My 15 favourite All Blacks and why

By Peter Darrow / Roar Guru

Over the past six months I have brought to you my favourite All Black players since 1970.

I have enjoyed testing my memory as to which players I had a connection to. With most of the players there was some reason they were selected in my team of favourites.

Take Bryan Williams for example, I followed the All Blacks tour of South Africa in 1970 and Williams was the star player whose style of play I totally admired.

Being a Northland boy there was only one halfback I could have chosen, Sid Going. And Christian Cullen played rugby the way it should be played, with freedom, excitement and wonder.

The players played rugby in their own style and were originals. Take Carlos Spencer for example and Zinzan Brooke, two players who will never be replicated.

Then there were the “hard bastards,” Peter Whiting, Sean Fitzpatrick and Steve McDowall fit into this category, committed players who expected others to give as much as they did.

Then there are the players who missed out but will easily be named on other pundit’s lists. They may have been skilful players but I either did not have a connection with them or they played a style of rugby I did not fully support.

Jonah Lomu and Richie McCaw spring to mind. How could I leave them out you may ask? With Richie it was because of a certain Michael Jones who played rugby the way they would in a perfect world. Jonah? If there was a bench, he is on it!

For style and class, it is hard to go past Bruce Robertson and Stu Wilson, two intelligent rugby players. The younger ones will not have heard of Joe Morgan but once again a Northland product who exemplified what a hard tackling, team man is.

And then there is “Kirky,” Ian Kirkpatrick, scorer of one of the finest individual tries you will see. Andy Haden and Carl Hayman round out the team, two exceptional players who attracted their share of controversy.

Both Andy Haden And Joe Morgan have passed away but left their mark on rugby and society.

Zinzan Brooke, Sean Fitzpatrick and Bryan Williams were the three most popular players judging by the number of comments. Zinzan and Stu Wilson probably competing for the character of the team. One thing I thought of which did not happen, was for some of the players to be interviewed with their thoughts on rugby today. Possibly a book is in order?

Players of today? My article back in June about the naming of the All Black squad for 2021 attracted varied feedback, but in my opinion was probably pretty much on the money.

A team that I cannot see winning the next World Cup. Can they win with Ian Foster at the helm?

The one player who I admire from the current All Blacks, is Will Jordan, who plays the game as it should be played. The magic man is a skilful, exciting player who I hope will be in the black jersey for a long time.

Are there up and coming players who in the future will be regarded as “favourite” All Blacks? I sure hope so.

Here is the team:

Christian Cullen
Bryan Williams
Stu Wilson
Bruce Robertson
Joe Morgan
Carlos Spencer
Sid Going
Zinzan Brooke
Ian Kirkpatrick
Andy Haden
Peter Whiting
Michael Jones
Steve McDowall
Sean Fitzpatrick
Carl Hayman

Sid and Carlos together? I believe they would click. Christian and BeeGee at their absolute peak would be frightening. Bruce Robertson feeding Williams, Wilson and Cullen.

Joe providing the steel. Zinzan, Kirky and Michael Jones would be scripted out of rugby heaven! The tall timber of Whiting and Haden would be bolstered by the strong men in the front row.

There you have it, hope you enjoyed it. A collection of All Black favourites.

Sports opinion delivered daily 

   

The Crowd Says:

2022-01-28T02:03:37+00:00

pete douglas

Guest


Virtually unstoppable within 5m of the try line.

2022-01-23T01:24:22+00:00

sheek

Roar Guru


Peter, Great team. I like all those ABs. Bryan Williams couldn't tackle to save himself, but then neither could my favourite Wallaby winger, David Campese! Anyway, here's my favourite Wallabies to take on your favourite ABs. My running list will be traditional international rather than Kiwi! Roger Gould David Campese Mick O'Connor Mick Lynagh Brendan Moon Mark Ella John Hipwell Mark Loane Ray Price David Wilson John Eales David Hillhouse Andy McIntyre Phil Kearns Topo Rodriguez Bench: Jason Little or Tim Horan (3/4s) Steve Larkham (flyhallf/fullback) George Gregan (halfback) Tim Gavin (eightman/lock) Greg Cornelsen (backrow) Stan Pilecki (tighthead & comic relief wisecracks) Tom Lawton (hooker) Tony D'Arcy (loosehead) This Wallaby team wouldn't die wondering...

