Are the all blacks the best team in the world simply because they take the best players from other nations?

Question

i would imagine that england would be in a similar position if they took all the best irish scottish and welsh players

Answer 1

Absolutely not.  I know you are referring to the amount of Pacific Island players that make the All Black team but that is probably because you are not fully informed.

The Pacific Island players that make the All Blacks are New Zealand citizens.  They have lived in NZ for years and whatever their heritage is, they are New Zealanders.  

New Zealand is a hugely diverse nation in terms of race.  We have more Samoans in NZ than there are in Samoa... more Fijians than Fiji, more Tongans than Tonga.  It's no surprise that a percentage of our players can trace their heritage to the Pacific Islands.  

Almost all of the All Blacks are eligible to play for more than one country but the pride and respect of the All Black legacy leads players there.  Even Josh Kronfeld was eligible to play for Samoa!

As for England taking the best players and being in a similar position... I believe you have a similar thing in the British & Irish Lions... who got beat like a red headed step son the last time they came to New Zealand if memory serves.

Answer 2

No - its because everyone else is scared almost to death by them.

Answer 3

no the all blacks are all from new zealand and thats all!! as for England Scottish Irish and the welsh do play  together there normally called the British lions

Answer 4

Well, the short answer is no.

Answer 5

No , New Zealand have more stringent rules ,regarding eligibility, than England do . For a start , New Zealand players "  Must ", live and  play all  their Rugby in New Zealand for a period of ( I think 3 years)

Also unlike the England players ...the forwards  can NOT be Overweight ,All players  Must be Fit,, under the age of 39 ,  have Certain Skill Levels ... AND ....possess the ability to score Try`s, and not kick for territory then niggle to get penalties for Jonny to kick.

England could take players from all of the Countries you mentioned ,plus more from all the other Northern Hemesphere teams, and Still ,wouldn`t be in a similar position.

Answer 6

Firstly the combined british team known as the british lions arent world beaters by any stretch of imagination

Secondly the all blacks have not poached the best players from all over the world....this aint club competition

Finally even if u have the best plyer in each position there is no guarantee fro success...the sum of the part is almost never equal to the whole

Answer 7

I have answered a question along similar lines as this and the answer is No.

The All Blacks don't take players from other nations.  

There is still enough home grown talent from Canterbury, Otago, Auckland, Wellington and the Waikato to fill the already sweltering talent pool. What I would like to know is, what is deemed as home grown talent. If a Pacific Island young man is brought up in New Zealand spent all his life there and is a New Zealand citizen should he be given the right to play for that country.

They are the best because like Brazil the sport of choice.  Australia are unbeatable in Rugby League and Cricket because they want to wear the baggy green or the kangaroo jumper, its something to aspire to and like the All Blacks they make it there goal and dream to wear the silver fern and be called an All Black.  Its an honour and a privilege bestowed to very few and cherished by those who have earned it.

When other countries quibble about eligibility they should take a closer look at there own teams before assuming the so called moral high ground.