All Blacks vs Wales
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<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> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="588323" data-time="1465986043">
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<p>You fluffybunnys gpt nothing ... I'm th exact opposite of youse fullas ...<br><br>
Saw this tall skinny ungainly bloke playing fullback for the Brumbies. Laughed at him. Useless ... Name was Larkin, or Larkman , or Markham or something ...</p>
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<p>And I reckoned Macqueen was mad shifting him from full back to first five because it would never work.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="588323" data-time="1465986043">
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<p>You fluffybunnys gpt nothing ... I'm th exact opposite of youse fullas ...<br><br>
Saw this tall skinny ungainly bloke playing fullback for the Brumbies. Laughed at him. Useless ... Name was Larkin, or Larkman , or Markham or something ...</p>
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<p>I remember that - baby faced kid, would never front at test level.</p>
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<p>If only we knew how tough and skilled he was eh</p> -
Still get a long way in the world with who you know
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<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>Agreed. Holah was sensational. Would have been in the top 4-5 in the world for a couple of years behind McCaw, George Smith, Schalk Burger and maybe Olivier Magne (perhaps Magne peaked in the late 90s but was still good at the 2003 RWC). Holah was particularly outstanding on the 2002 EOYT when the ABs left McCaw and 20 other players at home - even that fuckface Stephen Jones had to admit he was the form 7 of the 2002 "Autumn Internationals". Certainly Holah was superior to the likes of Phil Waugh and Neil Back.</p>
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<p>Some idiot here referred to Matt Todd as the new Marty Holah. That's just plain disrespectful. Holah got 36 caps whereas Todd has 3-4. Todd should get the chance at a few more through injury before he's done in NZ rugby. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="588273" data-time="1465976600"><p>
No shame in that - Holah was sensational. Just unfortunate to be playing behind the GOAT.</p></blockquote>
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No shame in rating Holah. Shame in thinking he would end up better than McCaw. Shame in thinking that neither was a transcendent talent and neither would be much better than Kronfeld and Holah had the best chance to get there.
