Your favourite All Black

[SelimNiai]

Growing up Zinzan was my favourite. Him along with Scott Quinell were the inspiration for me to want to be a number 8.

 

[Jockstap]

Current is probably Mils but Christian Cullen is hands down my favourite All Black if not player, I still watch this video nearly every week.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

Current is probably Mils but Christian Cullen is hands down my favourite All Black if not player, I still watch this video nearly every week.

Of the 41 tries he scored in that video, 4 were created for him by Jeff Wilson and 4 of them he went himself when passing to Wilson would've been the coached option. Still, he was more freakishly talented a ball runner than any man who ever played for the All Blacks. I only bring that first issue up, because people never remember Jeff anymore, it's always Jonah or Christian even though he was every bit as much an All Black legend and the AB's coach of the time rated him the best all-round player in the world.

Still no-one can take anything away from Cullen, he was the most amazing ball runner and my 2nd favourite player of all time.

 

[ranger]

Of the 41 tries he scored in that video, 4 were created for him by Jeff Wilson and 4 of them he went himself when passing to Wilson would've been the coached option. Still, he was more freakishly talented a ball runner than any man who ever played for the All Blacks. I only bring that first issue up, because people never remember Jeff anymore, it's always Jonah or Christian even though he was every bit as much an All Black legend and the AB's coach of the time rated him the best all-round player in the world.

Still no-one can take anything away from Cullen, he was the most amazing ball runner and my 2nd favourite player of all time.

I always held an irrational grudge against Wilson for pushing Christian Cullen out of fullback and into centre in '99

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

I always held an irrational grudge against Wilson for pushing Christian Cullen out of fullback and into centre in '99

Yeah I think many people thought that was the reason we lost the World Cup that year, and to be honest it was a piece of the puzzle. Jeff would've worked better at Centre than Christian and that's saying something. Also, Christian was not meant for wing either. Jeff was a very good fullback, a great wing and had even been touted as a first-five for the Highlanders if injuries eventuated, but Christian was a grand-master of fullback only. One was very versatile and the other an amazing specialist.

That was one of John Hart's most donkey-headed ideas in my opinion.

 

[nickdnz]

Yeah I think many people thought that was the reason we lost the World Cup that year, and to be honest it was a piece of the puzzle. Jeff would've worked better at Centre than Christian and that's saying something. Also, Christian was not meant for wing either. Jeff was a very good fullback, a great wing and had even been touted as a first-five for the Highlanders if injuries eventuated, but Christian was a grand-master of fullback only. One was very versatile and the other an amazing specialist.

That was one of John Hart's most donkey-headed ideas in my opinion.

I think if the RWC coaching team got it right, they would have pushed Umaga into centre.

15.Cullen
14.Wilson
13.Umaga
12.Ieremia
11.Lomu
10.Mehrtens
9.Kelleher/Marshall

Would have been the ideal backline in my opinion. Still I rate Wilson very highly. I also have watched that video very often. It miss's a few tries though -
(usually missed, very good try)




Can't find test try #42

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

I think if the RWC coaching team got it right, they would have pushed Umaga into centre.

15.Cullen
14.Wilson
13.Umaga
12.Ieremia
11.Lomu
10.Mehrtens
9.Kelleher/Marshall

Would have been the ideal backline in my opinion. Still I rate Wilson very highly. I also have watched that video very often. It miss's a few tries though -
(4:40)

(usually missed, very good try)

In hindsight, especially with Tana's brilliant centre career eclipsing his wing one, John Hart must occasionally look back and think "damn I should've done that".

 

[McCracka_09]

Past player: christian cullen he was amazing

Present player: cory jane i think he is brilliant and a rising star

 

[osmond]

All time fave is Richie McCaw. Also would have to rate 1-test All Black George Whitelock, had good form during the Super 14 - high work rate, good pace, a bit small though.

Look out for Julian Savea in the future, he's looking like the next Jonah Lomu. Scored 4 tries in the NZ under 20 team against Samoa (final score was 77-7 i think)

 

[ranger]

Yeah I think many people thought that was the reason we lost the World Cup that year, and to be honest it was a piece of the puzzle. Jeff would've worked better at Centre than Christian and that's saying something. Also, Christian was not meant for wing either. Jeff was a very good fullback, a great wing and had even been touted as a first-five for the Highlanders if injuries eventuated, but Christian was a grand-master of fullback only. One was very versatile and the other an amazing specialist.

That was one of John Hart's most donkey-headed ideas in my opinion.

Yeah making that decision was tantamount to John Hart digging his own grave upon losing, it didn't make any sense at all. As much as we all love Cullen, he didn't really come off a great thinker of the game. Even putting him in the less cerebral second-five spot and slotting Alama Iremia in at centre would have made more sense (Alama was an out-and-out 13 after all).

You would think the NZ coaching staff would learn from that mistake, but then Umaga goes down in 03 and we get a fullback in Leon MacDonald and tell him he has a week to learn how to play Centre and throw him the 13 jersey.
Then in 07 Umaga retires, and we play Mills Muliaina there. Another dammed fullback.

Heres my prediction for 2011; Conrad Smith gets injured in the semis, we play either Corey Jane or Israel Dagg at 13 in the final and lose. You heard it here first.

My suggestion for the 2015 WC coaching staff; Frank Bunce, Bruce Robertson and Tana Umaga. Hopefully between them they will figure out how to tell the difference between a centre and a fullback.