Drink, All Blacks and their women

Robin Brooke wasn't the only one. Photo / Getty Images

The attitude of All Blacks towards women and drinking has come under the microscope once more following damaging allegations that Robin Brooke had sex with a drunk teenage girl.

Former players have admitted the claims against Brooke had brought shame on the All Blacks brand.

Former centre Grahame Thorne, a star of the 1960s and 70s, said the revelations had made him question his past.

"I did think 'did I actually rape anyone?' I was worried but it never happened. Sometimes you don't know whether you did actually do it, in the sense of where the line is. But no one ever, ever complained."

Thorne, who later became an MP, said girls threw themselves at players as soon as they put on an All Black blazer.

"There were lots of groupies. Young women would go after most of the team. It was open slather. But that doesn't make it all right."

He said today's players faced much closer scrutiny than in his era, but that attention had also devalued the All Blacks reputation.

"It must be very difficult for the players today, they go out and they get goaded."

Former centre Frank Bunce said he enjoyed the trimmings of fame, and had a number of liaisons during his playing career.

"If the occasion arose and we were both happy about it then that's okay. I'm not saying it doesn't happen."

He said the latest claims against his former teammate Brooke were damaging to the All Black brand.

"All Blacks come from all walks of life. It can tarnish reputations and names but the All Blacks are a whole lot bigger than that and they always will be."

Another of Brooke's former teammates, Michael Jones, said the rule during his playing career was that players had to look out for each other.

"Every successful team I have been involved with had a mentoring system. It's just looking after your mates.

"You can find yourself in compromising situations. You have got to have a strong character and values, that will keep you focused on who you are and what you represent."

Former locking partner Ian Jones said he had spoken to Brooke and his thoughts were with the family.

Kickboxing legend Ray Sefo used to be a bouncer at the bar. Speaking from Las Vegas, he said: "Robin was a big star by that time. He would often be out and about with the other players. He was a nice guy."

The revelations have placed fresh strain on his marriage to Hayley, a former cheerleader with the Auckland rugby team.

The squad included Alison Imm, who later married Zinzan Brooke, newsreader Wendy Petrie and celebrity agent Sara Tetro.

Claire Baxter, head choreographer with the Blues cheerleaders, was starting with the team at the time.

"They were all really well-educated, lovely women who have gone on to do great things.

"Unless you were seriously dating someone you weren't allowed to mingle with the players. Robin was always so polite. He has a good family, a nice relationship. We didn't party with them afterwards."