Rise of the "Roboplayer"

Some researchers at the Massey University have looked at the physiques of teh current AB squad with that of the 1905 "Originals" and deternined that:

'New Zealand are evolving into a team of "robo-players" -taller, leaner and more muscular than their predecessors'

TBH the findings are fairly obvious - the average AB now is 12cm taller and 21kg heavier than the average in 1905, with Aaron Cruden (the smallest in the current squad) being bigger than the average 1905 player.

Perhaps more relevant is the homogonisation of physiques - with Rugby perhaps losing its "position for all shapes" appeal. A world class prop cannot afford to be fat. With lifting in lineouts giant second rows are no longer needed. Centres are able to operate as auxilary flankers etc.

I remember a thread on old 606 where we tried to come up with a line-up where everyone, although in their usual positions, could also be a decent back row forward. Instead of that I will try and come up with a strong team where the physiques of all 15 players are broadly similar - the Roboplayer XV:

1) Andrew Sheridan 1.95m 120kg
2) Bismarck du Plessis 1.90m 115kg
3) Carl Hayman 1.93m 115kg
4) Brad Thorn 1.96m 116kg
5) Pascal Pape 1.96m 115kg
6) Jerome Kaino 1.96m 110kg
7) Sean O'Brien 1.88m 109kg
8) Kieran Read 1.93m 105kg

9) Mike Phillips 1.91m 104kg
10) Butch James 1.84m 98kg (struggling here - thankfully)
11) Alessana Tuilagi 1.85m 117kg
12) Jamie Roberts 1.93m 110kg
13) Sonny-Bill Williams 1.91m 110kg
14) George North 1.92m 100kg
15) Israel Dagg 1.88m 95kg

10 Andy Goode?

Or as Austin Healey called him, Andy Food

No, Glas, that's Roboplayer not Robopie-er

Why not just clone one of them 22 times?

Interesting, but the physiques haven't just changed in rugby since 1905 - people have just got much bigger in general over the last century, mainly as I understand it, because of improved diet. Just look at my generation (early 30s) compared to my mum & dad's: myself and my friends all tend to be over 6', when back in my dad's day 6' was considered tall. As long as you're not living in poverty, kids get so much more protein than they used to. Look at North Americans - the reason they tend to be so big is they're fed endless amounts of meat from an early age.

As far as rugby goes, I'm not sure it's all about size this year. I was actually thinking of writing something on here about how the shift seems to have swung towards fitness this year - especially in the forwards. Specifically I was thinking about the young Welsh backrow, who aren't very big at all, but have been hugely effective mainly because of their excellent fitness levels.

Yup overall the human race is getting bigger.

It is not so much about overall size - just that we are tending to move towards a satandardized size of rugby player. The actual report describes SBW as the archetypal roboplayer

Welsh back row are not especially small:

Faletau 1.88m 109kg
Dan Lydiate 1.93m 113kg
Warburton 1.88m 103kg

and all fit the roboplayer template

I genuinely thought this was going to be about re-introducing players like Jonah Lomu in a robocop-esque fashion.

Tom Shanklin sort of looks like Robocop