Northland duo make best team

The "Kamo Kid" and "Super Sid" have been named as the best lock and best halfback respectively to ever don an All Black jersey.

Rugby experts and the public have voted Ian Jones and Sid Going ,- the only two Northlanders - among the greatest All Blacks XV that includes the likes of Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Sean Fitzpatrick and Dan Carter. Sky Sport's Rugby channel asked journalists to vote for the best players in each of the 15 positions and the numbers were whittled down to the final four per position.

The public was then invited to vote.

Jones, better known as Kamo in rugby circles after his hometown, said he was lucky to play in an era with great players like Lomu, Cullen, Michael Jones and Andrew Mehrtens.

"I've always felt at home in that [All Blacks] jersey and sometimes all you need in life is a chance and I guess I was given that by the great Alex Wyllie who selected me," he said.

Jones, who played 79 tests for his country and is the most capped lock in All Blacks history, said it was great to be acknowledged by the public, 11 years after hanging up his boots.

Jones lists the 1995 Rugby World Cup final against the Springboks and the 1996 series win over the same opponents as the highlights of his career.

In the New Year Honours 2010, Jones was appointed Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby.

Rugby commentator Keith Quinn, one of the journalists who took part in the voting, said Jones was a new breed of lock in that he was slim compared to the normal large locks before his arrival on the scene.

"He was a fantastic forward ... light, athletic, a good jumper, and good around the field, although he had a different shape."

Referring to Sid Going, the long-serving rugby commentator said the Maromaku farmer was a match winner.

"Although Chris Laidlaw was a better passer, a better all-round player, Sid had a lot of surprises in the bag with his unorthodox, completely elusive style of play that made him an amazing player," Quinn said.

Sid was part of the legendary North Auckland rugby side that defeated Auckland in the 1970-71 Ranfurly Shield challenge at Okara Park.

He is on a Christian mission fellowship in Sydney and will return home before Christmas.

Others voted as the best-ever were Olo Brown, Richie McCaw, Walter Little, Sir Colin "Pinetree" Meads, and Zinzan Brooke.

Voters chose Fitzpatrick as the captain.

The battle for best coach was a cliffhanger, with Fred "The Needle" Allen and Brian Lochore dead heating.

Experts gave the nod to Allan, 91, as the unbeaten coach of the All Blacks. He is also the oldest living All Black.