By Rhys Chamberlain
It would be extremely hard to compare players and positions from the early 1900’s with those of the current millennia and decide who would don the black jersey in the greatest All Blacks rugby team of all time so I have decided to create the greatest All Blacks team of all time since 1990, the era that I can recall watching most matches. It also leaves me with adequate knowledge about most of the players in that era and not rely on what others say about certain players that I was unable to actually view playing the game.
So here it is, the greatest New Zealand All Blacks team since 1990:
15. Jeff Wilson
The dual international (cricket) played most of his 60 test matches on the wing but was equally at home at fullback. The Otago and Highlanders player scored two tries on debut in 1993 versus Scotland at Murrayfield.
14. John Kirwan
Making his debut at the age of 19, Kirwan scored arguably the greatest try of all time when he beat multiple Italian defenders to score a brilliant length of the field try in the All Blacks first game of its triumphant 1987 World Cup. He played 96 times for the All Blacks including 63 tests.
13. Frank Bunce
One of the toughest centres in world rugby at the time, he was a renowned distributor, able to set up his outsides for tries. He was an unusual debutant as he was aged 30 at the time of his call up. He went on to play 69 matches for the All Blacks including 55 test matches.
12. Tana Umaga
More suited at centre, Umaga made his debut on the wing for the All Blacks and played 74 test matches, 21 as captain. He was regarded as an inspirational leader by his fellow players and coaches. With the emergence of Conrad Smith at centre, Umaga moved into second five-eighth for both the Wellington Hurricanes and the All Blacks. He captained the side for its historical clean sweep of the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and the Grand Slam tour the same year.
11. Jonah Lomu
New Zealand and rugby’s first global superstar, Jonah Lomu burst onto the international scene as a fresh faced 19 year old 116kg monster winger at the 1995 world cup in South Africa where he scored six tries to led the tournament including the infamous try in which he literally ran over the top of English fullback Mike Catt. He was named the 1995 rugby world cup player of the tournament. Lomu also scored the winning try in what crictics describe as the greatest test match of all time in Sydney, Australia in 2000.
10. Andrew Mehrtens
New Zealand rugby’s greatest ever point scorer with 967 points, South African born Mehrtens could kick goals from virtually anywhere on the park. He controlled the game superbly well for both the Canterbury Crusaders and the All Blacks. Merhtens had the chance to win the 1995 world cup for the All Blacks against South Africa with an attempted drop goal in extra time which subsequently missed leaving New Zealand as the runner up.
9. Justin Marshall
Marshall played 89 test matches for the All Blacks between 1995 and 2005 where he captained the side in 4 tests. He scored 140 points for the All Blacks and is the most capped All Blacks halfback in history.
8. Wayne Shelford
Nicknamed “Buck”, Wayne Shelford was arguably the most bruising and competitive No. 8 the All Blacks had seen when he played his 22 tests for the All Blacks between 1986 and 1990. He was an inspirational captain in 14 of his 22 tests before he was controversially dropped in 1990 when displaying some of his best form. Myths and legends circulated Shelford including why he was dropped from the All Blacks and according to some it was because he punched first five-eighth at the time Grant Fox after a match. Another legend says that Shelford was rucked in the groin region subsequently having to retrieve a testicle from his underwear. He carried on playing the match!
7. Richard McCaw
The current All Blacks captain is said to be the best player in world rugby and has played over 70 test matches for the New Zealand side. He was named the IRB world player of the year in 2006.
6. Zinzan Brooke
Remembered as a No. 8 but an equally good blindside flanker, “Zinny” was famous for having all the skills of a back and proved that when he dropped a goal from 50 metres against England in the 1995 world cup in South Africa. He played 58 test matches.
5. Chris Jack
Currently playing for English club Saracens, Jack played 67 tests for the All Blacks at lock and recently resigned with the New Zealand Rugby Union until 2011 with an eye to winning the 2011 world cup being held in New Zealand.
4. Ian Jones
“The Kamo Kid” Ian Jones is New Zealand’s greatest ever lock forward behind the ageless Colin “Pinetree” Meads in which he played 79 tests for the All Blacks. He and fellow All Black lock Robin Brooke formed a formidable pair in the mid 90’s both pre and post line out lifting. Jones can now be seen as a commentator for New Zealand’s Sky Sports covering most All Blacks matches.
3. Olo Brown
The quiet assassin, Olo Brown was hailed by opposition props as an excellent scrummager with fantastic technique and strength. He played 56 tests for the All Blacks only missing two matches in his entire career.
2. Sean Fitzpatrick
New Zealand’s greatest ever All Blacks captain, “Fitzy” played 92 tests at hooker and was famously caught up in one of the games first ever ear biting incidents when South Africa’s Ollie Le Roux left Fitzpatrick without a piece of his right ear. Fitzpatrick was famous for his battles with Australian opposite Phil Kearns. The two often had “words”.
1. Carl Hayman
Carl Hayman was unusually tall for a prop at 6 ft 4in but that was his greatest asset when he scrimmaged. He played in 46 test matches before leaving for a lucrative deal with English club Newcastle. He is regarded as the best tighthead prop in world rugby.
