Wynne Gray: '87 side beats 2011 heroes for dream spots

John Kirwan. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

The hoodoo has been cracked, all hail King Henry and his All Blacks. As celebrations fade and the 2011 side try to get their lives into some sort of normal pattern, there is time to consider how they compare with their illustrious 1987 predecessors for a Hall of Fame side.

All Blacks like Jonah Lomu who starred at other World Cups would have walked into a composite team, but only Webb Ellis Cup winners are being considered.

Debates will rage and may not be sorted until the start of the next Super rugby series. Remember these are selections confined to World Cup form in 1987 and 2011.

Consider who will be hooker, Sean Fitzpatrick or Keven Mealamu, both outstanding men, superb players and dead-equal for now on 92 tests. Fitzy on his tigerish tournament form makes it but Mealamu is a magnificent warrior competitor.

What about the loosies where Wayne Shelford, Michael Jones and Alan Whetton are up against Kieran Read, Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino.

McCaw is forever being judged against Jones for opensider in any best All Black side. McCaw, by one stats guru, was in the leading group to breakdowns 45 times in the final, carried the ball six times, made most tackles (17) and missed only two.

His performance was all the more remarkable because of his foot injury, but he was hampered and Jones played like a thunderous panther throughout 1987. Advantage Jones.

Buck or Read? Buck lasted the whole distance courtesy of referee Kerry Fitzgerald's forgiveness while Read was shackled by injury until late in this year's event. Kaino was the player of the year for the All Blacks and carried that through the World Cup so sneaks in ahead of the workaholic Whetton.

Owen Franks has been a bull at tighthead and Steve McDowall was a feverish strongman in 1987 and will fit superbly up front with Murray Pierce and Gary Whetton to deliver the grunt and the lineout sting from the second row.

Much of the talk before this tournament was about the venomous precision in the All Black backline. That disappeared as the injury rate rose, Daniel Carter exited and the pressure escalated.

Piri Weepu sparked against Argentina and Australia but not regularly enough, Aaron Cruden came in late and solidly against the Wallabies but was then damaged so the consistent claims and leadership of David Kirk and the goalkicking game-management from Grant Fox demand their inclusion.

In midfield Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui, on the left wing, get the marbles ahead of the reliable Warwick Taylor, Joe Stanley and Craig Green.

John Kirwan was imperious on his wing and John Gallagher brought the sort of attacking fullback play which has re-emerged with Israel Dagg this season. He had a few injury concerns and tightened in the final so "Kipper" makes the final cut.

The ultimate XV

15 John Gallagher
14 John Kirwan
13 Conrad Smith
12 Ma'a Nonu
11 Richard Kahui
10 Grant Fox
9 David Kirk (c)
8 Wayne Shelford
7 Michael Jones
6 Jerome Kaino
5 Murray Pierce
4 Gary Whetton
3 Owen Franks
2 Sean Fitzpatrick
1 Steve McDowall