The best All Blacks XV: What is New Zealand's greatest front row?
Which players throughout the course of history would make an all-time All Blacks XV?
That is the question that has been posed by former New Zealand internationals and a host of leading Kiwi broadcasters and journalists as they aim to formulate the best All Blacks team ever.
The Greatest XV, the brainchild of former All Blacks wing Sir John Kirwan and ex-All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry, will identify, through public vote, the 15 greatest All Blacks ever – as well as a captain, coach and reserves bench – over the next eight weeks.
The debate began on The Breakdown earlier this week as New Zealand’s greatest-ever front row came under the spotlight.
Beginning at loosehead prop, second-longest serving All Blacks captain Wilson Whineray, Tony Woodcock, 60-test Craig Dowd and Steve McDowall were shortlisted as the candidates to fill the No 1 jersey.
Veteran NZME journalist Phil Gifford and Sky Sport broadcaster Rikki Swannell both asserted that McDowall, who played 46 tests for the All Blacks between 1985 and 1992, deserved the title as New Zealand’s best-ever loosehead prop.
“My pick would be Steve McDowall,” Gifford told long-serving Sky Sport commentator Grant Nisbett. “Steve McDowall, to me, was the forerunner of the athletic and dynamic prop that we see today.”
Swannell added that although Woodock’s exploits as a two-time World Cup winner and test centurion were noteworthy, McDowall, a 1987 World Cup champion, was the best of the lot.
“… Tony Woodock, 118 tests, a Rugby World Cup final try, we will never forget that, and just that old-school attitude in a modern era,” Swannell said.
“But, in saying that, I’m going to agree with Phil and I say Steve McDowall, too.”
Sky Sport broadcaster Ken Laban, however, opted to back Woodcock.
“Woody, or Tony Woodcock, his role in the professional era, his role in World Cup finals, his immense strength and power with the ball or without the ball, especially at scrum time, was immense,” Laban said.
The All Blacks head coach is not impressed with potentially losing home tests again. https://t.co/N3oS5n1EcC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 29, 2021
“I think, obviously, he’ll be on a lot of people’s minds.”
Nisbett added: “When he [Woodcock] was loosehead prop, the scrum didn’t go far, did it?”
At hooker, the four contenders were the late Ron Hemi, Sean Fitzpatrick, Keven Mealamu and current All Blacks rake Dane Coles.
Swannell and Gifford again agreed with each other’s opinions as they both backed Fitzpatrick – who won the 1987 World Cup and guided the All Blacks to their only series win over the Springboks in South Africa in 1996 – to don the No 2 jersey.
“For me, it’s Sean Fitzpatrick,” Swannell said. “He changed the role. He became that fourth loose forward. Obviously he was an outstanding leader of a team in that ’96 team that did something unexpected and for the first time.
“As much as I love Keven Mealamu as a person and as a great bloke and a great All Black, I’m going Sean Fitzpatrick.”
Gifford added: “I have to go with Sean Fitzpatrick. In South Africa, for example, they hated him so much that when I talked to his mother during the 1996 tour, she said, ‘Do you think they’ll actually hurt Sean when he’s off the field?’
“Fitzpatrick, I think, had absolutely everything. He was a slightly chubby-cheeked little boy when he played in the Baby Blacks, but he was as tough as nails and he just got tougher and tougher as he went on, so, for me, it has to be Sean Fitzpatrick.”
Laban, however, viewed Mealamu, a two-time World Cup winner and veteran of 132 tests, as the best hooker ever to grace the All Blacks jersey.
“Keven Mealamu, hands down,” Laban told Nisbett. “I remember Sir Graham Henry asked one day if the All Blacks forward pack was trapped in a cage with a tiger, who would be the last two standing, and he said Rodney So’oialo and Keven Mealamu.”
That #SuperRugby is once again causing tension amongst NZR and RA is a bit of a head-scratcher, given that late last year, everyone was on the same page.
?? Gregor Paulhttps://t.co/7gnvJP5ERO
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) July 29, 2021
Speaking on The Breakdown, veteran broadcaster Bernadine Oliver-Kerby advocated for Fitzpatrick’s inclusion in the side.
“I have to throw in Fitzy in there, for me,” she said. “Not for his might and his muscle. He was uncompromising. Not for his yap and his chat. He would put fear into the opposition and, at times, his own players.
“But, most of all, he really was the unofficial TMO of the 90s.”
Former All Blacks wing Jeff Wilson acknowledged how Coles revolutionised the role of a hooker since his All Blacks debut in 2012, something of which ex-Black Ferns midfielder Hannah Porter said shouldn’t be discounted from the voting process.
“Those players coming through the professional era and how that changed for them, and Dane Coles is a great person to speak about,” Porter said.
“He runs like a back, tackles like a forward, goes into those dark places that you need front rowers to go.”
The three tighthead prop candidates, meanwhile, were Kevin Skinner, Ken Gray, Olo Brown and two-time World Cup winner Owen Franks.
Gifford and Laban both pinpointed the late Gray, who played for the All Blacks throughout the 1960s and was a vocal opponent to playing South Africa during the Apartheid era, as one of New Zealand’s best-ever props.
“I just think Ken Gray,” Gifford said. “Just looking at the man, he was possibly the scariest-looking person to ever play in the front row for the All Blacks, and the way he played, I think he lived up to what he looked like.”
Laban added: “I’m going to go for Ken Gray. In my view, he’s one of the great front rowers in terms of tighthead props.”
