The All Blacks have produced more rugby legends than any other nation in history.
From World Cup winners and record-breakers to icons who helped define entire eras of the sport, New Zealand’s greatest players have set standards the rest of the rugby world can only dream of matching.
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But with greatness comes debate.
Some players become so celebrated that their reputation eventually grows beyond what they actually achieved on the field. That doesn’t mean they weren’t world-class. In fact, many of the most overrated players in rugby history were still outstanding internationals.
With that in mind, we’ve counted down the five most overrated All Blacks of all time – players whose reputations perhaps exceed their true standing in New Zealand rugby history.
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5. Julian Savea
At his peak, “The Bus” looked unstoppable and was tipped to challenge for the title of greatest wing of all time.
Savea’s try-scoring record remains exceptional, with 46 tries in just 54 Tests, but his international career declined rapidly after an explosive start. While he was undoubtedly world-class, some of the early comparisons with Jonah Lomu now look slightly premature.
Quirky fact: Savea scored eight tries during the 2015 Rugby World Cup, equalling Jonah Lomu’s tournament record.
