PICKING THE GREATEST ALL BLACKS OF ALL TIME
ON THE top of his bedroom wardrobe, in a brown paper bag, is a reminder of one of Brent Anderson's greatest days. It comes down from its hiding place when visitors to Anderson's farm at Te Ore Ore, about 20km from Masterton on the road to Castlepoint, ask to see it.
There is nothing special about the wardrobe, or the bag, but what’s inside it is: an All Black test jersey. Although he played three times for his country and warmed the bench for four more, Anderson has only one test jersey.
From James Allan in 1884, through to Cullen Grace, the last All Black named in 2020, 1192 men have played rugby for New Zealand, 167 of them making a solitary test appearance.
Some recent one-test wonders may add to their tally; some of the 167 played a number of games that were not tests, particularly in the old days of long tours and midweek matches. The unlucky ones played in plenty of matches but never a test, while others had careers that were cut short by injuries, war, work and death.
All have a unique story.
Like poor Donald Cobden who was branded a coward after he was forced from the field 25 minutes
