All Blacks 2025
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Leicester Fainga'anuku looks in cracking form for Toulon. I know he is rejoining the Crusaders in 2026 so why not picking him for the All Blacks in 2025 if he is playing well enough?
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Leicester Fainga'anuku looks in cracking form for Toulon. I know he is rejoining the Crusaders in 2026 so why not picking him for the All Blacks in 2025 if he is playing well enough?
Because he would be contracted to Toulon and not NZR.
We don’t know what is in his contract that may stop him playing for the ABs.
He is playing at centre isn’t he? Would Razor select him at centre or wing?
What are his strength and conditioning like. Is he carrying any injuries that we don’t know about?
If he plays in July for the ABsz will he play in the Rugby championship? If so, when is his off season?
I know you want to take advantage of Nz players for the ABs but this shows how hard it would be to select players from European leagues for the AB season
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Leicester Fainga'anuku looks in cracking form for Toulon. I know he is rejoining the Crusaders in 2026 so why not picking him for the All Blacks in 2025 if he is playing well enough?
Because he would be contracted to Toulon and not NZR.
We don’t know what is in his contract that may stop him playing for the ABs.
He is playing at centre isn’t he? Would Razor select him at centre or wing?
What are his strength and conditioning like. Is he carrying any injuries that we don’t know about?
If he plays in July for the ABsz will he play in the Rugby championship? If so, when is his off season?
I know you want to take advantage of Nz players for the ABs but this shows how hard it would be to select players from European leagues for the AB season
@DaGrubster He's signed a contract with NZR to play Super Rugby so his situation is different to most "overseas" ex-All Blacks.
He looked in great condition today so I'm not worried about that.
I'd let him train with the squad at the very least so he can get up to speed with the new players and the current coaching set-up. Leicester F and Jordie B after playing the whole northern hemisphere winter will need their minutes managed, but we'd be mad not to consider picking them.
Personally I think we need to be creating more competition for places in the All Blacks backline not less.
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I think we would be mad dragging him in over form super players. Guys like Procter and Narawa deserve those chances
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@ARHS If they play well in Super Rugby, they will be in the squad too. The advantage Leicester F has is World Cup experience.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@ARHS If they play well in Super Rugby, they will be in the squad too. The advantage Leicester F has is World Cup experience.
Hopefully Leicester has developed a passing game. If not, and he gets into the AB midfield, it will be more of the same.
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@DaGrubster He's signed a contract with NZR to play Super Rugby so his situation is different to most "overseas" ex-All Blacks.
He looked in great condition today so I'm not worried about that.
I'd let him train with the squad at the very least so he can get up to speed with the new players and the current coaching set-up. Leicester F and Jordie B after playing the whole northern hemisphere winter will need their minutes managed, but we'd be mad not to consider picking them.
Personally I think we need to be creating more competition for places in the All Blacks backline not less.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster He's signed a contract with NZR to play Super Rugby so his situation is different to most "overseas" ex-All Blacks.
He looked in great condition today so I'm not worried about that.
I'd let him train with the squad at the very least so he can get up to speed with the new players and the current coaching set-up. Leicester F and Jordie B after playing the whole northern hemisphere winter will need their minutes managed, but we'd be mad not to consider picking them.
Personally I think we need to be creating more competition for places in the All Blacks backline not less.
Yeah I agree the more players to pick from the better.
No doubt both will in the squad sometime in 2025. -
@ARHS If they play well in Super Rugby, they will be in the squad too. The advantage Leicester F has is World Cup experience.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@ARHS If they play well in Super Rugby, they will be in the squad too. The advantage Leicester F has is World Cup experience.
What advantage is that? Playing against the might of Namibia and Uruguay?
Leicester needs to play in New Zealand against his peers to demonstrate his competitiveness for a All Black squad call up.
