Fastest AB Backline. Ever.
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<p>Just mulling over the midfield contenders for the Lions tour, geez isn't it a bit earlier to be worrying about that.</p>
<p>But it got me wondering about a potentially super-speedy AB backline firstly,</p>
<p>and then secondly what would our fastest ever backline have been (lets say within a season - so you have the ability to mix n' match, but can't play players somewhere they didn't play (if this makes sense)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyhow, my Speedy Gonzales backline... 9. A Smith, 10. B.Barrett 11. Naholo 12. Jordie Barrett 13. Ngatai 14. Milner-Skudder 15. B.Smith. </p>
<p>Bit of an eye to the future there with Jordie, but we know how fast 9 & 10 are, Jordie seems as quick. Naholo is a jet. Seems to me they'd be quick.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So thinking back...</p>
<p>the 96/97 backline - 9. Bachop 10. Spencer/Merhtens 11. Lomu 12. Alatini 13. Ieremia 14. Umaga 15. Cullen ? did this bunch play together?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>or '03 backline 9. Kelleher 10. Spencer 11. Rokocoko 12. Carter 13. Muliana 14. Rico Gear 15. Howlett - doubt this group took the field, but they all played those positions over the season.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Whatcha reckon? anyone got some sprint times for these guys...</p> -
<p> S. M. Going</p>
<p> M. A. Herewini</p>
<p> A. G. Steel</p>
<p> I. R. MacRae</p>
<p> W. L. Davis</p>
<p> M. J. Dick</p>
<p> M. Williment</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tony Steel was the three times national 100 yards sprint champion and Bill Davis and Malcolm Dick were sprint stars as well. Let alone Super Sid - NZ's greatest running halfback. I'm going to back these guys over your bulked up new millennium gym bunnies! :)</p> -
<p>Pretty sure brad weber would be quicker than Smith at half back. </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="610287" data-time="1472406014"><p>
Jeff Wilson was quicker than Umaga IMO.</p></blockquote>
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I don't know if that's opinion, it's fact. Wilson was a national sprint champion while Umaga wasn't particularly fast for his position. -
Wayne Gray at the NZ Herald did an all-time fast All Blacks a few months ago. I'd have Doug Howlett at 15 (clocked 10.68 for 100 m one), David Kirk at Half Back and Bert Cooke at second five ahead of Wayne's picks. <br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11662543">http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11662543</a>
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<p>Is sheer out and out pace as important as speed off the mark?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>E.g. Grant Batty wasn't all that quick at top speed but his acceleration was phenomenal</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="610303" data-time="1472417676"><p>
I was going to suggest Duggan as the halfback, and Wynne agrees with me.</p></blockquote>
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Beat me to it. That boy could motor. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="610297" data-time="1472415137">
<div>
<p>Wayne Gray at the NZ Herald did an all-time fast All Blacks a few months ago. I'd have Doug Howlett at 15 (clocked 10.68 for 100 m one), David Kirk at Half Back and Bert Cooke at second five ahead of Wayne's picks.<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11662543">http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11662543</a></p>
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</blockquote>
<p>Would definitely have Flavell and Cribb in there, say what you want about their brain explosions, both of those two had pace.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mauger at 12 ? Nonu, McCalister, Spencer and Umaga to name a few would be quicker than him.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Can't help but feel that ol' Wynne did this before his morning coffee.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="610281" data-time="1472396577">
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<p>Dougie H, Rok, Lomu all had serious speed as did Sivi. Cully covered ground like he had teleported there.<br><strong>Sid G would have been great in today's game. </strong>Certainly would have held up against AS and Weber.</p>
<p> </p>
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</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>? Sid was a very good half-back but had severe limitations that would have been found out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Specifically his passing - or lack thereof - and his first instinct was always to snipe round the fringes, put in a box kick or turn it back to his pack. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Playing 2nd 5 to Sid meant getting your hands on the ball maybe half a dozen times/match.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Think a smaller, slower Marshall who wouldn't play on Sundays.</p> -
<br><br><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="610346" data-time="1472426851"><p>Would definitely have Flavell and Cribb in there, say what you want about their brain explosions, both of those two had pace.</p></blockquote>
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Geez mate careful, are you sure those players are from the 90s?<br><br>
Sooialo was swift as. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="610499" data-time="1472446700">
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<p>
Geez mate careful, are you sure those players are from the 90s?<br><br>
Sooialo was swift as.</p>
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</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Look, just cos you saw him in the garden and mistook him for a mate of yours doesn't make him the flash ok ?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="610606" data-time="1472465199"><p>Look, just cos you saw him in the garden and mistook him for a mate of yours doesn't make him the flash ok ?</p></blockquote>
Oh. Would it be better if I saw him in Mr Bun? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="610616" data-time="1472467598">
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<p>Oh. Would it be better if I saw him in Mr Bun?</p>
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<p>Yes, but even then it would never be as cool as one of Canes4Life's stories about Ardie "stretch" Savea. </p>
