All Blacks 2025

[Grooter]

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones

A pot belly on a professional athlete would generally be considered an indicator of lack of conditioning.

Lack of conditioning is generally an indicator that an athlete doesn't take their preparation seriously and lacks professionalism.

Some coaches of elite teams don't like to have players like that on their teams.

He definitely doesn't lack professionalism. the most respected respected player by his peers at the landers, played all bar 15 minutes this season. Lead the round robin in defenders beaten & turnover won. If Razor needs him to lose 3kgs over the next month I'm sure he would accept such a challenge

[Bones]

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones

A pot belly on a professional athlete would generally be considered an indicator of lack of conditioning.

Lack of conditioning is generally an indicator that an athlete doesn't take their preparation seriously and lacks professionalism.

Some coaches of elite teams don't like to have players like that on their teams.

You're ignoring the bit where you made up the potbelly.

And you ignored the other examples of "potbelly" players, who got selected.

And you ignored Tavatavanawai playing serious minutes and still being one of the best on the park at the end of matches.

By the same token, I reckon Ah Kuoi will never make the ABs because they don't like guys that have blue eyes.

[canefan]

I think someone has to get off their high horse already

[brodean]

@Grooter said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones

A pot belly on a professional athlete would generally be considered an indicator of lack of conditioning.

Lack of conditioning is generally an indicator that an athlete doesn't take their preparation seriously and lacks professionalism.

Some coaches of elite teams don't like to have players like that on their teams.

He definitely doesn't lack professionalism. the most respected respected player by his peers at the landers, played all bar 15 minutes this season. Lead the round robin in defenders beaten & turnover won. If Razor needs him to lose 3kgs over the next month I'm sure he would accept such a challenge

He did that last year too. Most defenders beaten and turnovers won. He wasn't even called in to the AB XV.

[brodean]

@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones

A pot belly on a professional athlete would generally be considered an indicator of lack of conditioning.

Lack of conditioning is generally an indicator that an athlete doesn't take their preparation seriously and lacks professionalism.

Some coaches of elite teams don't like to have players like that on their teams.

It’s just how some people are built mate. Come on, you don’t live under a rock. Look up Chuck Liddell, and all time UFC great, he has the same kind of abdominal structure when fighting.

Jim played basically all the minutes for the Highlanders in an incredibly physical position and being the most involved. If he wasn’t tackling he was jackling for the ball which is incredibly fatiguing. Far from ‘lack of conditioning’.

I guess his competition leading 78 defenders beaten with the nearest to him being Dmac on 53 is even more impressive considering his lack of conditioning. Maybe there’s still a chance for all of us.

I'm not criticising him as a player or a person.

I'm saying some coaches don't like it when players are built like he seems to be. I've already said I wouldn't mind seeing him getting a go.

[Victor Meldrew]

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2025:

My starting backline:
Roigard
McKenzie
Clark
Barrett
Proctor
Ioane
Jordan.

For the 1st Test, think Robertson will stick with last years lineup and have Proctor and Love in the 23. If we win the first 2 Tests, then Proctor & QT to start

Roigard
DMac
Clark
Barrett
Ioane
Reece
Jordan

Proctor
Tupeau
Ratima

[Bones]

@Victor-Meldrew Jordie covering ten? No

[Canes4life]

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2025:

My starting backline:
Roigard
McKenzie
Clark
Barrett
Proctor
Ioane
Jordan.

For the 1st Test, think Robertson will stick with last years lineup and have Proctor and Love in the 23. If we win the first 2 Tests, then Proctor & QT to start

Roigard
DMac
Clark
Barrett
Ioane
Reece
Jordan

Proctor
Tupeau
Ratima

Don’t think they’ll go both Proctor and Tupaea on the bench. But I like your thinking around starting them together. I think they would compliment each other nicely.

[Frank]

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

Tavatavanawai kind of looks like he has a pot belly. If that's the case I think the current selectors frown on that sort of thing.

I reckon work rate and involvement probably trumps whether some rando on the internet thinks a player has a Potbelly.

Last time I checked the point of this forum was for randoms to speculate on rugby and rugby players?

My bad. Feel free to "speculate" on whether a player has love handles and what Razor thinks of them, whilst ignoring the actual rugby. Quality.

If you don't think that kind of thing is a factor then you mustn't have heard about the importance of body language also.

De Groot has been asked to lose some weight under two coaching regimes now.

These things are factors.

I wouldn't complain if Tavatavanawai was in the squad. I'd like to see how he goes. I just think that is potentially a factor against him.

This guy had a big pot belly. Wasn't too bad apparently.

[brodean]

@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

Tavatavanawai kind of looks like he has a pot belly. If that's the case I think the current selectors frown on that sort of thing.

