New Zealand Rugby

Jerry Collins' former team-mates paid tribute to the New Zealand rugby star in the best way possible. 

Collins and his partner, Alana Madill, were tragically killed in a car accident last week in France. 

On Wednesday, Collins' France-based All Blacks team-mates gathered at the spot of the accident and performed an emotional and powerful haka led by Neemia Tialata. 

Former All Black players Ali Williams, Carl Hayman and Chris Masoe joined for the tribute. 

Updates from Wednesday, June 17th

Collins' lasting effect on the sport and his fans was evident as there was an outpouring of emotion for his funeral in Porirua, where his casket arrived.

Obsèques de Jerry Collins : Rires et souvenirs, les Blacks et la famille réunis http://t.co/lJTvNdz3ab pic.twitter.com/iuygvEtIOM

— PeopleQc (@PeopleQc) June 17, 2015

Thousands attend Jerry Collins funeral - Western Morning News http://t.co/4kfxbVT0RW pic.twitter.com/9qh6196nFM

— Nicole Williams (@NcoleWilliams) June 17, 2015

Thousands gathered on Wednesday for the funeral of #JerryCollins. #RIPBROTHER pic.twitter.com/k6mepjxXrX

— Mark Steenbok (@MarkSteenbok24) June 17, 2015

WOW Jerry Collins you certainly left a legacy :) pic.twitter.com/Ow7icnmCX3

— Deirdre Brits (@DeirdreBrits) June 17, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yMvrOR96Fo

[Instagram, Neemia Tialata, h/t Project Babb]

The 2015 HSBC World Sevens series reaches its climax and culmination this weekend at Twickenham. With England hosting the 2015 Rugby World Cup and sevens being included in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, this year's edition is the most high-profile ever.

But how do sevens and the 15-player game compare?

Rugby Sevens

Faster, more exciting, more skilful: No one can deny that sevens is a faster, more exciting game. As the IRB (now World Rugby) coaching manual states:

"With only 14 players on the full-sized pitch, players must have high levels of basic skills in catching, passing and running as otherwise they will be quickly exposed."

As a spectacle, seeing agility or skill rather than brawn is always aesthetically preferable.

More diversity, more open competition: Although New Zealand have won every annual World Sevens series since 2010, the stronger, richer unions do not have it all their own way. Fiji lead the 2015 edition and could be crowned champions at Twickenham on Sunday.

Kenya have a chance to shine after missing out on qualification for a first Rugby World Cup, in England in 2015, and amateurs from Brazil are competing at the London Sevens as they prepare for the 2016 Rio Games.

No scrum resets: With only three forwards in the scrum in sevens, the scrum is a method to restart possession, not a quagmire barely comprehensible even to experts. This keeps the game fast and entertaining.

Sevens atmosphere: Test matches, be they autumn or summer internationals, the Rugby Championship or the Six Nations, may be about celebrating the sport, but they cannot match the festival feeling of rugby sevens. Sevens matters less to the average fan, so the focus is more on enjoying the occasion and applauding good rugby than worrying about your team's performance. This weekend's sevens tournament at Twickenham is a galactic theme.

15-A-Side Rugby

15-a-side atmosphere: The flipside is the high intensity of the Test arena. With so much at stake, the drama of the Six Nations or Rugby Championship is very hard to match in sevens. This was particularly the case in this year's enthralling final day of the Six Nations, where Wales, England and Ireland all contended for the title and France were mathematically in the running. An astonishing 221 points were scored in three matches.

The biggest players: The 15-a-side rugby benefits from the biggest names. Some legends of the game, such as Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen, rose through the sevens circuit, but there is no denying that the superstars of the sport play the 15-man game.

"A game for all shapes and sizes": The mantra that rugby is a game for everybody is a commendable one, and it only applies to the 15-a-side version. The fewer players allowed on the pitch in sevens means that heavier, slower players are never going to be selected.

Rugby's a game for all shapes and sizes. Check out some of the games biggest miss matches! http://t.co/j1oNGCAfzZ pic.twitter.com/NVtsOXirm0

— EatSleepRugby (@Eat_Sleep_Rugby) August 5, 2014

Conclusion

Both sevens and 15-a-side rugby are key parts of what makes rugby a great sport. They complement each other by providing variety and very different viewing experiences.

