The Springboks most lethal adversary - The Paekakariki Express

The best FB we ever had.

Cullen is the best FB I've ever had the pleasure of seeing, he had everything, sublime skill, pace and nous, the complete package. He was born with the X Factor.

Without a doubt, the best ever.

GOAT fullback!

When he played with Lomu and Wilson on the wing, I knew as a Bok supporter that shit was coming!

GOAT in any position.

HO de Villiers before his knee injury......unstoppable, powerful, brave, hands like flypaper. The best I have seen by far

Cullen was a high-end attacker. Runner. Suited the All Black model of the day. Not the best all-round 15. Australia had a slew of great 15s, I'd still take Chris Latham. Prime Dagg was probably the best 15 I have seen. Nobody ticked every box like him, and his aerial dominance contributed significantly to New Zealand's dominance. It was the determining factor in so many Bok tests, and he could accurately kick from 22-to-22. No real weaknesses and his vision, distribution and versatility and work rate were unmatched. 

@Aug,

Cullens only weakness was kicking. He could kick if the game plan demanded it, but was not a natural kicker or he just never practised this area of the game.

However, he was such a good counter attacker than in some ways he did not need a kicking game. Cullen killed teams that tried to play 10 man rugby because he would just counter-attack and punish them. 

Dagg was like a South African kicker in that he could kick 80 metres, but in any other facet of the game, he was no match for Cullen. 

Lathem was good, but could never be mentioned in the same breath as Cullen.

When Percy Montgomery was young before he bulked up too much, he has an explosive step that was South Africa's best answer to Cullen. But there was only one true Cullen. 

I strongly disagree that Cullen was better than Dagg, and I don't agree entirely with Joubert in the article I am posting below. The fullback role may have undergone the least change as the game has changed, but the defences they've faced and the attacking structures that have evolved since his time are lightyears apart. Dagg was a player that single-handedly gave New Zealand an advantage over every other team in the world in the battle for territory and launching their attack. He was a big reason the All Blacks overturned the Boks in 2010. I haven't seen another 15 have that kind of impact on New Zealand's overall game like that. He was extremely versatile. 

Ben Smith is my kind of fullback, says Joubert
10 August 2014 - 02:39
BY KHANYISO TSHWAKU

Andre Joubert sees a bit of Christian Cullen in Ben Smith, which explains his affection towards the Highlanders fullback.

In his 34 Springbok tests, the Rolls- Royce of South African rugby made the complex fullback role look easy.

Maybe that explains why the incumbent All Black number 15, Ben Smith, is his kind of fullback.

The languid yet explosive 28-year-old South Islander has all but displaced North Islander Israel Dagg, but Joubert said the 26-year-old's minor injuries that have set him back should not be much of a worry for the All Blacks.

"Smith has great skill, has great vision, allied with a superb kicking game. I see him as my kind of fullback and he has taken advantage of the void left by Dagg. At this point in time he is ahead of Dagg. However, once Dagg gets past his injury woes he will be a handful," Joubert said.

All Black ace Cullen and Australian goal-kicking maestro Matthew Burke were Joubert's main contemporaries in his prime, adding spice to the developing rivalry between Willie le Roux, Smith and Israel Folau.

Like Joubert, Le Roux is left-footed, with Folau and Smith right-footed.

Joubert said the marked change in fullback play from his era was the extensive use of the high ball.

"Our eras are pretty much the same as the fullback position has not changed, because we are one rugby species which is not affected much by constant rule changes. The use of the high ball has been more prominent, but when put on the same pedestal a good fullback will always have an effect on the game, not just by sitting at the back and waiting for the ball," Joubert said.

How Joubert graded the rivals:

Le Roux: His weakness is his relatively small size, but his skill makes up for that and he has a left foot, which always helps out. He tends to chip too much and he is a bit of an individual player. His great attributes are his vision of the game and his spatial awareness.

