Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years
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@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
As a slightly younger poster one thing that has surprised me is Fitzy making the cut for a lot of people. Not that he doesn't deserve to be there, but I never really watched him play as he retired when I started watching. What was so good about his play that puts him in our top 5 all time lists?
Asshole Millennial 🖕
Fitzy was a favourite of mine from when he caught my eye doing his famous seagull routine in the "forgotten" Bledisloe Cup game of 1987 (I would kill to get a copy of that game). He kept the incumbent AB captain out of the lineup during the 87 RWC and that alone should give a decent indication of how good he was. And he was awesome almost 10 years later when we won our first series in SA.
He was in many ways handed a shit sandwich with the captaincy in 92 but did a great job and became our benchmark for leadership until McCaw grew into the position.
Coles seems to be getting the nod in all these recent greatest rankings but I'd take First over him in a heartbeat.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
Coles seems to be getting the nod in all these recent greatest rankings but I'd take First over him in a heartbeat.
Me too, and I think Coles is bloody good.
The only issue with Fitzy was when he was injured and he should have just let Norm play but instead him and Hart decided to be twats.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
As a slightly younger poster one thing that has surprised me is Fitzy making the cut for a lot of people. Not that he doesn't deserve to be there, but I never really watched him play as he retired when I started watching. What was so good about his play that puts him in our top 5 all time lists?
Asshole Millennial 🖕
Fitzy was a favourite of mine from when he caught my eye doing his famous seagull routine in the "forgotten" Bledisloe Cup game of 1987 (I would kill to get a copy of that game). He kept the incumbent AB captain out of the lineup during the 87 RWC and that alone should give a decent indication of how good he was. And he was awesome almost 10 years later when we won our first series in SA.
He was in many ways handed a shit sandwich with the captaincy in 92 but did a great job and became our benchmark for leadership until McCaw grew into the position.
Coles seems to be getting the nod in all these recent greatest rankings but I'd take First over him in a heartbeat.
Fitzy is another one who’s impact on the jersey goes far beyond being a good lineout thrower and scrummager. Of course he did those things, but he set the modern benchmark by which all subsequent AB captains were judged until McCaw then raised the bar. His referee manipulation and the way he wound up our opponents was without peer. And of course his leadership in 1996 will never be forgotten. Has also done a lot for the AB “brand” since retirement (even though he’s basically a Pom nowadays).
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
As a slightly younger poster one thing that has surprised me is Fitzy making the cut for a lot of people. Not that he doesn't deserve to be there, but I never really watched him play as he retired when I started watching. What was so good about his play that puts him in our top 5 all time lists?
Asshole Millennial 🖕
I needed that laugh. Thank you.
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@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
Mehrts was the perfect 10 for that side, again a running game to stop players drifting off him.
If Mehrts was the perfect 10 for that side why did they look better in 1997 when Spencer took the 10 jersey?
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From an outsider and in no particular order: Lomu, Carter, McCaw, Jones M, Fitzpatrick.
All stand out players, had either longevity or real mental durability to overcome serious injury or illness. Players that added to that aura rather than just be part of it and guys that really made a difference when it really mattered. (95, 97, 07 glossed over).
They would all walk into any team of any era.
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@KiwiMurph said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
That 96-97 side did pretty bloody well without Merhts too - when Carlos was at 10 or Preston etc.
And Culhane, who played in tests 1 and 2 in 1996.
