AB "What could have been" XV

[Sapetyvi]

@crazy-horse Robbie Fruean, beast at super level when fit.

[Bovidae]

Aaron Hopa for me at 6. He did everything Collins and Kaino were praised for doing, but before either of them hit the scene. I reckon he would have been a starter at RWC 99.

[Crazy Horse]

@sapetyvi that's the one.

[Gunner]

Wasn’t James Ryan forced to retire due to a back or neck injury?

Whopper was supposed to be the next big thing wasn’t he?
Rene Ranger if he’d of stuck around.
Norm Berryman

[Tim]

@gunner knee injury

[pukunui]

@tim said in AB "What could have been" XV:

@gunner knee injury

That's interesting I didn't realise it was an injury issue. Or maybe i did but forgot.

Yes, Fruen is a good one.

Broadhurst is another that was forced to retire just as he reached test level. His first test wasn't great but he could have improved.

Pat T is another who looks like he may end up in this category.

Could also include Luatua i guess.

[Crucial]

Doesn't really meet the criteria as he was awesome at top level but imagine 'what could have been' if Jonah was able to operate at 100%.

Isa Nacewa deserves a mention doesn't he?

[Crazy Horse]

@crucial yeah I thought of Lomu too. Staggering to think he was never 100% and what he might have been like if he was.

[pukunui]

@crucial said in AB "What could have been" XV:

Doesn't really meet the criteria as he was awesome at top level but imagine 'what could have been' if Jonah was able to operate at 100%.

Isa Nacewa deserves a mention doesn't he?

Ah yeah Nacewa was in my original team before i started the thread. Totally forgot to include him though.

Agree with Lomu.

[Crucial]

Stretching the criteria a bit but Hayman would have probably gone on to be a centurion AB if he hung around

[Billy Tell]

Paul Williams broken leg that healed poorly

Jason Goldsmith - injury too

Both looked really promising.

[booboo]

1. DAVID Halligan
2. Alwyn Harvey

More when I think of them

[Crazy Horse]

@crucial said in AB "What could have been" XV:

Stretching the criteria a bit but Hayman would have probably gone on to be a centurion AB if he hung around

Especially if he moved to number 8

[antipodean]

@pukunui said in AB "What could have been" XV:

Have i missed anyone?

Nacewa?

[MajorRage]

Caucau shouldn’t be on this list.

He’s a Fijian who played for Fiji.

[canefan]

@bovidae said in AB "What could have been" XV:

Aaron Hopa for me at 6. He did everything Collins and Kaino were praised for doing, but before either of them hit the scene. I reckon he would have been a starter at RWC 99.

I might be recollecting through my Hurricanes/Lions goggles, but I remember Filo Tiatia pressing hard for AB selection in 1999. He just missed out on the RWC squad, then missed a call up when Carlos got hurt before the tourney. I can't remember who the replacement was (I seem to recall it was a back, Auckland?), but we could have used his physicality in the semi vs France

[Crucial]

Paul Tito. Never made the top due to his ginger hair.

[TeWaio]

Wayne Ormond

[Crucial]

Jim Coe

[Derm McCrum]

1. Bent

2. McCartney

3. Ah You

4. Hayden Triggs

5. Ezra Taylor

6. Nepia Fox-Matamua

7. Sean Reidy

8. George Naoupu

9. Gibson-Park

10. Joey Carbery

11. James Lowe

12. Bundee Aki

13. Jared Payne

14. Pita Ahki

15. Isa Nacewa

16. Rhys Marshall

17. Peter Borlase

18. Nathan White

19. A. N. Other

20. Jake Heenan

21. Isaac Boss

22. Tyler Bleyendaal

23. Ben Te’o