Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years
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McCaw is a given, so i think we are looking for four.
Carter is arguably the greatest 10 ever, a freaky talent. Averaged nearly 15 points a test!!
Lomu was rugby's first global super star. Surely in.
It's gonna get real murky after that (and I'm not yet sold on Carter).
Michael Jones. Zinny. Fitzy. JK. Cullen. Wilson. All amazing players.
And in the category, but before my time are some absolute legends.
How are we running it? Nominations and then a poll?
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@canefan said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
5 is damn hard. 6 would be better.
Iceman, DC, McCaw, Jonah, Cully, Fitzy would be my AB Mount Rushmore.
I was too young so can't comment first hand on Meads, Lochore, Whineray. BG Williams was revolutionary at the time
That's not copying my homework, that's stealing it.
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would some criteria help,
min number of tests = committed, continuous form and strong of body
just to help clarify things?
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@Kiwiwomble said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
min number of tests
Brian Lochore played 25 tests
Scott Barrett has played 36
firm criteria over a 50 year span is going to be tough.
I reckon we know the calibre of player we are looking at.
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@mariner4life fair enough, taken back
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@canefan said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
5 is damn hard. 6 would be better.
Iceman, DC, McCaw, Jonah, Cully, Fitzy would be my AB Mount Rushmore.
I was too young so can't comment first hand on Meads, Lochore, Whineray. BG Williams was revolutionary at the time
Can't really include them. All three woud make top 10 all time (throw in Clarke, Nepia, Gallaher etc) and maybe top 5. But not in the period under discussion.
In that time Meads played the whole Lions series, BJ only the one test. Whineray finished 1965.
Going may be in contention?
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Cullen shouldn't be there, IMO. He's my favourite of all time but he didn't do it for quite long enough at his peak. Ultimately, he never played a Lions Tour or well in a world cup. Some great moments but also not quite the complete full back.
I think Jonah Lomu isn't a definite either, although I can see why people have him there.
Zinzan Brooke is probably the name no-one has considered yet, who should be in the mix.
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@hydro11 they were the two I was cautious about. Good call.
Phenomenal rugby players, but I guess for me the 'greatest' is contribution to dragging teams to win.
Fitzy is in teh conversation for that for his work in 96 (and the duration of excellence).
I suspect Meads is in the chat for that as well, but before my time.
Maybe we need a 'best in their position' thread, and then pick 5 from there?
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when selecting just 5 you have to factor in all sorts, whereas naming a team of 15, Cully & Jonah at the back all day every day, because you know the 'best pack' we can pick will supply them enough ball to wreak havoc.
McCaw, DC, MJ are easy for me, after this is where it gets tricky...Fitzy, Zinny, Goldie, Cully, Lomu, JK, probably think of a few others who could slot into my top 5 too.
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@nzzp said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@hydro11 they were the two I was cautious about. Good call.
Phenomenal rugby players, but I guess for me the 'greatest' is contribution to dragging teams to win.
Fitzy is in teh conversation for that for his work in 96 (and the duration of excellence).
I suspect Meads is in the chat for that as well, but before my time.
Maybe we need a 'best in their position' thread, and then pick 5 from there?
all time 15 of players I've seen, first to mind, first in.
15 Cullen
14 Kirwan
13 C Smith
12 Nonu
11 Lomu
10 Carter
9 A Smith
8 Read
7 McCaw
6 M Jones
5 Retallick
4 Whitelock
3 Franks
2 Fitzy
1 WoodcockSurprisingly easy.
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The forgotten man of these conversations is Dougie Howlett.
Not saying he would end up in my selection but certainly worth a mention as the record try scorer in black. Considering that players like Cully, Rok, Wilson, Bender and Lomu are below him on the table and even BB after way more tests is going to be stretching to catch him I just find it interesting that his name doesn’t get mentioned -
@Crucial I did think of him as I was typing about thinking of a few other names, based solely on his try scoring record, but despite this I dont think he had the same impact on me as a fan as Cully, Goldie or Lomu, even Oz.
Always interesting discussions though.
