The most surprisingly star studded rugby team ever - Wellington Lions | Rugby Highlights
We bring you the NPC rugby archive predominantly focussing on 3 key All Blacks from the early 2000's. In this video we have highlights of Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga and Christian Cullen playing for Wellington Lions. This was one of the most exciting teams of that era because of the flair they had out wide. #RugbyHighlights
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Cullen, Umaga, Lomu. Strong contenders for an all-time 1st 15. Always a pleasure to watch them play.
Conrad #13. Jonah #11 . Cullen #15 maybe Tana in the Race for #14 with many others tho
They were like the JORDAN, PIPPEN and RODMAN of rugby 😁
No way, Umaga 13
rugby was so popular in wellington back then. big crowds with atmosphere
Well said mate. Compared to what it is now
I feel like the Nonu Smith combo that followed unfairly took some shine off Umaga's career. What an absolute legend that man is.
That's true. He was a great mentor for them both and a great player in his own right
True toko If Umaga was still Captain and let young Macaw play different outcome RWC 2007 Malo🙏
Great observation! As you say, watching Umaga here you really do forget how good he was - I would rate him ahead of Smith!
Steinmetz intrical in so any plays. Very underrated player
yeah, I was a fan
Very underrated. Also Hewitt Fleming spice holwell waller faatau vinisi O'Halloran sooialo ieremea... .....what a supporting cast.
Thanks RugbyPass for putting this up. These guys were my hero’s when I was a kid. I was 10 years old in 2000. Cullen is and always will be my favourite sports player. Sucks growing up because players these days don’t have that same aura about them
Amazing talents, each and everyone of them, Rip Jonah and Jerry 🙏
And we can add to Joeli Vidiri that list 😔😔😔
All of these guys were legends RIP. Throw one more in there,Va'aiga Tuigamala🙏🏾
“I bought it…. Left, right and sinker” 5:15 Nice one Mex 😂
Simply awesome. Take note NZR, this is how rugby once was in NZ. Pride, passion and stars playing for your local team equals massive crowds
Amen to that
I remember watching Lomu vs vunibaka,it was incredible the power and momentum Lomu had as vunibaka is a beast himself but as the commentator said Lomu is the only one in WORLD rugby able to do that. Damm
Truly Vunibaka was a BEAST of a winger and would easily BEEN an All Black but like WE saw during that PERIOD, BIGGER monsters and BETTER players prevented that. Still HE was a joy to watch also.
Christian Cullen is a legend of the game while he played "only" 8 seasons in NZ. Just imagine how many caps he would have won and how many tries he would have scored in staying in NZ after 2003... Man, this guy was a genius.
Mitchell didn't pick him for the WC in 2003, he took Leon Macdonald instead. That was a stinker of a howler..
@@lastpenny849 - Yeah was not happy about that but Cullen suffered a major knee injury and became obvious that he had lost his speed by then!
That Last Lomu try I remember me and my friends were at party and we ditched the party to go in the lounge where all the males from the party went to watch that final when Lomu was running we were louder than the party and we he scored we erupted still gives me good feelings watching that try never ever forgotten RIP JL11
Was at that game as a Canterbury fan. Crowd was shellshocked by how well Wellington played they were our bogey team back then. Great final man I miss those days.
Bit of a tear in the eye, watching Jonah in full flight.
These Legendary players are talked about in South African circles quite a bit. They really dis put the fear in some of us Springbok fans.
2:45 best bit of skill i've ever seen on a rugby pitch. how that ref didn't fall over i'll never know.
That was a great time. These were such awesome players. I really miss them and the beauty they brought to the game. They linked together so well too - Cullen ( my all time favourite Fullback), Umaga and Lomu. All legends. Collins was really great too. Miss them all. We don't see this kind of flair anymore.
Seeing Cullen running in real life.Was something special to see.Great times with inspirational players.
He doesn't run, he glides
Before Polamalu, Tana Umaga was the guy with the hair
For me, the most exciting era for Wellington was around 1978-83. Hewson, Bernie Frazer, Stu Wilson, Jamie Salmon, Tui Wylie etc. Some great tries at Athletic Park back then.
And freezing our asses off in the Mallard stand.....
Oh yeah. That's when I was about 10. Loved Neil Sorenson. Maybe he was a bit later....more in the Pokere Schuster Gallagher Era.
Mike Clamp was a favorite.
