Cullen ranks among greats as a fullback for his time

By DAVID LEGGAT

Why is it that some rugby positions attract more debate than others?

You'll get more pub discussion, for example, about the merits of halfbacks or openside flankers than you will about gnarly tighthead props.

So it is with fullbacks. We've all played the game: who is the All Blacks' greatest No 15?

Depending on various factors - your age, your provincial allegiance, who you actually saw as opposed to opinions formed from the written word or grainy celluloid - the names are the same. In no particular order: George Nepia, Bob Scott, Don Clarke, Fergie McCormick.

And, on his farewell appearance on New Zealand soil, appropriately before his home crowd in tonight's NPC first division final, add the name Christian Cullen.

The first four are remembered for different things: Nepia's swiftness, fearlessness in defence and durability (and you wonder what would Nepia have made of the All Black coach talking about "asset protection." That means players sitting on their chuff in the grandstand. Nepia remember, played all 30 games on the Invincibles tour of 1924-25, plus the eight which bookended the tour).

Scott, by all accounts, was simply a natural.

Clarke's booming, match-winning goalkicking made him a legend.

McCormick was perhaps the first fullback to show the possibilities of counter-attacking from the back, and he, too, was a rugged defensive rock in his best years, 1967-70.

And Cullen? How will we think of him in 20 years? Blistering speed, snappy swerve, broken-play runner with few peers, an awareness of the importance of supporting the ball-carrier and a brave defender. Off the field, not given to the flowery quote, a person who seemed ill-at-ease in the spotlight.

His All Black record of 46 tries in 58 tests from 1996 until last year is stunning. He began with a hiss and a roar against Samoa with three on debut at Napier, then bagged a further four against the Scots at Carisbrook eight days later.

By the end of his first international year he had nine tries in 10 tests and a star, as they say ...

Even last year, after coming back from injury, he picked up four in six tests before John Mitchell and his fellow selectors decided they had seen enough to know he was not part of their World Cup plans.

So, at 27, he will depart for Munster where he will thrill the Irish as he has audiences worldwide. The sharp edge might have been blunted but he'll still be good enough to pull the punters out of their seats in a slightly lower standard than he has become accustomed to.

There was a sour note at the end, when Cullen took potshots at Mitchell in his book. The comments betrayed a feeling that he was still good enough to be at the World Cup, had been cast aside when he still had something to offer. Maybe, but not in the only opinion which really counted.

Best, though, to remember the Paekakariki Express for what he was, a sublime talent who gave terrific entertainment.

A fullback for his time.