I reckon work rate and involvement probably trumps whether some rando on the internet thinks a player has a Potbelly.

Last time I checked the point of this forum was for randoms to speculate on rugby and rugby players?

My bad. Feel free to "speculate" on whether a player has love handles and what Razor thinks of them, whilst ignoring the actual rugby. Quality.

If you don't think that kind of thing is a factor then you mustn't have heard about the importance of body language also.

De Groot has been asked to lose some weight under two coaching regimes now.

These things are factors.

I wouldn't complain if Tavatavanawai was in the squad. I'd like to see how he goes. I just think that is potentially a factor against him.

This guy had a big pot belly. Wasn't too bad apparently.

He didn't look like that at his peak in 2003.

[Frank]

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

Tavatavanawai kind of looks like he has a pot belly. If that's the case I think the current selectors frown on that sort of thing.

I reckon work rate and involvement probably trumps whether some rando on the internet thinks a player has a Potbelly.

Last time I checked the point of this forum was for randoms to speculate on rugby and rugby players?

My bad. Feel free to "speculate" on whether a player has love handles and what Razor thinks of them, whilst ignoring the actual rugby. Quality.

If you don't think that kind of thing is a factor then you mustn't have heard about the importance of body language also.

De Groot has been asked to lose some weight under two coaching regimes now.

These things are factors.

I wouldn't complain if Tavatavanawai was in the squad. I'd like to see how he goes. I just think that is potentially a factor against him.

This guy had a big pot belly. Wasn't too bad apparently.

He didn't look like that at his peak in 2003.

But was still awesome with a pot belly.

[Frank]

I'll add Shannon Frizell to my list of players I'd be pissed to see selected, especially with all the young loose forwards coming through

[Nepia]

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/all-black-shannon-frizell-eyes-rugby-world-cup-return-alongside-richie-mounga/W6EHO32GONGYDLXUI6VRXICGFE/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=nzh_fb&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawKrijVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFPTDR5NjRhUjFYYXpuSGQxAR6LU5EzGv991oeOsipxm1j1TKal4i4cfJXPSCHNT7FQ1LU-YqPVYcBgtiTbaw_aem_4G1av_hSsaUNvr0xGFN-_w#google_vignett

Liam Napier is about as reliable as it gets in NZ rugby media so it looks like Frizell is going to return - but not until next year

Frizell is now off contract with the Japanese club. Frizzell is, however, expected to re-sign a one-season extension with Toshiba before eyeing a return to New Zealand.

Speaking after Sunday’s Japanese final, Frizell told RugbyJP.com: “It’s likely that I’ll be in Japan for another season. Firstly, I’m going to have a good break with my family and then we’ll see what happens.”

Well you've ruined my exodus thread happiness.

[Victor Meldrew]

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:

Don’t think they’ll go both Proctor and Tupaea on the bench. But I like your thinking around starting them together. I think they would compliment each other nicely.

Hopefully in one of the French games.

[reprobate]

The pot belly is key to the low centre of gravity for turnovers. You just flop it up there on the tackled player and it provides great stability while still looking like you are supporting your body weight.

[nostrildamus]

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:

The pot belly is key to the low centre of gravity for turnovers. You just flop it up there on the tackled player and it provides great stability while still looking like you are supporting your body weight.

<- me listening to the words of experience.

[canefan]

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2025:

My starting backline:
Roigard
McKenzie
Clark
Barrett
Proctor
Ioane
Jordan.

For the 1st Test, think Robertson will stick with last years lineup and have Proctor and Love in the 23. If we win the first 2 Tests, then Proctor & QT to start

Roigard
DMac
Clark
Barrett
Ioane
Reece
Jordan

Proctor
Tupeau
Ratima

Don’t think they’ll go both Proctor and Tupaea on the bench. But I like your thinking around starting them together. I think they would compliment each other nicely.

They have to make room for Havili....

[canefan]

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:

The pot belly is key to the low centre of gravity for turnovers. You just flop it up there on the tackled player and it provides great stability while still looking like you are supporting your body weight.

You have a nice spot to balance the remote too

[booboo]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

Tavatavanawai kind of looks like he has a pot belly. If that's the case I think the current selectors frown on that sort of thing.

I reckon work rate and involvement probably trumps whether some rando on the internet thinks a player has a Potbelly.

And actual fitness test results.

[Bones]

@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

Tavatavanawai kind of looks like he has a pot belly. If that's the case I think the current selectors frown on that sort of thing.

I reckon work rate and involvement probably trumps whether some rando on the internet thinks a player has a Potbelly.

And actual fitness test results.

Yeah I could understand pointing it out if the player actually had a pot belly, especially if they were playing fuck all minutes and/or not doing much apart from one or two decent carries.... but this is out there eh.