Try, try and try again for world class wingers

Wingers have always scored tries. It's their job, when all is said and done. But few wingers have scored as many tries as the current crop of dashers who are tearing up world rugby with their try-scoring feats - even if the popular misconception is that defence still rules the roost in world rugby.

Graham Henry's All Blacks have helped to correct that perception and, this weekend, most of the international wingers who are consistently crossing the line will again be starting in the six test matches being played early this morning (NZT) - Scotland vs All Blacks; Wales vs Australia; France vs South Africa; England vs Samoa; Ireland vs Romania; Italy vs Fiji.

So the weekend will help sort out the answer to the following question: who is the most prolific try-scorer in world rugby? We have drawn up a list of the lightning ones playing this weekend on the basis of strike rate (tries per test) and volume (total number of tries).

It will be no surprise to see that All Black wingers figure high on the list and, this weekend, Joe Rokocoko and Rico Gear have the chance to add further notches to their belts in the match against Scotland.

While this current crop are all far away from catching David Campese's world record 64 test tries in 101 tests, most are bettering his strike rate so far. The likes of Rokocoko might even have an outside shot of catching his total - although in today's more brutally physical test rugby, growing fixture lists and subsequently growing injury rates, that must still be figured a long shot.


Strike rate:

David Campese (Australia), 101 tests, 64 tries (63 per cent strike rate).
The god of try-scorers, 'Campo's' record is unlikely to be broken, as is his record for putting foot in mouth with controversial statements.

Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZ), six tests, eight tries (133 per cent strike rate).
Top of the strike rate at present although has only played six per cent of the tests Campese did. Kept his try-scoring rate up in the UK, even though he might not yet be back at his best.

Bryan Habana (SA), 14 tests, 15 tries (107 per cent strike rate).
The fastest man in test rugby? Specialises in long-range, open-field, run-away-from-everybody tries and many, many more to come.

Joe Rokocoko (NZ), 29 tests, 30 tries (103 per cent strike rate).
Will be perturbed that he wasn't chosen in the All Blacks 'No 1' combination against England but still has more tries than tests even though his rate has slowed a little in recent tests.

Mark Cueto (England), 10 tests, 9 tries (90 per cent strike rate).
Seems assured of a long career for England now his ability to get to the tryline has been recognised. One of the few Northern Hemisphere wings challenging on the strike-rate front.

Lote Tuqiri (Australia), 26 tests, 22 tries (85 per cent strike rate).
Now a centre and it remains to be seen whether that diminishes his impressive try-scoring feats and strike rate. Still a danger man.

Doug Howlett (NZ), 50 tests, 41 tries (82 per cent strike rate).
Has played far more tests than any current winger, apart from Cohen, and still has an 82 per cent strike rate. A true, instinctive try-scorer.

Christian Cullen (NZ) 58 tests, 46 tries (79 per cent strike rate).
Not playing test rugby any more but here as the New Zealand standard-bearer and the first man to regularly score more tries than he'd had test matches. Howlett drawing near.

Rico Gear (NZ), Nine tests, six tries (67 per cent strike rate).
Appeared that he was cast as No 4 All Black wing after the tour of the UK. If that remains so, that could restrict his try-scoring chances a little but has the ability to scoot up this list.

Drew Mitchell (Australia), Nine tests, six tries (67 per cent strike rate).
Very quick and can play fullback or winger, although his current coach now seems to prefer him as a flank man. Genuine try-scoring class.

Ben Cohen (England), 47 tests, 23 tries (49 per cent strike rate).
Reinstated by England but perhaps approaching the end of his career now. There is nothing wrong with a one in two strike rate in test rugby but rates mid-table in these try-scoring measures.

Jean de Villiers (SA), 19 tests, 11 tries (58 per cent strike rate).
Now a centre, he is still scoring tries - especially against the All Blacks - and has a good record for intercepts.

Aurelien Rougerie (France) 37 tests, 16 tries (43 per cent strike rate).
Big, strong, fast - but doesn't score as many tries as his contemporaries.

Breyton Paulse (SA), 55 tests, 22 tries (40 per cent strike rate).
A surprisingly low total and strike rate for a renowned try-scorer - has real speed and agility and which puts some of the feats here in perspective.


Try-scoring totals:

1. Campese 64
2. Cullen 46
3. Howlett 41
4. Rokocoko 30
5. Cohen 23
6. Tuqiri, Paulse 22


- HERALD ON SUNDAY