Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years
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when selecting just 5 you have to factor in all sorts, whereas naming a team of 15, Cully & Jonah at the back all day every day, because you know the 'best pack' we can pick will supply them enough ball to wreak havoc.
McCaw, DC, MJ are easy for me, after this is where it gets tricky...Fitzy, Zinny, Goldie, Cully, Lomu, JK, probably think of a few others who could slot into my top 5 too.
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@nzzp said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@hydro11 they were the two I was cautious about. Good call.
Phenomenal rugby players, but I guess for me the 'greatest' is contribution to dragging teams to win.
Fitzy is in teh conversation for that for his work in 96 (and the duration of excellence).
I suspect Meads is in the chat for that as well, but before my time.
Maybe we need a 'best in their position' thread, and then pick 5 from there?
all time 15 of players I've seen, first to mind, first in.
15 Cullen
14 Kirwan
13 C Smith
12 Nonu
11 Lomu
10 Carter
9 A Smith
8 Read
7 McCaw
6 M Jones
5 Retallick
4 Whitelock
3 Franks
2 Fitzy
1 WoodcockSurprisingly easy.
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The forgotten man of these conversations is Dougie Howlett.
Not saying he would end up in my selection but certainly worth a mention as the record try scorer in black. Considering that players like Cully, Rok, Wilson, Bender and Lomu are below him on the table and even BB after way more tests is going to be stretching to catch him I just find it interesting that his name doesn’t get mentioned -
@Crucial I did think of him as I was typing about thinking of a few other names, based solely on his try scoring record, but despite this I dont think he had the same impact on me as a fan as Cully, Goldie or Lomu, even Oz.
Always interesting discussions though.
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@Crucial said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
The forgotten man of these conversations is Dougie Howlett.
Not saying he would end up in my selection but certainly worth a mention as the record try scorer in black. Considering that players like Cully, Rok, Wilson, Bender and Lomu are below him on the table and even BB after way more tests is going to be stretching to catch him I just find it interesting that his name doesn’t get mentionedHonestly, I would take Rococoko ahead of Howlett. Savea had a better strike rate than Howlett but he isn't in the conversation.
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@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@nzzp said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 Franks over Brown?
Shame
Typical inter web. You may agree with the other 14 but you’ll rip the shit out of the one you don’t
I'm trying to take the moral high ground. Seriously, though, remember Olo was so good he didn't have to trial one year. Ridiculous. Straightest back in the game, just a short 7 year career. I was, is and always will be a fan.
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@nzzp said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@nzzp said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 Franks over Brown?
Shame
Typical inter web. You may agree with the other 14 but you’ll rip the shit out of the one you don’t
I'm trying to take the moral high ground. Seriously, though, remember Olo was so good he didn't have to trial one year. Ridiculous. Straightest back in the game, just a short 7 year career. I was, is and always will be a fan.
I never would have guessed you were a fan.
I'm assuming his phone was on silent or he was in a meeting when the producers of "Match Fit" were rounding up ex players ?
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@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
I'm assuming his phone was on silent or he was in a meeting when the producers of "Match Fit" were rounding up ex players ?
Dude's an accountant on the north shore. No idea how he scrubs up, but I can't see him being interested in publicity like that.
I'm surprised you could tell I like him. I try to keep it quiet roudn here
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@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@nzzp said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@hydro11 they were the two I was cautious about. Good call.
Phenomenal rugby players, but I guess for me the 'greatest' is contribution to dragging teams to win.
Fitzy is in teh conversation for that for his work in 96 (and the duration of excellence).
I suspect Meads is in the chat for that as well, but before my time.
Maybe we need a 'best in their position' thread, and then pick 5 from there?
all time 15 of players I've seen, first to mind, first in.
15 Cullen
14 Kirwan
13 C Smith Bunce
12 Nonu
11 Lomu
10 Carter
9 A Smith
8 Read Zinny
7 McCaw MJ
6 M Jones Kaino
5 Retallick
4 Whitelock
3 Franks Brown
2 Fitzy
1 WoodcockSurprisingly easy.
My changes and yes I acknowledge that I'm not selecting the greatest AB of that time frame but it's my all time 15 of players and MJ is still the best rugby player I've ever seen.
