Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind

Following in the vein of The Mouth of the South, I thought Id throw together a 15 as well.

This is the inaugural "All Black what ever happened to .... 15" (cue stirring, reflective type music). Recent All Blacks who never quite made it, and have since faded into some type of obscurity. Maybe they fell out of favour with a particular coach. Perhaps they were groomed to take the spot of a legend but when their time finally came, someone younger and better had caught them up and passed them by. Maybe they got injured, forgotten and left our fine shores to take the money overseas. It’s an interesting list.

15 - Fullback: Ben Blair (2002)

14 - Wing: Bruce Reihana (2000)

13 - Centre: Mark Robinson (2002)

12 - Second Five-eighth: Keith Lowen (2002)

11 - Wing: Norman Berryman (1998)

10 - First Five-eighth: David Hill (2006)

9 - Halfback: Danny Lee (2002)

8 - Number Eight: Ron Cribb (2001)

7 - Openside Flanker: Sam Harding (2002)

6 - Blindside Flanker: Sam Broomhall (2002)

5 - Lock: Royce Willis (2002)

4 - Lock: Simon Maling (2004)

3 - Prop: Clarke Dermody (2006)

2 - Hooker: Mark Hammett (2003)

1 - Prop: Campbell Johnston (2005)

Halfback was the real tough one, with names such as Mark "Sharky" Robinson and Steve Devine also baring consideration. Also I took some liberties with Broomhall, who primarily played number 8 for Canterbury. We haven’t gone through many blindsiders that aren’t still in the team. It appears it was a popular spot for the captain (Randall, Thorne, Blackadder).

Man, having a look back, it appears that 2002 was a bad year for All Black careers.

All-Unwanted First 15

Every time an All Black squad is announced (or any international team really) there is a rumbling about who was left out. This is the sign of great depth in your country’s rugby stock. However, it also leads to speculation.

What if…?

Below I have compiled below is the team of those “what ifs”. Players not chosen, for various reasons, who I think would still make a bloody good team.

15 - Sonsene Anesi - Christian Cullen misses out again
14 - Rico Gear - Rico may not have will to play for the province that’s paying him but is still good on the wing
13 - Tana Umaga Anthony Tuitavaki - that would’ve been nice but I’ll settle for the younger gent who is just hitting his straps
12 - Ma’a Nonu - at inside centre where he has less of a chance to drop the ball and his crashing momentum is a real asset
11 - Scott Hamilton - a big lanky white dude on the wing that we can call Scott-rod Hamiltron, choice!
10 - Glen Jackson - British Player of the Year who really deserved a shot at the All Blacks two years ago ahead of Stephen Donald
9 - Piri Weepu - it’d be fairly mean not to say Piri Weepu here (unless Waikato have got another halfback)
8 - Mose Tuiali’i - incumbent #8 a while ago and showed good form in the Super 14
7 - Marty Hollah - still bloody good
6 - Jonno Gibbes (C) - Has recovered from injury to be back to top form
5 - Ross Filipo - the recent internationals have shown that Filipo can hold his own against the big guys
4 - Troy Flavell - one of the people contentiously dropped from the All Blacks and even though I’m not fond of his penalty count, I’d still have him
3 - John Schwalger - owned by Hawkes Bay but only because he didn’t want to get punched
2 - Corey Flynn - a young man being groomed to take over from the old men after the World Cup
1 - John Afoa - a hungry prop is the best kind of prop and John Afoa is hungry like he accidentally skipped lunch

Feel free to disagree with me, discuss my sanity, in the comments.

The GOAT 15

Below is former English captain Martin Johnson's All-time World Cup 15.

MARTIN JOHNSON'S ALL-TIME XV:

15: Serge Blanco (France)
14: Joe Roff (Australia)
13: Philippe Sella (France)
12: Danie Gerber (South Africa)
11: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
10: Jonny Wilkinson (England)
9: Gareth Edwards (Wales)
8: Wayne Shelford (New Zealand)
7: Michael Jones (New Zealand)
6: Richard Hill (England)
5: Colin Meads (New Zealand)
4: Frik du Preez (South Africa)
3: Jean-Pierre Garuet (France)
2: Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
1: Jason Leonard (England).

