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Zinzan Brooke on his best All Blacks teams vs the current squad: 'I'd fancy our chances'
New Zealand rugby legend Zinzan Brooke isn’t sold on this All Blacks team and is confident his teams of old would dispatch Ian Foster’s squad. However, Steve Hansen’s era is another story.
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Brooke’s reign as New Zealand’s finest No 8 lasted 58 tests and contributed handsomely to the infamous mid-90s era, where he played alongside the likes of Sir Michael Jones, Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen and Sean Fitzpatrick.
A unique talent in the forwards, Brooke’s skillset was considered easily on par with that of the premier backs in the game, fluent as a distributor and not shy when it came to putting boot to ball.
Not shy in backing his teams of the past either, as he told FairBettingSites.co.uk:
“The team we had in ‘94, ‘95, ‘96 and ‘97, it’s very similar to the team McCaw had with the same front row, loose forward, inside back combinations,” Brooke said.
“The ammunition they had at their fingertips was phenomenal when they won back-to-back World Cups.
“Right now this All Blacks side is not on that same level.
“With that ‘95, ‘96, ‘97 team, I’d fancy our chances against this current All Blacks side.
“But that team with Richie McCaw, that would be a close battle. It might be 25-all.”
Now a London resident, Zinzan and his former captain Sean Fitzpatrick were at All Blacks training in Cardiff two weeks ago, connecting with players before attending the All Blacks’ commanding victory over Wales.
While the win was another step in the right direction for Foster’s unstable All Blacks and Brooke expressed confidence the team “will get themselves out of a hole of inconsistency they’re producing”, he’s still not sold on their ability to truly fulfil their potential as a team.
“On what’s happened, you have to reserve judgement.
“At the moment the All Blacks need to step up and play a game that’s going to be difficult for France, Ireland and the other teams that are going to be in front of us.
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“Against Scotland the first eight minutes were good but from then until 65 minutes it was rather disappointing. Scotland played well but the All Blacks took their foot off the gas. I know the All Blacks are better than that.
“I’m always optimistic with the All Blacks but at the moment I’m sitting on the fence and don’t know which way to fall.”
Rugby’s evolution and globalisation and the growth in competition that has come with it was a hot topic for Brooke as he reflected on his years of spectatorship.
“I’ve always said things will change – and they are changing. It’s evident with Argentina. Once upon a time, they were the whipping boys and now they’ve said ‘no more’.
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“They’ve beaten New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England and that’s good for rugby.
“It’s happening with Italy in the Six Nations. Yes, it’s taken a bit longer but I’d love Italy to blow out some candles on a few of the other Six Nations teams.
“With the world rankings, coming into next year’s World Cup, who would have thought Ireland would be No 1? That’s good for the game.
“New Zealand were asked the question and they didn’t deliver. They allowed history to be created in New Zealand, not only once but twice with Argentina and Ireland.
As for this weekend’s match, Brooke reluctantly revealed his prediction, calling for his countrymen to emerge victorious at Twickenham.
“It will be tight but I’ve got to go with the All Blacks by seven points.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Will rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
2 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
2 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to comments