They led the All Blacks

Over the past century of New Zealand rugby no post has been filled with more conspicuous distinction than the All Black captaincy. From Ellison before the turn of the century, through Gallaher, Porter and Brownlie, they have constituted a noble line. In particular, over the past 30 years, starting with Wilson Whineray in the late 1950s, the role has increasingly become a long term one. The captain of the All Blacks can now be regarded as somethign comparable to the captain of the Australian cricket team. They are thus the equivalents of the Don Bradmans, the Richie Benauds, the Ian and Greg Chappells and the Alan Borders. They Led The All Blacks is an attempt to background those who have had significant captaincy tenures. Because these have largely been in the years starting with Whineray, the book's concentration thus is esentially with All Black rugby since World War II.