Rugby: Current ABs ranked among greats

Dan Carter and Richie McCaw were two of five current All Blacks named in a 'best XV'. Photo / Getty

Five current All Blacks have been included in an all-time "best XV" to represent New Zealand.

A seven-man expert panel selected the team as part of the "Born to Defy" series on Radio Sport.

It featured the great Sir Colin Meads as the only All Black. Alongside him was long-time match commentator Keith Quinn, Sky rugby expert and Herald columnist Scotty Stevenson, Newstalk ZB rugby caller Nigel Yalden, long-serving Herald sportswriters Wynne Gray and Paul Lewis and veteran sportswriter Phil Gifford.

There were only three unanimous selections from the 1146 All Blacks eligible for the honorary best ever XV.

Meads was one (although he politely declined to select himself) along with former captain and hooker Sean Fitzpatrick and current first five Dan Carter.

The loose forward trio was hotly debated with Michael Jones named at No. 6 to accommodate Richie McCaw at openside flanker. Rounding off what would have been a dynamic back row was gifted No. 8 Zinzan Brooke. Chris Laidlaw won the hotly contested halfback role, narrowly ahead of his old sparring partner Sid Going.

Carter, McCaw, second five Ma'a Nonu, prop Tony Woodcock and Brodie Retallick were the only five current All Blacks to make the team.

The full team is:
Front row: Kevin Skinner, Sean Fitzpatrick, Tony Woodcock
Locks: Colin Meads, Brodie Retallick
Loose forwards: Michael Jones, Richie McCaw, Zinzan Brooke
Halfback: Chris Laidlaw
First five: Dan Carter
Midfield backs: Ma'a Nonu, Bruce Robertson
Wings: Jonah Lomu, John Kirwan
Fullback: Christian Cullen

Hear the Radio Sport experts discussing the best ever All Blacks

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