All Blacks 2025
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Intrigued for the thoughts of some non Highlanders fans last night. I thought with the lights shining, de Groot was excellent, Holland was the best lock on the field, and Tavatavanawai was superb. Fakatava was also excellent even if not as impactful as Roigard. Feel all four should be in the ABs squad?
@frugby I agree about Holland, he reminds me so much of Sam W, he really contests on opposition ball in lineout, and generally plays like a tight lock should, De Groot had a good game, mind he was past due. Fakatava needs a decent body of work as yet. but good to see them plaing well. TT might well be close too, depends where they see him playing.
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Intrigued for the thoughts of some non Highlanders fans last night. I thought with the lights shining, de Groot was excellent, Holland was the best lock on the field, and Tavatavanawai was superb. Fakatava was also excellent even if not as impactful as Roigard. Feel all four should be in the ABs squad?
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby Fakatava probably just misses out. But the other three must be there.
I can live with Fakatava missing out if they stick with Hotham, but I think he has been highly impressive in a crap team. Feels like the perfect bench halfback to me.
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Thought Fakatava was very good. Holland has been in decent form all season but played well, as did Tavatavanawai and Tele'a. JRK is in good form given he's been out for so long and could be a good option for NZ in the outside backs.
Love, Proctor and Roigard were the stand-outs for the Hurricanes.
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Big TT reminds a bit of Ardie in the way he plays his own position. To select TT the ABs would need to change the way 12 plays. He is not exactly a traditional 12, and if he is combined with Rieko how fear for our ability to put others in space. His biggest asset, and it is very bloody useful, is the way he goes looking for turn overs. He hovers behind the ruck looking for his chance in much the same way Kirifi does. Those two could end up getting in each other's way if selected together.
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From a Canes perspective I thought TT, Fakatava, Tele’a and JRK caused problems for us all night. Whether it was running over players or being able to scramble effectively I thought those four players were the best on the park for the Landers. Holland and Dunshea were also very good at killing our lineout which stopped a lot of our momentum. De Groot also deserves a mention, he probably had one of his better games for a while.
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Fakatava's passing wasn't great at times. When the Highlanders were going for a second quick try he threw out some shocking passes which really stopped any momentum, and eventually led to a breakdown penalty. The one to Tele'a is an example. Of course, Roigard misfired with a couple of wide passes too.
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Tele'a was the most impressive Highlander on the paddock. He is so underrated. Based on this SR season, he is a better 13 than Ioane, IMO.
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
Tele'a was the most impressive Highlander on the paddock. He is so underrated. Based on this SR season, he is a better 13 than Ioane, IMO.
How does he rate against Proctor?
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
You seriously get people like JK who's analysis is 'the boys will really be up for it this week, I'm picking them'. Great that people like it, but it's an entertainment show, not a rugby show.
JK who famously said he had never heard of Rivez Reihana before his Super Rugby debut despite Reihana playing 3 seasons of NPC prior to that.
Phenomenal human being, terrible analyst, mixed bag as a coach
Handy winger in his playing days too
Sheesh, that's a bit of an insult.
He was fucking outstanding.
just being understated. JK is the man. My absolute favourite AB of his era ( zinny a close second and daylight to the rest )
@MN5 Jones, JK, Zinny all favourites
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
Tele'a was the most impressive Highlander on the paddock. He is so underrated. Based on this SR season, he is a better 13 than Ioane, IMO.
How does he rate against Proctor?
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby Fakatava probably just misses out. But the other three must be there.
Roigard hasn't been stand-out this year and has been a bit meh at times. Hopefully he'll click in before the Tests
Not too worried. We seem to have reasonable options at 9.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby Fakatava probably just misses out. But the other three must be there.
Roigard hasn't been stand-out this year and has been a bit meh at times. Hopefully he'll click in before the Tests
Not too worried. We seem to have reasonable options at 9.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby Fakatava probably just misses out. But the other three must be there.
Roigard hasn't been stand-out this year and has been a bit meh at times. Hopefully he'll click in before the Tests
Not too worried. We seem to have reasonable options at 9.
He finally started running the ball last night. More of that please Cam.
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Scooter should just hand over the captaincy to Ardie now.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Scooter should just hand over the captaincy to Ardie now.
He's a shit AB captain Too agreeable
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Anyone else a bit worried that we aren't exactly overflowing with talented players on the Wing in form, in peak fitness and committed to staying in NZ to the next World Cup?
The options are looking decidedly meagre.
@sparky Taumoefolau would be a bolter but he's a year away from being eligible, someone with more knowledge than me may know why he was never in the Crusaders system?
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Scooter should just hand over the captaincy to Ardie now.
He's a shit AB captain Too agreeable
@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Scooter should just hand over the captaincy to Ardie now.
He's a shit AB captain Too agreeable
I’d prefer him though because he plays 80 and doesn’t get carded every two seconds like big munter Barrett.