Sevens may have the edge over 15-a-side rugby for more casual observers, but both versions of the sport appeal to traditionalists because of free-flowing rugby and set-piece intricacies, respectively. As such, rugby lovers don't need to choose between the two.

New Zealand have named a strong squad to travel to the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Italy, as reported by the New Zealand Herald. There is plenty of experience at both the provincial and Super Rugby levels in this year's group, far more than was evident in the disappointing 2014 campaign.

That said, there are a handful of top players returning from that 2014 team whose experience will be of huge value. Tevita Li, Anton Lienert-Brown and TJ Faiane were all key players for last year's team and look to be three of the brightest prospects in New Zealand rugby.

Had it not been for his outstanding Super Rugby form, Damian McKenzie would have joined them, adding another attacking threat from the back while also bringing creativity when wearing No. 10. He will remain with the Chiefs, however, acting as the replacement for injured fly-half Aaron Cruden.

Despite this there are still plenty of other players who have played at this same high level.

The Blues combination of Akira Ioane and Blake Gibson provide the loose forwards with two players with Super Rugby experience, Ioane a dynamic ball carrier and Gibson a physical hard-worker. 

The Hurricanes supply a pair of players, too, with impressive lock Geoff Cridge and talented fly-half Otere Black both being chosen. Black, in particular, impressed with Manawatu in last year's ITM Cup, showing a strong skill set and the ability to control a game. Many have marked him down a future All Black, and it is hard to disagree.

Beneath this top level, there are also a number of players with provincial experience, providing the team with depth in players who have played at a high level.

It is a strong team. The backs are lethal. Faiane, Nathaniel Apa and Jack Goodhue provide three dangerous midfield options, Li and Lienert-Brown are both devastating outside backs and in Black they have a fly-half to run the show.

The forward pack, which lacked a physical presence last year, seems much improved, too. A more abrasive and physical loose forward trio will provide go-forward, while the tight five has more bulk than in recent years.

Once virtually unstoppable at this tournament, New Zealand has not won since 2011. That has been a result of player availability over the past four years and Super Rugby teams placing higher importance on their younger prospects.

This year's team looks to be the strongest since that 2011 group and should be right up there with the contenders come the business end of the tournament.

New Zealand Under 20s squad:  Steven Misa, Ricky Riccitelli, Liam Polwart, Atu Moli (c), Isi Tu'ungafasi, Aidan Ross, Tau Koloamatangi, Mitchell Dunshea, James Blackwell, Geoff Cridge, Mitch Jacobson, Josh Goodhue, Henry Stowers, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Mitch Karpik, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Harrison Levien, Otere Black, Mitch Hunt, TJ Faiane, Vince Aso, Nathaniel Apa, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Tevita Li, George Bridge, Luteru Laulala.

When it was announced yesterday that Aaron Cruden would likely miss the Rugby World Cup, the feeling around New Zealand was one of disappointment, not panic. There is depth to cover for the loss of Cruden, but it certainly is a cruel blow to someone who has worked so hard.

It shows the state of New Zealand rugby in the fly-half position, they have come a long way.

Four years ago when Dan Carter went down in the pool stages of the 2011 World Cup, to say the nation panicked would be an understatement. It was more of a national emergency. There was no clear back-up and while Cruden, Colin Slade and Stephen Donald got the job done, they made far harder work of the final than Carter would have.

This time around the depth is there and while there is no one of the ability of Carter in 2011, there are four players who would have easily made the cut to back the great man up.

Carter himself receives a great boost in his chances to go to one last World Cup. There have been question marks over his game recently and indeed he has not been sighted in top form for an extended period of time since July 2012. Injuries have plagued him, a sign that he is not as young as he once was.

He no longer threatens as much with his running game, caused by a loss of the explosiveness that made him the world's best No. 10.

Perhaps we need to look past that and look at the player Carter is now, what he can still do well. The trouble is that is hard to do, as he has played such little rugby over the past three years.

There is no doubt he can control a game, bringing intelligence and all the experience in the world. He still distributes well and his defensive game is second to none, with great technique and a mindset that sees him go looking for tackles, often defending close-in to save a forward having to get to the spot. 

While prior to the Cruden injury there were doubts as to whether there would be room for him, it would be a surprise if Carter did not go to the Cup now.

