Foster, Robertson etc
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Foster:
Bunce was great but there was real guile to Ma'a's play which Bunce didn't have so much
If you check out the last minute Ireland win a few years back there's a point where the ball is passed from the RHS and is bobbling towards Nonu. Rather than rush up, he waits for the ball to come to him which confuses the defence, then runs a 45 degree angle, feigns a pass, straightens up slightly, ties up 3 defenders and two passes later Crotty scores.
So Nonu and Bunce it is
If I was a Time Lord, Nonu & Bruce Robertson. Robertson at his best
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@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Nonu is as great as DC and McCaw and I’ll fight anyone who claims otherwise
He and Smith are the greatest midfield pair to wear the AB jersey
Nope
Bunce and Little for me
I know it's the wrong way round but if reads better
It's not even close, Nonu's skills blow Little's out of the water, Smith easily matches Bunce.
Hmmm
@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Nonu is as great as DC and McCaw and I’ll fight anyone who claims otherwise
He and Smith are the greatest midfield pair to wear the AB jersey
Nope
Bunce and Little for me
I know it's the wrong way round but if reads better
It's not even close, Nonu's skills blow Little's out of the water, Smith easily matches Bunce.
Hmmm
Like I said, easily.
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@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Nonu is as great as DC and McCaw and I’ll fight anyone who claims otherwise
He and Smith are the greatest midfield pair to wear the AB jersey
Nope
Bunce and Little for me
I know it's the wrong way round but if reads better
It's not even close, Nonu's skills blow Little's out of the water, Smith easily matches Bunce.
@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Nonu is as great as DC and McCaw and I’ll fight anyone who claims otherwise
He and Smith are the greatest midfield pair to wear the AB jersey
Nope
Bunce and Little for me
I know it's the wrong way round but if reads better
It's not even close, Nonu's skills blow Little's out of the water, Smith easily matches Bunce.
Ooof, I'll give you Nonu over Walter, but I thought Bunce was special. I have a lot of time for Smith, don't get me wrong. But Bunce just had something extra.
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@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Nonu is as great as DC and McCaw and I’ll fight anyone who claims otherwise
He and Smith are the greatest midfield pair to wear the AB jersey
Nope
Bunce and Little for me
I know it's the wrong way round but if reads better
It's not even close, Nonu's skills blow Little's out of the water, Smith easily matches Bunce.
Ooof, I'll give you Nonu over Walter, but I thought Bunce was special. I have a lot of time for Smith, don't get me wrong. But Bunce just had something extra.
@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Nonu is as great as DC and McCaw and I’ll fight anyone who claims otherwise
He and Smith are the greatest midfield pair to wear the AB jersey
Nope
Bunce and Little for me
I know it's the wrong way round but if reads better
It's not even close, Nonu's skills blow Little's out of the water, Smith easily matches Bunce.
Ooof, I'll give you Nonu over Walter, but I thought Bunce was special. I have a lot of time for Smith, don't get me wrong. But Bunce just had something extra.
Kinda like Smith had something extra.
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Whichever way you lean, this is a much better use of a thread than going around in circles talking about bloody Foster and Robertson
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Whichever way you lean, this is a much better use of a thread than going around in circles talking about bloody Foster and Robertson
Whichever way you lean, this is a much better use of a thread than going around in circles talking about bloody Foster and Robertson
Wasn't Foster Backs coach when Nonu really developed after 2011 from being a potentially great 12 into arguably the best in Black ever? :fishing_pole:
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If I was a Time Lord, Nonu & Bruce Robertson. Robertson at his best
@Victor-Meldrew said in Foster:
If I was a Time Lord, Nonu & Bruce Robertson. Robertson at his best
Based on those 'highlights', still Bunce for me
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@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Nonu is as great as DC and McCaw and I’ll fight anyone who claims otherwise
He and Smith are the greatest midfield pair to wear the AB jersey
Nope
Bunce and Little for me
I know it's the wrong way round but if reads better
It's not even close, Nonu's skills blow Little's out of the water, Smith easily matches Bunce.
Hmmm
Like I said, easily.
@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Nonu is as great as DC and McCaw and I’ll fight anyone who claims otherwise
He and Smith are the greatest midfield pair to wear the AB jersey
Nope
Bunce and Little for me
I know it's the wrong way round but if reads better
It's not even close, Nonu's skills blow Little's out of the water, Smith easily matches Bunce.
Hmmm
Like I said, easily.
Great tune
Great defensive centre
Great at putting himself outside the defender to receive the pass, often the scoring pass
Great finisherWould still have Bunce
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Foster:
If I was a Time Lord, Nonu & Bruce Robertson. Robertson at his best
Based on those 'highlights', still Bunce for me
@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Based on those 'highlights', still Bunce for me
No highlights reel for Robertson sadly, just a few extended Test highlights.