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@ARHS If they play well in Super Rugby, they will be in the squad too. The advantage Leicester F has is World Cup experience.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@ARHS If they play well in Super Rugby, they will be in the squad too. The advantage Leicester F has is World Cup experience.
What advantage is that? Playing against the might of Namibia and Uruguay?
Leicester needs to play in New Zealand against his peers to demonstrate his competitiveness for a All Black squad call up.
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@ARHS If they play well in Super Rugby, they will be in the squad too. The advantage Leicester F has is World Cup experience.
What advantage is that? Playing against the might of Namibia and Uruguay?
Leicester needs to play in New Zealand against his peers to demonstrate his competitiveness for a All Black squad call up.
thank you, i had the same thought but couldn't actually for a reply..."experience" is becoming a trigger for me
also, is making the squad really enough reward when most of our incumbents locked in starters
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@ARHS If they play well in Super Rugby, they will be in the squad too. The advantage Leicester F has is World Cup experience.
What advantage is that? Playing against the might of Namibia and Uruguay?
Leicester needs to play in New Zealand against his peers to demonstrate his competitiveness for a All Black squad call up.
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Leicester also played and scored against Ireland in a Rugby World Cup Quarter Final.
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Leicester won four super titles playing against other NZ players and he's looking not bad against the best players Europe has at club level.
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@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant do you think Razor will drop a Barrett?
No, but JB could take the 15 jersey. He was very good at fullback for Leinster vs Clermont in every aspect of this position.
They already have their Sexton replacement too.
That Sam Prendergast is absolutely mustard and better than any 10 we have knocking around on our shores. The way he takes it to the line is a joy to watch. He's not particularly fast and not obviously strong but he has an eternity on the ball.
He is better than the current iteration of Barrett and McKenzie already.
The difference is NZ has a lot of quality talent coming through in the forwards (Sititi, Lakai, Va'ai, Numia, Tosi, Holland etc..), Ireland is struggling to replace the old guard who are busted flushes.
Beating Ireland shouldn't be used as a measuring stick, Argentina almost pipped them at home, Ireland were absolutely woeful against them and Australia.
Ireland have found a generational 10 now though during/since the A.I's. One we didnt face.
Crowley, Byrne and Frawley wont get a look in anymore.
This Prendergast lad is legit.
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant do you think Razor will drop a Barrett?
No, but JB could take the 15 jersey. He was very good at fullback for Leinster vs Clermont in every aspect of this position.
They already have their Sexton replacement too.
That Sam Prendergast is absolutely mustard and better than any 10 we have knocking around on our shores. The way he takes it to the line is a joy to watch. He's not particularly fast and not obviously strong but he has an eternity on the ball.
He is better than the current iteration of Barrett and McKenzie already.
The difference is NZ has a lot of quality talent coming through in the forwards (Sititi, Lakai, Va'ai, Numia, Tosi, Holland etc..), Ireland is struggling to replace the old guard who are busted flushes.
Beating Ireland shouldn't be used as a measuring stick, Argentina almost pipped them at home, Ireland were absolutely woeful against them and Australia.
Ireland have found a generational 10 now though during/since the A.I's. One we didnt face.
Crowley, Byrne and Frawley wont get a look in anymore.
This Prendergast lad is legit.
Prendergast has looked flakey at test level. He makes NPC level mistakes.
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Leicester also played and scored against Ireland in a Rugby World Cup Quarter Final.
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Leicester won four super titles playing against other NZ players and he's looking not bad against the best players Europe has at club level.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
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Leicester also played and scored against Ireland in a Rugby World Cup Quarter Final.
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Leicester won four super titles playing against other NZ players and he's looking not bad against the best players Europe has at club level.
and those are good points (although things from over a year ago start to fail in relevance)....but "experience" just means almost nothing
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant do you think Razor will drop a Barrett?
No, but JB could take the 15 jersey. He was very good at fullback for Leinster vs Clermont in every aspect of this position.
They already have their Sexton replacement too.
