All Blacks 2025

[mariner4life]

@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:

https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/other/dolphins-cult-hero-valynce-te-whare-leaves-the-nrl-for-new-opportunity/ar-AA1vVP7l?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=297c81fbbd3f412181e40b9432683cfc&ei=11 We could very well have more than one ex NRL player gunning for an All Black spot before the next World Cup.

Lol that fat fuck was cut for a reason

[sparky]

@Jet Quinn Tupaea should have been ahead of ALB in the All Black pecking order this year.

[DurryMexted]

@sparky He has had a rough run, the chiefs midfield is deceptively competitive as well. Would love to see him become the front running 12/13 utility that ALB has had locked down for a while

[sparky]

@DurryMexted Jordie Barrett is going to be running on fumes at best after completing a Southern Hemisphere rugby season, then a Northern Hemisphere rugby season back to back. We are going to need a new 12 for part of 2025 and Quinn Tupaea could be that player.

[reprobate]

The thing I like about Tupaea as a sub is that he is really pretty strong on the breakdown turnover, and coming on fresh with a few tired legs in the opposition getting to the rucks just a little slower should create a few opportunities.

[African Monkey]

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:

@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:

https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/other/dolphins-cult-hero-valynce-te-whare-leaves-the-nrl-for-new-opportunity/ar-AA1vVP7l?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=297c81fbbd3f412181e40b9432683cfc&ei=11 We could very well have more than one ex NRL player gunning for an All Black spot before the next World Cup.

Lol that fat fuck was cut for a reason

Leagues version of Levi Aumua.

[African Monkey]

@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@Canes4life It would be good to have him as injury cover at 11 for Caleb Clarke. He might do a job ahead of ALB as a midfield impact off the bench, but Billy Proctor and Quinn Tupaea are likely to be in the mix too.

I have had one eye on Tupea since he game back from that horrific injury and I like what I see.

Has a bit of mongrel in him and carries with real spite.

His carrying has certainly improved. The ABs tried to use him as a carrier in 2021, and he looked a bit uncomfortable doing it, where as now, he does it without applying the handbrake.

[KiwiMurph]

Would be happy to see Tupaea as an alternative to the current midfield options which never seem to change

[Bovidae]

McMillan needs to start Tupaea at 12 for the Chiefs first. Not doing that in the SR playoffs was a mistake.

[cgrant]

There is an incredible number of possible pairings in midfield :
JB - Ioane
JB - ALB
ALB - Ioane
JB - Proctor
ALB - Proctor
JB - AJ Lam
AJ Lam - Ioane
AJ Lam - Proctor
AJ Lam - ALB
ALB - AJ Lam
Higgins - Ioane
Higgins - Proctor
Higgins - ALB
Higgins - AJ Lam
Tupaea - Ioane
Tupaea - Proctor
Tupaea - AJ Lam
Tupaea - ALB

If you add LF in that mix, then the number of possibilities would get even higher.

[Duluth]

@cgrant

..and Havili is currently rated higher than 3 of those 12's you listed

[Nepia]

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:

@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:

https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/other/dolphins-cult-hero-valynce-te-whare-leaves-the-nrl-for-new-opportunity/ar-AA1vVP7l?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=297c81fbbd3f412181e40b9432683cfc&ei=11 We could very well have more than one ex NRL player gunning for an All Black spot before the next World Cup.

Lol that fat fuck was cut for a reason

Leagues version of Levi Aumua.

Piss off, Aumua is actually good ... unless you're the Cantabs and don't know how to use him.

[nostrildamus]

@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:

Yep. There has to be consequences for abandoning the ship.

Different strokes for different Crusaders* folks.

*Shannon Michael Frizell appears to have been adopted by the RnB.

[cgrant]

@Duluth said in All Blacks 2025:

@cgrant

..and Havili is currently rated higher than 3 of those 12's you listed

I completely forgot him ...

[frugby]

Hot take. Caleb Tangitau bolts into the All Blacks next year.

Happy to take Highlanders bias on this, but in a world where there seem to be few impressive u25 wingers in this country, I can see him bolting in.

[KiwiMurph]

@frugby he's every chance if with regular game he can tidy up the rough edges in his game. Has an intriguing size and speed combination

[WoodysRFC]

Possible bolter, ENS, assuming the fullback position is now his with Stevenson's departure. There's an impressive outside back under 25.

[Bones]

@WoodysRFC I wouldn't call him a bolter, should have been there this year. Fingers crossed he carries his form after his injury.

[Mr Fish]

@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:

Hot take. Caleb Tangitau bolts into the All Blacks next year.

Happy to take Highlanders bias on this, but in a world where there seem to be few impressive u25 wingers in this country, I can see him bolting in.

While it's obviously possible, Tangutau wasn't even very good in the NPC this year...

[canefan]

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:

@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:

Hot take. Caleb Tangitau bolts into the All Blacks next year.

Happy to take Highlanders bias on this, but in a world where there seem to be few impressive u25 wingers in this country, I can see him bolting in.

While it's obviously possible, Tangutau wasn't even very good in the NPC this year...

Sounds like Fihaki...