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@Nepia said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@nzzp said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@hydro11 they were the two I was cautious about. Good call.
Phenomenal rugby players, but I guess for me the 'greatest' is contribution to dragging teams to win.
Fitzy is in teh conversation for that for his work in 96 (and the duration of excellence).
I suspect Meads is in the chat for that as well, but before my time.
Maybe we need a 'best in their position' thread, and then pick 5 from there?
all time 15 of players I've seen, first to mind, first in.
15 Cullen
14 Kirwan
13 C Smith Bunce
12 Nonu
11 Lomu
10 Carter
9 A Smith
8 Read Zinny
7 McCaw MJ
6 M Jones Kaino
5 Retallick
4 Whitelock
3 Franks Brown
2 Fitzy
1 WoodcockSurprisingly easy.
My changes and yes I acknowledge that I'm not selecting the greatest AB of that time frame but it's my all time 15 of players and MJ is still the best rugby player I've ever seen.
It’s ok Neps. I accept that people will disagree on things from time to time.....especially on t’interweb.
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@hydro11 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@Crucial said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
The forgotten man of these conversations is Dougie Howlett.
Not saying he would end up in my selection but certainly worth a mention as the record try scorer in black. Considering that players like Cully, Rok, Wilson, Bender and Lomu are below him on the table and even BB after way more tests is going to be stretching to catch him I just find it interesting that his name doesn’t get mentionedHonestly, I would take Rococoko ahead of Howlett. Savea had a better strike rate than Howlett but he isn't in the conversation.
He wouldn’t be in my top five ABs just find it interesting that our record try scorer gets pretty much ignored even when people widen their lists
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@Crucial said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@hydro11 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@Crucial said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
The forgotten man of these conversations is Dougie Howlett.
Not saying he would end up in my selection but certainly worth a mention as the record try scorer in black. Considering that players like Cully, Rok, Wilson, Bender and Lomu are below him on the table and even BB after way more tests is going to be stretching to catch him I just find it interesting that his name doesn’t get mentionedHonestly, I would take Rococoko ahead of Howlett. Savea had a better strike rate than Howlett but he isn't in the conversation.
He wouldn’t be in my top five ABs just find it interesting that our record try scorer gets pretty much ignored even when people widen their lists
He'd probably only just make the top 5 wings behind Lomu, JK, Joe Roks and Bridge.
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@Crucial said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@hydro11 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@Crucial said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
The forgotten man of these conversations is Dougie Howlett.
Not saying he would end up in my selection but certainly worth a mention as the record try scorer in black. Considering that players like Cully, Rok, Wilson, Bender and Lomu are below him on the table and even BB after way more tests is going to be stretching to catch him I just find it interesting that his name doesn’t get mentionedHonestly, I would take Rococoko ahead of Howlett. Savea had a better strike rate than Howlett but he isn't in the conversation.
He wouldn’t be in my top five ABs just find it interesting that our record try scorer gets pretty much ignored even when people widen their lists
I think it’s probably cos people realise scoring tries isn’t everything. Shit, even Caleb Ralph got nine of them at test level.
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@Nepia said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@Crucial said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@hydro11 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@Crucial said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
The forgotten man of these conversations is Dougie Howlett.
Not saying he would end up in my selection but certainly worth a mention as the record try scorer in black. Considering that players like Cully, Rok, Wilson, Bender and Lomu are below him on the table and even BB after way more tests is going to be stretching to catch him I just find it interesting that his name doesn’t get mentionedHonestly, I would take Rococoko ahead of Howlett. Savea had a better strike rate than Howlett but he isn't in the conversation.
He wouldn’t be in my top five ABs just find it interesting that our record try scorer gets pretty much ignored even when people widen their lists
He'd probably only just make the top 5 wings behind Lomu, JK, Joe Roks and Bridge.
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Anyway, for me.
McCaw
Lomu
Jones
CarterThen it is a toss up between Fitzy, Cully, Kirwan , Nonu, Umaga, Fox, Zinny.
After cutting that down I get to Cully and Fitzy and struggle to separate them.
Fitzpatrick is certainly an all time great and would deserve to be there but Cully was the best ball
runner we have ever had.
