You know you are a true rugby fan when you have photos of your favourite All Blacks plastered over your bedroom wall.
At the age of 10 I followed the All Blacks on their 1970 tour of South Africa. This is my earliest memory of rugby and it kickstarted a life-long love of the game, which captures the heart and soul of most New Zealanders.
I kept photos, news clippings, anything that informed me of what was going on over in South Africa. I do not remember radio or television coverage of the tour, the only image I recall is that of Bryan Williams the All Black winger sidestepping the opposition in the in-goal area on the way to scoring a try!
There have been many tours, home series, World Cups since 1970 and it has motivated me to discuss the best players that are truly memorable.
All the great players in their autobiographies list their favourite team which not everyone agrees with but finds interesting. Although I didn’t reach the same lofty heights, I am inspired to list the players who captured my attention and who I still watch on YouTube.
Do you select players from when they were at the peak of their powers or do you go on what they achieved over their entire career? There are some players whose flames only burnt brightly over one to two seasons while others had much longer careers.
I have decided to base this on when they were at their sensational best and the memories are of their gifted talents.
Fullback
Early memories are of players such as Fergie McCormack and Laurie Mains, dependable but hardly earth-shattering!
The 1972 tour to the UK unveiled Joe Karam as a reliable goal kicker. John Gallagher was the first real counter-attacking fullback for the All Blacks and was a member of the 1987 World Cup-winning team. Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg and Ben Smith continued the trend of attacking fullbacks.
But to me, there is only one player who can take the title of best All Black fullback and that is, drum roll please, Christian Cullen! At his peak, he was the most electrifying player to make fans gasp at what he could do.
Wingers
A difficult choice with a variety of candidates from the tiny Grant Batty to the juggernaut Jonah Lomu. John Kirwan, Jeff Wilson, Stu Wilson are all highly-credentialed players.
The player who captured my attention from a young age and who had the most devastating sidestep was the star of the All Black tour to South Africa in 1970, Bryan Williams.
He never quite reached the same heights again but was magnificent to watch.
The other winger is, of course, the incomparable Jonah Lomu!
Jonah Lomu scoring yet another 1995 Rugby World Cup try. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images)
Centre
Early memories are of the silky skills of Bruce Robertson and the brute strength of Frank Bunce. The other two contenders are Joe Stanley and Conrad Smith. This is a tough one, Conrad Smith is probably the favourite but the player who stands out in my memory is Bruce Robertson.
Second Five-Eighth (Inside centre)
Being a Northland boy my first memories are of Joe Morgan who eventually made it into the All Blacks in 1976. Walter Little is a strong candidate in a position that is more of a link man for the All Blacks. But my choice goes to someone who wasn’t a typical player in the role, Ma’a Nonu.
New Zealand’s centre Ma’a Nonu. (AFP PHOTO)
First five-eighth (Flyhalf)
Grant Fox was a standout from my earlier years with his metronomic goal kicking. He was pressured for his position by Frano Botica a more attacking player. Andrew Mehrtens and Carlos Spencer also had a great rivalry and would be welcomed by most other teams.
But the nod goes to Daniel Carter who was the most complete player ever in the role.
Halfback
Apologies to all the other contenders including Dave Loveridge, Aaron Smith and Graeme Bachop but being a Northlander there can only be one halfback and he is the inimitable Sidney Milton Going, otherwise known as “Super Sid”!
Number 8
Alex Wylie and Brian Lochore from the early years were memorable. Zinzan Brooke and Wayne Shelford were two uncompromising players who make it another tough choice.
For all-round skills and creativity, Brooke gets the nod.
Openside Flanker
Richie McCaw. Sorry to the others! The only major contender being the Iceman, Michael Jones.
Richie McCaw and David Pocock went head-to-head plenty of times (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Blindside flanker
Ian Kirkpatrick was an early favourite especially after his magnificent try against the Lions in 1971. Michael Jones who moved from the openside pushes hard, as do Jerome Keino and Jerry Collins.
I would be happy with either Jones or Kirkpatrick but Kirky gets the spot!
Locks
Peter (Pole) Whiting and Andy Haden are early contenders. Colin Meads is a legend in New Zealand rugby and must be one of the locks. Gary Whetton gets some votes as does Ian Jones. But it is a case of the old and the new with Pinetree Meads and Brodie Retallick.
Props
The murky depths of the propping world are not one I am familiar with, but Kent Lambert was an early memory. Olo Brown, Carl Hayman and Tony Woodcock are the main contenders and I will trust he experts and say Olo Brown and Tony Woodcock.
Hookers
Well, it’s a shootout between Sean Fitzpatrick and Dane Coles, both very mobile hookers with a sniff for the try line. Both tough, uncompromising players.
Coles is probably more skilful but for his slightly more intimidating presence give it to Fitzy.
So there you have it, my favourite All Black players from 1970 to the present.