He will be joined by Beauden Barrett, one of the most improved players in New Zealand rugby over the past four years. Barrett has gone from a nippy outside back, to a fly-half capable of setting a back line alight, passing well, using his speed to run into gaps and showing an increasingly better kicking game.

Few teams have a pivot with the ability to threaten while also maintain the composure Barrett does; he will be valuable to the All Blacks and will quite possibly now be the first-choice No. 10.

Then you have Colin Slade who, on his day, can be as good as any in the world. He is very much a confidence player. When he is on he runs dangerously, puts players into gaps, kicks accurately off both feet, has a good pair of hands and makes his tackles. On the other hand, he can also not run at all, throw some average passes, kick poorly and miss tackles.

Lately there has been more of the good than the bad and that probably has a lot to do with the fact that he is finally having an injury-free run. He has been starting ahead of Carter at fly-half for the Crusaders and was the best No. 10 on the All Blacks end of year tour last year, so it would be hard to leave him out.

Then, if it comes to it, there are outside bolters such as Lima Sopoaga and Tom Taylor. 

Sopoaga has been New Zealand's form fly-half in Super Rugby, a creative player who provides spark, but also is deadly kicking for goal, he will surely get a look in over the next few years. His lack of experience at the top level would possibly hold him back for now, but he already has a polished combination with Aaron Smith.

Taylor, a one-test All Black, is more of a solid player who will take good options and direct play. He is probably the best goal-kicker in New Zealand first-class rugby too, despite the fact that he rarely gets the job for the Crusaders as he is not a guaranteed starter. Indeed lack of playing time at No. 10 would not help him. But as the sixth player in the pecking order, he is not a bad option.

Cruden would likely have been the first-choice No. 10. But his absence is nothing compared the loss of Carter four years ago. The All Blacks went on to win four years ago, with so much quality available this time around, you would have to think the injury will not make a huge difference in terms of the team.

Flair and attacking ability out wide have long been features of New Zealand rugby teams. More than anyone else, the All Blacks have combined the elements of skill, physicality and composure, with their deadly ability to finish and create on the outside to constantly pose a threat to opposition defences.

The current group is one of their best in this department. Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Julian Savea, Cory Jane and Charles Piutau all offer different things and now more than ever, the All Blacks go five deep in the wing and fullback positions.

Is it the best group the All Blacks have ever had covering these positions, though? Three others come to mind, and surely this group would have to rate highly among them. 

The earliest great All Black back three that readily comes to mind is that of 1954, where Bob Scott, Ron Jarden and Morrie Dixon formed a devastating, although all too brief, trio.

Considered by many to be the greatest fullback New Zealand has produced, and indeed one of their finest in any position, Scott was rugby's first true all-round No. 15. He threatened on the counter with his tricky footwork, smooth swerve and eagle-like vision, but he was also a competent kicker, so famously being known for kicking goals barefoot from halfway.

He was complemented by the skilful Jarden, probably New Zealand's most underrated winger on an all-time scale. Jarden's speed and agility made him a threat with ball in hand, while his in-game intelligence helped him make use of those abilities. He remains among his country's most prolific try-scorers and was a handy goal-kicker too. On the other wing he was paired with Dixon, another flyer who is highly rated by those who saw him play.

As good as that trio is, their lack of depth and lack of time together makes it hard to rate them ahead of the current crop. It is true that in those days rugby was amateur, there were far less tests played and players were not always available. Even so, it is hard to justify rating them above the 2015 edition by virtue of the depth of the current back-three, despite the undoubted greatness of Scott and Jarden.

Moving ahead through the years the wing combination of Bryan Williams and Grant Batty stands out. Indeed as a wing pairing they would rate right at the top of any list, but their lack of a genuine world-class fullback playing with them keeps them out of this argument. Had Fergie McCormick arrived on the scene a few years later, that trio would have undoubtedly been in for consideration.

The trio of the early 1980's, who also formed the Wellington back three, were generally considered to be one of the country's best until more recent times. Stu Wilson and Bernie Fraser, otherwise known as Ebony and Ivory, were as dangerous a duo with ball in hand as the All Blacks have ever had, while Allan Hewson provided a similar threat from the back, despite his perceived defensive frailties.

As far as pure attacking flair goes, these guys were as good as there have been. When he left the game, Wilson held the All Black record for most test tries, with 19. His speed, strength and explosiveness made him a tough player to bring down, while he also possessed a handy set of skills. Fraser on the other hand was one of the early big, bustling wingers that have become so common-place today.