Folau: He uses his strength and size to its maximum potential and he is an excellent ball player. His one glaring weakness is his kicking game. He is susceptible when the ball is kicked behind him. He always tries to run himself out of trouble.

Smith: He is one of those players who can run from anywhere. He could be caught out when competing in the air against bigger players.

Joubert's overall verdict: They all have excellent qualities, but if you take out size, Smith and Le Roux are quality.

Dagg was very effective against teams like SA that preferred to use a 10-man game with territorial domination. He could provide relieving kicks, that completely undone the work of the opposition forwards. 

Even in Super Rugby for the Crusaders, he allowed his team to be more effective at a territorial game.  He destroyed teams that played 10 man rugby/ big pack kicking territorial game, by making return kicks with interest. It was a unique approach for the All Blacks.

However, the All Blacks natural game is to have a XV that can cut the backline, or be the extra man on the wing. The All Blacks are best using their superior passing game and exploiting the opposition out wide- and Cullen was the ultimate opportunist. 

"Latham was good, but could never be mentioned in the same breath as Cullen."

Took the words from my mouth. It's insulting to compare Latham with Cullen. I mean how on earth can anyone compare an above average player with sheer brilliance?

Organpuffer

"Australia had a slew of great 15s"

Other than Mathew Burke and part time FB Joe Roff…...care to name them?

I didn't see all of them but I did see The Don, Mils, Dagg, Smith and Cullen.

Don Clarke in his era and Christian Cullen in his. 

100% correct Cloudy......what a wonderful perspective.

Just "above average"? Grumpy Gus, as per the norm, straining too hard to be a contrarian. Latham carved opponents up (2nd highest try scorer in Wallaby history, which would be #2 on the Bok list). He was also IRB Player of the Yea r. Those were the days when the Aussies used to beat New Zealand. Latham, Burke, O'Connor (at his best was at fullback), Larkham was initially a fullback and a damn good one, Roebuck, Mat Rogers, Glen Ella, Shepherd. I don't expect you to know any of these names. Most Saffers are that clueless. We could also drop in Folau, if that won't make you any grumpier. Have a nice day, try not to spit in your own bowl of Bland Flakes. 

Oaks andre Joubert was the GOAT. Ask yourself what other fullback was called the Rolls Royce of Fullbacks. 

Cullen was great at running lines and benefited from being put into pace by creative team members.

His defence was brittle and he was a poor kicker of the oval ball. No such a deeply flawed player cannot remotely be called GOAT.

Hear that H O de Villiers was pure genius before injury wrecked him.

Wouldn't call Cullen a baboon!!! 

My pleasure, Cloudy. 

I'm hoping to find archived footage showcasing some of the names you've mentioned.

Imo. CC is numero uno, as a Bok supporter he was a nightmare, but pure magic to watch .

An open field runner....Cullen was at sea at 13 in the 99 WC. And along with Wilson at 15 a big part of the loss to France . I doubt he would feature as much today at test level with the tighter defences. The myth of his huge pace was also popped when Breyton  Paulse  caught him from behind.

It sounds a bit like some folks are drinking too much Gin and are getting all sentimental. 

Cullen made 3 and missed 2 in the 99 WC. Putting a weak defender ay 13 was a bad idea. He was electric running, beating 4 defenders, making 3 clean breaks and nearly 100m. But, his weaknesses were exposed. He is not the greatest, too many flaws. Folau is better than Cullen, so too Dagg. Better all round players in more demanding eras. Latham was lethal before the ELVs and that counts for a lot. Cullen was the Spencer of fullbacks.

Ben Smith was a great all round 15. Even though he lost a step last two seasons, he was still lethal. A very smart player. Still, Dagg augmented the All Black game in anway that no other 15 has. He was a key component of their period of dominance from 2010 onwards. 

He was until 2014 when injuries gave Smith a chance and he was overtaken, it is a true 50/50 call but I prefer Smith's consistency and physicality over what Dagg offered.