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10 players every Kiwi wished were All Blacks

Henry new author
Roar Rookie
23rd November, 2014
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The Irish will run out in front of a packed house in Dublin to face the French. (AFP PHOTO/IAN KINGTON)
Henry new author
Roar Rookie
23rd November, 2014
128
3804 Reads

The All Blacks are the best side in world rugby at the moment, and some say they are the best team of any sport anywhere in the world.

They boast some of the greatest rugby players to lace a boot. But there are still some players who they would love to have in their set-up. Here are ten players that New Zealanders would love to see in Black.

10. Brian Lima
Mastered his craft under the watchful eye of John Hart at the Blues from 96-98. Nicknamed the ‘Chiropractor’, lots of Kiwi’s wished he performed his craft in a Black jersey instead of Blue.

9. Manu Tuilangi
A genuine game breaker who would fit right into the Polynesian style of play that the All Blacks backline have become renowned for. Powerful, fast and fearsome, he would have made a terrific centre.

8. Sione Taumalolo
Nearly topped the Super Rugby try-scoring charts two years ago, this guy was an absolute beast at his best. A shame we couldn’t wheel a deal to get him in black.

7. Brian O’Driscoll
Imagine this – Smith to Carter, skips Nonu, finds O’Driscoll who beats Tuilangi on the outside, steps inside Brown to score the winner for the All Blacks! Dreaming I know, but oh what a dream it is.

6. Martin Johnson
Should have, could have would have been a AB, but the former New Zealand U21 player ended up World Cup-winning captain for dreaded foe. Guided in his early days by the great Colin Meads, the NZRFU will still be wondering how we let this genius slip through the fingers.

5. Mark Ella
Undoubtedly the best fly-half of his era. Step, swerve, pass, chip andamp; chase, he had it all in spades. Would love to have seen him behind a rampant All Blacks pack, now that would have been fun.

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4. Tim Horan
It hurts to think how many damn times this little guy broke our Kiwi hearts, yet no other inside centre is so highly respected by Kiwis as this bloke is. If we’d had Tim instead of Bernie at the 91 WC, the All Blacks name would be on the cup three times.

3. Serge Blanco
Played like an All Blacks, his majesty Serge Blanco could create the impossible out of nothing at all and make it look so easy – isn’t that what All Blacks fullbacks are meant to do?

2. Peter Fatiolofa
Mr ‘Piano mover man’ would have made a great AB, but his unswerving loyalty to Manu Samoa kept him at bay. His partnership with Brown and Fitzy at Auckland is legendary and no doubt he would have built on that had he chosen Black.

1. And the number one player that every kiwi wished was an All Black goes to
Rupeni Caucaunibuca. Oh. My. Gosh.

Could you even begin to imagine what he could have done if he was playing behind a rampant New Zealand pack? The greatest rugby crime of the century is that this man was not able to play for the All Blacks and showcase his extraordinary talents.

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