Battling the Lions: All Blacks dream team

The Herald's chief rugby writer Wynne Gray and chief sports writer David Leggat pick an All Black dream team from the seven tours of New Zealand since World War II.

* All Blacks

15 DON CLARKE (Waikato, played Lions in 1959) In an era when the boot was king, he kicked six penalties to win the opening test at Carisbrook on his own, then grabbed the matchwinning try in the second test at Athletic Park. Played 31 tests.

14 BRYAN WILLIAMS (Auckland, 1971 and 1977) Powerful winger who played 38 tests. Perhaps New Zealand audiences never saw him at his peerless best in South Africa in 1970, but still good enough for us. As a bonus, put over his share of long range penalties.

13 BRUCE ROBERTSON (Counties Manukau, 1977) The prince of centres, Robertson played 34 tests over nine years. Gifted runner who knew how to manoeuvre his wings into tryscoring positions. Gets the nod ahead of aggressive Frank Bunce, just.

12 BILL OSBORNE (Wanganui, 1977) Hard-running second five-eighth whose 16 tests included all four in the 1977 series. Holds off Ron Elvidge, who scored a test-drawing try in the first test of 1950 and a famous match-winner at Athletic Park in the third test, Ian MacRae of 1966 and Terry Lineen.

11 STU WILSON (Wellington, 1983) Okay, he preferred the same wing as Beegee. New Zealand's leading test tryscorer when he completed his hat-trick at Eden Park in the final test. Scored four in the series. Classy operator, just pips Ralph Caulton, who bagged four tries in the 1959 series. 34 tests.

10 GRANT FOX (Auckland, 1993) Metronomic goalkicker, his lastminute 40m effort won the first test at Christchurch and he kicked 15 points in the decider at Eden Park. Played 46 tests and set new standards for points scoring. Was leading All Blacks points scorer in tests when he retired. By a mile.

9 DAVE LOVERIDGE (Taranaki, 1983) There were other candidates, notably Sid Going and Chris Laidlaw, but Loveridge, allround, was hard to top. Best remembered for his superb performance in the 9-0 second test win at windy Athletic Park. 24 tests.

8 BRIAN LOCHORE (Wairarapa Bush, 1966 and 1971) Rightly regarded as one of the finest All Black captains and a fine player too. Came back for one test in 1971, the year after he'd retired, to help out a locking crisis, his 25th and last international. The obvious captain of this side.

7 IAN KIRKPATRICK (Poverty Bay, 1971 and 1977) Heaps of options here but Kirkpatrick's 50m solo try at Lancaster Park in 1971 has a special place of honour. Alltime great, powerful runner, rangy athlete. Played 39 tests. Other candidates? See below.

6 KEL TREMAIN (Hawkes Bay, 1959 and 1966) Outstanding tryscorer, who bagged 36 in 86 matches for the All Blacks, a remarkable number in his era. The flank options? Try Michael Jones, Waka Nathan, Red Conway, Rex Pickering, Graham Mourie and Mark Shaw for starters.

5 COLIN MEADS (King Country, 1959, 1966 and 1971) The only triple-bagger in the team. Not surprising as he played 55 tests from 1957. Captained the All Blacks in the 1971 series. Played 11 tests against the Lions for seven wins, three losses and a draw, (in his final test).

4 TINY WHITE (Poverty Bay, 1950) Who to partner Pinetree? Brother Stan or Andy Haden perhaps? We've gone for the former mayor of Gisborne, who played 23 tests from 1949-56. Tough and respected.

3 KEN GRAY (Wellington, 1966) Rugged, ruthless front-rower who stands among the alltime great props. Played 24 tests from 1963-69. Immensely strong. Would not tour South Africa in 1970 on moral grounds.

2 SEAN FITZPATRICK (Auckland, 1993) The most-capped All Black with 92 tests. Led the All Blacks in the 1993 series, scoring a try in the Eden Park decider. Tough and durable, accurate lineout thrower, mobile and good scrummager. Holds off Bruce McLeod, who was outstanding in 1966 and Ron Hemi, ditto, from 1959.

1 JOHNNY SIMPSON (Auckland, 1950) The 'Iron Man' played nine tests and his career ended through injury in the third test of the 1950 series. But his reputation as a tough, uncompromising operator remains intact. A member of the famous Kiwis of 1945-46.