Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years
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McCaw carter MJ Cullen Fitzpatrick
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@Billy-Tell said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@booboo said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@Chris-B said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@dogmeat said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@bayimports said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
Since Meads was voted player of last century from NZ rugby he is in.
The criteria is from Lions 71 Tour on. You cannot pick Meads on that basis. He played four tests, captained poorly (not his forte) to our only series defeat against the Lions and was dropped.
Actually, my intention was that anyone who played in those tests can be considered for the entirety of their careers.
Fair enough. I had the same thought as @dogmeat.
Then leaving out Meads is a cardinal sin, and neglecting Sir Brian will probably book you a few years in Hades as well.
My revised list:
McCaw
Meads
Fitzy
Jonah
LochoreAre you old enough to have seen meads and lochore play?
No. Reputation. It's not their talent as players that makes them "great". It's aura. They created her.
(My memory stretches back to 1977, with flashes of 1976.)
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Yeah I personally think it’s better to stick to what you’ve seen with your own eyes but each to their own. I started watching in 1987. So that’s my starting year.
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@Billy-Tell said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
Yeah I personally think it’s better to stick to what you’ve seen with your own eyes but each to their own. I started watching in 1987. So that’s my starting year.
So you pick the best players, I'll follow the instructions and pick the greatest.
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my earliest was probably the Springbok tour in 1981 (being 7 at the time) it was more that it thrust rugby into the headlines for me, the political stuff wasnt what made the impact on me, although I recall watching more league as a real little fulla than rugby.
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I know Lomu wasn't a complete player by any stretch, but his running game was so much better than anyone else that has played the game it's not even funny. Without exaggerating he was probably about 5 times more effective with ball in hand than any other player. People had nightmares about trying to defend against him. The combination of pace and power he had were basically inhuman. Has to be in the top 5 given the way he could break games apart with such ease.
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As a slightly younger poster one thing that has surprised me is Fitzy making the cut for a lot of people. Not that he doesn't deserve to be there, but I never really watched him play as he retired when I started watching. What was so good about his play that puts him in our top 5 all time lists?
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@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
I know Lomu wasn't a complete player by any stretch, but his running game was so much better than anyone else that has played the game it's not even funny. Without exaggerating he was probably about 5 times more effective with ball in hand than any other player. People had nightmares about trying to defend against him. The combination of pace and power he had were basically inhuman. Has to be in the top 5 given the way he could break games apart with such ease.
For different reasons I think Cullen was just as good in attack. The fact they played at the same time was just terrific.
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@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
I know Lomu wasn't a complete player by any stretch, but his running game was so much better than anyone else that has played the game it's not even funny. Without exaggerating he was probably about 5 times more effective with ball in hand than any other player. People had nightmares about trying to defend against him. The combination of pace and power he had were basically inhuman. Has to be in the top 5 given the way he could break games apart with such ease.
For different reasons I think Cullen was just as good in attack. The fact they played at the same time was just terrific.
that whole 96-97 backline was a fucking cheat code
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@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
I know Lomu wasn't a complete player by any stretch, but his running game was so much better than anyone else that has played the game it's not even funny. Without exaggerating he was probably about 5 times more effective with ball in hand than any other player. People had nightmares about trying to defend against him. The combination of pace and power he had were basically inhuman. Has to be in the top 5 given the way he could break games apart with such ease.
For different reasons I think Cullen was just as good in attack. The fact they played at the same time was just terrific.
that whole 96-97 backline was a fucking cheat code
A couple of glitches, Marshall couldn’t pass and Merhts couldn’t tackle
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@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
I know Lomu wasn't a complete player by any stretch, but his running game was so much better than anyone else that has played the game it's not even funny. Without exaggerating he was probably about 5 times more effective with ball in hand than any other player. People had nightmares about trying to defend against him. The combination of pace and power he had were basically inhuman. Has to be in the top 5 given the way he could break games apart with such ease.
For different reasons I think Cullen was just as good in attack. The fact they played at the same time was just terrific.
that whole 96-97 backline was a fucking cheat code
A couple of glitches, Marshall couldn’t pass and Merhts couldn’t tackle
96-97 Marshall was fucking good, his pass was not a massive issue because his running game was brilliant.
No 10s tackled then, and Mehrts was the perfect 10 for that side, again a running game to stop players drifting off him.
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@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
I know Lomu wasn't a complete player by any stretch, but his running game was so much better than anyone else that has played the game it's not even funny. Without exaggerating he was probably about 5 times more effective with ball in hand than any other player. People had nightmares about trying to defend against him. The combination of pace and power he had were basically inhuman. Has to be in the top 5 given the way he could break games apart with such ease.
For different reasons I think Cullen was just as good in attack. The fact they played at the same time was just terrific.
that whole 96-97 backline was a fucking cheat code
A couple of glitches, Marshall couldn’t pass and Merhts couldn’t tackle
96-97 Marshall was fucking good, his pass was not a massive issue because his running game was brilliant.
No 10s tackled then, and Mehrts was the perfect 10 for that side, again a running game to stop players drifting off him.
Sounds like someone never saw Henry Honiball play.
But yeah, big fan of Merhts. What a player and character.
