I grew up idolizing Cullen. For his size, I always thought he was even more impressive than Lomu back in the day. I’ll never forget how John Mitchell treated him back in ’02/’03.
I grew up and went to school with Christian(Kinney) In Paekakariki. We called him that nickname back then. His Dad was our rugby coach Knew his family well. He had another friend and schoolmate named Darryl Cherry sadly he died very young and if you ask Christian how good his friend Darryl was he will say he was a freak I seriously think he could have made the All Blacks. Congratulations Christian’s on your lifetime achievements proud of you mate enjoyed watching you in you playing years and the joy and excitement you brought us and the rugby world. Look after yourself Your childhood friend Shane Hopkins.
I’m Irish and grew up watching super rugby and the try nations. Best back 3 ever was Lomu, Wilson and Cullen. They were so exiting to watch especially Christian he was amazing.
Cullen and Lomu. Not sure about Wilson. He was quick but would get tangled up easy and lose the ball a lot. Hit and miss. Cullen and Lomu. Two of the greats
Danie Gerber comes to mind, best center I have ever seen. Gerber, Caucau and Cullen are in a class of their own when it comes to beautiful running without breaking a stride. Nothing between them. Honorable mention for Carel du Plessis, who I didn't get to see play live but did meet.
There was one he mentioned himself, Carlos Spencer, but another I saw for the AB's cut through the whole Argentinian team in a World Cup was Steven Pokere, amazing change of direction. Memories I'm remembering Bernie's Corner.
Christian Cullen needs a permanent position on the podcast... he has the old-school swag of the past generation most of us have felt fading... humble request from a late 90s kiwi fan
Yeah hard, I thought it was just because Im from here and that age that today related so well but you're right the ol' school swag, he could say anything and we'd be all ears, but he doesn't, he just talks sense. Imo this one will take some beating, thanks guys, top show.
Amazing guest gents. My childhood hero…. To this day his running lines are extraordinary. I don’t think there is any fullback since Cully that can do what he did on the field…. True legend. From a South African
@@weekendwarrior405 Merht’s is one the most hard case smart a$$ fullahs I’ve ever heard He’s good value for a laugh. Him and Gregan going back and forth is hilarious
As a South African fan who was too young to watch him, he's one of my favorite rugby players ever😂😂and this is just based off highlight reels. I can't imagine what it must've been like seeing him live.
What a breath of fresh air, listening to Christian Cullen. And don't you just love that old school way....we played heads up rugby, we played what was in front of us!! The game is suffeing from paralysis by analysis. We need more guys like Culley to be in and around the game, to help out where ever possible.
"paralysis by analysis" meaningless cliche. The game is the best it's ever been. All that has happened is the rest of the world has improved their IP and closed the gap.
@@tewaewae with respect, if you think that the game is the best it's ever been.....then I suspect you haven't been in or around the game much, leave alone played it!
A core childhood memmory for me is taking the ferry up to Wellington with the old man to see Jonah and Cullen play. Got to meet them after the game. I remember I was buzzing for weeks. Absoloute legends.
10:42 I was taken aback to hear Sri Lanka's name there lol What an honour for us to say that the great Christian Cullen's first 7s game was against Sri Lanka
I remeber being over the corner in the rose stand at carisbrook watching jonah in full flight with a man fully planted and ready to take him low. 2 paces outhe shrunk himself into a 5ft ball and skittled the poor bugger... the scottsman was in the air for along time and for a moment I feared he might end up in my lap... just incredible that he could do that and maintain balance and pace !...Great interview guys....Let Cully know I live right by the ground in Paekak now and always bring a rugby ball to chuck about during the football matches lest they forget the game they played in Heaven!
To this day no full back has come close to the attacking threat Christian Cullen was. The time from 1996-2000 he was almost untouchable, with the ability to sprint at full pace and step off both feet and so strong as well. Truly a legend of the game.
One of my favourite players of all time, and I played against him! I played against him and his brother Shane when they were kids at Paekakariki, and played him again when he was in the First XV at Kāpiti College. His brother Shane was the star player when we were kids.
