What is the absolute best rugby country in the world?

Wickedone: What is the absolute best rugby country in the world?
I know rugby was invented in England, but who is tops?

Answers and Views:

Answer by blm
Historically New Zealand has the best record, but at the moment South Africa is rated number 1. Best team north of the equator is currently Ireland, who go head to head with South Africa in Dublin on November 28th. Hopefully it will be rainy and cold as hell(?), as that will bother the Irish side less.

If you are really interested the IRB (International Rugby Board) has a formal rating system. You can find it at

Answer by Adam
England all the way mate

Answer by The Oracle
The best rugby country in the world fluctuates. Even with the best administrators, the laws of statistical variation dictate that some crops of players and coaches will be better than others, and even within a great group, there are always fluctuations in morale and mindset. And things like schedules, illness, quirks in matches, all affect performances.

But all that said, I think for the foreseeable future, the top country is South Africa. Obviously they’ve won two world cups, including 2007, and with players like Morne Steyn, Francois Steyn, Habana, Fourie, Du Preez, Broussow, Burger, Botha, Matfield, etc., it is hard to imagine any other team beating them next world cup. They are all very smart on the ball, they all hit hard, and they really seem to just want to win more than other teams. Maybe this is partly because of the increasingly desperate situation in South Africa; but whatever the reason, the Springboks look like they will rule the rugby world for the next few years at least.

Answer by yoyo
New Zealand!

the youngsters we have coming through are incredible. we won the u21 world cup with no problem whatsoever. we scored something like 7 tries in the final. definitely a good look for the future.

Answer by sammy
ENGLAND SUCK adam NZ best in world

Answer by Redeye Jedi
Well South Africa are current world champions, tri-nations champions, 7’s world champions, and Super 14 champions (Bulls).

Thats the first time thats ever happened, so without a doubt they are the best team in the world at the moment.

Historically its between SA and New Zealand, just look at old stats.

Answer by David
If you measure its success by the amount of players that country has to draw from it has to be Australia.
Two world cup wins with so little to draw from.
By the numbers that play there, England should win every world cup,but like Will Carling said,the country’s rugby is run by a bunch of old bastards.

Answer by So’l8
According to statistics recorded over the last 2 decades, New Zealand are the best. They’ve players who are the world’s best at their positions (Dan Carter – flyhalf, Richie McCaw – openside flanker, Mils Muliaina – fullback, Carl Hayman – tighthead prop)

Answer by karlj
I would say South Africa, New Zealand, and Scotland for Rugby Union
For Rugby League England, or Australia
Are you talking about Rugby Union or Rugby League?

Answer by Moonlit
There are two separate answers to this question depending upon the definition of “absolute best”.
If you actually meant current best then there is no argument it is South Africa. Current World Champions, 7’s Champions, Tri-nations Champions and Super 14 Champions all achieved inside the last two years.
However if you define it as historical best i.e which country has the best record at all levels of rugby over all countries the answer is New Zealand, the only test playing nation to have a better than 50% win ratio over all opponents. They have won more 7’s, Tri-Nations and Super 10/12/14 Championships then any other country. They are three time reigning Commonwealth Games 7’s gold medalists ( the only nation to ever win the Gold medal). They have also won more age group and women’s championships than any other country. The only “blight”, as such if you can call it that, on their record is they have won only one men’s World Cup to date 1987. Having said that their record there is still impressive 2 finals (one win), 3 semi finals, and a quarter final out of six appearances. Their loss in the final to South Africa in South Africa went into extra time (yes the infamous food poisoning match). It is this overall record in the sport that makes them unarguably the absolute best rugby country in the world.

Answer by bob
Who is tops? New Zealand hands down… they are the team tjat everyone craps their pants when playing against

PS – Im Australian so this is not biased!