The best All Blacks XV: Who are New Zealand's greatest locks?
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, with the help of a public vote, the 15 greatest All Blacks ever – as well as a captain, coach and reserves bench – over the next eight weeks.
After Tony Woodcock, Sean Fitzpatrick and Ken Gray were named as New Zealand’s greatest front rowers earlier this week, the debate continued on The Breakdown as the All Blacks’ greatest-ever locks came under the spotlight.
Four candidates were shortlisted for each of the two second row spots, with the contenders for the tighthead lock being Andy Haden, Brodie Retallick, 62-test Robin Brooke and the iconic Brad Thorn.
Sky Sport broadcasters Rikki Swannell and Ken Laban both opted for Retallick, with Swannell asserting the 83-test star’s “work rate, skill-set, core jobs” made him the pick of the punch.
“My vote’s going to go for Brodie,” added Laban. “I just think he’s the most dominant lock every time he’s taken the field against any opponent during his time [in the All Blacks], so my vote’s Brodie.”
Veteran NZME journalist Phil Gifford, however, opted for the late Haden, who he described as “possibly the most street-smart All Black there’s ever been”.
“Andy would find a way to get the better of his opponent, and it’s something he had in common, I think, even though they were very different people, with Colin Meads, and so, for me, my pick is Andy Haden,” Gifford told long-serving Sky Sport commentator Grant Nisbett.
Gifford added that he wouldn’t be dismayed if Retallick won the nod over Haden, but said he would have loved to have seen the two go toe-to-toe with each other during a match.
“If you were able to, somehow in their prime, have Andy Haden marking Brodie Retallick in a lineout, I would pay huge money to see that, because Andy Haden, I think would find some way to put Retallick off his stride,” Gifford said.
“Whether it was verbally, whether it was physically, whether it was timing – whatever it was, I just think Andy Haden had one of the most astute rugby minds we’ve ever seen in this country.
A few lucky provinces will be able to call on their All Blacks for the opening round of the NPC. #BunningsNPC #AllBlacks https://t.co/8pR4eaImIj
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“Having said all of that, Brodie Retallick, as I said, he’s an all-time great. No question. I’d be very comfortable with him getting the public vote as well.”
As for the loosehead lock role, the four candidates were Sir Colin Meads, 1987 World Cup winner Gary Whetton, 79-test Ian Jones and current interim All Blacks skipper Sam Whitelock.
This time, though, the panel were unanimous in their decision as all those involved in the debate heralded Meads as one of the greatest All Blacks in history.
“When people of my generation, they hear the name, that revered figure, he is somebody that I always wished that I got to see play,” Swannell said of Meads, whose 55-test career spanned between 1957 and 1971.
“Most of the colourful stories about Colin Meads involve violence,” Gifford added. “The fact is, back in those days, the players had their own code, and the code often included, literally, punching somebody in the face.
“But, there was so much more to the guy than that. As a player, I just don’t think Colin Meads had any weaknesses. Hell, he even kicked a conversion once for King Country.
“So, for me, Colin Meads deserves every single bit of praise and almost semi-worship that he’s had from the rugby public.”
Playmaker Brett Cameron was a shock selection when the #AllBlacks travelled to Japan in 2018 but the young pivot has struggled to push on. Now, Cameron is off to Japan – where he hopes to reignite his career.
?? @TomVinicombehttps://t.co/C5h9jihFlm
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Laban said Meads’ characteristics made him one of the most respected figures in New Zealand rugby history.
“All of the things that we say about him and all of the things that we admire about him are his courage, his physical presence and his leadership,” he said.
“You’re just drawn to him. You’re just drawn to his charisma, his humility, his modesty, which of course goes against the grain of a few corpses he’s left lying around rugby fields around the world.”
Nisbett shared a story of an encounter he had with Meads, who was named New Zealand’s Player of the 20th Century, after he received his knighthood in 2009 that Nisbett said encapsulated the late ex-All Blacks captain’s personality.
“The day after he received his knighthood in Wellington, I just happened to be leaving Wellington, and he was in the Koru Club [at the airport], and I saw him sitting there,” Nisbett said.
“I said, ‘So how did you enjoy yesterday?’, and he said, ‘Ugh, not really my thing’, and that absolutely summed him up.”
Fans can vote for who they believe should be selected in the second row for the Greatest All Blacks XV via Facebook using the links below.
Loosehead Lock
Colin Meads (55 tests from 1957-1971)
Gary Whetton (58 tests from 1981-1991)
Ian Jones (79 tests from 1990-1999)
Sam Whitelock (125 tests from 2010-present)
Vote here.
Tighthead Lock
Andy Haden (41 tests from 1977-1985)
Brodie Retallick (83 tests from 2012-present)
Robin Brooke (62 tests from 1992-1999)
Brad Thorn (59 tests from 2003-2011)
Vote here.
All Blacks Greatest XV
1. Tony Woodcock (118 tests from 2002-2015)
2. Sean Fitzpatrick (92 tests from 1986-1997)
3. Ken Gray (24 tests from 1963-1969)
4. N/A
5. N/A
6. N/A
7. N/A
8. N/A
9. N/A
10. N/A
11. N/A
12. N/A
13. N/A
14. N/A
15. N/A
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments