Michael Jones
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@nzzp said in Michael Jones:
watched him through his AUckland career are consistently adamant he is the one of the best players they have ever seen. In fact, people who saw him live in the 80s usually hold that view - that he was a Jonah/McCaw level freak.
I was young, my Dad wasn't, but that statement holds true for both of us, and we don't always agree, especially about rugby. If rugby was on at Eden park we were there whether it be ABs or Auckland. More often than not MJ was handed a mic as MoM. The poor bugger was so shy, he really hated it.
Jones was just a natural, it was easy for him (not saying he was lazy, he wasn't) just a different style to the McCaw's work, grit, determination. Richie was more of a long distance runner, MJ a sprinter with superb skills that modern pros would be proud of. With both of them I just felt like there was at least two of them of them on the field at the time. Omni present players.
No way I could decide other than longevity.
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Never saw Jones play live but there's no doubt in my mind McCaw was the superior player
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@no-quarter said in Michael Jones:
Never saw Jones play live
You missed out.
@no-quarter said in Michael Jones:
there's no doubt in my mind McCaw was the superior player
Why? Not having a go, but why no doubt? Jones was way ahead of his time as was Richie. Richie was prone to mis-handle at times, MJ not so much. Both read the game superbly and and were in the right places when they needed to be.
I'm intrigued as to the reasoning? One player you saw a lot of the other not so much?
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@snowy I think they were different players, obviously different eras too, and I've never been a fan of comparing players spanning eras.
MJ was supremely talented
McCaw was so incredibly focussed and hard workingBoth outstanding players that sit at the top of the tree as some of the best ever, if I had to choose, I'd probably lean to McCaw.
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@snowy said in Michael Jones:
@no-quarter said in Michael Jones:
Never saw Jones play live
You missed out.
@no-quarter said in Michael Jones:
there's no doubt in my mind McCaw was the superior player
Why? Not having a go, but why no doubt? Jones was way ahead of his time as was Richie. Richie was prone to mis-handle at times, MJ not so much. Both read the game superbly and and were in the right places when they needed to be.
I'm intrigued as to the reasoning? One player you saw a lot of the other not so much?
You took my comment too seriously grumpy old man, tongue firmly in cheek 🙂
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this thread is hilarious. Michael Jones is one of the very best rugby players NZ has ever produced. Any comment to the negative is clearly tongue in cheek. There is just nothing you can say about a guy who changed the game in one position. And then was fucking awesome in another playing a different way
wait, yes, there is one thing. If you played on Sundays we win the '91 World Cup. Poor form Michael.
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@no-quarter said in Michael Jones:
Never saw Jones play live but there's no doubt in my mind McCaw was the superior player
Saw them both play live lots and there’s no doubt in my mind MJ was the superior player. McCaw greater AB though no question.
I’m with @mariner4life MJ definitely loses points for his no Sundays stance.
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@taniwharugby said in Michael Jones:
@snowy I think they were different players, obviously different eras too, and I've never been a fan of comparing players spanning eras.
MJ was supremely talented
McCaw was so incredibly focussed and hard workingBoth outstanding players that sit at the top of the tree as some of the best ever, if I had to choose, I'd probably lean to McCaw.
Yeah, I said much the same thing earlier re their individual attributes and differences. McCaw also was a leader and Captain, MJ was a pretty quiet bloke (he seems to have come out of his shell now) but could have been a bit different on the field with his team mates.
MJ solely as a player which is why I was questioning @No-Quarter 's reasoning. Just straight out catching, passing, running, defense, pilfers, etc. Mj edges it for me.
Hmmm, decisions, decisions. McCaw due to longevity (well, tests played in total) and leadership.
Oh @No-Quarter I don't take anything a millennial says seriously, absolutely nothing to be gained.
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@mariner4life said in Michael Jones:
wait, yes, there is one thing. If you played on Sundays we win the '91 World Cup. Poor form Michael.
That could sway opinions.
(we weren't that good in '91 though)
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@snowy said in Michael Jones:
@taniwharugby said in Michael Jones:
@snowy I think they were different players, obviously different eras too, and I've never been a fan of comparing players spanning eras.
MJ was supremely talented
McCaw was so incredibly focussed and hard workingBoth outstanding players that sit at the top of the tree as some of the best ever, if I had to choose, I'd probably lean to McCaw.
