Best NZ players never ABs XV

[Stargazer]

Ash Dixon (Highlanders) instead of Latta.

[KiwiMurph]

Tom Franklin instead of Bekhuis.

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph Yes!

[sparky]

@KiwiMurph

Didn't Tom Franklin play against France last year?

[Stargazer]

@sparky said in Best NZ players never ABs XV:

@KiwiMurph

Didn't Tom Franklin play against France last year?

I assume you mean the game of the ABs v France XV (the midweek game) in November 2017? The same game in which Akira played? The locks in that game were Tuipulotu and Bird (starting), with Scott Barrett on the bench. Franklin has been in ABs camp twice, but never played for them (he has played for the Maori ABs).

[kiwiinmelb]

Some of the ones that played for Ireland

[Magpie_in_aus]

I would say Ben Tamifuna even though he played for Tonga was only because he can't wake up in the morning....or not eat KFC

[Magpie_in_aus]

Nasi Manu, Stephen Brett?

[Stargazer]

Bryn Hall at 9. He has been in camp, but hasn't played for the ABs.

[sparky]

Okay, Tom Franklin is in. I thought he played in the Third Test Vs France last year. I was wrong.

Not picking guys like John Leslie, Jared Payne, Peter Fatilofa or Brad Shields who played Test Rugby for other countries.

[sparky]

@Stargazer

Okay, Bryn Hall is in ahead of Simon Crabb.

[Nepia]

@sparky said in Best NZ players never ABs XV:

@Stargazer

Okay, Bryn Hall is in ahead of Simon Crabb.

I thought you said best? :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_closed_eyes:

[sparky]

Ian Foster at 10 ahead of Glen Jackson?

[sparky]

@Stargazer

I'd still go with David Latta who was excellent in the early 1990s. He would have played Hooker for the All Blacks in almost any other era, but had Sean Fitzpatrick and Warren Gatland (than Norm Hewitt) ahead of him.

[Stargazer]

@sparky Ha, apart from some test and Hawke's Bay rugby, my memory doesn't go back that far.

[booboo]

@Chris-B said in Best NZ players never ABs XV:

He's not post-1987, but Dale Atkins!

Don Hayes
Alwyn Harvey

[African Monkey]

David Holwell

[Chris B.]

@booboo Gary Hooper!

[Toddy]

Reading through the players listed so far gives you an appreciation of how many caps have been handed out since 1987.

[sparky]

@Toddy Yep, lots of very good players who played for the ABs once (Charlie Nganti) or a handful of times. Many fewer very good players who never got to be All Blacks, but Duane Monkley the exception.