More than 2000 fans pick dream team

The fans have spoken. The Dream Team, chosen by public vote of the best players to have appeared for Auckland in the 25 years of the NPC, is revealed today.

More than 2000 entries, many of them from outside the region, were received for the competition, run by the Auckland Rugby Supporters Club and the Herald.

Auckland's NPC coaches - Eric Boggs, Bryan Craies, John Hart, Maurice Trapp and Bryan Williams, Graham Henry and Wayne Pivac - chose the top 15 players during their period in charge. From those candidates, the public made their selections.

The winning entry will be drawn by Auckland legend "Snow" White, the province's most-capped player, after tomorrow's game against Counties Manukau at Eden Park, and will be published in the Herald on Monday.

The winner and partner will be guests of the Supporters Club at its 25th anniversary dinner at Eden Park on October 26, will receive a framed Auckland jersey with the signatures of the Dream Team, and two season tickets to next year's NPC, courtesy of the Eden Park Trust Board.

Some of the positions were clear-cut. Voters had no trouble picking Sean Fitzpatrick at hooker, loose forwards Zinzan Brooke, Michael Jones and Alan Whetton, wings Bryan Williams and John Kirwan, halfback David Kirk, Grant Fox at first five-eighths and Joe Stanley at centre.

Other positions produced close counts, including fullback, where Matthew Ridge and Lindsay Harris pushed Adrian Cashmore hard.

Lee Stensness had support at second five-eighths; Robin Brooke got plenty of votes at lock; and Craig Dowd put up a decent challenge for a propping spot.