Former All Blacks great Sonny Bill Williams has weighed in on where he sees Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s best playing position in rugby union. #AllBlacks #NRL https://t.co/ur7edqoJ15
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 29, 2021
Swannell, though, decided on Olo Brown, part of the iconic All Blacks team of the 1990s, due to the “mystique” he held during his time with the New Zealand national side.
“There’s like a mystique about front rowers in particular, and there’s one on that list that I think has a mystique, and that is Olo Brown,” Swannell said before asking if any of her fellow panellists had ever interviewed the notoriously quiet prop.
Gifford replied: “As I understand, I remember trying to get interviews with him when he was a player, and I don’t know anybody that, when he was a player… he didn’t give a single interview, as far as I’m aware.”
Kirwan told The Breakdown that Skinner, a legendary enforcer who is best known for his bully-like exploits against the Springboks in 1956 and was a New Zealand heavyweight boxing champion, also warranted consideration.
“Already, for me, Kevin Skinner,” Kirwan said. “Legend against the South Africans, changed sides [of the scrum] because he was a New Zealand champion boxer.
“I think that generation’s hard because, for me, they were like these mystical people who had this aura about them, and I remember meeting Kevin a few times and he was a bit like the others – pretty scary.”
Fans can vote for who they believe should be selected in the front row for the Greatest All Blacks XV via Facebook using the links below.
Loosehead Prop
Wilson Whineray (32 tests from 1957-1965)
Tony Woodcock (118 tests from 2002-2015)
Craig Dowd (60 tests from 1993-2000)
Steve McDowall (46 tests from 1985-1992)
Hooker
Ron Hemi (16 tests from 1953-1959)
Sean Fitzpatrick (92 from 1986-1997)
Keven Mealamu (132 tests from 2002-2015)
Dane Coles (74 tests from 2012-present)
Tighthead Prop
Kevin Skinner (20 tests from 1949-1956)
Ken Gray (24 tests from 1963-1969)
Olo Brown (56 tests from 1992-1998)
Owen Franks (108 tests from 2009-2019)
Comments on RugbyPass
Great story. Rugby needs new investment in teams like Brussels another pro league in Europe would be great.
1 Go to commentsAlso, looking at the data from last year, it seemed like by far the two biggest predictors of success were (1) kicking more than your opponents, and (2) having a higher rate of line-out wins than your opponents. I haven’t gone through the stats this year with a fine tooth comb, but the increase in kicks per game and the increase in tries from lineouts would suggest that these two metrics are only getting more important. England’s move away from a kick-heavy game to win against Ireland was seen by some as evidence that running rugby is on the rise. Alternatively it could be taken as evidence that if one team kicks more, and the other team wins more lineouts (as England did) a match is bound to be close to a draw.
2 Go to commentsI have been finding it odd that points per 22 entry has become such a talked about stat, given that your points per entry can be driven down by having more entries. These data would seem to confirm that it isn’t a useful metric, or at any rate is less useful than total entries.
2 Go to commentsI think the last two games England have played is some of their best rugby they have played under Borthwick. There has been a lot more attacking instinct and as a reward have created some well worked tries. Ollie Lawrence is a good foil at 12 as he offers the hard direct lines whilst the rest of the backs can play open. As much as it pains me to say but I do hope England keep playing this way. On a side note my favourite try of the weekend was Lorenzo Pani’s for the nice loop play that put him away and his finish was excellent. Thanks as always Nick.
39 Go to commentsMost exciting player on the planet right now, worth the price of a ticket.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith and Ireland live rent free in Safa’s heads. Their comments only triggers because its true. If the Boks had dismantled a 14 man AB’s, then there would be more respect. But they didnt, in fact quite the opposite, the 14 man NZ were clearly better. And the Bok have always been ordinary between RWC’s, thats why their supporters are now ‘only RWC’s matter’. They know thats BS. Its BS to both AB’s and Bok’s due to their history. But now its all the Safas have. Now we’ll hear excuses when they lose “oh we didnt have all our players available, the ABs/France/Eng/Irel were at full strength”, forgetting for a minute that its because of their own dumb policy. Oh well, makes a change from blaming ‘cheating refs’.
23 Go to commentsNo Nick, they did not, in fact, justify any ‘probables’ label. At no time did they seriously compete for the championship. Ireland led from start to finish and in the end, as a result of glaring referee errors, were never under serious pressure to lose their crown.
39 Go to commentsMoney for him, and his family, has been the sole motivator since he signed for Queensland aged 17. Why else sign for Melbourne. Tupou is poorly advised. If he’d stayed and developed in NZ he would have had a long Test career. If Leinster offer him a few more coins than he’s currently earning, he’s goneburger.
4 Go to commentsFinn. No one would say Ford had played well up until the last game. One standout performance in 5 is hardly in form . It should be a given that a 10 will control play . Not in Fords case be praised for suddenly doing so. Where was he against Scotland ,Italy. The pundits were saying how far away from play he was standing and one even said that the Ireland game was his last chance saloon to perform . Not exactly top form catching anyones eye. If he can play like this game after game then great. Keep him in . But after 90 odd caps we all know he just doesnt keep it going . By all means keep him there but the issue is that Borthwick will persist even when he plays poorly. Which is more often than not. Thats why i am concerned that Smith ,despite fab form , cannot get a game at his preferred spot. Can you imagine Ford at full back .
5 Go to commentsI do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
6 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
39 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
4 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
4 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to comments