Frank Bunce - All Black Legend
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- čas přidán 12. 06. 2024
- Bunce began his representative career at the Manukau club, and progressed to Auckland B in 1984 and then Auckland in 1986, the same year he was selected for the North Island team. He remained with Auckland until 1990, not usually a first choice player, although he did play in the trial for the All Blacks in 1988. In 1991 he moved to North Harbour.
Though mainly of Niuean descent, he was selected to play for Western Samoa, receiving international attention at the 1991 World Cup where the Samoan team reached the quarter-finals. These performances brought him to the attention of New Zealand coach Laurie Mains who selected him to play for the All Blacks in 1992.
Bunce became a regular feature of the All Black backline, missing only one game (against Japan at the 1995 World Cup) until his last game on 6 December 1997 against England in London. He played for New Zealand in the NZRU's centenary games against a World XV, against the British and Irish Lions in their 1993 tour, in the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final, the first two Tri Nations tournaments and the victorious series win over South Africa in 1996. He captained New Zealand once in a non-test game, and also played for New Zealand at the first Sevens World Cup in 1993. He scored 20 international tries (96 points) for New Zealand, and one try (4 points) for Samoa.
He played for the Chiefs until 1998, and played one season for Castres in France, and one season for Bristol in England before retiring in 1999.
At the close of his international career he was 35 years and 305 days old, a ripe old age for an international rugby player. He was the second-oldest All Black ever and New Zealand's most capped test centre (outside centre) at the time, and oldest back. Conrad Smith has the most caps as an All Black outside centre overall (85 - as at 22.05.15) Though best known as an excellent defensive player, he was also a strong attacking player in his own right. Bunce's powerful running and strength when tackled allowed the backs outside him to shine. - Sport
I don't think you can name Bunce's name without mentioning Walter Little. That duo set the world on fire. Much love from a Bok fan. Truly gifted.
I was sitting next to Scott McLeod in a bar in Hamilton one night and gave him my opinion that he should be more like Frank Bunce, he was a professional about it, gave me a polite look like i was a piece of garbage and moved away
😂😂😂😂😂
One of the all time best All Black centres
The best
I have Frank Bunce in my GOAT All Blacks XV
You and me both🎉
Conrad was awesome but i thought Bunce was better
Great runner, defender and distributor
Imagine him and Nonu in the midfield
@@paulmihaere8270 In my preferred All Blacks XV, I have Beauden Barrett at second five. Even though it's out of position, I know he could have excelled there and also given the All Blacks another first receiver with great kicking skills. Then I'd have Richie Mounga at fly half so they could do the left right split from scrums in the middle of the field. They would confuse the fk out of the opposition, not knowing which playmaker would get the ball.
But if we're sticking to their normal positions then yeah, Ma'a for sure. Then move Beaudy back to first five. Mounga on the bench. Dan Carter the supposed great, left right out.
Smoking joe
@@Rere-kc1tk Pretty good shout but Stanley wasn't the greatest runner. I almost went for Bruce Robertson. Some say Tana but I thought he was overrated, great player that he was
Bunce in a lifetime😊😊😊😊
Those attacking highlights were amazing, especially the ones from that tour of Australia but it was his defense that set him apart, he shut down a 10 meter lane for years, he was always 2 steps ahead
What I thought, where are the ‘whispering death' highlights…?
His wingers scored alot of tries.
IIM an Aussie, But Frank Bunce is one of my favourite players of All time,
Met him in a hotel lobby in San Francisco. I was a little star struck and managed only to mumble something about him being one of the best players ever, before scurrying away a little red faced. 😅
Wow he scored a Bunce of tries
He mightn't be the GOAT of centres but if he's with Walter Little you were good as gold.
The nonchalant jog back after scoring a try khhh,miss it
Bunce and little what a combination
Brilliant centre. Thanks for the upload
True legend
Need a compilation of his crash tackling hits!
That’ll put him in ward 9
So funny to see someone scoring a great individual try and getting not so much as a high five from anyone.
Notice no leaping, bum grabbing or French kissing after scoring a try. Pick up the ball for your kicker and jog back, barely cracking a smile. I miss those days.
Bunce and Jeremy Guscott would be the center pairing in my all-time Dream Team.
Bunce & Horan for me. Who else would you have in your backline?
GEREMY GUSCOTT?
@@itsovergetuptherejoe No, Jeremy Guscott.
@@rh5466 odd choice, I would have picked a good centre
@@rh5466 why wouldn’t you pair him with a good centre?
Good Mangere man. Should have been in the ABs much earlier if not for Joe Stanley form and the Old Boy system that always had a say...
Yeah I agree - he should have been heir apparent to Joe Stanley but John Hart and co were pushing Craig Innes! Frank Bunce use to destroy Craig Innes at club rugby yet Innes was in the dominant team with Marist - it was a JOKE!
Really, was he a Mangere Boy?
@@normalcc Played for Manukau Rovers - South Auckland boy!
@@thefobbie0034 mean , too many legends came out of 275 .
@@normalcc Some of the greats!!! Yeah Bunce went to Mangere College!
I got Bunce over Tana..Bunce vs O Driscoll would be a great matchup. You have to remember..Bunce was uncompromising..hard as nails..hard to tackle..always dominated.
Same
Bunce would have hurt O'Driscoll! The interesting match-up would have been Bunce vs Gerber!
@@thefobbie0034 would have been war..not picking a victor.
@@thefobbie0034 He would have hurt BOD. He hurt everyone. Don't think many would have Bunce over him tho. I'd pick Bunce in my GOAT All Blacks XV.
@@jldp24 Here is the one thing I know - O'Driscoll performances against the ABs were always solid BUT nothing to write home about! Bunce would have hurt O'Driscoll because defensively Bunce was a nightmare especially when he could come at you from the inside or the outside. Then there is Bunce's attack - I don't think O'Driscoll would have been able to contain him because Bunce could hit the line hard, dance at the line or that outside break because he had speed to burn!
Bunce over O'Driscoll all day!
Notice back in the days the whole team hardly ran 4:33 in jumping all over over the try scorer celebrating lol more like a humble calm joh back😂
Another legend