6.  Blind-side Flanker

Michal Jones

 

Michael Jones gets the nod just in front of Richard Hill.  On another day I could easily argue the case for Hill.  Indeed the following narrative could be scribed for Hill as much as for Jones.

 

Few players have exuded so much charisma and mystique as Michael Jones, a supremely gifted athlete who whenever he was fit and available was almost invariably one of the first names written down in any All Black team sheet.

 

He had pace, athleticism, ball skills and a punishing tackle which quickly won him acclaim as one of the most gifted rugby players of all time.  Despite being not much more than 1.85m he was able to out-jump taller forwards because of a spring honed by his years as an accomplished young basketball player.

 

Jones was just as good on the open-side, however, it was in the six shirt where he redefined what the position could fulfil.  Springing out of the blocks to crush any offensive play down the blind-side became so common it struck fear before a ball was thrown.