "Well, we're fucked". As you say, the impact that man has on how his team play is phenomenal.

@mateiyu-4082 3 ай бұрын

And the song means "Here are the Bokke, those who don't know them have never seen them like this, those that know them have never seen them like this." basically. Kinda takes a whole new meaning when you rethink about that RWC ! ^^"

@miguelangel3254 3 ай бұрын

I though the exact opposite, just showmanship, part of their branding strategy. By the way did you know how much it means to their country? And that siya was born poor?

@stephenjudge4356 3 ай бұрын

Might not have been the best. But the best story of 2023 for me, in the loose trio was Deon Fourie. Aged 37 & only having made his Bok debut a couple of years ago he finishes the world cup final as Springbok Captain having put his body literally on the line match after match.

@oliverflanagan6438 3 ай бұрын

Zammit is never on holiday, he's just scouting NFL franchises

@mateiyu-4082 3 ай бұрын

I don't know how it's possible not to absolutely love Siya Kolisi. The nicest dude you'll ever find on a rugby pitch, and yet tackles like he wants to take down the Berlin Wall all by himself. And I agree, the Bokke don't click as well without him around. Legend, absolute legend ! As for Kwagga Smith, well.....Rassie and Nienaber actually selected him because of the immediate impact he has on a game. And boy, does it ever shows ! He comes off the bench ? Immediately tears the opposition apart. Utterly brilliant...!

@stuartmackenzie2429 3 ай бұрын

Siya is surely more a 7 regardless of the number he wears. And Doris and Savea played most of their rugby at 8.

@jacoreinach1661 3 ай бұрын

In South Africa the 6 is the openside (Kolisi, Brussow, Louw, Kwagga) and the 7 is the big Blindside (PSDT, Alberts)

@hermanvzyl 3 ай бұрын

In SA it works a bit different, don't get too hung op over the numbers on their backs. I do agree that it's a bit weird to put Siya down as a blind side though, but let's just give him license to pick the 3 players het wanted to showcase, it's not like they will play together in an actual game.

@subbie5498 3 ай бұрын

Actually a few years ago that was the case but I've noticed many teams play 2 blindsides or 2 opensides it doesn't matter anymore kwaaga actually played 6 and 7 still being an openside because his definitely not a blindside there are also many hybrid openside or blindside kolisi doesn't actually fit the description of a blindside or openside he's there for rucks mainly hes not really a jackler either despite being and openside

@mistryjaisheel 3 ай бұрын

Was wondering if kwagga was going to get a mention, saved the best for last

@leonerasmus3996 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Squidge. A remarkable tribute to the players and a worthy testament to your passion for the game.

@thembelanihdlamini5395 3 ай бұрын

One thing to remember is that Springboks had so many mixed results without Siya that people couldn't see them winning the world cup. When he returned everything changed. They didn't lose a single match until Ireland.

@Laurentus 3 ай бұрын

It's so weird to hear Damian Willemse described as black, lol. In South Africa, we call him coloured, and it's not the least bit offensive.

@saoirsedeltufo7436 3 ай бұрын

I agree with de Goede, but stuff like this makes it just that more criminal that she didn't make the World Rugby women's team of the year...

@Redpenguinsunite 3 ай бұрын

SDG was inevitable, she's unbelievable and still so young!

@mateiyu-4082 3 ай бұрын

Kwagga Smith "I can do anything on a rugby pitch !" Sophie De Goede "Hold my beer."

@ChrisBrown-or8ky 3 ай бұрын

Watched some of the WXV and family joked that Zinzan Brooke's been reincarnated as a Canadian woman. She's bloody brilliant

@willnorton2878 3 ай бұрын

Squidge: We love you! Thank you so much for all of the great videos these past couple years and the great ones to come! Your analysis is pinpoint but we love your personality shown within these videos as well. You’re the best, wish you well!

@myronalcock4716 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Squidge, that was a excellent video! Not only because I'm a bok fan, but because you really argued convincingly for all the positions. Ardie Savea really does need more love, he's consistently immense. The intensity Siya played with on his return was insane - Sparta! Finally, thank you for the PTSD & Kwagga shoutout, they absolutely deserved it.

