World of Boxing and Rugby Union
Tighthead Prop
4. Carl Hayman
By the time the 2007 World Cup had finished it was widely accwpted that Hayman was generally seen as the world's best tighthead prop and one of the best New Zealand has ever produced in that position.
Hayman at the beginning of his career was considered too tall and with too long a back to be an ideal prop. Hayman, indeed, is 1.93m (6ft 4in) but Hayman's build did not appear to be too much of a handicap and in recent years there have been other international props following his physique.
Hayman's virtues were a strong scrummaging technique, surprising mobility, intelligence in the open and, with the radical law changes in lineouts, considerable ability as an effective lifter.
In 2001 Hayman became the 1000th player to appear for the All Blacks when he went on as a replacement in 2001 test against Samoa. But Hayman took a while to establish a regular All Black spot, his later appearances in 2001 and 2002 being either sporadic or mainly as a substitute.
He was overlooked totally for the 2003 season and it was only in 2004, following an outstanding Super 12 with the Highlanders, and when John Mitchell had been replaced by Graham Henry as coach, that he became an All Blacks� first choice. A touch of Maori ancestry enabled him to play for that national side as well, and he played a prominent part in the famous win over the touring Lions in Hamilton in 2005. He was awarded the Tom French Cuo for - Maori Player of the Year -in 2004.
Between 2004 and 2007 Hayman was the corner-stone of the All Black pack and but for his departure at the end of 2007 for an overseas contract he would have added substantially to a test tally of 45 appearances. As well he had played 81 Super 12/14 games and 68 times for Otago.
As an extremely big man, Hayman was one of the All Blacks who seemed to be most disadvantaged by playing so sparingly through the 2007 season. He played well enough at the World Cup in France, but with not quite the same dominance and edge he had had shown in the previous three seasons.
A superb tighthead who tore up the rule book on what the cornerstone of the scrum's physical attributes should be.