All Blacks among world’s best halfbacks
Current All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith and past greats Dave Loveridge and Justin Marshall feature in a major newspaper’s poll of the best No 9s in world rugby history.
Gareth Edwards, the great Wales and British and Irish Lions star of the 1970s, dominates the lists compiled by Stephen Jones and Stuart Barnes, rugby writers for The Times.
Both critics had Edward as their No 1, with Jones hailing him as ‘‘a very, very special athlete and player’’ and a ‘‘talent, frankly from another planet’’.
Barnes, a former England first fiveeighth, said he ‘‘watched [Edwards] walk on water during the Lions’ two greatest tours [1971 in New Zealand and
1-Gareth Edwards (Wales), 2-Matt Dawson (England), 3-Nick Farr-jones (Australia), 4-David Loveridge (NZ), 5-Fourie du Preez (South Africa), 6- George Gregan (Australia), 7-Gary Armstrong (Scotland), 8-Mike Phillips (Wales), 9-Rob Howley (Wales), 10-Terry Holmes (Wales).
1-Edwards, 2-Du Preez, 3-Gregan, 4-Aaron Smith (NZ), 5-Loveridge, 6-Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa), 7-Conor Murray (Ireland), 8-Howley, 9-Justin Marshall (NZ), 10-Fabien Galthie (France).
1974 in South Africa]’. It was no coincidence that the iron grip of the All Blacks and Springboks was broken in the era of Edwards’’.
Jones could find room for only one
Kiwi halfback in his top 10, ranking Loveridge, the 1980s star, at No 4, behind Edwards, England 2003 World Cup winner Matt Dawson and Nick Farr-jones, who captained the Wallabies to the 1991 World Cup title.
Loveridge, who played for the All Blacks from 1978 to 1985, was, Jones wrote, ‘‘just too early to take part in World Cups, so he was denied the ultimate accolade, but in his 24 caps between 1978-1985, he proved his world class. It was his all-round game that was so impressive, he had everything in his armoury and then some. His consistency and efficiency and his choice of play were remarkable.’’
Barnes had Smith at No 4, behind Edwards, former Springbok Fourie du Preez and Wallabies star George Gregan’.