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@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
I know Lomu wasn't a complete player by any stretch, but his running game was so much better than anyone else that has played the game it's not even funny. Without exaggerating he was probably about 5 times more effective with ball in hand than any other player. People had nightmares about trying to defend against him. The combination of pace and power he had were basically inhuman. Has to be in the top 5 given the way he could break games apart with such ease.
For different reasons I think Cullen was just as good in attack. The fact they played at the same time was just terrific.
that whole 96-97 backline was a fucking cheat code
A couple of glitches, Marshall couldn’t pass and Merhts couldn’t tackle
96-97 Marshall was fucking good, his pass was not a massive issue because his running game was brilliant.
No 10s tackled then, and Mehrts was the perfect 10 for that side, again a running game to stop players drifting off him.
Sounds like someone never saw Henry Honiball play.
But yeah, big fan of Merhts. What a player and character.
i knew you would bring Honnibal up. A footnote
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@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
I know Lomu wasn't a complete player by any stretch, but his running game was so much better than anyone else that has played the game it's not even funny. Without exaggerating he was probably about 5 times more effective with ball in hand than any other player. People had nightmares about trying to defend against him. The combination of pace and power he had were basically inhuman. Has to be in the top 5 given the way he could break games apart with such ease.
For different reasons I think Cullen was just as good in attack. The fact they played at the same time was just terrific.
that whole 96-97 backline was a fucking cheat code
A couple of glitches, Marshall couldn’t pass and Merhts couldn’t tackle
96-97 Marshall was fucking good, his pass was not a massive issue because his running game was brilliant.
No 10s tackled then, and Mehrts was the perfect 10 for that side, again a running game to stop players drifting off him.
Meg Marshall luckily also was like an extra loose forward...
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@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
I know Lomu wasn't a complete player by any stretch, but his running game was so much better than anyone else that has played the game it's not even funny. Without exaggerating he was probably about 5 times more effective with ball in hand than any other player. People had nightmares about trying to defend against him. The combination of pace and power he had were basically inhuman. Has to be in the top 5 given the way he could break games apart with such ease.
For different reasons I think Cullen was just as good in attack. The fact they played at the same time was just terrific.
that whole 96-97 backline was a fucking cheat code
A couple of glitches, Marshall couldn’t pass and Merhts couldn’t tackle
96-97 Marshall was fucking good, his pass was not a massive issue because his running game was brilliant.
No 10s tackled then, and Mehrts was the perfect 10 for that side, again a running game to stop players drifting off him.
Sounds like someone never saw Henry Honiball play.
But yeah, big fan of Merhts. What a player and character.
i knew you would bring Honnibal up. A footnote
Bloody good against NZ though.
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@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@mariner4life said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@MN5 said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
I know Lomu wasn't a complete player by any stretch, but his running game was so much better than anyone else that has played the game it's not even funny. Without exaggerating he was probably about 5 times more effective with ball in hand than any other player. People had nightmares about trying to defend against him. The combination of pace and power he had were basically inhuman. Has to be in the top 5 given the way he could break games apart with such ease.
For different reasons I think Cullen was just as good in attack. The fact they played at the same time was just terrific.
that whole 96-97 backline was a fucking cheat code
A couple of glitches, Marshall couldn’t pass and Merhts couldn’t tackle
96-97 Marshall was fucking good, his pass was not a massive issue because his running game was brilliant.
No 10s tackled then, and Mehrts was the perfect 10 for that side, again a running game to stop players drifting off him.
That 96-97 side did pretty bloody well without Merhts too - when Carlos was at 10 or Preston etc.
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@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
As a slightly younger poster one thing that has surprised me is Fitzy making the cut for a lot of people. Not that he doesn't deserve to be there, but I never really watched him play as he retired when I started watching. What was so good about his play that puts him in our top 5 all time lists?
I’m actually genuinely surprised at how quickly he became the forgotten great in NZ rugby. During the 90s I think he was thought of as that modern great, that Meads of the era. Maybe because he stayed in the UK he slipped out of our consciousness?
He really did have it all as a player though, running game, accurate in the line out, good scrummager, was a bit of a prick.
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@Nepia said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
@No-Quarter said in Five Greatest ABs of the past 50 years:
As a slightly younger poster one thing that has surprised me is Fitzy making the cut for a lot of people. Not that he doesn't deserve to be there, but I never really watched him play as he retired when I started watching. What was so good about his play that puts him in our top 5 all time lists?
I’m actually genuinely surprised at how quickly he became the forgotten great in NZ rugby. During the 90s I think he was thought of as that modern great, that Meads of the era. Maybe because he stayed in the UK he slipped out of our consciousness?
He really did have it all as a player though, running game, accurate in the line out, good scrummager, was a bit of a prick.
Yeah was a star at the time. Being "rent a quote" in the UK does seem to have tarnished the image a bit.
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@Nepia Fitzy brought mental toughness, confidence, dominance into an AB team that was impacted by the Cavaliers controversy, and drew the best out in players around him - while the opposition were usually rattled by this. His team mates always believed they were going to win, and willingly gave their all for the cause. That stands him out above his pure attributes as a player.
I see a modern parallel with Brodie Retallick, and the impact his presence has had on both his team-mates and the opposition. When he is missing the AB's become far more vulnerable.
