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Sonny Bill Williams - Source: Photosport -
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Fans squealed with delight when All Blacks pin up Sonny Bill Williams' muscles burst out of his shirt Incredible Hulk style during the RWC opening match against Tonga and now scientists say they can prove the All Blacks are getting stronger.
Sport scientists at Massey University, who have tracked the height and weight of the All Blacks to create a display on behalf of the University, say the All Blacks today are much bigger than their predecessors and have more muscle mass.
A display on the changing physique of the All Blacks from 1905-2005 can be found at the Rugby Museum in Palmerston North.
The data shows a recent trend to the build of players becoming more uniform, regardless of their position on the field.
The information, which ranges from 1905 to 2005, was collected by a team from the School of Sport and Exercise led by Associate Professor Steve Stannard and lecturer and former Manawatu rugby player Jeremy Hapeta.
It shows on average, a team member in the All Blacks in 2005 was 187cm tall, 12cm taller than an average 1905 originals player. His weight, at 102.5kg, was some 7.5kg greater than the heaviest of the originals.
The lightest player in 2005, at 84kg, was still 3kg heavier than the average original.
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