Pages

Monday, November 25, 2013

Greatest All Blacks Sides of All Time!


The 2013 All Blacks may have done it the hard way, but they've done it. They've finished the season 100% - the first ever All Blacks side in the professional era to do so.

So they should really be considered one of the greatest ABs side ever right?

Certainly in the professional era, Steve Hansen's class of '13 have earned the right to be considered one of the greatest international sides of the era.

But how do they compare with other great All Black teams? Here are 5 others.

1905 Originals

The first great rugby side to don the black jersey and the creators of the All Black legend. They lost only 1 test - that infamous 3-0 defeat to Wales as they took on the best of the Northern Hemisphere and took them to the cleaners.

1963-1968 All Blacks

One of the most fondly remembered All Blacks sides. Coached by the Fred "Needle" Allen, the ABs featured some legends, including three knights, i.e. Wilson Whineray, Brian Lochore, Colin Meads, etc.

1987 All Blacks

Our first ever Rugby World Cup winning side and definitely one of the finest sides ever to grace the black jersey. Ok, they might not have played South Africa - who were banned at the time - but they took on the best at the time, and won comfortably.

1989 All Blacks
The last All Blacks side to finish the season perfect and definitely one of the greatest, featuring many from the 1987 side at their peak.

1996-97 All Blacks

Another of the most fondly remembered All Blacks sides - particularly with the Jonah Lomu Rugby generation. They only lost 1 test - South Africa in Johannesburg in what was really a dead-rubber - but won many including the ABs' only series win in South Africa.

No comments:

Post a Comment