By Austin Willis

There's never a shortage of social media opinions to rile the internet, and the latest comes from an ESPN reporter who ran down rugby after briefly watching it on TV; he's wrong, but not completely.

Said writer was viewing the Collegiate Rugby Championships while getting his hair cut and commented that a team of various select football players would only need a couple of years to rule the rugby world.

Obviously, he doesn't know what he's talking about. 

He was comparing seasoned NFL players with college kids (and if he was watching some of the lower brackets at the CRC, then all club teams). We could do the same and say that Sonny Bill Williams or Samu Manoa would crush players on an NCAA FCS college football team. True... but irrelevant.

Still, the rugby-to-football connection is one worth pondering. Several rugby players have found success playing football—Nate Ebner, Haloti Ngata, and Johnson Bademosi—and credited rugby with helping them reach the NFL.

Rugby is more aerobically challenging than football, requires more decision-making for more players, and requires every player to contribute both on offense and defense. 

Who could make the cut? Here's our all-NFL rugby team:

Prop: JJ Watt (DE, Houston Texans)

He is one of the hardest defenders to scheme against in the NFL. It's also clear he has a knack for carrying the ball, as he has hauled in a few touchdown passes on the offensive end.

Hooker: LeGarrette Blount (RB, Detroit Lions)

We could’ve picked another big defensive lineman but LeGarrette Blount carries 250 pounds and is one of the hardest players to stop in short-yardage situations. Imagine his center of gravity on a pick-and-go.

Prop: Aaron Donald (DT, LA Rams)

Pure power. This guy is going to drive a scrum better than anyone, and you'd figure he would be pretty devastating in the ruck, too.

Lock: Jimmy Graham (TE, Green Bay Packers)

He’s 6-foot-7 and played college basketball. He’s our lineout man with the best hands of any tight end in the league.

Lock: Travis Kelce (TE, Kansas City Chiefs)

He's a 6-6 player who runs well in the open field and never shies away from contact... or chatter.

Flanker: Von Miller (LB, Denver Broncos)

Good luck to any inside runner. Miller’s first step would have him out of the scrum and onto a ball carrier in a flash.

Flanker: Luke Kuechly (LB, Carolina Panthers)

Not only an imposing tackler but also a student of the game. If we could pick a player who would learn rugby the fastest, it would be Kuechly.

No. 8 Rob Gronkowski (TE, New England Patriots)

It’s Gronk! He's 6-7, 265 pounds—NFL players hate tackling him and they're wearing body armor.

Scrumhalf: Nate Ebner (S, New England Patriots)

OK, I know he doesn’t play scrumhalf, but he is an NFL player and has an Olympic-level pass. He can take on a new position and direct his freakish friends.

Flyhalf: Brad Wing (P, Free Agent)

He punted in the NFL and has Australian Rules Football experience so we know he can tackle. He simply has to be a link for this squad, combined with tactical kicking.

Inside Center: Todd Gurley (RB, LA Rams)

One of the fastest and hardest straight line runners in the NFL, crash ball extraordinaire. 

Outside Center: Le'Veon Bell (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers)

He is the NFL’s best at patiently reading gaps and running smart lines.

Wing: Marcus Peters (CB, LA Rams)

We chose a defensive player for one wing because Peters can shut down a side of the field. He has hands and return ability seen from his interceptions. He also has the range to get back and help with kicks and also stop the run.

Wing: Julio Jones (WR, Atlanta Falcons)

Fast, hands, leaping ability, size.

Fullback: Antonio Brown (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)

An unbelievable kick returner. He studies the game and we’ve seen him throw some deep passes, does this count as kicking ability.