@darren806 3 ай бұрын

I love Kwagga so much, i swear he gets a try every time he comes on

@System-Update 3 ай бұрын

I think I said it last year, I'll say it again. Siya is heir to Mandela's legacy, he is the personification of how the Boks have become the beacon of national hope and identity (NZ used to be the ABs and the ABs were NZ, now it is Boks and SA/SA & Boks) but please please please please dear god don't let Siya go Hanse Cronje, or Recep Erdagon or insert national icon who became corrupt or embroiled in scandal. I'm not even South African, I'd put Siya Kolisi alongside Johna Lomu as one of two players who transcend their national team and the sport itself, but Siya does it by being a great player but also the best bloke. It is that weird conundrum that his teammates would crawl over broken glass for him because he wouldn't let them but would do it himself. He seems a remarkable human being in everything he does.

@tonic8945 3 ай бұрын

Siya carries on the tradition of Pienaar in 95, who wasn't the best open side IMHO but was by far the best leader

@hallowedbeminename 3 ай бұрын

I love how the "best" player in each position usually plays number 8, and the "6" is an open side :D Can't argue though!

@simontaylor2525 3 ай бұрын

Did Doris not play mostly at 8? And Kolisi is an openside. Very odd.

@TheHooch99 3 ай бұрын

He mostly starts at 8 yeah but ends up playing 6 a lot when Conan comes off the bench.

@simontaylor2525 3 ай бұрын

@@TheHooch99 Aye he started every six nations and wc match at 8 so odd to pick him at 6. Or Kolisi who plays openside. Especially when you've got Lawes and PSDT who were their countries most influential players in several big matches

@dgrahamwithers604 3 ай бұрын

Great vid as always. You can't go wrong with Siya and Savea, but how could you get righter than De Goede! She's truly is a marvel of power, skill, balance and talent. Saw her take on the Black Ferns this past summer and she's really on another level. Rad to see her on this list.

@marchennink8386 3 ай бұрын

Thanks big man. Great insight

@fraserposford144 3 ай бұрын

Glad to see De Goede get the recognition she deserves. Watching her play is a real treat, she's unplayable in the PWR this season.

@bluejays25 3 ай бұрын

Had the pleasure of meeting her after a Saracens game last week. Such a lovely person and so humble.

@darren806 3 ай бұрын

It was so wild watching her highlights, can't believe there's a back rower out there with that range of skills

@peterwade7550 3 ай бұрын

I've been waiting ages for this

@brett9125 3 ай бұрын

Setting down to eat as this comes out, squidge how did you know 💖🥰

@SquidgeRugby 3 ай бұрын

Don't check your bin. I'm definitely not in there.

@thepirateofjamaica 3 ай бұрын

This list couldn't of been more accurate, if Sophie, Ardie and Siya were on the opposing team, I don't think I'd even bother lacing up the boots. Or maybe I would just to tell everyone "I got my shit kicked in by the greatest players in the world"

@lagglagging7580 3 ай бұрын

This video actually brought tears of joy to my eyes!

@charlottescott7150 3 ай бұрын

Brilliant Robbie and Will. Love the back row!

@dguap1359 3 ай бұрын

Ardie was the best AB over the course of Ireland's tour of NZ and then the best when they got the job done. Incredible player.

@craighjonas8833 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Squidgey. 👍 Excellent team as always. 👌

@kokallan 3 ай бұрын

The Squidge team of the year should also have on video dedicated to only "Impact Players" (Bench Players who might not be the most known in their position, but who brings the biggest impact when they come on)

@achillerouot9238 3 ай бұрын

Francois Cros deserves at least an honorable mention. Otherwise great video loved it !!!!

@robertsmithson4802 3 ай бұрын

Juan Mantuel Gonzalez is low key an all time Squidge moment

@colepedrick5908 3 ай бұрын

When you realize SDG had such a good year that Squidge didn't even have time to mention how she made her 7s debut and helped Canada qualify for the Olympics as her 'off-season activity' before WXV and joining Sarries 😅

@chieffa32 3 ай бұрын

Kolisi wears #6 - but position wise, RSA plays their 6 as openside and 7 as blind. But you knew this already.....

@neill392 3 ай бұрын

Came here to say that.

@joeritchie2 4 күн бұрын

@@neill392Ditto. Which means Kolisi was the outstanding openside and Pieter-Steph du Toit the outstanding blindside.