In Hewson, they had a player behind them who could slip through the smallest of gaps and make things happen, although he is best remembered for his kick to win the 1981 home series against the Springboks.

More information on this trio can be found in Ebony and Ivory: The Stu Wilson, Bernie Fraser Story, one of the better rugby books written about New Zealand players.

Again as good as this group were, it is hard to put them ahead of the current five-some due to the differences in depth. 

The final group to consider is that of the late-1990's. Christian Cullen, Jeff Wilson, Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga and Glen Osborne were all on show during that period. Now those were some great players and unlike the other ones mentioned, there was depth in this group to challenge the 2012-2015 one.

On their day, any of those men could be the best in the world, except perhaps Osborne. Cullen was pure magic the way he would glide through gaps, brushing off tackles and stepping defenders as though they were not there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR-azfGJtL0

There was little Wilson could not do, a complete player who would beat you with pace, agility and skill. His cover defence was of the highest class and that their is just one blooper of his that tends to be replayed perhaps shows how good he was; it remains so shocking that he actually made a mistake.

Then you had Lomu. Big, strong, fast and powerful, the man was probably the most dominant player to ever lace up boots and on his day was unstoppable. As good as he was, he received plenty of criticism and struggled for consistency as he so famously played out his career with a kidney disease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSVC89Ik-ZM

Umaga was a combination of the lot. He had an eye for creation, but was more a bustling runner than the silky ball carriers Wilson and Cullen were, although was not quite as devastating as Lomu. At his best he was so good the selectors moved Cullen to centre to incorporate all four of these men. Eventually Umaga himself would move to centre, filling the gap left by fellow Wellingtonian Alama Ieremia.

Osborne would not rate quite as highly as whomever you termed the fifth best of the current outside backs. He too though, was a dangerous runner with tricky footwork and was more than just an above average player.

Of course, these men played in a different era. Defences were less organised, ruck ball was faster and they had far more space to work with. But unlike many others from years gone by, it is not hard to imagine these men stepping into today's game and being superstars.

Cullen and Wilson would both be shoe-ins to start for the All Blacks. Only Ben Smith would challenge either, but you would be hard pressed to justify leaving out a player of the attacking abilities of Cullen, or the all-round abilities of Wilson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il-s3ytR334

Lomu and Savea have inevitably drawn plenty of comparisons, both playing similar types of games and possessing a similar physical make-up.

Savea is undoubtedly more skilful, better defensively and a more involved player. But he does not make the sheer impact Lomu could make by simply being on the field, where teams would stack their defences to cover the big man, opening up space over the rest of the park. Even in today's game, Lomu would still be devastating.

Umaga, probably the fourth best of the outside backs from his era, would challenge for a starting spot in the current team and would possibly get one too, with Smith at fullback and Savea on the left wing.

Of course, the argument for the current group is bolstered by the success of the team in recent years. The team of the late-1990s was more mixed in their form, with two of New Zealand's best years and then quite possibly their worst-ever coming in that period.

Perhaps that says more about where the game is won, though, than the quality of the players in these positions.

There is no doubting we are in an era of great All Black outside backs; is it the best ever? It would be up there, and they have gone past some very good back three's, but for now, it is hard to rate them ahead of those lethal combinations of the 1996-1999 era.

There was a time when leaving Dan Carter out of an All Black team was unthinkable. The master fly-half was, alongside Richie McCaw, an automatic selection in any New Zealand XV, and his absence left a gaping hole that no one could replace.

Times change, though. Four years after Carter's Rugby World Cup injury being something of a national tragedy, he is now looking a long shot to even make the squad.

In the intervening years, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade have all emerged as legitimate options to fill the No. 10 jersey. With all three having shown good form in the international arena over the past 12 months, there is a feeling Carter has moved to No. 4 in the pecking order.

It is not that anyone is doubting Carter's ability when he is at his best. No one controls the game like he does and when he retires, he will be remembered as the greatest first five-eighth New Zealand has ever produced. His ability to kick, run, distribute, create and defend at a high level has made him an all-round player, the like of which has not been seen before; not on the level of this anyway.

But it has been a long time since we have seen this form from Carter. Injuries have not helped. Not since the end of the 2012 Super Rugby season have we seen him on the field for more than a few weeks and playing well. 

