All Blacks 2025
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A polite no to both suggestions from me at the moment. I see those two as All Blacks XV players this year unless they improve a bit in these last few rounds of Super Rugby.
Caleb Tangitau has the pace, but I want to see him looking for work more and backing up performances by playing well week after week before I see him as an All Black. Emoni Narawa is all-class and deserves a run of two or three games to show what he can do in a Test jersey.
Simon Parker is definitely a long-term project and reminds me a lot of Scott Barrett in how he plays and as an athlete. Samipeni Finau has impressed when games are on the line a bit more. He's added lineout and defensive reliability to his obvious dynamism. He did well on the All Blacks EOYT last year.
Simon Parker is definitely one I'd be saying to "some people see you as an All Black now prove it at the business end of the season".
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
but I want to see him looking for work more and backing up performances by playing well week after week
Which he was doing prior to getting injured.
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@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones If Patty T hits form or Sam Darry gets fit, I'd bump them above Holland, but I'm intrigued to see how he'd go at Test level.
Probably I'd like eventually to see
12 Quinn Tupaea
14 Will Jordan
15 Jordie BarrettBut Jordie's playing well at provincial level at 12 and Will Jordan at 15 so I'd leave them there for now.
We sure Holland isn’t just the lock version of Tom Christie with a better PR team?
Holland vs Behree
Minutes
Holland: 647
Behree: 578Carries
Holland: 51
Behree: 74Metres
Holland:84
Behree: 187Post contact metres
Holland: 95
Behree: 153Defenders beaten
Holland: 2
Behree:11Tackles:
Holland: 143 (88%)
Behree: 110 (90%)Where are you getting these stats from?
Opta has Holland at 207m from 51 carries. I'd also note his 12 dominant tackles. Two different styles of players, who as it has been pointed out, probably shouldn't be competing for the same spot.
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones If Patty T hits form or Sam Darry gets fit, I'd bump them above Holland, but I'm intrigued to see how he'd go at Test level.
Probably I'd like eventually to see
12 Quinn Tupaea
14 Will Jordan
15 Jordie BarrettBut Jordie's playing well at provincial level at 12 and Will Jordan at 15 so I'd leave them there for now.
We sure Holland isn’t just the lock version of Tom Christie with a better PR team?
Holland vs Behree
Minutes
Holland: 647
Behree: 578Carries
Holland: 51
Behree: 74Metres
Holland:84
Behree: 187Post contact metres
Holland: 95
Behree: 153Defenders beaten
Holland: 2
Behree:11Tackles:
Holland: 143 (88%)
Behree: 110 (90%)Where are you getting these stats from?
Opta has Holland at 207m from 51 carries. I'd also note his 12 dominant tackles. Two different styles of players, who as it has been pointed out, probably shouldn't be competing for the same spot.
RugbyPass but tbh I’m not entirely sure how accurate that is. What is Opta? Is it more accurate?
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@darylmitchell think Parker is just a bit too much like Sititi.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell think Parker is just a bit too much like Sititi.
In style or talent?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell think Parker is just a bit too much like Sititi.
In style or talent?
@Victor-Meldrew style
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@Victor-Meldrew style
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew style
Interesting, I see them as very different types of players. Not sure Parker has shown enough dynamism to make the All Blacks just yet. He'd be a weapon if he ran into contact like Finau.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew style
Interesting, I see them as very different types of players. Not sure Parker has shown enough dynamism to make the All Blacks just yet. He'd be a weapon if he ran into contact like Finau.
@Mr-Fish yeah he needs to add a bit of an edge to his game.
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Find it curious Brodie McAllister has hardly had a mention in this thread. Has been very strong for a good Chiefs side and was injury cover last year... has probably proved the selectors right for favouring him over Riccitelli.
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
Find it curious Brodie McAllister has hardly had a mention in this thread. Has been very strong for a good Chiefs side and was injury cover last year... has probably proved the selectors right for favouring him over Riccitelli.
Slightly older in the tooth but definitely a strong option.
Unless there are injuries though, Taylor, Taukei'aho and Aumua will definitely take all the berths available. Would be good to see McAlister and Moananu share duties for the ABs XV though.
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This is what I've currently got pencilled in for the First Test, but it will be interesting to see how players go at the business end of the season.
- T. Williams
- C. Taylor
- T. Lomax
- S. Barrett (c)
- T. Vai'i
- S. Finau
- A. Savea
- W. Sititi
- C. Ratima
- DMac
- C. Clarke
- J. Barrett
- B. Proctor
- E. Narawa
- W.Jordan
- S. Taukei'aho
- E. De Groot
- F. Newell
- F. Holland
- P. Lakai
- C. Roigard
- R. Love
- Q. Tupaea
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@frugby i think you will find Beehre is a more traditional tight lock who will do all the hard yards close in
Based on the stats posted its pretty impressive
Once Tuipulotu moves on Josh will find himself in the 4 jersey imo
I have been told by a few sources that he is excptionally strong in the scrummaging department
Hes taken his opportunity in Sam Darry’s absence
Holland should be an All Black this year ,but it would surprise me if Beehre becomes an All Black in the next couple of years@Steven-Harris totally agree, Beehre his time should be close, Holland I'm not actually impressed seems to just able around when Highlander's are under the pump, for big lad, he's soft.
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@Steven-Harris totally agree, Beehre his time should be close, Holland I'm not actually impressed seems to just able around when Highlander's are under the pump, for big lad, he's soft.
@george33 funny thing is when the landers have been under the pump that's when Holland has been doing good stuff in my view, Blues vs Landers game twice in the final 15mins he won opposition lineout, the Drua game a few weeks back he disrupted them at the breakdown. The Dutchmans work ons should be showing more with ball in hand
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@Steven-Harris totally agree, Beehre his time should be close, Holland I'm not actually impressed seems to just able around when Highlander's are under the pump, for big lad, he's soft.
@george33 thats my only issue with Holland his contact and post contact metres ..Beehre if you were comparing that aspect wins hands down
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@sparky unless Reiko, gets injured which doesn't happen that much, he will be 13, Proctor 1 game against Fiji, missed 3 tackles, and was dropped, Test Rugby
@george33 That side is who I would pick. Others are entitled to their opinions.
Reiko Ioane may be a darling of the NZ Rugby Media establishment, but he has created nothing all year at Centre for the Blues. He's an emperor without clothes.
He was a decent Test wing, but has never really developed in the midfield. Billy Proctor would offer a lot more in creativity and I think it's bizarre to shut out forever a talented player forever based on one game which the All Blacks comfortable won 47-5.
Picking Reiko Ioane until the retires regardless of form is a classic example of the lazy groupthink that has infected the NZ Rugby establishment in the last decade.
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Even the All Black socials know what’s up. Doctor Proctor has to be the AB 13 this year.
He did more in his first start on Saturday than Reiko’s done all year.
