AB Golden era?

taniwharugby

is more the processions of players to ensure almost seamless transition when you lose such quality, I expect this year will be the biggest challenge of the era, but I think the legacy started by Henry, Smith and Hansen has left such an impression that the ABs will march along as they always seem to.
 
Granted some individuals stand out, plenty of all time greats, but as a unit (players, coaching staff, backroom folk) on and off the field, this is where they stand head and shoulders above.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Virgil" data-cid="573485" data-time="1461049515">
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Smith formed one of our best if not the best midfield partnerships we have ever had.
Together unbeaten at RWC's...
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That is tough to argue I give you that but individuals of the pro era like Bunce and Umaga can stake claims for the 13 jersey. This is pretty fresh in the memory from a chat a bunch of mates and I had over a few brews about the best AB team of the pro era in which McCaw, Carter, Nonu, Lomu and Cully all got in without anyone even having time to sip the beer we brewed but arguments were made for the two I mentioned earlier over Smith......

Siam

Bunce and Bruce Robertson in my life time
 
But won't quibble with Conrad either - these debates are impossible to reconcile
 
Bill Osborne was pretty special at 2nd five

MN5

I don't remember those two, a couple of the guys I was drinking with were over 40 but the consensus was one of Bunce, Umaga or Smith. I was a huge fan of all of them to be fair and a WC winners medal ( or two ) speaks volumes but it'd be a brave soul who'd pick Dagg, Smith, Savea, Kahui, Jane etc over Cully and Jonah.

MajorRage

Although I respect the achievements of past All Black teams, I simply can't see how this can even be debated
 
How long is an era? 5 years? 10 years?
 
Well, in the last 5 years we lost what, 3 times was it? Drew a couple of times and won the rest. Won back to back world cups, won and retained the bledisloe every year, 21 games in the RC, won 18, lost 2, drew once, NH tours, lost 1, won the rest. Mid year AB games, France, Ireland, England all dispatched 3-zip isn't it?
 
It's been utter sporting dominance. 
 
EDIT - not lost at home since 2009 too.

Crazy Horse

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573489" data-time="1461050057">
Bill Osborne was pretty special at 2nd five</blockquote>
 
I was only a little fella when he played but special is not how I would describe him. Average All Black springs to my mind.

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="573494" data-time="1461050943">
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Although I respect the achievements of past All Black teams, I simply can't see how this can even be debated
 
How long is an era? 5 years? 10 years?
 
Well, in the last 5 years we lost what, 3 times was it? Drew a couple of times and won the rest. Won back to back world cups, won and retained the bledisloe every year, 21 games in the RC, won 18, lost 2, drew once, NH tours, lost 1, won the rest. Mid year AB games, France, Ireland, England all dispatched 3-zip isn't it?
 
It's been utter sporting dominance. 
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Yep, there's nearly a generation of AB fans who know no different to the recent superiority
 
I'm sure it can't last but will savour it while I can (those '98 scars still run deep)

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crazy Horse" data-cid="573496" data-time="1461051408">
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I was only a little fella when he played but special is not how I would describe him. Average All Black springs to my mind.
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Yeah? I thought he was one of the first block busting 2nd fives that ran and hit really hard. I thought he was a bit of a star, but as you say it was a while ago. He was above average I reckon

raznomore

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573489" data-time="1461050057">Bunce and Bruce Robertson in my life time 
But won't quibble with Conrad either - these debates are impossible to reconcile 
Bill Osborne was pretty special at 2nd five</blockquote>
Impossible to reconcile but absolutely worth it. 
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

raznomore

Agree with MR. Utter dominance. 
We are the Rocco Siffredi of rugby. 
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MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573497" data-time="1461051495">
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Yep, there's nearly a generation of AB fans who know no different to the recent superiority
 
I'm sure it can't last but will savour it while I can (those '98 scars still run deep)
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Bit of an over the top description there Siam, were you an AB or something ?