Reserves:
Anton Oliver, Craig Dowd, Robin Brooke, Michael Jones, Grant Fox, Daniel Carter, Joe Stanley
Coach:
Laurie Mains
It would be extremely hard to compare players and positions from the early 1900’s with those of the current millennia and decide who would don the black jersey in the greatest All Blacks rugby team of all time so I have decided to create the greatest All Blacks team of all time since 1990, the era that I can recall watching most matches. It also leaves me with adequate knowledge about most of the players in that era and not rely on what others say about certain players that I was unable to actually view playing the game.
So here it is, the greatest New Zealand All Blacks team since 1990:
15. Jeff Wilson
The dual international (cricket) played most of his 60 test matches on the wing but was equally at home at fullback. The Otago and Highlanders player scored two tries on debut in 1993 versus Scotland at Murrayfield.
14. John Kirwan
Making his debut at the age of 19, Kirwan scored arguably the greatest try of all time when he beat multiple Italian defenders to score a brilliant length of the field try in the All Blacks first game of its triumphant 1987 World Cup. He played 96 times for the All Blacks including 63 tests.
13. Frank Bunce
One of the toughest centres in world rugby at the time, he was a renowned distributor, able to set up his outsides for tries. He was an unusual debutant as he was aged 30 at the time of his call up. He went on to play 69 matches for the All Blacks including 55 test matches.
12. Tana Umaga
More suited at centre, Umaga made his debut on the wing for the All Blacks and played 74 test matches, 21 as captain. He was regarded as an inspirational leader by his fellow players and coaches. With the emergence of Conrad Smith at centre, Umaga moved into second five-eighth for both the Wellington Hurricanes and the All Blacks. He captained the side for its historical clean sweep of the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and the Grand Slam tour the same year.
11. Jonah Lomu
New Zealand and rugby’s first global superstar, Jonah Lomu burst onto the international scene as a fresh faced 19 year old 116kg monster winger at the 1995 world cup in South Africa where he scored six tries to led the tournament including the infamous try in which he literally ran over the top of English fullback Mike Catt. He was named the 1995 rugby world cup player of the tournament. Lomu also scored the winning try in what crictics describe as the greatest test match of all time in Sydney, Australia in 2000.
10. Andrew Mehrtens
New Zealand rugby’s greatest ever point scorer with 967 points, South African born Mehrtens could kick goals from virtually anywhere on the park. He controlled the game superbly well for both the Canterbury Crusaders and the All Blacks. Merhtens had the chance to win the 1995 world cup for the All Blacks against South Africa with an attempted drop goal in extra time which subsequently missed leaving New Zealand as the runner up.
9. Justin Marshall
Marshall played 89 test matches for the All Blacks between 1995 and 2005 where he captained the side in 4 tests. He scored 140 points for the All Blacks and is the most capped All Blacks halfback in history.
8. Wayne Shelford
Nicknamed “Buck”, Wayne Shelford was arguably the most bruising and competitive No. 8 the All Blacks had seen when he played his 22 tests for the All Blacks between 1986 and 1990. He was an inspirational captain in 14 of his 22 tests before he was controversially dropped in 1990 when displaying some of his best form. Myths and legends circulated Shelford including why he was dropped from the All Blacks and according to some it was because he punched first five-eighth at the time Grant Fox after a match. Another legend says that Shelford was rucked in the groin region subsequently having to retrieve a testicle from his underwear. He carried on playing the match!
7. Richard McCaw
The current All Blacks captain is said to be the best player in world rugby and has played over 70 test matches for the New Zealand side. He was named the IRB world player of the year in 2006.
6. Zinzan Brooke
Remembered as a No. 8 but an equally good blindside flanker, “Zinny” was famous for having all the skills of a back and proved that when he dropped a goal from 50 metres against England in the 1995 world cup in South Africa. He played 58 test matches.
5. Chris Jack
Currently playing for English club Saracens, Jack played 67 tests for the All Blacks at lock and recently resigned with the New Zealand Rugby Union until 2011 with an eye to winning the 2011 world cup being held in New Zealand.
4. Ian Jones
“The Kamo Kid” Ian Jones is New Zealand’s greatest ever lock forward behind the ageless Colin “Pinetree” Meads in which he played 79 tests for the All Blacks. He and fellow All Black lock Robin Brooke formed a formidable pair in the mid 90’s both pre and post line out lifting. Jones can now be seen as a commentator for New Zealand’s Sky Sports covering most All Blacks matches.
3. Olo Brown
The quiet assassin, Olo Brown was hailed by opposition props as an excellent scrummager with fantastic technique and strength. He played 56 tests for the All Blacks only missing two matches in his entire career.
2. Sean Fitzpatrick
New Zealand’s greatest ever All Blacks captain, “Fitzy” played 92 tests at hooker and was famously caught up in one of the games first ever ear biting incidents when South Africa’s Ollie Le Roux left Fitzpatrick without a piece of his right ear. Fitzpatrick was famous for his battles with Australian opposite Phil Kearns. The two often had “words”.
1. Carl Hayman
Carl Hayman was unusually tall for a prop at 6 ft 4in but that was his greatest asset when he scrimmaged. He played in 46 test matches before leaving for a lucrative deal with English club Newcastle. He is regarded as the best tighthead prop in world rugby.
Reserves:
Anton Oliver, Craig Dowd, Robin Brooke, Michael Jones, Grant Fox, Daniel Carter, Joe Stanley
Coach:
Laurie Mains
