All Blacks 2025
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@MN5 i just hate the fact we pick bit part players on the bench who cover for the sake of covering all 3 positions as opposed to an out specialists in his position that adds serious impact
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 i just hate the fact we pick bit part players on the bench who cover for the sake of covering all 3 positions as opposed to an out specialists in his position that adds serious impact
Exactly this
I would like to some fresh blood like Kirifi and Lio Willie brought in.
Jacobson gets test after test on the bench and adds no impact.
Towards the end of last season the likes of Tosi and Tuipulotu started adding real impact off the bench - the movement needs to continue with the loosie spot and utility back spot.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae for me Jacobson has quite a wiry shape he is athletic which means he can play in all 3 positions and is extremley mobile but i dont see him as an out and out impact player , Blackadder very similar ..
Gee i look at what the Wallabies can have got in terms of impact in the loose forwards off the bench and i have got to say it looks better than what we haveJacobsen, Blackadder and Papalii are all much of a muchness in terms of size but none of them really consistently play like it.
Judging by this I'd put the average weight of the three of them at about 108.15kg.
I'd have a more accurate gauge if Nepo Laulala got out of the photo
That photo reminds me how much we are going to miss Wallace this test season
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae for me Jacobson has quite a wiry shape he is athletic which means he can play in all 3 positions and is extremley mobile but i dont see him as an out and out impact player , Blackadder very similar ..
Gee i look at what the Wallabies can have got in terms of impact in the loose forwards off the bench and i have got to say it looks better than what we haveJacobsen, Blackadder and Papalii are all much of a muchness in terms of size but none of them really consistently play like it.
Judging by this I'd put the average weight of the three of them at about 108.15kg.
I'd have a more accurate gauge if Nepo Laulala got out of the photo
That photo reminds me how much we are going to miss Wallace this test season
I reckon.
How many scoops of vanilla can a team tolerate ?
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@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 one thing it does confirm we are pretty small compared to other international teams nothing new but the modern game is about gain line and physicality .
Just out interest how tall is Ardie ?He looked a little shorter than Sititi in one photo I saw, not 1.9 metres anyway, might be the incline .. but his height seems to be ah mysterious.
https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--pKyNpAaz--/c_crop,h_1836,w_2938,x_565,y_105/c_scale,h_1836,w_2938/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_1050/v1730151097/4KJHT4U_20240921145166076360_original_jpg?_a=BACCd2ADEdit: Oh god, this is funny: https://moanapasifika.co.nz/player/ardie-savea/
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 one thing it does confirm we are pretty small compared to other international teams nothing new but the modern game is about gain line and physicality .
Just out interest how tall is Ardie ?He looked a little shorter than Sititi in one photo I saw, not 1.9 metres anyway, might be the inclice .. but his height seems to be ah mysterious.
https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--pKyNpAaz--/c_crop,h_1836,w_2938,x_565,y_105/c_scale,h_1836,w_2938/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_1050/v1730151097/4KJHT4U_20240921145166076360_original_jpg?_a=BACCd2ADEdit: Oh god, this is funny: https://moanapasifika.co.nz/player/ardie-savea/
He must have had a haircut and jumped on the scales after a month of diarrhea
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae for me Jacobson has quite a wiry shape he is athletic which means he can play in all 3 positions and is extremley mobile but i dont see him as an out and out impact player , Blackadder very similar ..
Gee i look at what the Wallabies can have got in terms of impact in the loose forwards off the bench and i have got to say it looks better than what we haveJacobsen, Blackadder and Papalii are all much of a muchness in terms of size but none of them really consistently play like it.
Judging by this I'd put the average weight of the three of them at about 108.15kg.
I'd have a more accurate gauge if Nepo Laulala got out of the photo
That photo reminds me how much we are going to miss Wallace this test season
I reckon.
How many scoops of vanilla can a team tolerate ?
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae for me Jacobson has quite a wiry shape he is athletic which means he can play in all 3 positions and is extremley mobile but i dont see him as an out and out impact player , Blackadder very similar ..
Gee i look at what the Wallabies can have got in terms of impact in the loose forwards off the bench and i have got to say it looks better than what we haveJacobsen, Blackadder and Papalii are all much of a muchness in terms of size but none of them really consistently play like it.
Judging by this I'd put the average weight of the three of them at about 108.15kg.
I'd have a more accurate gauge if Nepo Laulala got out of the photo
That photo reminds me how much we are going to miss Wallace this test season
I reckon.
How many scoops of vanilla can a team tolerate ?