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@Bones he would kept DC at 12 and played Mils at 13.
Nonu at 12 is a certainty for me, 13 could be anyone of Smith, Bunce and Robertson, but like Little/Bunce, its the combo of Nonu/Smith that probably takes it for me.
Individually I loved Bunce, saved his best for AB rugby, but what you hear about Robertson makes me wish I could have seen him play (and have a soft spot for him as I have got to know him personally as well and such a nice guy) obviously Conrad was often compared to Robertson, which probably says it all.
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Nonu is as great as DC and McCaw and I’ll fight anyone who claims otherwise
He and Smith are the greatest midfield pair to wear the AB jersey
Some older guys would put the Bill Osborne/Bruce Robertson combination as a serious alternative to any other one offered.
Yep. They were great, but I think the Conrad/Ma'a combo was a stronger one.
Bruce Robertson was similar to Conrad but probably a bit better (particularly on attack), but Ma'a is fair bit ahead of Bill Osborne. And that's no reflection on Conrad or Bill - far from it.
@Victor-Meldrew said in Foster:
Nonu is as great as DC and McCaw and I’ll fight anyone who claims otherwise
He and Smith are the greatest midfield pair to wear the AB jersey
Some older guys would put the Bill Osborne/Bruce Robertson combination as a serious alternative to any other one offered.
Yep. They were great, but I think the Conrad/Ma'a combo was a stronger one.
Bruce Robertson was similar to Conrad but probably a bit better (particularly on attack), but Ma'a is fair bit ahead of Bill Osborne. And that's no reflection on Conrad or Bill - far from it.
I remember when Osbourne was selected , he was a very different type of 12 than we had been used to at the time ,
More of a 12/13 type rather than a 12/10 type if that makes sense, more of an inside centre than a second five , it was a breath of fresh air to the shape and look of our attack at the time
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@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Based on those 'highlights', still Bunce for me
No highlights reel for Robertson sadly, just a few extended Test highlights.
@Victor-Meldrew said in Foster:
@MiketheSnow said in Foster:
Based on those 'highlights', still Bunce for me
No highlights reel for Robertson sadly, just a few extended Test highlights.
Those that watched him will never forget , best centre I’ve seen at putting the winger in open space
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@Bones he would kept DC at 12 and played Mils at 13.
Nonu at 12 is a certainty for me, 13 could be anyone of Smith, Bunce and Robertson, but like Little/Bunce, its the combo of Nonu/Smith that probably takes it for me.
Individually I loved Bunce, saved his best for AB rugby, but what you hear about Robertson makes me wish I could have seen him play (and have a soft spot for him as I have got to know him personally as well and such a nice guy) obviously Conrad was often compared to Robertson, which probably says it all.
@taniwharugby said in Foster:
Conrad was often compared to Robertson, which probably says it all.
Seen them both live. Very similar players in many ways - intelligent, calm and utterly solid. Really smart players who could turn a game with a flash of genius. Both would have excelled in any era.
Robertson was more dangerous on attack, could spot a gap appearing before anyone else, drift thru, accelerate away and deliver a perfect pass to his winger. Silky smooth player with good defence and a great boot as well. Conrad would be a better defender, got more involved at the breakdown area, did some off-the-wall passing and as hard as nails.
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@taniwharugby said in Foster:
Conrad was often compared to Robertson, which probably says it all.
Seen them both live. Very similar players in many ways - intelligent, calm and utterly solid. Really smart players who could turn a game with a flash of genius. Both would have excelled in any era.
Robertson was more dangerous on attack, could spot a gap appearing before anyone else, drift thru, accelerate away and deliver a perfect pass to his winger. Silky smooth player with good defence and a great boot as well. Conrad would be a better defender, got more involved at the breakdown area, did some off-the-wall passing and as hard as nails.
@Victor-Meldrew said in Foster:
@taniwharugby said in Foster:
Conrad was often compared to Robertson, which probably says it all.
Seen them both live. Very similar players in many ways - intelligent, calm and utterly solid. Really smart players who could turn a game with a flash of genius. Both would have excelled in any era.
Robertson was more dangerous on attack, could spot a gap appearing before anyone else, drift thru, accelerate away and deliver a perfect pass to his winger. Silky smooth player with good defence and a great boot as well. Conrad would be a better defender, got more involved at the breakdown area, did some off-the-wall passing and as hard as nails.
Same mate, seen them both live, biggest difference was speed, Robertson was bloody quick, mauch a like Conrad, Robertson is still the best centre I have seen in my opinion. I always remember a show he put on when Counites beat Wllington by about 50 points way back when, it was breathtaking. And I always believe the try Batty scored in his last test against Lions, from an intercept, was all down to Robertson's speed when he rushed up in defence and caused the Lions to lose control of ball. He was just so silky. But we have been blessed to see a couple of centre like Robertson and Conrad in the Black jersey in our lifetimes!