@@gstgst6334 Sorenson was the 2nd best halfback in NZ in 1982-84, however never got picked for the ABs
@@gstgst6334 Forgot about him. Yeah, he was part of that era too
The work rate from Cully to get back up after being tackled and nearly score the try himself.
The pain was knowing we had this team and never win a super title
Not the Super Rugby team, this was the NPC. These are the Lions, not the Hurricanes.
They won the NPC in 2000.
@@Nineteenseventy2still the same guys that were in the super rugby team
@@Nineteenseventy2 They were all in the Hurricanes as well
@@EatDeze Yes, however "We bring you the NPC rugby archive" not super rugby
I still have that exact jersey framed with all those legends signature! Love it👌🏻
That's a keeper!!
Watchin these guys in the 90's taught me how to play rugby!!
Wow. Thanks for the video! This is awesome footage💪
Loved that era , just so good to see those boys in full flight , big smiles
Hands down the best highlight reel
0:00 Lome Fa'atau vs North Harbour 1:26 Tana Umaga vs Taranaki 2:03 Umaga vs Counties-Manukau 2:35 Christian Cullen vs Auckland 3:40 Jerry Collins vs Waikato 4:50 Umaga vs North Harbour 5:46 Jonah Lomu vs Canterbury 6:23 Rodney So'oialo vs North Harbour 7:01 Lomu vs Counties-Manukau 7:52 Cullen vs Auckland 8:44 Jason O'Halloran vs Canterbury 9:18 Umaga vs Waikato 10:12 Umaga vs Auckland 10:57 Lomu vs Canterbury
Some great memories there - had a seat at the Wellington Stadium for those home games. Great back line, under powered pack that tried so damn hard. See if you can find Petones contribution to the British and Irish Lions in a Wellington Lions jersey in there... the only sour note for a Wellington boy is a short glimpse of Steve Walsh Jr, not a fan favourite in Wellington rugby circles. And seeing the Big Man scoring that try against the Cantabs - still gives me goosebumps. RIP Jonah and Jerry...
Steve Walsh ranfurly shield 2001 vs Canterbury Never forget Never forgive
Riki Flutey
Bloody hell, I didn't know that Lomu pulled on the Welly jersey before I saw this video. Mind blown, RIP champ.
Cullen was sensational!! Not shy of getting smashed in a 2 on 1!! Class side, this!
Some great highlights ty
Yep that's Wellington, great to watch but heartbreaking to support. We last won the NPC in 2000 and have lost around 7 finals since. Jason O'Halloran was another great 2nd 5 that we've produced. For some reason we've always produced midfield back's, winger's and fullbacks with the odd loosie, but never first fives or tight forwards, apart from Dane Coles. That there in is the reason we don't win many titles, million dollar backline with no forward pack.
A truly great time in Wellington rugby
Awesome legends of the game 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Christian Cullen, best back I have ever seen.
As an Aucklander I could not understand why this team did not win more championships let alone Super rugby title back then - that backline!
Who remember Tana umaga hit on Brain o discroll 2005..🤣😂😂😂😂😂It was the hit of rugby's history
1:13 the commentary team having a chat about the habour master tho 😂😂
Beautiful play
UMAGA..LEGEND..always humble..great rugby player family man n SUPERSTAR!!I believe he still lives in the little town he was born in Wellington..NZ. RESPECT!!
Look at the crowd these legends pulled at the games they played
4:08 *RIP Legends :(*
Lome Faatau, Tana Umaga, Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Rodney Soo’ialo, Jerry Collins then Conrad Smith, Maa Nonu & Hosea Gear came in at the end of some of these gifted players careers. Great team but man it took ages to finally win
5:15 "I bought it left, right and sinker" gotta love Mex
Damn man what a team. Legends!
Back when NPC games could still draw a crowd.
And all blacks played in the npc
My all time favourite kit!
Yup, that was a star-studded team. Lethal backs and some powerful loose forwards; I’m surprised they didn’t dominate as much as they should’ve. Anyway, thanks for the memories. Tuesday ngt - March 1, 2022.
Tight 5 always the problem
@@candycain2327 so true and also maybe not a world class 9 and 10 combo. We had a team of champions but not a champion team. But we were awesome when we were on🔥
Unreal play, brilliance at it's best
Shit time went fast. Thank you to all those greatest of great players. O’Halloran the glue of the greats.
3:20 ... time to go to Rugby League, thinks Innes.
FUCKING FINALLY! My favorite team of all time!
