Had to get in on the act. Critique at will.....

Hooker – Keith Wood. Even though I grew up watching Fitzy, when Wood hit the scene I was amazed at this guys running ability and workrate around the park for a hooker.
Honorable mentions – Norm Hewitt, what a mean haka!

Prop – Craig Dowd. Was an uncompromising prop that had IMO great ability to play both sides. Did plenty of work off the ball. IMO NZ had a number of quality props around that era and for him to play 60 tests in various roles showed his worth. All is forgiven Craig for that penalty....
Prop – Robert Paparemborde. Have watched a bit of tape on this guy (the French FR of the 80s) and can see why many rate him as one of the best fatties. The no necked prop was one of the more skillful props of his time. Good hands, good technique in the tackle and was an anchor at TH in very good French scrum.
Honorable mentions – Carl Hayman, Ollie Le Roux

Lock – Ian Jones. He was a dominant force and what I liked about his game was that he backed himself every single time, even to the point of arrogance. But he played with Fitzy so it was bound to rub off. He was a great lock for that era.
Lock – Martin Johnson. dominant in the air and a very good leader around the park. Despite the criticism they copped I enjoyed watching the 02-03 England team do their thing and Johnson was the heart and soul of that engine room.
Honorable mentions – Abdelatif Benazzi

Blindside – Ben Clarke. When he hit the scene I was impressed with his style of play. During the 93 Lions tour he was awesome IMO. Was a favourite thereafter and watched a bit of him while he was at Bath.

Openside – Josh Kronfeld. IMO he was the first guy I can remember that threw his body into the breakdown with such reckless abandon and be so effective. I remember talking to my mates about Kronfeld and saying if this guy gets to play rugby past 25 he can count himself lucky. He was a great exponent of pilfering ball.
Honorable mentions – Richie McCaw, Matua Parkinson

No.8 – Zinzan Brooke. A player that had all the skills but more importantly backed himself to use them in big games.
Honorable mentions – Rodders, Deon Muir, Teichmann

Halfback – Justin Marshall. Its a great thing Meg moved from smallsville to the big smoke and joined the Cantabs. Still the best defensive halfback I have watched. My only crticism is that he didn't quite perfect the art of flappity flap that is a feature of a modern halfback...
Honorable mentions – Syd Going. Although never seen the guy play live (before my time) have watched quite a bit of tape and for his era he seemed to be the best running HB around. The ol' man rated him very highly.

1st 5 – Andrew Merthens. The 12 yo kid that almost kicked the ABs a win at the 95 WC final!  The Meg/Mertz Canterbury/Crusader/AB combo is still my fave. Mertz had an underated running game on attack but it was his cut out passes and deft kicking touch that had Aussies and the world spinning.
Honorable mentions – Carlos Spencer, Grant Fox

2nd 5 – Philippe Sella. Played a bit of his career in both 12 & 13 so I'll give this spot to him. Just knew how to score tries and make it look effortless. He had a real presence on the park and was a leader for both France and Sarries
Honorable mentions – Aaron Mauger, Eroni Clarke

Centre – Jo Stanley. Excellent vision and passing for a centre. IMO a better tackler than Bunce. The Orcs were blessed to have both Smokin Joe and Pokere back in the 80s.
Honorable mentions – BOD

Wing – Rupeni Caucau. Some of the more amazing try scoring efforts I have ever seen. Was he a good defensive winger – NO. Did he have a kicking game – NO. But what an attacking game. The best Super rugby try I have ever seen was his effort vs the Brumbies in the mud and wet and Rupeni running at full tilt to scoop a ball up with one hand to brush off a couple of defenders and go the distance. Not to mention the 2003 WC efforts.
Wing – Christian Cullen. Best FB in my time of watching rugby, but I had to find room for Matt Burke, and given CC played a bit on the wing theres room here for him. No one hit the line harder than Cullen and how many times did we see him bounce off tackles but yet keep his feet and either go the distance or set up someone else.
Honorable mentions – Doug Howlett, John Kirwan

Fullback – Matt Burke. Couldn't stand the guy when the ABs played OZ with him at 15, which I guess speaks volumes in my book of how good he was. He scored some amazing tries at all levels. IMO he was a useless 13 but attacking from the back there was only one other player I would back ahead of him and thats the guy I picked on the wing....
Honorable mentions – Gavin Hastings. The pride of Scotland when I first started watching ruggers. He was deadly in front of goals except for “that one” but IMO was an underated ball carrier. He was a big unit for a FB back in those days as well.

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