We show no imagination in our bench selections. All of these guys, ALB, DH, they are not impact players. The saffas are so much more in tune with the impact concept, which is depressing
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae for me Jacobson has quite a wiry shape he is athletic which means he can play in all 3 positions and is extremley mobile but i dont see him as an out and out impact player , Blackadder very similar ..
Gee i look at what the Wallabies can have got in terms of impact in the loose forwards off the bench and i have got to say it looks better than what we haveJacobsen, Blackadder and Papalii are all much of a muchness in terms of size but none of them really consistently play like it.
Judging by this I'd put the average weight of the three of them at about 108.15kg.
I'd have a more accurate gauge if Nepo Laulala got out of the photo
That photo reminds me how much we are going to miss Wallace this test season
I reckon.
How many scoops of vanilla can a team tolerate ?
We show no imagination in our bench selections. All of these guys, ALB, DH, they are not impact players. The saffas are so much more in tune with the impact concept, which is depressing
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@Tim not really apart from the obvious one , Kyren Taumoefolau once he completes his 3 year standown will be available in 2027
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@canefan Rassie gets it the French are now doing it
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan Rassie gets it the French are now doing it
We used to be Rugby's innovators. But we have got lazy.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae for me Jacobson has quite a wiry shape he is athletic which means he can play in all 3 positions and is extremley mobile but i dont see him as an out and out impact player , Blackadder very similar ..
Gee i look at what the Wallabies can have got in terms of impact in the loose forwards off the bench and i have got to say it looks better than what we haveJacobsen, Blackadder and Papalii are all much of a muchness in terms of size but none of them really consistently play like it.
Judging by this I'd put the average weight of the three of them at about 108.15kg.
I'd have a more accurate gauge if Nepo Laulala got out of the photo
That photo reminds me how much we are going to miss Wallace this test season
I reckon.
How many scoops of vanilla can a team tolerate ?
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Some interesting info about what the top tier rugby players can earn. You can understand why an overseas contract is so attractive to the level below that.
Lendrum said NZ Rugby’s wage structure offered elite talent up to a $1 million a year before Super Rugby and provincial pay and test assembly fees - which can add more than $300,000 - were included.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Some interesting info about what the top tier rugby players can earn. You can understand why an overseas contract is so attractive to the level below that.
Lendrum said NZ Rugby’s wage structure offered elite talent up to a $1 million a year before Super Rugby and provincial pay and test assembly fees - which can add more than $300,000 - were included.
“but all players who choose to stay in New Zealand are often staying for between 30% and 100% less of what is on offer abroad.”
I’d hate to earn 100% less than I could potentially early somewhere else
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Some interesting info about what the top tier rugby players can earn. You can understand why an overseas contract is so attractive to the level below that.
Lendrum said NZ Rugby’s wage structure offered elite talent up to a $1 million a year before Super Rugby and provincial pay and test assembly fees - which can add more than $300,000 - were included.
“but all players who choose to stay in New Zealand are often staying for between 30% and 100% less of what is on offer abroad.”
I’d hate to earn 100% less than I could potentially early somewhere else
@voodoo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Some interesting info about what the top tier rugby players can earn. You can understand why an overseas contract is so attractive to the level below that.
Lendrum said NZ Rugby’s wage structure offered elite talent up to a $1 million a year before Super Rugby and provincial pay and test assembly fees - which can add more than $300,000 - were included.
“but all players who choose to stay in New Zealand are often staying for between 30% and 100% less of what is on offer abroad.”
I’d hate to earn 100% less than I could potentially early somewhere else
That article made me wonder if the overseas eligibility rule is realistically sustainable.
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Back to Marc Hinton.
He's a journo whose opinion columns I invariably disagree with.
Loved it when Kane Hames put him in his place (MH challenged him about his scrummaging ability, KH replied something like he gets paid to work as hard as he can to do his job well, unlike some journalists).
I'd personally disregard anything Hinton spouted.
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Back to Marc Hinton.
He's a journo whose opinion columns I invariably disagree with.
Loved it when Kane Hames put him in his place (MH challenged him about his scrummaging ability, KH replied something like he gets paid to work as hard as he can to do his job well, unlike some journalists).
I'd personally disregard anything Hinton spouted.
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@voodoo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Some interesting info about what the top tier rugby players can earn. You can understand why an overseas contract is so attractive to the level below that.
Lendrum said NZ Rugby’s wage structure offered elite talent up to a $1 million a year before Super Rugby and provincial pay and test assembly fees - which can add more than $300,000 - were included.
“but all players who choose to stay in New Zealand are often staying for between 30% and 100% less of what is on offer abroad.”