This guy Christian Cullen is the greatest player to ever run out onto a rugby field. His skill, speed, awareness, finesse is unmatched even now. What a legend. The GOAT for sure
I lived in Malawi 96 and I bet all my SA brothers that the ABs would Win that first post apartheid tour Cullen made sure of that ! I owe him a beer. So good to watch.
All time favourite player. I watched him play club rugby and also Manawatu in 95/96. Everyone saw what he did to International competition so to say he was carving them up at other levels is an understatement.
Great interview. In our household we were massive Cully fans. What a fantastic player, and always so much fun to hear the stories about the great 96 AB team and the legend that is Jonah Lomu.
You Rock Christian. When ever I need some inspiration I turn to one of 2 things, your highlights or the commonwealth games womans 7's final (NZ v Aus). If anyone ever asks about rugby, I always refer them to your highlights too. I'm a big fat prop, so it always blows my mind. I got to play rugby in the First XV with a young fella named Kelly Shelford - his ability to step people was wonderous to watch. Flick him the ball and let him go :)
Nothing like a beer and talking rugby. Cullen was a well-tuned Ferrari with no brakes. Made some never-to-be-forgotten runs from fullback that are very rarely seen today. Actually haven't seen any! Thanks for the good memories.
This show is so brilliant. But why do you cut it off so abruptly every time when the conversation is soo good. I'd 100% pay for a Patreon if you set it up.
Cully, still my fav fullback of all time. Watching him carve up the field with such speed and grace, making it look easy, hasnt been replicated to this day.
As a SAFFA he is my all time favorite AB player...which is saying something. I remember him scoring against my Sharks team and not even being mad. What a legend!
Cullen could shift gears like nobody else. It didn’t even look like he was running, more like gliding and smoothly changing pace and direction. So hard to tackle a guy like that. Just when you thought he was going full tilt, he’d put the afterburners on and flash, he was gone. Astounding to watch.
Great interview. Cully is still my all-time favourite full back that I've seen play the game. It was heartbreaking as a Hurricanes and ABs supporter when he left in 2003.
Oh man, there’s a stat about that hurricanes team...that they could win with only 10percent ball, that’s how stacked that backline was. Best super rugby backline ever. 😂
I brought his auto biography and that was the best read...when John Mitchell moved him from fullback to centre to accomadate for Jeff Wilson is beyond me...mad love the pod lads Also Cully's stories on Jonah is legendery... Grew up with John Eales Totai Kefu Matt Burke breaking Kiwi hearts.....love and respect to the game always
I remember in the 2000s when I'd pick my kids up at Rangikura School in Porirua and driving down Whitford Brown and beep at the Hurricanes team running up and down the drive.....awesome team back then.
The dominant feature at the beach in Paekakariki is the amazing island off the coast "Kapiti Island", a place of history and legend. As a young guy Christian could imagine being chased by an angry Te Rauparaha who used the island as an impenetrable base, and the fertile land up the coast as a garden. A true warrior.
Great episode. Thought Marshall’s point about Cully (and J Robinson and S Williams) having that rare ability to beat defenders without slowing down was spot on. Scary thing is there are at least four current Springbok backs that do this - Kolbe, Arendse, Libbok and Moodie. Cully the only one to look like he’s running out of his shirt tho. 🐐
Fantastic listening to these ANZAC BROs talking about their Rugby days! What a great Bloke Christian Cullen is, cracked me up when he was telling Eric Rush stories!!
If someone made running smooth, effortless and cool, it was Christian Cullen. I remember checking the next Allblacks game just to watch how he glides through the field and carved up the opposition. Thanks for the memories legend! All the way from PNG🇵🇬
Great to listen to Culley. Can't believe you didn't discuss the dark days of Mitchell & Deans and his perspective of the '03 World Cup. WTF were they thinking leaving him at home.
Loved watching Cullen run effortless great runner reminds me of watching kirwan just pure excitement when they get the ball in hand and the big man lomu ❤
Really enjoying this format of podcast, listening to the stories as they relate to games I remember watching. Cully, what an absolute AB great, love the way Marshy and Jeremy interact with the guests and bring in their own stuff. Andy, you're doing a great job the way you set up the stories with your questioning mate.
