AB Golden era?
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573489" data-time="1461050057"><p>
Bill Osborne was pretty special at 2nd five</p></blockquote>
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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. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="573494" data-time="1461050943">
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<p>Although I respect the achievements of past All Black teams, I simply can't see how this can even be debated</p>
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<p>How long is an era? 5 years? 10 years?</p>
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<p>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?</p>
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<p>It's been utter sporting dominance. </p>
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<p>Yep, there's nearly a generation of AB fans who know no different to the recent superiority</p>
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<p>I'm sure it can't last but will savour it while I can (those '98 scars still run deep)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crazy Horse" data-cid="573496" data-time="1461051408">
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573489" data-time="1461050057"><p>Bunce and Bruce Robertson in my life time<br><br>
But won't quibble with Conrad either - these debates are impossible to reconcile<br><br>
Bill Osborne was pretty special at 2nd five</p></blockquote>
Impossible to reconcile but absolutely worth it.<br><br>
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573497" data-time="1461051495">
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<p>Yep, there's nearly a generation of AB fans who know no different to the recent superiority</p>
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<p>I'm sure it can't last but will savour it while I can <strong>(those '98 scars still run deep)</strong></p>
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<p>Bit of an over the top description there Siam, were you an AB or something ?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Razbra" data-cid="573500" data-time="1461051860">
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<p>Agree with MR. Utter dominance.<br><br>
We are the Rocco Siffredi of rugby.<br><br><br>
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk</p>
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<p>Just googled that fucker at work! NSFW warning.</p>
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<p>(pun intended)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="573502" data-time="1461052567"><p>Just googled that fucker at work! NSFW warning.<br><br>
(pun intended)</p></blockquote>
I meant Rocky Balboa...auto correct<br><br><br>
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="573501" data-time="1461052075">
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<p>Bit of an over the top description there Siam, were you an AB or something ?</p>
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<p>Wash your mouth out with soap and water young man!! :)</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>Take away the fan emotion and you've got sweet fuck all regardless of the win ratio </p>
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<p>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</p>
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<p>If 98 didn't piss you off, then you were too young to know stuff or you're fair weathered :)</p>
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<p>You should be ashamed you wrote that ;)</p>
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<p>ps please note all the smilies and yes those scars still run deep - bad times my friend</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573498" data-time="1461051613">
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<p>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</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dan54" data-cid="573510" data-time="1461053991">
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>Yeah I missed MacCrae but he must have been some player</p>
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<p>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</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573509" data-time="1461053917">
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<p>Wash your mouth out with soap and water young man!! :)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>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.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Take away the fan emotion and you've got sweet fuck all regardless of the win ratio </p>
<p> </p>
<p>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</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If 98 didn't piss you off, then you were too young to know stuff or you're fair weathered :)</p>
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<p>You should be ashamed you wrote that ;)</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>ps please note all the smilies and yes those scars still run deep - bad times my friend</p>
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<p>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....</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
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.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="573512" data-time="1461054254">
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<p>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....</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>"memories" might be better than scars ;)</p> -
<p>Impossible to compare eras</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>Only played tier 1 nations when they were all competitive.</p>
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<p>Players included likes of Meads x2 Lochore Laidlaw Kirton Tremain Thorne MacRae Williment McCormick Kirkpatrick Gray Herewini Dick MacLeod</p>
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<p>But only played about 5-6 tests year although as said all were proper tests</p>
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<p>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</p> -
<p>For me this is the best era of my lifetime , </p>
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<p>From the time Henry took over through to now , </p>
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<p>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 </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573498" data-time="1461051613"><p>
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</p></blockquote>
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Sorry mate I realized in the dead of night that I was actually thinking of Arthur Stone. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dogmeat" data-cid="573531" data-time="1461058754">
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<p>Impossible to compare eras</p>
<p> </p>
<p>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.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Only played tier 1 nations when they were all competitive.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Players included likes of Meads x2 Lochore Laidlaw Kirton Tremain Thorne MacRae Williment McCormick Kirkpatrick Gray Herewini Dick MacLeod</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But only played about 5-6 tests year although as said all were proper tests</p>
<p> </p>
<p>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</p>
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<p>Good post and fair enough, those are the guys that helped build the All Blacks legacy. Without them we would not be where we are today.</p> -
<p>If Bruce Robertson was playing today he would make a great Ben Smith. The centre position has changed somewhat and although his distribution skills were fantastic it was his eye for a gap and ability to get through the defensive line in slightly broken play that was his forte.</p>
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<p>Totally agree with those talking about management and coaching. In retrospect the 2007 quarter loss was possibly the best thing that could have happened to the ABs. It caused a major rethink of just how to do things and a major attitude shift among players. Throwing away the old ways of seniority equalling leadership etc. Shag has taken the reforms even further and the NZRU seem set on succession planning that continues to refine and expand rather than change with new coaching staff.</p>
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<p>I can see that although we face big challenges with a changing of the guard the systems put in place and forward planning will mean that although we may have the odd blip and lesson to learn we are well placed to continue being dominant while others try and chase us.</p>
