But I hugely digress, and show my complete ignorance English, and the usage of - which you just may have noticed if you have read any of my previous ramblings - back on track though, the happy hookers who have worn black and been half decent over the last decade.  And then quickly off track - check out the prop ratings, and vote for your favourite by clicking here.

Of the hookers though, there have only really been five keepers who have earned their crusts, and played enough tests to be considered in the last ten years.  We have been very lucky to have some very solid performers.  No Fitzy's, sure, but the second, third and fourth  highest capped All Black hookers of all time have been plying their trade through this time, and the last nomination, Hammett, would have racked up a whole lot more caps in any other era - he was a class act, just unfortunate to be playing alongside the likes of Oliver and Mealamu!

On with the show, the happy hookers on the block for the 2000-2009 team...

Andrew Keith Hore
Taranaki, Hurricanes
Hooker; 1.83m; 111kg; b 13 September 1978, Dunedin, New Zealand
47 caps (37 wins, 9 losses, 1 draw); 25 test points (5 tries).
All Black debut: 2002 v England at London (lost 28-31). Last test: 2009 v France at Marseilles (won 39-12).
The Seal killer has gone from a third choice to a must have in the last couple of seasons, thanks to improved scrummaging and throwing from the Taranaki (via Otago) nugget.  A no nonsense player who just rolls his sleeves up and gets stuck in for 80 minutes, revelling in his core duties at the coal face of ruck and maul - which rewards him with many turnovers, and a huge amount of five pointers for a hooker.  Twice in Super rugby seasons he has scored 6 tries in a season, a record.  Now a fixture in the All Black front row, the scrum operates more effectively with Hore than without.  Solid defender too, once he gets his hands on the ball in the tight more often than not it comes out on his side of the post tackle mêlée! 
Strengths:  A real terrier in the tight exchanges, must have immense strength as he seems to be able to rip the ball free in many situations where it is apparently tied up and safe in the opposition maul.  Weaknesses:  Like all hookers, has his moments at lineout time, and at the start of his test career, I thought his scrummaging was a bit dodge - it is fine now, which is why he is getting more tests starts I believe.
Bart Ratings (out of ten) - Mobility: 8  Ball Skills: 7.5  Scrummaging: 8.5  Lineouts: 7  Defence:  8
Rugby Museum Profile: Click here

Kevin Filipo Mealamu
Auckland, Chiefs, Blues
Hooker; 1.83m; 111kg; b 20 March 1979, Tokoroa, New Zealand
71 caps (60 wins, 11 losses); 45 test points (9 tries).
All Black debut: 2002 v Wales at Cardiff (won 43-17). Last test: 2009 v South Africa at Durban (lost 19-31).
Has had a great battle with Hore over the last two seasons for the two guernsey, and each time one of the two veteran rakews seem to win the spot, injury strikes them.  Hore at the end of last season before the Slam tour went down and Mealamu came back on tour with some superb form, then this season, Hore was once again injured, Mealamu was in fine form, before ripping a chest muscle, and Hore slotted back in, and made the position his own once again.  So Mealamu has in the last season or two become a bit more of an impact player, but he is more than good enough to start and go the whole 80.  He has lost some of his open field running pace - although the changing game means things change anyway - but has more than made up for that in the tight, where he seems to be much more effective now than early in his career.  Would have to be the best tackling hooker in New Zealand rugby today, really smashes the ball carrier back with text book aggressive leg driving tackles.
Strengths:  Massive close in defender, high work rate, explosive ball carrier when used in the right manner!  Weaknesses:  That throwing thing on occasions.
Bart Ratings (out of ten) - Mobility: 8.5  Ball Skills: 8  Scrummaging: 8  Lineouts: 6.5  Defence:  9
Rugby Museum Profile: Click here

Mark Gary Hammett
Canterbury, Crusaders
Hooker; 1.85m; 107kg; b 13 July 1972, Christchurch, New Zealand
29 caps (25 wins, 4 losses); 15 test points (3 tries).
If Hammett was about today, I think he would be the All Black incumbent.  He was a tough as teak player, who in my opinion would make Andrew Hore look like a wuss!  Seriously though, Hammett has all the skills, and who knows, if there has been different All Black selectors in his heyday, Oliver might have been sitting here with 29 caps, and Hammett with 59.  But there wasn't, so they aren't.  Hammett was a fine ball runner, and probably one of the more accurate lineout throwers we've had for a while.  Like most Canterbury rakes over the years though, was more at home buried in the tight than in the open, rucks and mauls being his natural environment!
Strengths:  Strong all round game, accurate lineout thrower.  Weaknesses:  No glaring ones - like all hookers now and then a dog leg would sneak into play, but not often.  Should have played more tests for the All Blacks I reckon!.
Bart Ratings (out of ten) - Mobility: 7.5  Ball Skills: 7  Scrummaging: 9  Lineouts: 8  Defence:  8
Rugby Museum Profile: Click here

Anton David Oliver
Otago, Highlanders
Hooker; 1.84m; 111kg; b 9 September 1975, Invercargill, New Zealand
59 caps (42 wins, 17 losses); 15 test points (3 tries).
All Black debut: 1997 v Fiji at Albany (won 71-5). Last test: 2007 v France at Cardiff (lost 18-20).
An enigma wrapped in a mystery shrouded in fog (what is that saying)?  Probably apt that I have butchered that, as Oliver was a great one in his post match interviews to pull out words that would have the press racing for their dictionaries faster than they usually gallop to the free buffet...  Other than that though, tougher than teak, harder than nails, and but for that throwing thing, and, dare I say it, thinking too much, the perfect hooker.  Big, strong, intimidating, fearless, but couldn't throw to save himself at times.  I think the benchmark for his career was set in the early years, when in an Otago v Auckland game, All Black prop Craig Dowd pulled him back by the jersey, and young Anton turned, punched, and knocked out a couple of Dowd's teeth.  Son of Flith Oliver earned his stripes that day very quickly!  He continued to be a no nonsense player, doing his job well, making the hard yards, defending stoutly, and like most hookers do, loving it in the tight exchanges at ruck and maul time.  While maybe not one of the greats as such, certainly one of the really, really, really goods.
Strengths:  Superb scrummager, like having a 3rd prop in your front row, strong ball carrier, good defender.  Weaknesses:  Hmmm, would have been the perfect hooker in the days of wingers throwing the balls in.  However, that was long gone when Oliver came around, so the weakness column would have a hug tick beside 'lineout throwing'...
Bart Ratings (out of ten) - Mobility: 7  Ball Skills: 7.5  Scrummaging: 9.5  Lineouts: 6  Defence:  8
Rugby Museum Profile: Click here

So there you are - now go and vote - 1 vote only, top dog gets the starting gig, second favourite slots into the bench spot.