Greatest All Blacks XV (pro era) - tighthead

[Lizard]

Moving on then to complete the front row.

This one is a bit more complicated. Olo Brown was a dead set legend missing only 2 tests in a 6-year career. He was very old school though. I don't think he ever gave a single interview. Carl Hayman was very highly regarded but there's a feeling that perhaps he pulled the plug on his test career a little early - I think he was only 28. Owen Franks is standing the test of time and his dedication can't be questioned although his mysterious tryline allergy might count against him in a finely balanced assessment.

[cashead]

Gonna go with Owen Franks on this one, simply because out of the ones listed, he's the most multi-skilled. He's a decent scrummager (almost 90 caps, most of them starts for the All Blacks speaks for itself), but he's also the one that's busiest around the park. He's probably closest to the platonic ideal of the modern front-row forward.

[Spy]

I'm going for the full 96/97 package here. Olo Brown anchored an excellent scrum, had a back so straight you could rest a pint on it. Hayman could have been the guy, but threw his lot in elsewhere. Franks is good, but has also been part of a scrum that has come second on a number of occasions during his tenure.

[Lizard]

Ok. Who's the numpty who voted "other" without saying who they meant?

[Len]

Same as Cashead. Franks does more than meets the eye. Hard worker and he often used off first phase ball in midfield to set an attacking marker. Hes even run through a gap or 2 there.

And the no tries thing is awesome.

[dk4]

Disappointed that Hayman left so early in his career.
Impressive stats for Franks. He has done well.