AB Golden era?

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">
<div>
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. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
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">
<div>
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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</blockquote>
 
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">
<div>
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)
</div>
</blockquote>
 
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">
<div>
Agree with MR. Utter dominance. 
We are the Rocco Siffredi of rugby. 
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk
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</blockquote>
 
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">
<div>
Bit of an over the top description there Siam, were you an AB or something ?
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</blockquote>
 
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">
<div>
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
</div>
</blockquote>
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">
<div>
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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</blockquote>
 
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">
<div>
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
</div>
</blockquote>
 
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">
<div>
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.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
"memories" might be better than scars ;)

dogmeat

Impossible to compare eras
 
How for example do you compare today with Fred Allen's team. Undefeated in 4 years. Changed the way the game was played at least as dramatically as current side. Set world record against an all conquering Welsh side.
 
Only played tier 1 nations when they were all competitive.
 
Players included likes of Meads x2 Lochore Laidlaw Kirton Tremain Thorne MacRae Williment McCormick Kirkpatrick Gray Herewini Dick MacLeod
 
But only played about 5-6 tests year although as said all were proper tests
 
Current side would beat them by at least 50 points but if you look at it in terms of dominance at time, effect on way game was played, acknowledged best in world for their position, innovation - the parallels are there

kiwiinmelb

For me this is the best era of my lifetime , 
 
From the time Henry took over through to now , 
 
Just think we have had all the ruthlessness to win that all the other great teams had , plus skill levels that the rest would dream of

The Silver Fern

AB Golden era?