@deeps2169 3 ай бұрын

Hit the notification harder than Taofifenua hits rucks

@JKMeZmA 3 ай бұрын

Rachel Malcom - Scotland women’s captain - was a great player and leader for the Scot’s women’s. Led them to the first piece of 15’s silverware in near 30 years for either the men’s or women’s teams. Also somehow has a PhD, normal stuff 😂

@chriscross69 3 ай бұрын

this is the maddest thing about international women’s players - they’ll excel at the highest level of rugby they can, and then you look them up and they’re also doctors and managers and phd holders! mental

@JKMeZmA 3 ай бұрын

@@chriscross69 aww absolutely! Some fantastic humans in the women’s game with such amazing talents in and out of the game.

@Srioll 3 ай бұрын

6:45 even helps up her oppo after turning them over. Good form

@cameronjeffrey9003 3 ай бұрын

De Geode is literally ever other Canadian player combined

@palorido 3 ай бұрын

Squidge citing l'Ovale masqué, a man of culture I see ! Great videos (Even tho you forgot my man Macalou ;) )

@davidseanrussell4152 3 ай бұрын

Yes. But hold on, kolisi is an open side no??

@jaimel88 2 ай бұрын

Sophie is always a treat to watch in action; comes off as a captain anyone would fight for. Glad to have seen Canada play NZD/AUS/USA last year.

@mvubu6823 3 ай бұрын

Fabulous series Squidge No arguments here. Looking forward to your 2024 productions.

@floydfreeman1318 3 ай бұрын

My back row in the rugby nations mobile game has Kolisi, Savea and Van der Flier

@kevintyrrell9559 3 ай бұрын

Sorry Squidge...but Caelan Doris is a no. 8...not a Blindside Flanker. He plays blindside, and indeed openside occasionally for Leinster and even Ireland when needed, but he is a no. 8. Its where he plays most of his rugby and its his favourite position 👍

@dusnmatr 3 ай бұрын

DEON FOURIE

@danielrolles2662 3 ай бұрын

LRZ is definitely going to need that VPN now 😅🏈🇺🇸

@Cyrus1013 3 ай бұрын

I love your content, I'm a springbok supporter for Cape Town keep up the good work

@oldiaul 3 ай бұрын

Rees-Zammit's NordVPN subscription ended so he decided he needed to move to the US to watch the NFL.

@darrenhazelden2340 3 ай бұрын

At 7: An 8

@weaselwag 3 ай бұрын

DE GOODE!!!! I FUCKING YELLED!!! AMAZING YES SHE DESERVES IT. also the others. but YES

@MrBreakdownBoy 3 ай бұрын

Kwagga had more jackles then anyone at the world cup, and he played mostly off the bench, he also has the highest battle stats for any player in the world cup as well. As far as I am concerned, he was probably the best player in the world cup.

@dimitardobrev3296 3 ай бұрын

where can someone check player battle stats?

@MrBreakdownBoy 3 ай бұрын

@@dimitardobrev3296 it's a tool used by coaches especially SA. It tracks game impact intervals. So like, made a game impact every x min. Apaprently Kwagga has one of the shortest times in between game impact contributions. The other flanker who was close to him was Savea.

@dimitardobrev3296 3 ай бұрын

@@MrBreakdownBoy Thanks for that. So what you're saying is that battle stats are generated by coaching staff and there isn't a place online that one can look at?

@MrBreakdownBoy 3 ай бұрын

@@dimitardobrev3296 Yes. That's what I understand. It's not published publicly. But even general stats are lacking for rugby. In NFL you can get every stat for every player since forever.

@TheMachoManRandySavage 3 ай бұрын

South Africa for some unknown reason actually swapped the flank numbers 6 and 7 unlike every other nation...so Siya should be a 7

@annabrisley479 Ай бұрын

Fanfuckintastic Springboks 🇿🇦

@JMoondog15 3 ай бұрын

SOPHIE!!! Proud Canadian, here, of course

@tsurumichan 3 ай бұрын

no doubt, no argument about Kwagga, all 15 slots

@Tordah 3 ай бұрын

That turnover at 11:11 - Barnes must have been taking the piss

@perthshirewildfoods8760 3 ай бұрын

total pisstake

@andrasszabo1570 3 ай бұрын

How so? Seems alright to me.

