1.Kevin Skinner - New Zealand heavyweight champion and key All Black on 1953/54 All Blacks tour of Great Britain and France. An old-fashioned prop in the strongest sense, literally and physically.
2.Anton Oliver - Otago and New Zealand legend.
3.Carl Hayman - One of the best props ever produced in New Zealand and now a multi-millionaire.
4.Jamie Joseph (captain) - Current Highlanders coach was a superb lock cum loose forward
5.Wayne Graham - Current Otago president was one of the most under-rated All Blacks in history
6.Mike Brewer - Brewer never really got the plaudits that he deserved, ended up going to Canterbury. Was a coach in Scotland
7.Josh Kronfeld - Otago has produced many great openside flankers, Kronfeld was the most familiar in the modern day and probably the best.
8.Taine Randell - Former All Black captain and Otago legend.
9.Chris Laidlaw - Rhodes Scholar and one of the best All Black halfbacks ever
10.Earle Kirton - Underrated first-five, now a practicing dentist in Wellington
11.John Timu - Under-rated winger
12.Duncan Robertson - Under-rated centre
13.John Leslie - Centre talent who was never really rated in New Zealand - went on to represent Scotland with aplomb.
14.Jeff Wilson - Goldie. Nuff said.
15.Ben Smith - Now considered one of the best players ever produced in the Otago region.
Not a bad side. I would go for the current Otago coach Tony Brown at first five eighth. John Timu wasn't underrated. Brendan Laney, Marc Ellis, Pita Alatini, Byron Kelleher, Arran Pene, Simon Maling, Andrew Hore, Carl Hoeft and Kees Meeuws must all go close. But it depends on your criteria.
ReplyDeleteKees meews!!
ReplyDeleteLeslie was a 12. Ellis should be in this team.
ReplyDeleteTuppy Diack 1st man to play 100 games for Otago. Wayne Graham was more of loose forward so Maling or Donnelly would be a better bet.And Duncan Robertson was a 10 so you could not have him in over Leslie and Ellis in the midfield.
ReplyDelete