Not to be outdone, three of the Dropkicks have come up with their own 15s. Note we’re not a fan of Roman numerals here so it’s 15 not XV.

Mike’s All-time-hating All-time 15

I hate all-time 15s!

If you ask me (and we did – Ed.), a team from today would destroy the older teams. Today's teams are not necessarily more skilful (although with today's larger population base, I'd say there are more skilful players per team than there used to be), I think they'd just monster them with size. Today's professional athletes are bigger, faster, and stronger. I'd say the only place yesterday's teams would be able to compete or be better is in intelligence.

Having said that, here is an all-time 15:

15. Christian Cullen (no contest here; sorry all you Blanco lovers)
14. David Campese (he's usually a left winger, but I think he'd be able to handle the right side ok. Just beats out John Kirwan)
13. Philipe Sella (he was that good)
12. Danie Gerber (he was that good too; although Mike Gibson was pretty good too)
11. Jonah Lomu (it's scary to think what he could have done if he'd ever been 100% fit)
10. Jonny Wilkinson (Dan is potentially better, but Jonny's won a World Cup; Barry Johns was good too)
9. Graeme Bachop (terribly under-rated)
8. Zinzan Brooke (beats out Buck because he's a more complete footballer)
7. Michael Jones (another cut down by injury and his Christian beliefs)
6. Dean Richards (only because I can't think of anyone better)
5. John Eales (hands down a special player)
4. Colin Meads (can't go past him)
3. Kevin Skinner (the enforcer)
2. Sean Fitzpatrick (no contest)
1. Carl Hayman (bit of a big call as I think he still has a way to go, but the best in the world at the moment plus see my reasoning above re today's professional athletes = all class)

Dom’s No-Talking-Just-The-Best 15

15. Cullen (hands down our best attacking weapon)
14. Goldie Jeff Wilson (Pace, smarts, confidence - complete package)
13. Bunce (Not the quickest, but the smartest and hardest tackler of his generation)
12. Tim Horan (complete midfield back)
11. Lomu (at his best, unstoppable)
10. Fox (kepping it warm for Dan, but best tactical kicker, and could take the hit)
9. Gregan (113+ tests, multi world cup winning, head and shoulders above the rest)
8. Buck (Leader, uncompromising)
7. Jones (Possibly the best footballer ever)
6. Pienarr (Bit like Sideline, number 6s dont stand out for me, but another great leader)
5. Eales (Excellent allround athlete)
4. Pinetree (His nick name's Pinetree FFS!)
3. Olo Brown (Strong silent, let his rugby do the talking)
2. Fitzy (The best)
1. An Argentinian (they make the best front row scrummagers)

Hadyn’s Statistical Demolition 15

15. Andrew Gavin Hastings (227 points in World Cups)
14. Rory Underwood (just really for a point of difference otherwise it would’ve been Campese)
13. Daisuke Ohata (world record try scorer, more than Campo)
12. Brian Lima (four freakin World cups!)
11. Jonah Lomu (such a legend)
10. Jonathan Peter Wilkinson OBE (he’s got a frickin’ OBE!)
9. George Gregan
8. Zinnie
7. Richie McCaw (and I’ll tell you why, despite not having the World Cup stats this guy has every other match notched up. It is rare not to see him leading tackles, first to the breakdown and turnovers. If I’m allowed, at least, one rugby machine in my team, I pick Richie.)
6. Pienarr (because I just don’t know any others)
5. Did somebody say John Eales?
4. Colin Meads (I got yer legends right here!)
3. Jason Leonard (23 matches including a very important one in 2003)
2. Sean Fitzpatrick (what am I, nuts?)
1. Jacobus Petrus “Os” du Randt (nothing like a big South African monster in the front row)

Noizy’s Last Minute Refinement 15

Same team as Dom but with Mehrts in for Foxy, Zinny in for Buck, and Os Du Rant in the front row.