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Foster:
@taniwharugby said in Foster:
Conrad was often compared to Robertson, which probably says it all.
Seen them both live. Very similar players in many ways - intelligent, calm and utterly solid. Really smart players who could turn a game with a flash of genius. Both would have excelled in any era.
Robertson was more dangerous on attack, could spot a gap appearing before anyone else, drift thru, accelerate away and deliver a perfect pass to his winger. Silky smooth player with good defence and a great boot as well. Conrad would be a better defender, got more involved at the breakdown area, did some off-the-wall passing and as hard as nails.
Same mate, seen them both live, biggest difference was speed, Robertson was bloody quick, mauch a like Conrad, Robertson is still the best centre I have seen in my opinion. I always remember a show he put on when Counites beat Wllington by about 50 points way back when, it was breathtaking. And I always believe the try Batty scored in his last test against Lions, from an intercept, was all down to Robertson's speed when he rushed up in defence and caused the Lions to lose control of ball. He was just so silky. But we have been blessed to see a couple of centre like Robertson and Conrad in the Black jersey in our lifetimes!
@Victor-Meldrew said in Foster:
@taniwharugby said in Foster:
Conrad was often compared to Robertson, which probably says it all.
Seen them both live. Very similar players in many ways - intelligent, calm and utterly solid. Really smart players who could turn a game with a flash of genius. Both would have excelled in any era.
Robertson was more dangerous on attack, could spot a gap appearing before anyone else, drift thru, accelerate away and deliver a perfect pass to his winger. Silky smooth player with good defence and a great boot as well. Conrad would be a better defender, got more involved at the breakdown area, did some off-the-wall passing and as hard as nails.
Same mate, seen them both live, biggest difference was speed, Robertson was bloody quick, mauch a like Conrad, Robertson is still the best centre I have seen in my opinion. I always remember a show he put on when Counites beat Wllington by about 50 points way back when, it was breathtaking. And I always believe the try Batty scored in his last test against Lions, from an intercept, was all down to Robertson's speed when he rushed up in defence and caused the Lions to lose control of ball. He was just so silky. But we have been blessed to see a couple of centre like Robertson and Conrad in the Black jersey in our lifetimes!
Both knew how to hold the ball - in two hands - as well. Reiko please take note...
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My potential future father in law played against Ian Macrae in Hawkes bay club rugby. Said he was a monster before his time.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Foster:
@taniwharugby said in Foster:
Conrad was often compared to Robertson, which probably says it all.
Seen them both live. Very similar players in many ways - intelligent, calm and utterly solid. Really smart players who could turn a game with a flash of genius. Both would have excelled in any era.
Robertson was more dangerous on attack, could spot a gap appearing before anyone else, drift thru, accelerate away and deliver a perfect pass to his winger. Silky smooth player with good defence and a great boot as well. Conrad would be a better defender, got more involved at the breakdown area, did some off-the-wall passing and as hard as nails.
Same mate, seen them both live, biggest difference was speed, Robertson was bloody quick, mauch a like Conrad, Robertson is still the best centre I have seen in my opinion. I always remember a show he put on when Counites beat Wllington by about 50 points way back when, it was breathtaking. And I always believe the try Batty scored in his last test against Lions, from an intercept, was all down to Robertson's speed when he rushed up in defence and caused the Lions to lose control of ball. He was just so silky. But we have been blessed to see a couple of centre like Robertson and Conrad in the Black jersey in our lifetimes!
@Victor-Meldrew said in Foster:
@taniwharugby said in Foster:
Conrad was often compared to Robertson, which probably says it all.
Seen them both live. Very similar players in many ways - intelligent, calm and utterly solid. Really smart players who could turn a game with a flash of genius. Both would have excelled in any era.
Robertson was more dangerous on attack, could spot a gap appearing before anyone else, drift thru, accelerate away and deliver a perfect pass to his winger. Silky smooth player with good defence and a great boot as well. Conrad would be a better defender, got more involved at the breakdown area, did some off-the-wall passing and as hard as nails.
Same mate, seen them both live, biggest difference was speed, Robertson was bloody quick, mauch a like Conrad, Robertson is still the best centre I have seen in my opinion. I always remember a show he put on when Counites beat Wllington by about 50 points way back when, it was breathtaking. And I always believe the try Batty scored in his last test against Lions, from an intercept, was all down to Robertson's speed when he rushed up in defence and caused the Lions to lose control of ball. He was just so silky. But we have been blessed to see a couple of centre like Robertson and Conrad in the Black jersey in our lifetimes!
He had that rare ability to slightly get on the outside of his opposite , poke his nose through the gap between the 13 and the winger and make them panic with his pace ,
In perfect split second timing the ball has hit his winger on the chest , remember the trademark basketball pass over the top of the wingers outstretched hands .
It was fucken poetry in motion and he did it time and time again