The question has to be asked: Is Carter still capable of producing his best?

You would be hard-pressed to answer that question with a definitive no. However, he has not been able to show it, and he needs to prove that he is better than the other three contenders if he is to be an All Black once more. 

There may be a temptation to pick him based on past form or sentiment. That temptation must be resisted.

You would struggle to find a New Zealander who does not want to see Carter get through a full World Cup. For all of his dominance in between times, he has never really had the chance to perform on what many consider to be the game's biggest stage. In 2003, he was just emerging on the scene and played the role of back-up second five-eighth to Aaron Mauger, before being hampered by injuries throughout the next two campaigns.

It would be a nice ending if he was able to stay on the field and play well for a whole World Cup. 

But there are two problems with that wish. 

The first is that he has hardly been able to stay on the field for more than a month at a time since the last World Cup. 

The second is that he has not put on a convincing display since July 2012, and his performances since his latest return from injury have been no more than solid. He has been kept out of the Crusaders No. 10 jersey by Colin Slade and is being forced to play out at second five-eighth at times, mainly off the bench.

In the weekend, he came on and was virtually anonymous against the Highlanders. Based on that game, and indeed this season's form, Lima Sopoaga could have gone past Carter in the pecking order too.

If there were no other options, as was the case in 2011, you could understand the selection of Carter.

But there are other options.

Aaron Cruden, brought in to replace Carter at the last World Cup, has developed from a playmaker with promise to a fly-half with the ability to direct his team well. His in-field kicking game has improved out of sight in the past few years, gaining more distance and kicking with more accuracy. Likewise, the physical side to his game has improved, which came naturally with more rugby at this level. 

The pivot behind the Chiefs Super Rugby championships of 2012 and 2013, Cruden is as good as any fly-half in the world on his day.

Alongside him is the other youngster who has been brought through over the past three years, Beauden Barrett. Barrett is not quite as quality a playmaker as Cruden, although he is still a good one, but he possesses an extra turn of pace and can run through the smallest of gaps. His kicking has improved markedly, although his goal-kicking has been off this season.

Then you have Slade, the man chosen to back up Carter at the last World Cup and who proceeded to go down injured, having had to fight for three years to get his spot back in the team. It has not come easy, and he has done extremely well when you consider he has been possibly the most unlucky man in New Zealand when it comes to injuries.

He is a player who tends to blow hot and cold. When he is on, he is outstanding. When he is off, he is relatively ineffectual.

Of late, there has been more of the good than the bad. He is taking the ball to the line confidently and running at gaps to commit defenders, allowing his outside men to get the ball on the front foot at the advantage line. His kicking has been reasonable too, and he is undoubtedly better than the others when it comes to kicking with either foot.

Can Carter really compete with any of these men? He brings experience, past form and the ability to take control of a game. But it has been so long since he has shown any spark or posed a threat that it is hard to see that he is the right option.

It has been a great career, one of the best we have ever seen. But unfortunately for Carter, four does not go into three, and unless he sees an upswing in form, it would be hard to justify picking him ahead of one of the others.

All Blacks outside back Charles Piutau's decision to sign a two-year deal with Irish club Ulster is, while unexpected, a sign of the times for New Zealand rugby. At 23, he remains a great prospect who has his best rugby ahead of him. Unfortunately for the All Blacks, they will not see any of that over the next two years.

Everyone has their price, and for a 23 year old, a million-dollar contract is surely hard to turn down, as is the opportunity to earn this money while travelling the world.

In the past, the prestige of the All Blacks jersey has been New Zealand's main counter against the lucrative contracts on offer from European and Japanese clubs. It has allowed them to retain the likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Conrad Smith. 

The European and Japanese routes have traditionally been ones taken by players in the twilight of their careers hoping to make some good money in their last few years. At that stage, they have usually secured their place in All Black history and most likely have their best rugby behind them.

That was the way for the first decade of professionalism at least.

The first big name to buck with tradition was powerhouse tighthead prop Carl Hayman. A strong scrummager, outstanding lineout lifter and powerful player in the tight, Hayman had the potential to go down as New Zealand's greatest tighthead prop ever.

In 2007, after a failed World Cup campaign, Hayman left New Zealand at the peak of his career, never to return in a rugby-playing capacity. Despite relentless attempts to get him back, the money was just too good for Hayman to turn down in Europe. As a result, he probably will not go down as one of the All Black greats because he simply did not play for them long enough.