That Sam Prendergast is absolutely mustard and better than any 10 we have knocking around on our shores. The way he takes it to the line is a joy to watch. He's not particularly fast and not obviously strong but he has an eternity on the ball.
He is better than the current iteration of Barrett and McKenzie already.
The difference is NZ has a lot of quality talent coming through in the forwards (Sititi, Lakai, Va'ai, Numia, Tosi, Holland etc..), Ireland is struggling to replace the old guard who are busted flushes.
Beating Ireland shouldn't be used as a measuring stick, Argentina almost pipped them at home, Ireland were absolutely woeful against them and Australia.
Ireland have found a generational 10 now though during/since the A.I's. One we didnt face.
Crowley, Byrne and Frawley wont get a look in anymore.
This Prendergast lad is legit.
Prendergast has looked flakey at test level. He makes NPC level mistakes.
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant do you think Razor will drop a Barrett?
No, but JB could take the 15 jersey. He was very good at fullback for Leinster vs Clermont in every aspect of this position.
They already have their Sexton replacement too.
That Sam Prendergast is absolutely mustard and better than any 10 we have knocking around on our shores. The way he takes it to the line is a joy to watch. He's not particularly fast and not obviously strong but he has an eternity on the ball.
He is better than the current iteration of Barrett and McKenzie already.
The difference is NZ has a lot of quality talent coming through in the forwards (Sititi, Lakai, Va'ai, Numia, Tosi, Holland etc..), Ireland is struggling to replace the old guard who are busted flushes.
Beating Ireland shouldn't be used as a measuring stick, Argentina almost pipped them at home, Ireland were absolutely woeful against them and Australia.
Ireland have found a generational 10 now though during/since the A.I's. One we didnt face.
Crowley, Byrne and Frawley wont get a look in anymore.
This Prendergast lad is legit.
Prendergast has looked flakey at test level. He makes NPC level mistakes.
he is only a nipper. he has all the tools
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Leicester also played and scored against Ireland in a Rugby World Cup Quarter Final.
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Leicester won four super titles playing against other NZ players and he's looking not bad against the best players Europe has at club level.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
- Leicester also played and scored against Ireland in a Rugby World Cup Quarter Final.
Yes he did, but hardly a Jules like finish against the French was it?
- Leicester won four super titles playing against other NZ players and he's looking not bad against the best players Europe has at club level.
Form in New Zealand. Not what they did years ago. Or should we bring back Bridge, Havili, Blackadder, oh wait...
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
- Leicester also played and scored against Ireland in a Rugby World Cup Quarter Final.
Yes he did, but hardly a Jules like finish against the French was it?
- Leicester won four super titles playing against other NZ players and he's looking not bad against the best players Europe has at club level.
Form in New Zealand. Not what they did years ago. Or should we bring back Bridge, Havili, Blackadder, oh wait...
@antipodean I am not arguing that Leicester F is one of the great players of all time, but he is playing well enough and has enough talent to a part of the All Blacks squad once eligible.
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@antipodean I am not arguing that Leicester F is one of the great players of all time, but he is playing well enough and has enough talent to a part of the All Blacks squad once eligible.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean I am not arguing that Leicester F is one of the great players of all time, but he is playing well enough and has enough talent to a part of the All Blacks squad once eligible.
I'm not saying you're wrong in your judgement of his current form in comparison to the other options - I'm just saying he needs to prove it in the same competition.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean I am not arguing that Leicester F is one of the great players of all time, but he is playing well enough and has enough talent to a part of the All Blacks squad once eligible.
I'm not saying you're wrong in your judgement of his current form in comparison to the other options - I'm just saying he needs to prove it in the same competition.
@antipodean Nah, form in the top European club competitions counts for something as the quality of the rugby is vaguely similar to SR these days, but I'm more sceptical about the value of the Japanese domestic competition, as any sort of preparation for playing All Blacks rugby. It seems a lot less intense.
