All Blacks 2025
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
Should have stayed at 15 for longer before making the change. IIRC he was in a star studded back 3 for the Canes so it was a better situation for him to develop IMHO
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
Toeava was basically David Havili with impact.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
Toeava was basically David Havili with impact.
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
Toeava could've been AB's permanent 12 after Nonu left 2016-2019 instead of the revolving door that followed
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
I think he played every position from ten upwards for the Blues. Superb player, with occasional Brad Shields hands
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
I think he played every position from ten upwards for the Blues. Superb player, with occasional Brad Shields hands
For whatever reason he couldn't make the jump to excellent AB or even AB great
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
I think he played every position from ten upwards for the Blues. Superb player, with occasional Brad Shields hands
For whatever reason he couldn't make the jump to excellent AB or even AB great
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
I think he played every position from ten upwards for the Blues. Superb player, with occasional Brad Shields hands
For whatever reason he couldn't make the jump to excellent AB or even AB great
He had bone spurs in his hip or something along those lines.
He was never quite right for most of his career.
Superb player on his day.
Think he could have been Charlie Piutau esque.....another one that got away.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
I think he played every position from ten upwards for the Blues. Superb player, with occasional Brad Shields hands
For whatever reason he couldn't make the jump to excellent AB or even AB great
He had bone spurs in his hip or something along those lines.
He was never quite right for most of his career.
Superb player on his day.
Think he could have been Charlie Piutau esque.....another one that got away.
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@Jet eh? You mean the guy that played half as many games as him and never hit great highs either?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet eh? You mean the guy that played half as many games as him and never hit great highs either?
Yeah Charles Piutau. That guy.
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet eh? You mean the guy that played half as many games as him and never hit great highs either?
Yeah Charles Piutau. That guy.
I guess in much the same way as Marty Holah could've been as good as Sam Harding.
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
Yes.
Also the offer he got off shore was bigger and he didn't give NZR right of reply IIRC.
Also have a feeling he came back from off season somewhat under done and didn't like being told ... but may be conflating with Luatua.
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
The story circulating when he went was, he wanted the money to help out family.
Don't know if there any other reasons, or how true any of it was/is. Let's face it it all specualtion, only he can really tell us. -
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
Nice to welcome back some females to the fern
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
Toeava was basically David Havili with impact.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
Toeava was basically David Havili with impact.
Instant ban.
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
The story circulating when he went was, he wanted the money to help out family.
Don't know if there any other reasons, or how true any of it was/is. Let's face it it all specualtion, only he can really tell us.@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
The story circulating when he went was, he wanted the money to help out family.
Don't know if there any other reasons, or how true any of it was/is. Let's face it it all specualtion, only he can really tell us.He was offered the highlest pay in rugby at the time, no brainer for some one wanting to set up his entire family
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
Toeava was basically David Havili with impact.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
Toeava was basically David Havili with impact.
Davidav-ili.
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I think part of the Toeava hate came from him becoming synomous with the All Blacks ability to choke on the world stage. The absolute "possum in the headlights" look of panic on his face as he got subbed onto the field in that infamous 1/4 final against France made him the poster boy for All Black mental fraility.
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
Was basically the highest paid player in the world for a good 5 year period. Ulster, Bristol and Wasps paid him top dollar.
And he also left prematurely, which wasnt the norm.
He had loads of good rugby left in him.
Thats why I was comparing Toeava to him.
Charles eked out a great career, albeit not on these shores.
Toeava was a gun but his body failed him. Could have been an all time great.
Could do it all (and maybe that was part of the problem).