MajorRage

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Razbra" data-cid="573500" data-time="1461051860">
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Agree with MR. Utter dominance. 
We are the Rocco Siffredi of rugby. 
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk
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Just googled that fucker at work! NSFW warning.
 
(pun intended)

raznomore

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="573502" data-time="1461052567">Just googled that fucker at work! NSFW warning. 
(pun intended)</blockquote>
I meant Rocky Balboa...auto correct 
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Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="573501" data-time="1461052075">
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Bit of an over the top description there Siam, were you an AB or something ?
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Wash your mouth out with soap and water young man!! :)
 
Those fuckers who wear all black, play for me and us don't you know. They know how hard we take losses and how much we celebrate wins.
 
Take away the fan emotion and you've got sweet fuck all regardless of the win ratio 
 
You spend your time living in Australia and a month and a half seeing the AB's lose over and over and tell me it's no big deal
 
If 98 didn't piss you off, then you were too young to know stuff or you're fair weathered :)
 
You should be ashamed you wrote that ;)
 
 
ps please note all the smilies and yes those scars still run deep - bad times my friend

Dan54

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573498" data-time="1461051613">
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Yeah? I thought he was one of the first block busting 2nd fives that ran and hit really hard. I thought he was a bit of a star, but as you say it was a while ago. He was above average I reckon
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Not sure he was one of first blockbusting 2nd fives, mind you I am remember Ian MacCrae from the 60s, but Osborne was above average, still remember him being picked from early trial, in the days there were trials, and All Blacks were always picked from 2nd trial. They played 2 trials in a day, one was almost a cutain raiser.

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dan54" data-cid="573510" data-time="1461053991">
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Not sure he was one of first blockbusting 2nd fives, mind you I am remember Ian MacCrae from the 60s, but Osborne was above average, still remember him being picked from early trial, in the days there were trials, and All Blacks were always picked from 2nd trial. They played 2 trials in a day, one was almost a cutain raiser.
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Yeah I missed MacCrae but he must have been some player
 
I might have had an uncle that was a Bill fan and it rubbed off but he was a permanent fixture in my impressionable years, and a fkn hard bastard

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573509" data-time="1461053917">
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Wash your mouth out with soap and water young man!! :)
 
Those fuckers who wear all black, play for me and us don't you know. They know how hard we take losses and how much we celebrate wins.
 
Take away the fan emotion and you've got sweet fuck all regardless of the win ratio 
 
You spend your time living in Australia and a month and a half seeing the AB's lose over and over and tell me it's no big deal
 
If 98 didn't piss you off, then you were too young to know stuff or you're fair weathered :)
 
You should be ashamed you wrote that ;)
 
 
ps please note all the smilies and yes those scars still run deep - bad times my friend
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I do hear all that and love the passion but unless your name is Isitolo Maka, Royce Willis or Joeli Vidiri then maybe talking about "scars" is a bit much ? the power of this rant also depends on how much you've had to drink of course....
 
I lived in Oz in late 03 and hung out with lots of poms ( of which the female of the species tended to go topless a lot which dulled the pain ). We've all had tough times.

No Quarter

Our best ever era without a doubt, even better when you consider the game is now professional which was meant to mean the rich Unions would start to dominate. The opposite has happened in the last 12 years - we're even further ahead of the pack then ever.

Siam

It is a great source of pride with many management and process learnings thrown in as well
 
Also a great way to make my non NZ friends' eyes glass over when I point this out

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="573512" data-time="1461054254">
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I do hear all that and love the passion but unless your name is Isitolo Maka, Royce Willis or Joeli Vidiri then maybe talking about "scars" is a bit much ? the power of this rant also depends on how much you've had to drink of course....
 
I lived in Oz in late 03 and hung out with lots of poms ( of which the female of the species tended to go topless a lot which dulled the pain ). We've all had tough times.
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"memories" might be better than scars ;)

The Silver Fern

AB Golden era?