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Strange that in a land where rugby is dominant and the flanker is the paramount chief in that code, that there is no publication about their exploits. There have been recent books about fullbacks and wings but no work which concentrated on looseforwards.
Revered author Terry McLean included
pieces on Maurice Brownlee and Cliff Porter in his book of New Zealand rugby greats and various All Black flankers have been automatic entries in any global tomes looking at the best players who laced up the boots.
It seems that flankers have defined All Black rugby just as five-eighths have sorted out the Welsh reputation, tight forwards have been an unerring Springbok anthem and nifty backs have signalled the French are on the march.
Someone who has seen a fair chunk of rugby during his 88 years is Fred "The Needle" Allen from the time he started provincial rugby through his exploits with the Kiwis to coaching Auckland from 1957-63 before embarking on an unbeaten 14-test run as coach of the All Blacks in the 1960s.
Allen will be at Eden Park tomorrow to watch the first of the All Blacks twin internationals against England, where he can further gauge the outstanding exploits of national skipper Richie McCaw.
The 27-year-old was remarkably influential in the Super 14 playoffs and the Polar International against Ireland last week at Wellington, so much so that All Blacks forward coach Steve Hansen was in no doubt that McCaw was the greatest No 7 in New Zealand's proud rugby history.
"That is saying something," he said. "Michael Jones and Josh Kronfeld were world-class and this guy probably heads them off. It is not only his longevity, he is a good link player, a good ground player like Kronfeld was and is just a complete athlete - he can do anything.
"In the last three weeks, McCaw has stood up and when the pressure football has been on, he has been in the front and shows what a great player he is and what a great leader he is," Hansen added.
"He churns them out. He looks after his body and here in the All Blacks and with the Crusaders, we allow him time to recover early in the week which can assist him in repeating his performances."
Hansen's praise set off the usual gaggle of correspondence, debate and discussion about who really was the pre-eminent flanker in All Black history (it was hard to find many who had seen Charlie "Bronco" Seeling or Brownlee play) and whether it was possible to compare players from different eras.
There was some tongue-in-cheek indignation from one regular who wanted Kevin "Hayburner" Eveleigh remembered in the pantheon of stars probably as much for his play as for that famous cover photo of the blood-soaked loosie which decorated Rugby News in 1976.
And there will be those mischievous types who will be calling for Mark Carter, as they did in the days when that flanker symbolised all that brash Auckland could do in the early 90s, to be resurrected just to antagonise the old southern coaching supremo of the time Laurie Mains.
In a more serious vein, New Zealand and the All Blacks have been blessed with the quality of their looseforwards. In the last 50 years, the men in black have chosen players who could have been top flankers for other international sides but have been reduced to occasional duties because of New Zealand's depth of talent.
Just think blokes like Rex Pickering, John Graham, Bill Clark, Graham Williams, Red Conway, Tom Lister, Alan McNaughton, Alastair Scown, Ken Stewart, Leicester Rutledge, Barry Ashworth, Frank Shelford, Mark Brooke-Cowden, Mike Brewer. There are others but just those names show the quality.
"I always said I was a great fan of Bunny Tremain," Allen said. "But I do think that McCaw is now better which is bloody high praise.
"We have had some very good looseforwards, men like Michael Jones who was fantastic and like McCaw, a gentleman off the field. McCaw last week was everywhere, is a very tough man and puts his body on the line. He is also such a nice guy and you never see him throw any punches or that sort of thing."
Since Tremain and Waka Nathan embellished the All Blacks looseforwards ranks, the baton has passed to others of ultimate quality like Ian Kirkpatrick, Graham Mourie, Jock Hobbs, Jones, Kronfeld and McCaw.
Kirkpatrick was good enough to displace Tremain and was a devastating runner and tryscorer who captained the side through the early part of the 70s. Not long after his demise, Mourie arrived to place his imprint on the position.
He led the 1978 Grand Slam tour and in 1980, after his side destroyed Wales' centenary celebrations at Cardiff, legendary Welsh flyhalf Cliff Morgan said: "I do not mind going to my maker because today, I saw from Graham Mourie the greatest looseforward display the world could ever wish to see."
The mantle was passed to Hobbs who, apart from being an excellent player before being cut down by concussion, moved into administration to help save New Zealand in 1995 from the ravages of prowling rebel offers and is now facing equal challenges as the union chairman.
Jones was a marvellous athlete, simply superb at the 1987 World Cup, who reinvented himself as a blindside flanker after several horrendous knee injuries while Kronfeld made his mark from the 1995 World Cup where his patent tackle, bounce and pilfer technique was arresting. All were high quality, all trendsetters.
The arguments will never be settled about who was best, whether others like "Killer" Arnold or George Nola should be on the list. One player who started his test career in 1957 as a looseforward before moving to lock was Colin Meads, New Zealand's overwhelming choice as the best player of last century.
His legendary deeds have been chronicled in several biographies and mention of his name sends Allen into immediate reverence mode. Meads was simply that good.
"Everything he did was great, the only stupid thing he ever did was play with a broken arm in 1970 in South Africa," said Allen. "Otherwise, Pinetree was simply the best."