I’d hate to earn 100% less than I could potentially early somewhere else
That article made me wonder if the overseas eligibility rule is realistically sustainable.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@voodoo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Some interesting info about what the top tier rugby players can earn. You can understand why an overseas contract is so attractive to the level below that.
Lendrum said NZ Rugby’s wage structure offered elite talent up to a $1 million a year before Super Rugby and provincial pay and test assembly fees - which can add more than $300,000 - were included.
“but all players who choose to stay in New Zealand are often staying for between 30% and 100% less of what is on offer abroad.”
I’d hate to earn 100% less than I could potentially early somewhere else
That article made me wonder if the overseas eligibility rule is realistically sustainable.
Yep, but not really ABs who are losing the 100%, they more the 30% ones.
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And speaking of players overseas , and really I think he will be 2026, I was watching Toulon game other day, and Leicester Fainga'anuku is certainly looking very good at 13. I know it's only one game etc, but he certainly looked very comfortable and good there.
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And speaking of players overseas , and really I think he will be 2026, I was watching Toulon game other day, and Leicester Fainga'anuku is certainly looking very good at 13. I know it's only one game etc, but he certainly looked very comfortable and good there.
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
And speaking of players overseas , and really I think he will be 2026, I was watching Toulon game other day, and Leicester Fainga'anuku is certainly looking very good at 13. I know it's only one game etc, but he certainly looked very comfortable and good there.
He has been very good at 13 for Toulon all season and last season.
the Crusaders are looking to use him at 13 as well as wing in 2026. -
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae for me Jacobson has quite a wiry shape he is athletic which means he can play in all 3 positions and is extremley mobile but i dont see him as an out and out impact player , Blackadder very similar ..
Gee i look at what the Wallabies can have got in terms of impact in the loose forwards off the bench and i have got to say it looks better than what we haveJacobsen, Blackadder and Papalii are all much of a muchness in terms of size but none of them really consistently play like it.
Judging by this I'd put the average weight of the three of them at about 108.15kg.
I'd have a more accurate gauge if Nepo Laulala got out of the photo
That photo reminds me how much we are going to miss Wallace this test season
I reckon.
How many scoops of vanilla can a team tolerate ?
We show no imagination in our bench selections. All of these guys, ALB, DH, they are not impact players. The saffas are so much more in tune with the impact concept, which is depressing
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae for me Jacobson has quite a wiry shape he is athletic which means he can play in all 3 positions and is extremley mobile but i dont see him as an out and out impact player , Blackadder very similar ..
Gee i look at what the Wallabies can have got in terms of impact in the loose forwards off the bench and i have got to say it looks better than what we haveJacobsen, Blackadder and Papalii are all much of a muchness in terms of size but none of them really consistently play like it.
Judging by this I'd put the average weight of the three of them at about 108.15kg.
I'd have a more accurate gauge if Nepo Laulala got out of the photo
That photo reminds me how much we are going to miss Wallace this test season
I reckon.
How many scoops of vanilla can a team tolerate ?
We show no imagination in our bench selections. All of these guys, ALB, DH, they are not impact players. The saffas are so much more in tune with the impact concept, which is depressing
Yeah but those three are all much the same size as Kieran Read, wouldn't it be nice if one of them had a similar impact as he did ?
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Ruben Love should be in the main squad this year. Absolutely ready for the big time.
I have a horn on me a cat wouldnt scratch to see him play 10.
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Ruben Love should be in the main squad this year. Absolutely ready for the big time.
I have a horn on me a cat wouldnt scratch to see him play 10.
Gets an audition at fly half this weekend if the rumours are true.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
And speaking of players overseas , and really I think he will be 2026, I was watching Toulon game other day, and Leicester Fainga'anuku is certainly looking very good at 13. I know it's only one game etc, but he certainly looked very comfortable and good there.
He has been very good at 13 for Toulon all season and last season.
the Crusaders are looking to use him at 13 as well as wing in 2026.@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
And speaking of players overseas , and really I think he will be 2026, I was watching Toulon game other day, and Leicester Fainga'anuku is certainly looking very good at 13. I know it's only one game etc, but he certainly looked very comfortable and good there.
He has been very good at 13 for Toulon all season and last season.
the Crusaders are looking to use him at 13 as well as wing in 2026.I have just been watching the highlights of the game from weekend, and genuinely think I may have been a bit generous to LF in some ways. As I said, only highlights, and was watching LF because of what I thought last week.
Although he looked pretty good in attack, his work in defence in first half was pretty woeful at times, to the point he actually look disinterested.