Yeah, I said much the same thing earlier re their individual attributes and differences. McCaw also was a leader and Captain, MJ was a pretty quiet bloke (he seems to have come out of his shell now) but could have been a bit different on the field with his team mates.
MJ solely as a player which is why I was questioning @No-Quarter 's reasoning. Just straight out catching, passing, running, defense, pilfers, etc. Mj edges it for me.
Hmmm, decisions, decisions. McCaw due to longevity (well, tests played in total) and leadership.
Oh @No-Quarter I don't take anything a millennial says seriously, absolutely nothing to be gained.
That's where I sit as well. Skills wise MJ is one of a kind.
McCaw has the greatest will of any player I've seen play. He started with weaknesses (mainly handling) but turned that into a strength, to the degree he was taking kickoffs.
Add in his leadership, he's one of the first players you'd put on a Greatest AB team. We got wins from him refusing to lose.
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who is on the "AB Mt Rushmore" could be a good thread
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@mariner4life said in Michael Jones:
who is on the "AB Mt Rushmore" could be a good thread
Oh,oh,oh. Shit fight.
Actually both of these guys probably make it with Meads and Carter.
I've missed out heaps.
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@snowy said in Michael Jones:
@mariner4life said in Michael Jones:
who is on the "AB Mt Rushmore" could be a good thread
Oh,oh,oh. Shit fight.
Actually both of these guys probably make it with Meads and Carter.
I've missed out heaps.
the old fuckers here will come for us hard
I reckon only Richie and Meads are locked in, everyone else will be a fucking shitfight.
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@mariner4life said in Michael Jones:
@snowy said in Michael Jones:
@mariner4life said in Michael Jones:
who is on the "AB Mt Rushmore" could be a good thread
Oh,oh,oh. Shit fight.
Actually both of these guys probably make it with Meads and Carter.
I've missed out heaps.
the old fuckers here will come for us hard
I reckon only Richie and Meads are locked in, everyone else will be a fucking shitfight.
Carter and Jones are easily locked in too. Same with Lomu.
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@billy-tell said in Michael Jones:
[edit -split fromt he Highlanders thread]
Dunno why, as medical treatment has improved, but I remain scarred by Michael jones vs Argentina. Each time there is a knee injury I think « career in jeopardy ». Jones came back but he was never as good.
Was playing really well at 9 imo. Gutted and I’m not even a highlanders fan.
It's chalk and cheese honestly, tearing your ACL in the 90s was basically a career ender. The (public) knowledge back when Jones did his knee injury was such that I don't think they even reported which ligament it was! It was just a "knee injury". The advancement of sports medicine has been phenomenal.
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@frye said in Michael Jones:
@billy-tell said in Michael Jones:
[edit -split fromt he Highlanders thread]
Dunno why, as medical treatment has improved, but I remain scarred by Michael jones vs Argentina. Each time there is a knee injury I think « career in jeopardy ». Jones came back but he was never as good.
Was playing really well at 9 imo. Gutted and I’m not even a highlanders fan.
It's chalk and cheese honestly, tearing your ACL in the 90s was basically a career ender. The (public) knowledge back when Jones did his knee injury was such that I don't think they even reported which ligament it was! It was just a "knee injury". The advancement of sports medicine has been phenomenal.
I believe they mentioned at the time (this is my memory of it) that his knee was so badly injured it was bending left to right as well. It was a big deal he came back so quickly, over his career he recovered from injuries in super quick time.
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@kirwan said in Michael Jones:
@mariner4life said in Michael Jones:
@snowy said in Michael Jones:
@mariner4life said in Michael Jones:
who is on the "AB Mt Rushmore" could be a good thread
Oh,oh,oh. Shit fight.
Actually both of these guys probably make it with Meads and Carter.
I've missed out heaps.
the old fuckers here will come for us hard
I reckon only Richie and Meads are locked in, everyone else will be a fucking shitfight.
Carter and Jones are easily locked in too. Same with Lomu.
there are like 4 faces on Rushmore. You are already at 5.
Nepia, Whineray, Lochore there are some black and white dudes that deserve serious consideration
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@mariner4life said in Michael Jones:
who is on the "AB Mt Rushmore" could be a good thread
Gallaher, Meads, Lomu, McCaw IMHO.
