All Blacks vs Wales
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="588047" data-time="1465942929"><p>Mine is likely going to be James Lowe.<br>
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However the guy I think should have gone lots further but didn't is Trent Boswell-Wakefield.</p></blockquote>
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Yeah but on the other hand we've been spared the spectacle of Kamo trying to say his name. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="588002" data-time="1465933013">
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<p>Julian Savea became the player Hosea Gear should have been</p>
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<p>And then morphed back into a fatter version of Hosea Gear.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="588048" data-time="1465942942">
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<p>That's the bugger. Trust me to forget a complicated surname like that. He was pretty good to watch, I did laugh my arse off during the above scrap though.</p>
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<p>Other players who never did as well as I predicted are Troy Flavell, Filipo Levi, Kristian Ormsby, Ross Filipo.......I seemed to have a thing for short locks.</p>
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<p>I remember an interview with Smith saying he struggled with the physicality of professional footy. Described a lot of the players as "mad men". I guess you do have to be a bit nuts to play at the top level, the battering you take would be immense.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="588073" data-time="1465945672">
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<p>I thought you were a Wellington guy but to like Troy Flavell you must not have actually watched rugby but instead been <strong>taking the NZ Herald into your work toilets to jerk off over their glowing endorsements of him</strong>. God the Herald had a prominent bulge in their trousers over him - they continually reported he was set to displace Williams or Jack or, earlier, Maxwell or that nobody Blackadder. </p>
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<p>The guy shares the exact same birth date as me but that was the only thing I admired about him.</p>
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<p>So not a fan then ?</p>
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<p>Back then I used to read it online and the computers in those days were far to bulky and clunky to take to the work toilets. Flavell was capable of doing some pretty amazing stuff that no other forward could do at the time but rarely showed it at the top level and I don't need to go into how blatant and stupid his indiscretions were.</p>
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<p>If things were a bit more settled upstairs I think he could have easily been a hundred test veteran.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="588141" data-time="1465952729">
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<p>For a while, Flavell was one of my favourite players. Athletic and good skills. Tough as teak in the tight as well.</p>
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<p>His mongerel let him down though</p>
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<p>Everyone mentions our bench nowadays but he could have been that player of his era, easy. Granted he was a bit short to be a regular starter but in saying that it didn't do Brad Thorn any harm, his toughness was harnessed so much more sensibly though.....</p> -
<p>I reckon Flava Flav was less of a thug than Troy Flav.</p>
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<p>Troy Flavell had all the raw materials in the world but really was most interested in being a cock.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="588171" data-time="1465955005">
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<p>I reckon Flava Flav was less of a thug than Troy Flav.</p>
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<p>Troy Flavell had all the raw materials in the world but really was most interested in being a cock.</p>
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<p>Yeah I think that second sentence sums him up and agree he may have rubbed people up the wrong way but as the man himself said he wouldn't have stood for the ABs being intimidated in 1999 ( probably punched or stomped on someone and gotten sent off but at least the intent to look after his mates would have been there )</p> -
<p>I don't know how many players I 've thought would have good AB careers that didn't - Randle, Masaga jump to mind as obvious ones but I also was a big fan of Delany as well ...</p>
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<p>There were also plenty who I thought never deserved to be near them who also made it - many with lasting impact.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="588146" data-time="1465952935"><p>
Everyone mentions our bench nowadays but he could have been that player of his era, easy. Granted he was a bit short to be a regular starter but in saying that it didn't do Brad Thorn any harm, his toughness was harnessed so much more sensibly though.....</p></blockquote>
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I reckon the same thing of Carlos Spencer , would be amazing as an impact player . -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="588177" data-time="1465955741">
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<p>Yeah I think that second sentence sums him up and agree he may have rubbed people up the wrong way but as the man himself said he wouldn't have stood for the ABs being intimidated in 1999 ( probably punched or stomped on someone and gotten sent off but at least the intent to look after his mates would have been there )</p>
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<p>That makes me feel a little better about him.</p>
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<p>But John Hart would have served him with a written warning and then advised him to read the NZR code of conduct and complete an on-line module on it at his own pace.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="588213" data-time="1465962189">
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<p>I predicted Stephen Brett would have a decent All Black career :(</p>
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<p>me too. There was a point where i thought he and Carter would be carving for the ABs later in the year. I think within a couple of weeks he had been dropped from the Crusaders starting side...</p> -
<p>I remember watching Zarhn Commerer play for NZ schoolboys and age grade and thought he would be a star. An abrasive loose forward. Sad story </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="588192" data-time="1465959492">
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<p>I reckon the same thing of Carlos Spencer , would be amazing as an impact player .</p>
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<p>Well in 98 he was on the bench along with Sharkey Robinson, Vidiri, Maka ( I think ), Meeuws, Royce Willis.......those guys scream impact.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="588029" data-time="1465939478">
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<p>I thought Winston Stanley looked a great prospect at U20 level (I think it was the one in Japan). He never looked even really up to Super Rugby level.</p>
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<p>Yes he was a star at Auckland Grammar School. Barely looked ITM Cup standard if I was being honest. Albert Nikoro is another one who was a class above at schoolboy level but got a bad knee injury 1st year out of school and hasn't been the same since.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="588213" data-time="1465962189">
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<p>I predicted Stephen Brett would have a decent All Black career :(</p>
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<p>I had the opposite end of that stick. Rated him as absolute garbage and Gard and Slade several levels higher from the get go. Literally made Mehrts look like Jerome Kaino in defence.</p>
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<p>In the shame column I had Holah > McCaw until probably mid way through the 2003 Super season and even then...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="588253" data-time="1465972314">
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<p>In the shame column I had Holah > McCaw until probably mid way through the 2003 Super season and even then...</p>
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<p>No shame in that - Holah was sensational. Just unfortunate to be playing behind the GOAT.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="588273" data-time="1465976600">
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<p>No shame in that - Holah was sensational. Just unfortunate to be playing behind the GOAT.</p>
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<p>Two guys you really have to feel sorry for. Nick Evans and Marty Holah. Arguably the second best players in the world in their positions but...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="588283" data-time="1465979243">
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<p>Two guys you really have to feel sorry for. Nick Evans and Marty Holah. Arguably the second best players in the world in their positions but...</p>
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<p>Post 2007 WC I had the AB backline penciled in as Evans at 10, Carter 12, Toeava 13.</p>