2022-01-16T14:36:24+00:00

ScottD

Roar Guru


both

AUTHOR

2022-01-16T00:20:56+00:00

Peter Darrow

Roar Guru


That is a great team!

2022-01-15T09:41:10+00:00

WEST

Roar Guru


Here’s my “favourite players” also could be considered the best.. Loose head- Craig Dowd Hooker-Sean- Fitzpatrick Tight head- Olo Brown Loose head lock- Colin Meads Tight head lock- Brad Thorn Open Side Flanker- Richie McCaw Blind Side Flanker- Jerry Collins No 8- Zinzan Brooke No 9- Aaron Smith No 10- Dan Carter No 11- Jonah Lomu No 12- Ma'a Nonu No 13- Frank Bunce No 14- Doug Howlett No 15- Christian Cullen

2022-01-14T09:20:25+00:00

WEST

Roar Guru


They are my favourite players :stoked: But I’d prefer McCaw over Jones. Iceman was a great player! Tough and aggressive, but McCaws intelligence and tactical thinking was hard to beat.

2022-01-14T07:34:41+00:00

Muzzo

Roar Rookie


Have you ever spoken with the person concerned, & others, over that incident Short Arm? Obviously not, with that utterly ridiculous response. If you knew, about it, & not the hyped up media BS, you'd know that it was something that went horribly wrong. As I said RIP Piney.

2022-01-14T07:06:36+00:00

Tom

Guest


Pat walsh

2022-01-14T01:05:05+00:00

Nick Maguire

Roar Rookie


:laughing:

AUTHOR

2022-01-14T00:59:31+00:00

Peter Darrow

Roar Guru


Thanks. You've arrived at the party late West. Favourite players not best. As a player I like Jones better than McCaw.

AUTHOR

2022-01-14T00:56:28+00:00

Peter Darrow

Roar Guru


Yes, all very good players

AUTHOR

2022-01-14T00:55:24+00:00

Peter Darrow

Roar Guru


Buck is a favourite too.

2022-01-13T18:47:06+00:00

WEST

Roar Guru


Awesome team! Great players amongst it! But.. No Lomu? Aaron Smith on the bench. Carlos was awesome, But I’d put Carter. :silly: mean looking front row! No McCaw? McCaw should be there. Imagine having Buck Shelford, Zinzan Brooke, Michael Jones and McCaw on the same team :silly: throw in Colin Meads, last but far from least.. Oh, midfielders. Nonu, Tana Umaga. Or Conrad. In there somewhere :happy:

2022-01-13T18:06:29+00:00

Phantom

Roar Rookie


With Going at half back that backline would be starved of ball.

2022-01-13T14:18:00+00:00

Short Arm

Roar Rookie


Thanks Peter for a great series of articles, really enjoyed them. Glad you went with Cullen & Jones, they were a couple of my all-time favs as well.

2022-01-13T14:13:25+00:00

Short Arm

Roar Rookie


Unfortunately a bit of thug with what he did to end Ken Catchpole's career. Sadly a legend for all the wrong reasons.

2022-01-13T07:31:20+00:00

dsat24


Thanks Peter nice wrap on this excellent series which I have enjoyed reading. I too like your fave team and would offer some honourable mentions in John Gallagher as a pre Cullen running full back. Collins was favour great to watch with his shirt fronting runs of the base and no nonsense. Bill Orsborne had the Ella like deft touches in the mid field and a similar eye for gaps. I saw Jeff Wilson as a yound man in Sydney playing in schools footy and to say he owned the field was a fair assessment. Tana's alertness and read on opportunities was also clearly something he was born with. Piri for the haka btws.

2022-01-13T05:48:37+00:00

Jacko

Roar Rookie


Geez i wish Neutral sweede had read that word!

2022-01-13T00:59:39+00:00

Lano

Roar Guru


Thanks Peter, good read and memories. I would add my absolute favourite (Sir) Wayne Buck Shelford, one of the toughest, with an unbeaten test captaincy (albeit one draw). My favourite recollection is a picture of him after a match (maybe Auckland 1989) with a can of Tui and smoking a cigarette in the change rooms, bloodied and shirtless with his headband.

2022-01-12T19:38:37+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


MJ pre or post knee op?

More Comments on The Roar

Read more at The Roar