It was a huge wound to New Zealand rugby. For the first time, a high-profile player at the top of his game had chosen money over the All Black jersey. All of a sudden, the All Black jersey lost some of its prestige.

Since then, the increasing importance placed on the World Cup has seen players picked for development. As much as the selectors claim they pick the best players for every game, there have been selections in recent years that suggest otherwise.

Indeed a handful of players chosen in 2012 and 2013 are hardly even dead certain Super Rugby players. With all due respect to these men, it cheapens the jersey when anyone other than the top players are given it. All of a sudden, the jersey is not the sacred domain of the elite, and that means it holds slightly less mystique and slightly less value.

As its value decreases, which has become particularly evident in the first two years in the "four-year World Cup cycle", it has less pulling power.

After the last World Cup, we saw Jerome Kaino leave New Zealand after the best two years of his career. He returned last year in time for the World Cup and has now signed on until 2018.

Luke McAlister made a similar move after the 2007 World Cup, returning to New Zealand in 2009, while Chris Jack made a similar move. The past six months have seen Hosea Gear and Sonny Bill Williams return in the hope of earning World Cup selection.

That players like this are prepared to leave at the height of their careers is a sign that the black jersey no longer holds the same attraction it once did. Players are prepared to forgo being an All Black, even if just temporarily, for lucrative contracts.

Piutau's decision, while unexpected, merely follows a trend that looks likely to become more and more prevalent. He will likely return for the 2019 World Cup, again showing that it is the World Cup, not the black jersey, that has pulling power over the lucrative overseas contracts.

It is new however, to see someone just entering their prime leave. Perhaps the money was just too good to refuse. Maybe it's just a sign of the times that we'll have to accept.

Nothing provokes debate like a player of the year list, perhaps except the choice of the man at the top of any such compilation.

Except when that man is Brodie Retallick and when he has had a year like the one just passed.

Unlike the anointment of his coach Steve Hansen as coach of the year, it is just about impossible to quibble with the naming of the young New Zealand second row as the best player on the planet in 2014.

Here’s a breakdown of why he deserves it.

Super stats

Retallick had a strong campaign in Super Rugby with the Chiefs, playing in 16 matches and averaging over nine tackles per game. He took 42 lineout catches, which doesn’t put him in the top ten for that area of the game, but that is not where the 23-year-old is most valuable.

Retallick’s hunger for carrying the ball is what sets him apart. He did that 116 times during the 16-game season for a total distance of 327 metres, more than any other Test lock playing in the competition.

A first for the second row

In being named World Rugby’s Player of the Year, Retallick is the first lock to be awarded the accolade since it was introduced. When you consider the likes of John Eales, Martin Johnson and Paul O’Connell have never won it, Retallick’s achievement from the engine room of the scrum is a significant one.

Summer performances

New Zealand hosted England for a three-Test series in the summer, and Retallick was outstanding in all three matches.

In the first, he ran for 44 metres with the ball, making him the second furthest ball carrier in the entire team, per ESPNScrum.com. In the third Test, his defence came to the fore with eight tackles.

Those numbers don’t portray the quality of his performances, though. When England attacked close to the ruck, it always seemed to be Retallick in the way, and when New Zealand needed a hard yard or two, it was he who gained that distance for them.

Rugby Championship

New Zealand won the Rugby Championship title again, and during the course of the competition, Retallick elevated his form to new levels. In the 51-20 drubbing of Australia, he was everywhere, forcing crucial turnovers, initiating attacks, offloading and running to overwhelm the Wallabies at Eden Park.

Retallick’s work rate and influence over the tempo of this New Zealand side was perhaps best illustrated when he wasn’t in it. He was missing for the All Blacks’ trip to South Africa, where they were outgunned in the forward battle and eventually defeated.

November tours

Retallick was excellent against England, doing the basics well and forming part of a pack that clawed its way to victory when it had to weather a storm with a man in the sin bin. It wasn’t a day for cutting loose, and Retallick showed his other side.

When New Zealand travelled to Cardiff for what turned out to be a thriller, Retallick led the way in a stout All Black defensive effort with 12 tackles that all but broke Welsh spirits and allowed the world champions to run away with it in the final quarter.

