Could Carl Hayman Have Been One of Our Greatest All Blacks?

The career of one of the best props ever to play the game came to a glorious end on Saturday afternoon, when Carl Hayman captained Toulon to a treble of European Cup successes at Twickenham.

Carl Hayman will now retire to enjoy the rest of his life - whether it's on a Taranaki farm or a French vineyard remains to be seen.

I guess it's quite apt for a man who wouldn't be first choice by any womens' magazine.

Indeed, such is the mysterious allure of the former Highlanders and Otago hardman, that his career will always be full of intrigue and plenty of what-if questions.

Like had he stayed behind after that ill-fated 2007 World Cup, won the 2011 World Cup with the All Blacks then head overseas with Toulon, would he be as well-off as he is now?

There is no doubt in my mind that the move to Newcastle all those years ago was definitely financially motivated - why give up the chance to become one of our greatest ever All Blacks - and I have no doubt if Carl Hayman stayed in New Zealand, he would have become our greatest ever prop subjectively and objectively.

An insider has said that Hayman's departure in 2007 was fuelled by a sense of disillusionment with the New Zealand media's obsession with the World Cup and pressure on the All Blacks - the same reason the likes of Jerry Collins, Nick Evans, Luke McAlister, Chris Masoe etc. all headed overseas to become rugby's many mercenaries.

Frankly, I don't think Hayman's rugby talent deserved much more than his CV will finish off with. Up against Owen Franks, I believe Hayman would have stood head and shoulders, and would have been on the pitch against the French in the Final at Eden Park in 2011. In the same way, I think Franks would have benefited learning from one of our best ever scrummagers.

So, while Hayman's career will finish with many All Blacks caps, and three European cup titles and French league titles, I think his career should have had many more honours, including a certain William Webb Ellis.

But at the end of the day, Big Carl did what he thought was best for himself and his family and will still end up a winner.

Cheers Big Carl and enjoy the farm out in Opunake - or Aix-en-Provence.