Riechelmann debuted for Auckland in 1994, and after impressive Super Rugby form was called into the All Blacks in 1997, playing a total of six Tests and four mid-week matches. Riechelmann combined with Brooke to form a powerful second row during the 1996 season and was one of the Blues try scorers in the Super Rugby final against Sharks. He amassed 62 Tests in black, and after winning two Super Rugby titles with the Blues he captained the side in his last two seasons, 20. Brooke debuted for the All Blacks in 1992 and was a familiar sight in the second row over eight years. Described as a workhorse, Brooke debuted for Auckland in 1987 and played for the union over 15 years.
Robin Brooke was the youngest of three Brooke brothers who had a big impact on rugby in New Zealand.
#CABOUS VAN DER WESHUIZEN PROFESSIONAL#
Despite rugby becoming professional in the latter stages of Brown’s career, he continued to work as a chartered accountant. Brown was the first prop to play 50 Tests for the All Blacks, finishing his career with 56 Tests and 13 matches in black. Similar to Fitzpatrick, Brown played all his rugby exclusively in Auckland, debuting for Auckland in the 1980s and becoming a regular in the black jersey in 1992. He is one of three players from the 1996 Blues side that has been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame and is an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.Ĭompleting the all-All Blacks Blues front row is the highly regarded Olo Brown. With three World Cup appearances, 62 Tests as captain of the All Blacks, two Super Rugby titles and eight National Provincial titles, Fitzpatrick is considered one of the greats. Playing a remarkable 346 first class matches, Fitzpatrick’s career spanned over a decade, playing his first representative match for Auckland in 1986. Sean Fitzpatrick represented three teams in his career – Auckland, Blues and All Blacks. He coached North Harbour in 2009 in the Air New Zealand Cup. Dowd finished his playing career at the Wasps in the Guinness Premiership. Making his All Blacks debut in 1993, Dowd was first choice prop going into the 1995 Rugby World Cup and was a mainstay of the front row, playing 60 Tests and seven matches for the All Blacks. Dowd played for Auckland and the Blues, amassing 83 and 64 caps, respectively. Officially Blues player #1, Dowd as part of a formidable front row alongside Fitzpatrick and Brown. The official All Blacks website takes a closer look at the starting XV for the Blues that day – 25 May, 1996. SIGN UP | Click to receive Rob Houwing’s weekly ‘Rucking with Rob’ newsletter! The Blues would go on to defend their title in 1997 and win again in 2003, while the Sharks are still waiting to taste success having lost in four finals (1996, 2001, 2007, 2012) – the equal most along with the Crusaders and Brumbies. GREAT DEBATE | Who was better … Joost van der Westhuizen or Fourie du Preez? Small (13) and Joubert (11) were the top two try-scorers in that inaugural season. NAME THEM! | Sporting icons before they became famousĭespite featuring arguably their strongest ever starting XV – 15 Andre Joubert, 14 James Small, 13 Jeremy Thomson, 12 Dick Muir, 11 Cabous van der Westhuizen, 10 Henry Honiball, 9 Kevin Putt, 8 Gary Teichmann, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Wayne Fyvie, 5 Mark Andrews, 4 Steve Atherton, 3 Adrian Garvey, 2 John Allan, 1 Ollie le Roux – the Sharks fell short (45-21) in the final against a Zinzan Brooke-led Blues side. The Blues outclassed third-placed Northern Transvaal 48-11 in their semi-final in Auckland, while the Sharks upset the table-topping Reds 43-25 in Ballymore. There was only one log 24 years ago and no conference system … how we long for simpler times! In that 1996 Super 12 season, the Blues finished second in the standings, with the Sharks in fourth. Register your interest for the British & Irish Lions tickets in South Africa 2021 Super Rugby as we know it today started back in the 1996 season when the sport officially turned professional.
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