Best NZ players never ABs XV

[sparky]

I'm trying to think of a XV of the best NZ players never to play for the ABs or Test Rugby with an nation. So no Tartan Kiwis.

[sparky]

Based on post-1987

1 Ben May (Hurricanes)
2 David Latta (Otago)
3 Nick Moore (Otago and Highlanders)
4 Craig Clarke (Chiefs)
5 Josh Bekhuis (Highlanders)
6 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders)
7 Duane Monkley (Waikato)
8 Akira Ioane (Blues)
9 Simon Crabb (Waikato)
10 Glen Jackson (Chiefs)
11 Ben Lam (Hurricanes)
12 Tim Bateman (Crusaders)
13 Robbie Freuan (Crusaders)
14 Paul Cooke (Otago)
15 Andrew Strawbridge (Waikato)

[Nepia]

Ben May? You best duck for cover when @Higgins sees this thread.

Akira has played for the ABs (just not at test level). If you're making it at test level then Roger Randle for one of the wings.

[sparky]

Roger Randle played against Ireland in 2001.

Akira played in that game in France in 2017 didn't he? So he (like Warren Gatland) misses out. Deon Muir for Number 8?

[Nepia]

@sparky said in Best NZ players never ABs XV:

Roger Randell played against Ireland in 2001.

Akira played in that game in France in 2017 didn't he? Deon Muir for Number 8?

Randle didn't play a test. He only played two tour matches. Yep, Akira has that one tour match.

[Machpants]

Yeah started reading, got to Ben May, realised no point reading the team. He's a f*ing useless liability, every game he just gives away stupid penalties, and as tonight proved, he can't scrum for shit

[Chris B.]

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

[Stargazer]

Please, replace Ben May with Brendon Edmonds (Highlanders). He played LH and TH, and probably would have been an AB if he hadn't suffered that horrible injury.

[mariner4life]

Hahahahahaha

Breath

Hahahahaha

Ben May

F* me dead

[Stockcar86]

I'm sure I posted this exact statement about 8 years ago about Hurricanes:

"Buckman > Bateman"

[sparky]

Amended team.

1 Brendon Edmonds (Highlanders)
2 David Latta (Otago)
3 Nick Moore (Otago and Highlanders)
4 Craig Clarke (Chiefs)
5 Josh Bekhuis (Highlanders)
6 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders)
7 Duane Monkley (Waikato)
8 Deon Muir (Chiefs
9 Simon Crabb (Waikato and Chiefs)
10 Glen Jackson (Chiefs)
11 Ben Lam (Hurricanes)
12 Tim Bateman (Crusaders)
13 Robbie Freuan (Crusaders)
14 Paul Cooke (Otago and Highlanders)
15 Andrew Strawbridge (Waikato)

[Stargazer]

@Stockcar86 said in Best NZ players never ABs XV:

I'm sure I posted this exact statement about 8 years ago about Hurricanes:

"Buckman > Bateman"

Was just about to post the same thing!

[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.

[Magpie_in_aus]

Karl Lowe.

A couple of games really took lots of players off the list over the years like that Samoa game where no Landers or Canes I think it was played in it because of the super final. Also the Japan game more recently.

[gt12]

Pauliasu Manu at 1?

I believe he never played a game.

[Gunner]

Justin Collins

[Gunner]

Someone should start a ‘Should never have played for the All Blacks XV’...

I would but that would require too much brain power for a Saturday evening

[mariner4life]

@Gunner said in Best NZ players never ABs XV:

Someone should start a ‘Should never have played for the All Blacks XV’...

I would but that would require too much brain power for a Saturday evening

Shitfights galore

[Gunner]

@mariner4life so what are you waiting for? Let’s get the popcorn out 😂

[mariner4life]

@Gunner said in Best NZ players never ABs XV:

@mariner4life so what are you waiting for? Let’s get the popcorn out 😂

Rampant cantab baiting

[Tim]

@mariner4life Thorne, Blackadder, L Whitelock ...