All Blacks 2025
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
On Shaun Stevenson, was he a bit hard done by looking back? Like yeah, his defensive issues are well documented, but was he worth giving a proper crack? I feel like he maybe deserved a shot at fullback at some point.
Imagine he'd had half the chances Reece/Jordan etc have been given. We'd actually know and supposed top coaches would be able to work with him on his supposed weaknesses!
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
On Shaun Stevenson, was he a bit hard done by looking back? Like yeah, his defensive issues are well documented, but was he worth giving a proper crack? I feel like he maybe deserved a shot at fullback at some point.
Imagine he'd had half the chances Reece/Jordan etc have been given. We'd actually know and supposed top coaches would be able to work with him on his supposed weaknesses!
Yeah those were my thoughts too. He's a bit of a wasted talent and is a proper fullback, something we don't really seem to produce these days. Dare I say he's the best all round fullback in the country? The rest are just hybrid 10s and Jordan looks like a winger trying to play fullback, similar to Charles Piutau in the 2010s.
He missed a couple of tackles on the wing in his 1 test and has been given the cold shoulder ever since.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
On Shaun Stevenson, was he a bit hard done by looking back? Like yeah, his defensive issues are well documented, but was he worth giving a proper crack? I feel like he maybe deserved a shot at fullback at some point.
Imagine he'd had half the chances Reece/Jordan etc have been given. We'd actually know and supposed top coaches would be able to work with him on his supposed weaknesses!
Yeah those were my thoughts too. He's a bit of a wasted talent and is a proper fullback, something we don't really seem to produce these days. Dare I say he's the best all round fullback in the country? The rest are just hybrid 10s and Jordan looks like a winger trying to play fullback, similar to Charles Piutau in the 2010s.
He missed a couple of tackles on the wing in his 1 test and has been given the cold shoulder ever since.
@African-Monkey has a great combination with DMac too, Bernie and Stu like.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
On Shaun Stevenson, was he a bit hard done by looking back? Like yeah, his defensive issues are well documented, but was he worth giving a proper crack? I feel like he maybe deserved a shot at fullback at some point.
Imagine he'd had half the chances Reece/Jordan etc have been given. We'd actually know and supposed top coaches would be able to work with him on his supposed weaknesses!
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
On Shaun Stevenson, was he a bit hard done by looking back? Like yeah, his defensive issues are well documented, but was he worth giving a proper crack? I feel like he maybe deserved a shot at fullback at some point.
Imagine he'd had half the chances Reece/Jordan etc have been given. We'd actually know and supposed top coaches would be able to work with him on his supposed weaknesses!
McMillan is a top coach isn't he?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
On Shaun Stevenson, was he a bit hard done by looking back? Like yeah, his defensive issues are well documented, but was he worth giving a proper crack? I feel like he maybe deserved a shot at fullback at some point.
Imagine he'd had half the chances Reece/Jordan etc have been given. We'd actually know and supposed top coaches would be able to work with him on his supposed weaknesses!
McMillan is a top coach isn't he?
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
On Shaun Stevenson, was he a bit hard done by looking back? Like yeah, his defensive issues are well documented, but was he worth giving a proper crack? I feel like he maybe deserved a shot at fullback at some point.
Imagine he'd had half the chances Reece/Jordan etc have been given. We'd actually know and supposed top coaches would be able to work with him on his supposed weaknesses!
McMillan is a top coach isn't he?
For backs/defence?
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
I hope Robertson picks Hoskins Sotutu next year and fewer shit Cantabs and old men.
If he didn’t this year he won’t next year. Hoskins was literally Super player of the year and still didn’t get a look in.
I wonder if that has ever happened before? The player of the competition and eligible for the national team but ignored for selection .
Must be close to being unprecedented.
A part of me hope he goes to England and rips it up for them at Twickenham
Josh Blackie was the best performing openside during one super season and he didn’t make it. The year he made the 7s side.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
I hope Robertson picks Hoskins Sotutu next year and fewer shit Cantabs and old men.
If he didn’t this year he won’t next year. Hoskins was literally Super player of the year and still didn’t get a look in.
I wonder if that has ever happened before? The player of the competition and eligible for the national team but ignored for selection .
Must be close to being unprecedented.
A part of me hope he goes to England and rips it up for them at Twickenham
Josh Blackie was the best performing openside during one super season and he didn’t make it. The year he made the 7s side.
Did he win the super rugby MVP award? Was there one!?!
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
On Shaun Stevenson, was he a bit hard done by looking back? Like yeah, his defensive issues are well documented, but was he worth giving a proper crack? I feel like he maybe deserved a shot at fullback at some point.
Imagine he'd had half the chances Reece/Jordan etc have been given. We'd actually know and supposed top coaches would be able to work with him on his supposed weaknesses!
Not being from Canterbury is his biggest weakness of all
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Imagine he'd had half the chances Reece/Jordan etc have been given. We'd actually know and supposed top coaches would be able to work with him on his supposed weaknesses!
Not being from Canterbury is his biggest weakness of all
Actually I think it could be concentration and mental strength.
When he is on fire he is definitely on fire. -
Learnings:
- Learn NH ref interpretations.
- Play people in their correct position.
- Experience only counts if they are fast enough to get near the ball.
- Change the bench when needed, not when practised
- Restarts. Are meant to be Restarts. Nail them.
- Learn to leverage your advantages (scrum, lineout, speed in certain positions).
- Don't choose players who recently stepped out of a hospital ward.
- Don't undermine your current players by continually pleading for shiny grass is always greener players overseas.
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Learnings:
- Learn NH ref interpretations.
- Play people in their correct position.
- Experience only counts if they are fast enough to get near the ball.
- Change the bench when needed, not when practised
- Restarts. Are meant to be Restarts. Nail them.
- Learn to leverage your advantages (scrum, lineout, speed in certain positions).
- Don't choose players who recently stepped out of a hospital ward.
- Don't undermine your current players by continually pleading for shiny grass is always greener players overseas.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
Don't undermine your current players by continually pleading for shiny grass is always greener players overseas.
Amen to that. I think this ongoing theme is selfish and hugely damaging to NZ Rugby. Don't know why NZR doesn't rebuke him. How many more will follow Harry Plummer and just how poor will super rugby become.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
Don't undermine your current players by continually pleading for shiny grass is always greener players overseas.
Amen to that. I think this ongoing theme is selfish and hugely damaging to NZ Rugby. Don't know why NZR doesn't rebuke him. How many more will follow Harry Plummer and just how poor will super rugby become.
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@ARHS said in All Blacks 2025:
How many more will follow Harry Plummer
Now: Ricky R, Akira (pre) and Sotutu.
Soon: Rieko, DMac?
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@nzzp Rieko has signed until the World Cup. Will likely have a sabbatical in there at some point.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp Rieko has signed until the World Cup. Will likely have a sabbatical in there at some point.
Fair. Of course, Akira signed to end of 26. If they don't love it, they leave...
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@Toddy said in All Blacks 2025:
The best player in NZ couldn't even make the All Blacks in 2007.
Troy Flavell did have a terrific season I must say
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Toddy said in All Blacks 2025:
The best player in NZ couldn't even make the All Blacks in 2007.
Troy Flavell did have a terrific season I must say
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Brown would be a great pickup, how long is his contract with the Boks? O'Halloran is out of coaching due to health issues. Does anyone think Razor will change his coaching staff before 2027?
