Read ABs’ best No 8
Kieran Read has never dropped a goal in a test match but he deserves to go down in history as the All Blacks’ greatest No 8.
Some rugby romantics will make a case for the prodigiously gifted Zinzan Brooke, famous for an audacious long-range pot shot in the 1995 Rugby World Cup semifinal win over England.
As great as Brooke was at his peak, no New Zealand No 8 can hold a candle to Read for all-round ability, durability and consistency.
It remains risible that some European judges still persist in insisting Italy’s veteran captain Sergio Parisse is in Read’s all-round class.
When talk turns to the best men to have worn the black No 8 jumper, the conversation generally centres around a Famous Five – Read, Brooke, Buck Shelford, Murray Mexted and Brian Lochore.
Other talented types have donned the jersey, but some – such as the late Jerry Collins and 1956 Springboks buster Peter Jones – were more famous for their deeds at blindside flanker.
Rodney So’oialo – a converted flanker – started 46 of his 62 tests at No 8, and his workrate could not faulted, but he was overshadowed in his era by England’s Lawrence Dallaglio.
Lochore, Mexted, Shelford, Brooke and Read (in chronological order) were unchallenged in their prime as the best No 8 in the world. Let’s look at their credentials. BRIAN LOCHORE ( 25 tests from 1964 to 1971, 5 tries).
It was apparent from the time the Wairarapa farmer made his test debut in 1964 as a 23-year-old that he would become a long-term All Black captain.
Tall for his time, adept at the lineout and athletic, Lochore led the All Blacks on their
1967 European tour, at the head of a forwards set which would seriously rival the 2015 World
Cup version as the greatest All Blacks pack of all-time. Lochore – a hard grafter in his core roles – also enjoyed running the ball up alongside Colin Meads, Kel Tremain, Ken Gray, Waka Nathan and Ian Kirkpatrick.
Lochore captained the All Blacks in one of their most successful eras under charismatic coach Fred Allen. The only blot on his copybook was a series defeat in South Africa in 1970, after Allen’s tenure.
Sir Brian Lochore retains respect today as one of All Blacks rugby’s greatest leaders.
MURRAY MEXTED (34 tests from 1979 to 1985, 4 tries).
The moustachioed Mexted set a new bar with his rangy running style and his ball-handling skills.
Most famous for his superb solo try on debut in 1979 from a two-man lineout against Scotland at Murrayfield. Mexted’s mitts plucked Andy Dalton’s lineout throw out of the Edinburgh air and he slalomed past the turnstile tackle attempts of two Scots frontrowers before sidestepping wing Bruce Hay. ‘‘He really made it look so simple . . . noone could stop him,’’ raved legendary television commentator Bill
McLaren.
But there was more to Mexted’s game than flashy touchdowns. He was a lineout force with a big motor around the field and his skills complemented those of abrasive blindside Mark Shaw and educated openside Graham Mourie.
There’s no doubting Mexted’s passion for the game – the odd television commentary malapropism aside – but never forget he was a seriously good No 8, who remains actively involved in the game through the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand programme in Palmerston North.
WAYNE (BUCK) SHELFORD (22 tests from 1986 to 1990, 5 tries).
A charismatic All Black captain, the former Navy man had an inbuilt radar targeted at the advantage line. Shelford was the old-fashioned, rollup-your-sleeves No 8 committed to getting his team vital go-forward.
As tough as they come – Shelford insisted on playing on after having his scrotum stitched in a test in France – he prided himself on playing mistake-free rugby.
Forged a fine combination with openside exemplar
Michael Jones and workaholic blindside Alan Whetton in the 1987 World Cup winning team where his leadership proved admirable support for stand-in skipper David Kirk.
Captained the All Blacks from late 1987 to 1990 when prematurely dropped by coach Grizz Wyllie, prompting a national ‘Bring Back Buck’ campaign.
Also instrumental in bringing some respect to the All Blacks’ prematch haka performance.
ZINZAN BROOKE (58 tests from 1987 to 1997, 17 tries, 3 drop goals).
The most natural try-scoring All Blacks loose forward since the great Ian Kirkpatrick, Brooke could seemingly do it all on the rugby pitch.
He scored 17 tries in 58 tests (at a better average clip than Read’s 25 in 118 matches).
Made his debut as an openside flanker at the 1987 World Cup, his versatility often ensured he was the back row reserve.
It took him till Shelford’s unceremonious axing in 1990 to get the coveted
No 8 berth and his
1991 World Cup displays were so unconvincing, incoming coach Laurie Mains initially overlooked him in 1992.
Mains soon revised his opinion and Brooke rewarded him with several seasons of sublime play, becoming as integral to the All Blacks pack as skipper Sean Fitzpatrick.
He left a void when he moved to England in 1997 – a gap not truly filled till Read’s rise over a decade later.
KIERAN READ (118 tests from 2008 to 2019, 25 tries).
No New Zealand No 8 has had such a stranglehold on the jersey. Read has been unchallenged since shifting to the scrum’s boot in 2009.
The Papakura product – 1.93m and 111kg – is as athletic as Mexted and Brooke, as rugged as Shelford and as rugby smart as Lochore.
It’s tantamount to his leadership skills and mana within the group, the All Blacks kicked on after he took over as captain from fellow two-time World Cup winner
Richie McCaw.
Six years on from his crowning as 2013 world player of the year, Read remains a lineout master, in terms of execution and understanding, his defence is always punishing and his awareness and athleticism adds an extra dimension to the All Blacks attack.
Read so rarely makes mistakes a national day of mourning was almost declared when he fumbled the pill with the Irish try-line looming in the Dublin defeat last November.
So sorry to you Lochore lovers, Mexted men and women, Shelford supporters and Brooke brigadiers: Kieran Read is without peer as New Zealand’s best No 8.