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
Should've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to comments