@Tordah 3 ай бұрын

He didn't look to be supporting his own bodyweight. Kwagga's great, mind

@andrasszabo1570 3 ай бұрын

@@Tordah you're right, I watched it again in slow mo. He is leaning way too much onto his left arm.

@notenoughstones3873 3 ай бұрын

Hand on the ground isn’t an automatic penalty. Players are allowed to use their hand to stabilise themselves but it is of course very subjective between that and not supporting your body weight. This will always result in calls going either way. I do agree though that he was probably using his hand to support himself in this instance although for the French game, I think that was ok as his hand only briefly touched the ground. Also Barnes was on the wrong side of the ruck for the NZ game so can’t really fault him for not seeing it.

@louisvincent6274 3 ай бұрын

Squidge, how dare you forget François Cros in the honorable mentions !?

@Srioll 3 ай бұрын

LRZ is gonna need Nord to keep all his welsh tv when he moves to the us

@tilmanvondelft7461 3 ай бұрын

😂😂😂😂

@floydfreeman1318 3 ай бұрын

Thoughts on Reese Zammit moving to the NFL?

@etheruan 3 ай бұрын

Cannot believe you would cheat on squarespace like this

@adamhunter396 3 ай бұрын

I agree with all of those selections, but why pick Ardie at flank when he played 8th man all year? Can't be the best 7 when he never played there in 2023

@Rugby-yp2kp 3 ай бұрын

We need a squidge rugby response to what’s happening with LRZ

@theromandudeinWI 3 ай бұрын

Zammitt now going to use nordvpn to watch welsh netflix while playing NFL

@albertvanlingen7590 3 ай бұрын

Yet Duane, PSDT, and Kwagga would be the best combination at the world cup.

@Forest9528 3 ай бұрын

Soya to start kwagga to come on in 50th minute*

@goatbrain5278 3 ай бұрын

Nope, Siya is a better starter,, Kwagga's impact is much bigger off the bench.

@monunyabidness5949 3 ай бұрын

Wrong. Siya is not a token.

@patanouketgersiflet9486 3 ай бұрын

Among the very best performances ever by a back row, how could you forget Dusautoir's masterclass against the all blacks in 07? 38 tackles (including a bunch of dominant ones), record still standing + 1 try. That day the entire All Blacks had completed 36 tackles. And to top it all off, Dusautoir was merely a replacement, he wasn't even in the original squad when the world cup started. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o8WAja6l1Ly4j2g.html

@danielkinghorn6745 3 ай бұрын

He literally said Dusautoir in 07 in the video...

@patanouketgersiflet9486 3 ай бұрын

@@danielkinghorn6745 oopsie

@elliotnewmarch8921 3 ай бұрын

Ardie Savea is No8 not 7 for NZ isnt he?

@Swartberry007 3 ай бұрын

HWNWOWN !!!

@anthonyaranda5561 3 ай бұрын

Great picks. Squidge picks: Siya kolisi for 6 Ardie savea for 7 And gregory aldritt i guess for 8

@jasonsen3367 3 ай бұрын

The current Saracens back row of Sophie de Goede, Marlie Packer, and Poppy Cleal is surely cheating? Ridiculous amount of talent.

@josephharrington7129 3 ай бұрын

Well that's a nightmare

@chriscross69 3 ай бұрын

should hardly be allowed 😂

@SamAshworth91 3 ай бұрын

Yeah, when Poppy Cleall is the third best player in your back row, you've got something going.

@ChrisStroud1 3 ай бұрын

I've had this thought on a number of occasions. I feel so bad for recently pro players at the bottom of the division having to turn out against that pack :|

@dantecadiz5353 3 ай бұрын

Siya is an openside...

@neilmacewan8706 3 ай бұрын

Siya is open side

@randallcrisp3266 3 ай бұрын

we missed you!

@santosl.harper4471 3 ай бұрын

nah the closest to Sophie is a cyborg Zinzan Brooke actually

@CptRumcan 3 ай бұрын

PSDT tackler of the year lol

@harleyward8632 3 ай бұрын

Siya is an openside no?

@benmarshall5132 3 ай бұрын

Last year I may have threatened murder over your withholding of De Goede from the team so this year I think I'll bring someone back to life, thanks Squidge

@LambTjops 3 ай бұрын

Hacjivah Dayimani deserved a mention! He'll be the best player of the next world cup cycle

@southafricancoveiro7001 3 ай бұрын

Why is Ardie chosen as the flanker?PTSD robbed

@andremaube5069 3 ай бұрын

I don't see him as the best in his position, but Kolisi was the main character in this world cup

@monunyabidness5949 3 ай бұрын

Siya is not a token. If you don't see his contributions on the field then you need to get your eyes checked and a new prescription for glasses. Siya is one the best rugby players period. Rassie doesn't play favorites.

@bradleypenrith 3 ай бұрын

Ptsd?

@antoinerigaud_ 3 ай бұрын

No François Cros mention ….

@toby8381 3 ай бұрын

LRZ comments well timed…

@london_to_the_bay 3 ай бұрын

Always a good watch.. dent backrow to boot... cheers

@andrewyoung5882 3 ай бұрын

Caolan Doris number 8 not blindside???

@nathjones77 3 ай бұрын

Oh, if you’d done this a couple of days later you could have made a joke about LRZ and the NFL with NordVPN

@neill392 3 ай бұрын

The name you omitted from the discussion was Alex Matthews, at 6 or 8, she is both destructive and creating and simply never stops.

@ukgreenhill4372 3 ай бұрын

Hold up no squarespace ad. The hell's going on?

@W0nderer 3 ай бұрын

Again, why are multiple people from the same psoiton being picked? There are two number 8s which means a 7 loses out. I really think people should be picked by position and not area.

@rorybessell8280 3 ай бұрын

Well Ardie Savea is a 7 without doubt, he'd be the best 7 in the world if he wasn't molded into an 8 to fit Sam Cane. So there's no reason he can't take that position

@W0nderer 3 ай бұрын

@@rorybessell8280 OK I didn't know that so fair point. I'd still argue that he's playing 8 for All Blacks so if he's picked a video like this, I'd say it should be at 8. You raise another interesting point - the All Blacks move players to accommodate other players. For example Richie and Beaudy and by implication Will Jordan too. Interested to see what Razer does.

@monunyabidness5949 3 ай бұрын

Start your own youtube channel then.

@W0nderer 3 ай бұрын

@@monunyabidness5949 no I really like Squidge. Just trying to give constructive feedback

@miguelmarques4043 3 ай бұрын

Saying she’s probability the best player in the world is outrageous (Like dupont doesn’t exist…)

@kylelouer4323 3 ай бұрын

Ardie savea with his pace!! Ardie savea busting thru! Ahah love nisbo

@kreishon 3 ай бұрын

Hate to say it but this is one of your worst takes Squidge. Tom Habberfield’s best game was clearly Saracens away in 2017, not Northampton

@mixer5717 3 ай бұрын

I loved this series, but I just wish Squidge used players in the positions they actually played in instead of trying to combine both women and men in one team. Maybe make two separate ones next year?

@duncanhand395 3 ай бұрын

Sam Cane doesn't even get a mention? I can understand why Frizzell doesn't but both of them were immense this year.

@Hammersteyn 3 ай бұрын

He got a red card 🟥😂

@rhysduncan8676 3 ай бұрын

@@Hammersteyn and outside of that he's been brilliant - Scott Barrett also got a red card and he made Squidge's team of the year

@Hammersteyn 3 ай бұрын

@@rhysduncan8676 Scott upped his game a lot this year. Getting a red card in the final though.... that's bad.

@ChrisBrown-or8ky 3 ай бұрын

Its a little difficult to expect cane to be included here. This is a fairly NH centric channel. Like, squidge barely mentioned the sr final in previous top moments vid. Cane was fantastic in SR, but for the ABs was overshadowed in all but a couple of big matches. Like, Samipeni Finau got more hype than cane in 2023 for one (excellent) performance. Meanwhile, the NH fans are seeing big performances for the players named here for club sides week in week out

@baff4613 3 ай бұрын

So glad you went with de Goede at 8, she's a phenomenal player and someone worth watching if you aren't familiar with her already.

@zanezeik 3 ай бұрын

sophie is truly incredible, haven't had the privilege of sharing the pitch with her myself, but we've had mutual teammates and the stories of her character live up to the hype