Shot for putting it up! Miss these rugby days 😢
This team was nothing without Northland’s David Holwell
Hard! Him and Jason Spice were amazing during these times, both great players
That team is lethal. Good ol days of NPC
Vunabaka is so fast he gets fended and managed to catch up Lomu again. Miss both these players.
Tana would have to be the centre in best ever ABs team, pure class with all the skills
Fantastic rugby
The glory days😊
Now thats how talented these retirees X players were back in the era of supreme excellence in the National Game.
NPC back then was the best
damnn didn’t know tana umaga was that quick 😎
They were the meanest back line ever a real crowd pleaser.
This is when the npc was fun to watch when they had actual stars go back and play
I love NZ Rugby !!!
See how lomu gifted tht ball to Cullen and the say he wasn't skilled tht was pure skill
Love those jerseys
True legends,,,,
Great team & check out the water boy @ 4.12 current another capped allblack filo tiatia - current pacifika assistant coach
"It not just a try it's a hiding" lol
Cullen and Danie Gerber, best open field runners ever
for all the guns this team had - canterbury, auckland still won the npc comps back then. but still love watching this team play
Wellington won it in 2000, But after that struggled.
Rodney should've been mentioned aswell
Goated video
How many little kicks does steinmetz put in behind the defence
I miss this era
Miss these days of super rugby
Inga da winger and Brian Lima with that team oh no, I mean no other teams come close 💯
Gotta add I was in Wellington a couple years back for the ABz vs Springbok had the chance to shake Christian Cullen’s hand , he is my all time fav player , I was speechless , he must have thought I was a bit of a nutter 🙈 having grown up in the 70s playing footy not to any great heights but tge love of the game was firmly entrenched in my heart and it’s a big call to say he was my idol and still is ☺️✌️
Lome was 🔥
Ah those were the days, big crowds for NPC games, I had season tickets for the Lions and Hurricanes good times.
Is that Jemaine Clement on comms at 3:05? 😁
No, the late, great John Drake. RIP.
I miss those days no COVID no masks no border control 😪😪
Here here
Love Jerry
Nonu was missing
Fa'atau was a great player for Wellington and Samoa
Jerry Collins ?
The late GREAT Jerry Collins may his Soul rest in Peace.
and they did it again last week v Blues 2022
Anyone else have a stiffy watching this? Incredible.
Back in the good old days when All Blacks played in the NPC
Before money was put above else, for both players and franchises.
So talented Filo Tiatia was water boy
This line up can win the world cup...
Even some faatau up in there
Did they win a Super Rugby Title
Interestingly all of these guys never got to touch a world cup.
What happened to rugby in NZ? This is just NPC and look at the crowds, meanwhile Super rugby used to sell out every game. But nowadays even the All Blacks struggle to sell out stadiums. What the heck happened to rugby in NZ?
Am i missing something here The Auckland side from the mid 1986 wouldve been the greatest provincial side in world rugby They boasted 13 ABs in their side Drake Fitzpatrick McDowell Gary Whetton Alan Whetton Michael Jones Zinny David Kirk Grant Fox Bernie MCahill Smokin Joe Terry Wright and John Kirwan This team basically were almost the whole AB side that took the 1st RWC in 1987
Yes they were amazing....but we're not talking about them at the moment.
Lomu = King Cobra….. Cullen = Black Mamba
Pass at 2:07 underrated
Remember one game ,when the CrusadersV Hurricanes- came back from 36-3 down with 30 minutes to play and won 38-36. yep Steve Walsh was the man in the middle with the whistle,Jason O'Hallaran got sent off with 20 minutes to play -and Jerry Colins got sent off with 10 minutes to play..I think it was Jasons last game with the Canes,**Hanging up his Boots**They had the game won -Than Steve Walsh started pinging them,Frustration overcame Jason O'Hallaran and what ever he said to Steve Walsh must not have went down to well,From that game and every other game that Steve Walsh Referreed for the Hurricanes Vs ???????what ever team -did not come off to well for the boys..
Jeez O'Halloran was a great player. Unlucky to to be the AB second five.
@@kirwan1414 he was an All Black
@@grantohalloran103 sorry, I should have been more specific. I remember Jason getting 1 test cap (about 5-10 minutes at the end of a game). I actually meant he should have been the 1st choice second-five for the ABs. Any relation?
@@kirwan1414 yep brother Cheers
Exciting stuff, shame the npc doesn't have the elite players it used to, how long has it been since we've had crowds like that at provincial games, all is not right in the modern professional game, shame😊