All Blacks 2025

African Monkey

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:

Fihaki looked good last night ...

Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.

He's not the greatest of defenders that's for sure.

I see nothing in his game that isn't done the same or better by the likes of ENS, Lam, Tangitau, Stephenson....

Neither, and as you pointed out, he's an awful defender currently. The try you pointed out and his miss on Miracle Fa'ilagi in the Moana Pasifika game being 2 examples of that.

But yeah, if it were Shaun Stevenson, every man and his dog would be out in full force letting everyone know about it.

booboo

Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.

Bones

@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:

Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.

Didn't he hit a purple patch about this point last season? I thought he was better last year, but might not be as noticeable when you're getting beat.

Dan54

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

Fabian Holland looking every inch an All Black in waiting.

Only this match, not been that amazing up until now. More games the same required, one offs don't cut it, imo

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

Fabian Holland looking every inch an All Black in waiting.

Only this match, not been that amazing up until now. More games the same required, one offs don't cut it, imo

I think he's looked pretty good all season, except maybe quiet last week.

booboo

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:

Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.

Didn't he hit a purple patch about this point last season? I thought he was better last year, but might not be as noticeable when you're getting beat.

Couldn't tell you. Didn't notice him.

canefan

@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:

Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.

Setting the bar low for him then. He's 24, if he was going to make it I'd expect him to show more by now. He's got zero X factor

Landers92

About the only thing that Fihaki can do better than any other winger in NZ is 50+ metre kicks at goal. Says it all really.

Luckily for him, he is in the right colours to get the benefit of the doubt over wingers that are actually better than him in NZ.

frugby

Quite interesting to go back and look at previous threads. At this stage last season, people had Iose and Ioane on course for the ABs, and there were no mentions for Sititi. Hardly a mention yet of Darry, Ratima or Tosi.

It is probably the form over the next two months that will truly decide the ABs squad. If the likes of Moananu, Kirifi, Parker etc. burn out, they will not be there.

nostrildamus

@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:

About the only thing that Fihaki can do better than any other winger in NZ is 50+ metre kicks at goal. Says it all really.

Luckily for him, he is in the right colours to get the benefit of the doubt over wingers that are actually better than him in NZ.

A good skill to have but Isn't Stevenson considered a winger as well (at higher level anyway)? I won't be a smartarse and mention Jordie ..

Bovidae

@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:

Quite interesting to go back and look at previous threads. At this stage last season, people had Iose and Ioane on course for the ABs, and there were no mentions for Sititi.

Sititi only first started for the Chiefs about this time last year, so that is not surprising. I agree that the backend of SR will be more important for any newbie to be in with a chance of AB selection.

frugby

@Bovidae Always has and always will be. Kirifi I suspect ends up being a great example of this. Assuming they see Savea & Lakai as opensides, he is going to be up against it against Blackadder and Papalii, and if the Canes form does not turn around he probably won't get to push his case in the finals.

FWIW, I would select him at this stage, but also, you compare him to say Tizzano or McReight, who are noted for their defensive capabilities/breakdown work, and I feel like they both offer more in possession than Kirifi. Lakai and Savea present a better all-round package.

cgrant

Probable Razor's pick :

Williams
Taylor
Lomax
Barrett
Vai'i
Blackadder
Savea
Sititi
Roigard
B. Barrett
Clarke
J. Barrett
Ioane
Reece
Jordan

Taukei'aho
De Groot
Newell
Tuipolutu
Finau
Hotham
ALB
MacKenzie

KiwiInLondon

@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:

Probable Razor's pick :

Williams
Taylor
Lomax
Barrett
Vai'i
Blackadder
Savea
Sititi
Roigard
B. Barrett
Clarke
J. Barrett
Ioane
Reece
Jordan

Taukei'aho
De Groot
Newell
Tuipolutu
Finau
Hotham
ALB
MacKenzie

Finau has been the best six by a country mile. Would be outrageous to pick a seven ahead of him.

Bovidae

I'd like to see (6) Finau, (7) Savea and (8) Sititi.

cgrant

@KiwiInLondon
I think this is the team Razor will select, but this is not the team I would like to see for the June series. My team (but it won't happen) :

Williams
Taylor
Lomax
Barrett
Vai'i
Finau
Savea
Sititi
Roigard
MacKenzie
Clarke
Barrett
Ioane
Jordan
Love

Taukei'aho
De Groot
Tosi
Beehre
Lakai
Hotham
Barrett
Tavatavanawai

Crazy Horse

Jordie hasn't had much of a break has he? If not, I wonder if that will impact his effectiveness and or availability for selection?

booboo

@cgrant not so sure about Beehre and Lakai. Little issue with the rest.

sparky

@Crazy-Horse Jordie was Man of the Match for Leinster yesterday in the big European Cup QF win against Glasgow. He's not be used every game so he's had some rest time. He will be available for the AB tests and, if fit will be, the starting 12.

sparky

@cgrant Starting 15 looks good. I wouldn't be using Beehre, but no real issues with the rest.

KiwiMurph

Pleased to see Beehre getting some recognition - I could see him leapfrogging Darry over the next 12 months

The Silver Fern

All Blacks 2025