All Black steel is toughest of all

[KenyaQuin]

All Black steel is toughest of all
Jim Tucker, Courier Mail September 08, 2008

NEW Zealand and their lust to attack are a wonderful gift to rugby union yet no world-beating team has so struggled to shed the image of unsmiling men of stone.

"They carry themselves with all the gaiety of gravediggers," Irish rugby writer Vincent Hogan famously penned when the Kiwis rolled into Dublin during the 1991 World Cup.

Richie McCaw and his men flew into Brisbane last night.

Their week will not be spent on any charm offensive.

It will be a functional mission to uncork a ruthless showing in the huge Tri-Nations "final" against the Wallabies on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

So full of elan on the field, yet seemingly with a tradition to uphold by being the steel-hearted men in black who rarely let you in off the paddock.

Far too often it has been true but it is an unfair generalisation as well.

Interviews with Brad Thorn, Grant Fox, Carlos Spencer, the great Sean Fitzpatrick, Joe Rokocoko and Kees Meeuws have provided some of the most enjoyable interview moments over 29 years writing about rugby.

Former Test hooker Anton Oliver related some of the historical baggage that comes..Read More Here.

[Flamethrower]

Black steel rusts quickly and easily. It's usually low tensile as well.

[The Lone Hydrangea]

Reckon they may have a early tickle their throats. Love that t/shirt.