No one has worn the No. 12 jersey for the All Blacks more than Ma'a Nonu. Despite having played at outside centre and on the wing at various stages of his career, Nonu has undoubtedly made the All Blacks No. 12 jersey his own in recent years. 

But is he an all-time great?

Having signed on to play for Toulon after next year's World Cup, the end is now in sight for Nonu's All Black career.

At his very best, he had it all. A destructive runner with ball in hand, he gained go-forward with ease and used a well-rounded skill set to pose a threat in distributing and offloading. Defensively he formed a brick wall in the midfield along with long-time midfield partner Conrad Smith.

But what sticks out in the mind with Nonu are his inconsistencies. 

Despite bursting onto the scene in 2003 as a blockbusting outside centre, it was not until 2009 that he really looked convincing as a safe option in the midfield.

His early career was dogged with a tendency to rush up on defence, which left a spot greatly exposed in the line, while also being prone to mind lapses both on attack and in his discipline.

It took him a long time to stamp these flaws out of his game. But stamp them out he did, and by 2009 he looked a far more measured, intelligent player, while retaining the destructive ability that made him so attractive in the first place.

Injuries throughout 2009 and the beginning of 2010 showed just how important he was for the All Blacks. While the likes of Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava and Benson Stanley were tried at inside centre, none brought with them the combination of threat and security that Nonu did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JsPjRxV_7I

After returning from injury, his form in 2010 was of the highest class as he became a key cog in the All Black machine that won everything there was to win that year. 

By this stage, he had really begun to look intelligent in how he approached his attack.

His footwork had improved, and he used this to create a weak shoulder in his defender, making him even harder to tackle. This is a skill that is taught extensively through the age grades in New Zealand and Nonu became a prime example of how to execute it to perfection.

He was at his best receiving ball at the line, where he could run intelligent angles off the ball to wrong-foot his opponent.

Along with this, he was a player who would go looking for work, often remaining in support after having created for his outsides.

But he did have his limitations.

His Super Rugby form over the past three years has been mediocre at best and showed that while he fits in well to a team like the All Blacks, he is not so potent in a team where he is the key man.

He runs well off a quality fly-half and operates well when receiving front-foot ball at the line. When he is not getting this, he has a tendency to fall back on crashing the ball in midfield coming back on a slight angle. In other words, he is not threatening and is easy to read.

It is not exactly remarkable stuff.

While his form for the All Blacks in the meantime has been reasonably good, his limitations and Super Rugby form have cast a shadow over the past three years of his career.

These inconsistencies and limitations are hard to overlook when judging Nonu against the great All Blacks. Sure, he is a good All Black. But is he truly one of the very elite inside centres, or second five-eighths, to have worn the All Black jersey?

The obvious players to include in this group are Bert Cooke, Bill Osborne and Walter Little.

Cooke now enjoys near-mythical status in All Black history after his deeds with the invincible All Blacks of 1924. His all-round game has been described and revered by many over the years, and even the great George Nepia remarks in his autobiography I, George Nepia that he could not compare.

Osborne, near perfect defensively and an outstanding support player, formed perhaps the country's best-ever midfield pairing with Bruce Robertson and achieved greatness despite his many injuries.

Little meanwhile was overlooked for much of his career but went on to form another of the great All Black midfield pairings, with Frank Bunce. He was a threat with ball in hand and possessed a good kicking game.

Whether Nonu has reached that same level of greatness is questionable. While you could argue what he did in 2010 and 2011 was as good as you could expect from an inside centre, his inconsistencies and periods of poor form are hard to overlook.

It perhaps then comes down to your criteria. Do you simply look at each player at their best? Or is longevity important? Indeed, if longevity is important, then one could argue Osborne is hamstrung—literally—by the injuries that dogged his career.

Nonu no doubt pushes for inclusion in this group and there are those who would choose to include him among New Zealand inside-centre royalty.

But it has never been completely convincing that he has stamped all of the weaknesses out of his game, and he remains prone to the occasional lapse, while his limitations have been exposed at Super Rugby level.

That really holds him back.

Despite this, he will be remembered as one of the better All Blacks to have worn the No. 12 jersey. Perhaps not in the top three but quite possibly at that next level down.

He still has time, though. A strong performance at next year's World Cup would add to his case, and as we saw in 2011, Ma'a Nonu does know how to bring it when it really matters.