Line-up
Christian Cullen
Bryan Williams
Jonah Lomu
Bruce Robertson
Ma’a Nonu
Dan Carter
Sid Going
Zinzan Brooke
Ian Kirkpatrick
Richie McCaw
Colin Meads
Brodie Retallick
Olo Brown
Sean Fitzpatrick
Tony Woodcock
Captain: Richie McCaw.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
A word of caution Stu B, and to Nos 9 - have you seen the size of the bloke? It is Brad Thorn. :stoked:
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Phantom
Roar Rookie
A pass as good as Arron smith but not as good a runner with the ball.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
My view as well.
Jumba
Guest
Translation = I am from Auckland.......
Nos 9
Roar Rookie
It's not the dog in the fight mate..It's the fight in the dog..Bucks warrior spirit makes up for his smaller physical stature. Read went missing in the WC semi loss to Eng. Jerry Collins was smaller than most of the forwards that he played against but a dam sight tougher than most. He made up for his shorter stature with ferocity and mongrel and an onfield mean disposition...anyway as been said by a few posters..different era's different styles....I can take a loss but the insipid foward display in the WC semi doesn't sit well with me. Our pack got given a good hiding by the Eng. I want foster and co to develop a tough..mongrel forward pack during the next WC cycle . Mental toughness trumps a big body.
Shooter McGavin
Guest
Kaino, Read and McCaw would rag-doll them. Buck had a playing weight of 92kg. McCaw was quick too when he started, playing 148 internationals in the professional era with bigger bodies and bigger hits slowed him down funnily enough... Read was very quick early in his career too - the Crusaders and All Black's strung together ridiculous tries because of the link play of Read and McCaw.
Shooter McGavin
Guest
You'd have to be north of the Bombay Hills to not recognise McCaw as the greatest 7.
Kicker
Roar Rookie
I went to that game v Western Province in 1970. Bryan Williams was selected at centre and he ran over his opposite number Nelson Babrow ( not a player renowned for his tackling !)a couple of times . However, the Springboks had the last laugh as the All Blacks selected Williams for the next test as a centre Instead of his normal position of wing. He came up against one of the best crash tacklers in Joggie Jansen ( famous for his tackle on Wayne Cottrell in the first test of that series)and was unable to repeat his performance in the tests
Boatperson
Guest
According to the journalist, Loosehead Len, Laidlaw had a pas so long and straight “it could make a pommie soccer player look like a good first five.”
Boatperson
Guest
Yep. Buck Shelford had great leadership and toughness. Not as flashy as Zinzan but a better link player and tough as nails.
Boatperson
Guest
If you want to see how good Robertson was then look up Bryan Williams highlights on YouTube. Quite a few were set up by Robertson. Great highlights apart from that as well.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Carl Hayman and Michael Jones would be the main variables. Dave Loveridge a possible.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
It must have been 1978 when Oliver was captain.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hahaha Super Sid? Wasn't he the player that used to keep the bench warm, when Chris Laidlaw was available? Yeh I remember it well. Along with Olo Brown & Tony Woodcock over the likes of Carl Hayman. Ken Gray, & of course Keith Murdoch. RIP. Even the likes of Grant Batty, once said, ' I'd tackle anyone, but when Keith had the ball in hand, he was like a raging bull.
Nos 9
Roar Rookie
Agree. But Bucks character was what we lacked in the semi against Eng. I value that more than Reads lineout ability. Read is an excellent nos 8 and like you say different era's and differenty styles.
valleybeanie
Roar Rookie
Andy Dalton was captain in '81, Frank Oliver locked the scrum in the 2nd test only.
BBA
Guest
Shelford was tougher and better off the back of the scrum than Read. However, Read was better in the lineout (and also called the lineouts) and great at receiving or winning kickoffs and was a better link man. The AB's used to get killed in the lineout pre Read once we had Read we seemed to improve a lot in that area. However winning lineouts was not much of a requirement for #8's in the late 80's. So Shelford was better than Read in somethings not others. Overall hard to tell, without factoring in style of rugby to be played.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Lyn Davis eventually pushed Siddy out after being bench for years in the third Lions test 77 for his better pass.
taylorman
Roar Guru
No way I'd have Beegee ahead of JK. For his exploits in SA in 70 the 70's were generally poor for the AB's and even Beegee never played as well after that. JK was bigger, stronger and faster, and carried for far longer, where Beegee tended to drop off in pace very quickly after the first 30 with those huge thighs. Both great players but through having seen them both down to club level, albeit Beegee mostly in his later years, JK was a step up. Meads gets in for his 70-71 form? He was tailing off then. Bruce Robertson was a glider, kept his options open till the last second, but I still think we improved on all the 70's players, which other than about five players were a poor period, denoted by the successive Bok losses and Lions tour. I'd probably have the same as Kiwihaydens side except for Jones at 6, JK at wing and Cullen at FB. Split on Read and Zinzan.