Comparing Chiefs to RWC stars

Sep 18, 2015
3 min read

The Rugby World Cup begins tody, with some of the most athletic and fearsome sportsman in the world on show. In this article I will be comparing some Rugby World Cup players to some of the Kansas City Chiefs roster.

1. Dontari Poe- Tendai Mtawarira, South Africa

Mtawarira and Poe are two very powerful men, standing at 6’ 1” and 6’ 3” and weighing in at 260lbs and 346lbs respectively. They both love the dirty work, battling in the trenches of their sport. Mtawarira is one of the most feared and respected props in the world, he has been an ever-present in the national side making 68 appearances since 2008. Poe on the other hand, is also much respected in the NFL, making 46 tackles in 2014 and being selected to the Pro Bowl.

2. Justin Houston- Francois Louw, South Africa

Another Chief and Springbok, both are defensive masters and strike fear into their opponents. Louw is well known for his spotless tackling technique and ability to “jackal” the ball from defenders after making the hit. Louw has the ability to spring back to his feet after the tackle, leaving no time for attack’s support to get close. Justin Houston’s stats speak for themselves, with a NFL high 22 sack in 2014 he has become one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers.

3. Alex Smith- Owen Farrell, England

It is often said that the Quarterback and fly-half position are the most similar, with most attacks running through them. Owen Farrell is often labelled as a “game-manager” and that is exactly what Farrell is. Both players will never be the best at their position however, they will provide your team with some consistency that is hard to find. Whether that’s kicking for territory with Farrell or ball security with Smith, both players show very good decision making skills.

4. Jamaal Charles- Taulupe Faletau, Wales

This comparison is mainly due to the power each player possesses with their ability to break tackles and gain valuable yards. The combined use of power and speed means one defender can very rarely take either of these players down on their own, making them a constant threat as they get closer to the try line or end zone. Both players will be ones to watch in their respective competitions.

5. De’Anthony Thomas- Waisake Naholo, New Zealand

This comparison has been made mainly due to the blistering speed both players possess. They are deadly when in space, outlined by Thomas’ 4.34 40 yard dash, which can’t be beaten by many. Naholo used to be a rugby sevens star, competing in 9 competitions for New Zealand; sevens is a game where you need to be at your best when you are one-on-one with a defender in space, a trait both players have. Thomas and Naholo are both yet to play out to their potential, still young, they do have time to improve and become one of the most feared returners and wingers in their sports.

6. Cairo Santos- Leigh Halfpenny, Wales

The ability to kick under pressure is extremely important in both sports, there are few better in either case. Santos has a career field goal percentage of 70%, which I very impressive. Whereas, Halfpenny is renowned for his composure and ability to kick 50 metre penalties with ease. Both these players have the ability to win or lose matches on their own. Unfortunately, Halfpenny has been ruled out of the World Cup due to an injury sustained in their final warm up match.

7. Tamba Hali- Kieran Reid, New Zealand

Both players have a vast knowledge of the game that comes from the experience they possess. They can easily win a game for their teams, with their brick wall and aggressive defence. Players all over the world try to avoid any kind of contact with either.

8. Ben Grubbs- Dan Cole, England

Both players usually go un-noticed during games however, they are the back bones of their teams. Whether it’s Grubbs on the offensive line or Cole in the front row, you know that they will be putting their all into their trade and without them the skill players could not perform. A clean pocket and a scrum are what they both enjoy best.