Who's your favourite All Black and why?

Question

Over the past few weeks Yahoo!Xtra has been talking to famous Kiwis about their favourite All Blacks. Now we'd like you to have your say. Tell us who your favourite All Black is and why you rate him.

Answer 1

Richie McCaw, because with a ref that really applies the laws of the game, McCaw is sure to cost his team a lot of points and most probably the game

Answer 2

Doug Howlett because he's very fast and always there where needed.  And he has a wonderful smile for his team when they score, no matter who does the scoring.  A great attitude.

Answer 3

Seems like everyone thinks this current bunch of AB's are the best ever. What about past greats?

My opinion from "across the ditch" would have to be:

1) Michael Jones - wrote the book on openside flanker play. Josh Kronfeld runs a close second here........

2) Colin Meads - he's from the "old school" of tight forwards. Tough as teak, took no prisoners. "Bring back the boot", I say. There was never anything wrong with copping a good old shoeing at the bottom of a ruck

3) Sean Fitzpatrick - outstanding captain (despite being a mouthy ba$tard - makes me laugh when you kiwis have a go at Gregan, you all have very short memories, Bro!!!)

Answer 4

From a South African point of view Daniel Carter. He can read the game and he is making the right decision at the right time. He gets the backline away and is not afraid to attack the gain line either. I think he is a complete rugby player and can play a running and a kicking game equally well.

Answer 5

My favorite All Black of all time is Jonah...the guy was a beast and had amazing speed and quickness, but would just barrel over anyone that got in his way. Not only that but he was the nicest guy, so humble.

My favorite All Black now is Richie McCaw...he is a beast, and a great leader on and off the field...Carter is a great at scoring try's, but Richie is just an animal.

Answer 6

Micheal Jones,The greatset no7 of all time.The world had not seen a flanker with atheletic skill,speed and devastating in the tackle until the "ice man" came on to the seen 1987.He changed the whole game as we know it now,he successfully made the transition from ametuer to professional in the mid 90's.This is a player that can do it all, moved from 7 to no.6 and excelled to be one of the worlds best.He has come back from career ending injuries and is so humble , he gives encouragement to players from other countries who suffer bad injuries to not give up the fight to play again.

Hes one of Ricthie McCaws heroes, the rugby world is blessed to have seen the greatest no7 of all time.

Answer 7

Luke McAllister!!

Answer 8

Well i'm from the UK so i may not know as many past all black greats as the kiwis and aussies do but from the ones i do know of my favourites of all time would have to be.. Andrew Merthens, he was a gifted kicker, and very fast and dangerous runner (when he did have a go) OR Jonah Lomu, there was nobody like him in his time playing, im sure we english loved him more than the kiwis haha, just smashing everyone in his path i always watched and wished people would just pass it to him so he would mow down anyone in his way.

My favourite current all blacks would have to be.. Jerry Collins, the mans unique haircut is great! plus he has big balls, the man is a warrior he will just keep charging and charging and seems really humble, i love islanders :D. And my next favourite is Luke McAlister, everytime he gets the ball you think he'll score, he has amazing acceleration and a great step, i'm happy he's coming over after the world cup :D sorry to you kiwis..

Answer 9

Tana Umaga! I was soooo gutted when he left. I respect him as a captian more than Mccaw. The handbag incident was funny, shows he had a GSOH. He also is really involved in helping the community espescially children. A great role model!

Answer 10

Jerry Collins/Tama Umaga----Both these players have  the "mongrel" attitude that players need to play the big time. Too many of our top players are pussyfooting around and pretending the black jersey is "GOD".not so these two.

If you go back in time  Grizz Wylie  and Fergie Mcormack were of the same ilk.

Answer 11

I have a couple of favourites.

1.  Richie McCaw - Where do i start!  Hes recongnised as the WORLDS BEST OPENSIDE FLANKER!  He has the speed and the fast hands and hes got what it takes to be a captain and what a good and s**y captain he is!

2.  Byron Kelleher - i think that yes he is a vain dude but with out him on the team it aint going to be a complete team, he is a wonderful half back player and the all blacks just wouldnt be complete without him.

3. Dan Carter - I think that he is another rising star in rugby.  Named one of the best first fives in rugby at just a young age.  Hes got one of the best kicks out ever!  Love em!

These are a few of my best All Blacks but id really have to say that Richie McCaw takes the cup hehehe!

Answer 12

Ian Jones.

It didn't matter how hard the opposition smashed  him around in the line-outs - the boy just kept jumping, contesting, he just never gave up.

Also such an inspiration to big men - he showed that big wookies could not only play important roles in the line-out and at scrum time, but also carry the ball over the gain line and get to the breakdown before the loose men. You can bet guys like Jason Eaton grew up with more than one poster of Jones on their bedroom walls. I know I did.

Answer 13

Jerry and Richie

because who else in the world at present can come close to these two guys

Jerry has got the brute strength and the brains to take advantage of the opposition when it arrives.

Richie is a genetically modify-ed version of King Josh and the ice man and also cheekiness of Sean Fitzpatrick

Answer 14

mils. on number 13 strong runner, strong tackle,

Answer 15

It has to be Richie McCaw - he always keeps a cool head under pressure, he knows exactly how far to push the boundaries without overstepping the mark and he leads by example in everything he does.

Answer 16

Sitevini Sivivatu. Best attacking winger in the world at present time IMO.

Answer 17

Dan Carter because of his mad kicking skills, and because I am the kicker for my university side.  I want to kick like that.

Answer 18

dan carter  cos hes really good at kicking and hes so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 19

im english so to be honest im not a great all blacks fan   even though they are undoubtably the greatest international team ever, i feel they bend every rule and pull every stunt in the book and some that arent, and they complain when other teams do it to them, but in answer to your question, i would say stu wilson,, not only was he a world class full back but an international cricketer with the NZ 1 day cricket side, a true sportsman