AB Golden era?

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 ;)

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

Crazy Horse

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="573498" data-time="1461051613">
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</blockquote>
 
Sorry mate I realized in the dead of night that I was actually thinking of Arthur Stone.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dogmeat" data-cid="573531" data-time="1461058754">
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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
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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.

Crucial

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.
 
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.
 
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.

kiwiinmelb

It's funny how times change , I remember going to Ardmore rugby club as a kid with the old man , Bruce Robertson s club, he was considered a big back then , about 6 foot 13 and a half stone . 
But on second thoughts if he was around now , with modern training techniques , they would probably put bulk on that frame like they did with Conrad and get him up to 95 kilos maybe .

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="573577" data-time="1461102504">
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It's funny how times change , I remember going to Ardmore rugby club as a kid with the old man , Bruce Robertson s club, he was considered a big back then , about 6 foot 13 and a half stone . 
But on second thoughts if he was around now , with modern training techniques , they would probably put bulk on that frame like they did with Conrad and get him up to 95 kilos maybe .
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There's still room for little backs in todays game if they're good enough. Cruden, Giteau, S Williams etc.

taniwharugby

still shows how the game has evolved with the likes of Bert Cooke, have read one description of him as the Christian Cullen of his day (in the 20's), was a whopping 61.6kg, standing 1.75m tall, playing in the AB mid-field, also played league for the Kiwis.
 
Just shows how much the game has changed and how it is difficult to compare players or yesteryear with current player, but hey, that's what fans do!

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="573580" data-time="1461104632">
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There's still room for little backs in todays game if they're good enough. Cruden, Giteau, S Williams etc.
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Not as little as they were back in the 1970s. People like Cruden and Aaron Smith are listed as being around 85kgs.
 
Grant Batty (a Wellington wing) is listed at 70kgs. Mark Sayers (a Wellington 2nd five) played in the midfield at 71kgs.
 
Times have changes - Wellington used to win things with Batty and Sayers. :)

MN5

I remember for quite awhile Emile Ntamack was Frances "big" back but even then he was under 100kg. I think things have petered off now, I don't see the likes of Nadolo, Tuilagi, Banahan etc becoming the "norm".....after all guys still have to be reasonably nimble as well which was also Jonahs weakness at times.

The Silver Fern

AB Golden era?