2025 All Blacks v France series

[Chris B.]

@Wurzel I haven't forgotten Big Leicester.

I haven't seen that he's re-signed with the Mako yet (or any other bunch of poaching NPC feckers)?

That doesn't mean he hasn't - someone who watches these things more closely may be able to tell me - but, to be eligible for the ABs this year I think he has to be signed up for NPC?

In any case they don't need to rush him into the midfield - if he were to appear immediately, I reckon there's more opportunity as a wing. But, no need to rush him in there either.

In any case, I'd be amazed if Razor hasn't been watching him closely on the telly.

[Chris B.]

Here's my guess vs the OP. I reckon there will be a couple of bolters, but I'm not going to try to pick them.

@frugby said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

PROPS:
Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders)
Ethan de Groot (Highlanders)
George Bower (Crusaders) Ollie Norris (Chiefs)
Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes)
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders)
Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes)

HOOKERS:
Codie Taylor (Crusaders)
Samisoni Taukei'aho (Chiefs)
George Bell (Crusaders) (Aumua if fit, but if not - Bell)

LOCKS:
Scott Barrett (c) (Crusaders)
Tupou Vaa'i (Chiefs)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues)
Fabian Holland (Highlanders)

LOOSE FORWARDS:
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders)
Samipeni Finau (Chiefs)
Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika)
Peter Lakai (Hurricanes)
Dalton Papalii (Blues)
Wallace Sititi (Chiefs)
Christian Lio-Willie (Crusaders) Luke Jacobson (Chiefs)

HALFBACKS:
Cameron Roigard (Hurricanes)
Cortez Ratima (Chiefs)
Noah Hotham (Crusaders)

FIRST FIVES:
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Beauden Barrett (Blues)

MIDFIELDERS:
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes)
Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs)
Rieko Ioane (Blues)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes)
David Havili (Crusaders)

OUTSIDE BACKS:
Caleb Clarke (Blues)
AJ Lam (Blues)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Highlanders) Leroy Carter (Chiefs)
Sevu Reece (Crusaders)
Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Ruben Love (Hurricanes)

Unavailable due to injury: Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes), Simon Parker (Chiefs), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders)

I think they'll pick the younger Norris as opposed to the known quantity Bower.

Far from beyond the realms of possibility that CLW gets picked - he's been playing well, but I think there's enough No. 8s already - and Jacobson's utility value and experience probably gets him in.

As per last year, I think Dave Havili is a nice to have, but not a must have. They need Tupaea to effectively cover both midfield positions (Lam can do the same if QT were to be injured) and ALB and Big Leicester likely to enter the frame later in the season.

Picking AJ gives an opportunity to make the bolder, but probably more risky pick of Carter over Narawa - but, that could easily go the other way.

[Chris]

@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@Wurzel I haven't forgotten Big Leicester.

I haven't seen that he's re-signed with the Mako yet (or any other bunch of poaching NPC feckers)?

That doesn't mean he hasn't - someone who watches these things more closely may be able to tell me - but, to be eligible for the ABs this year I think he has to be signed up for NPC?

In any case they don't need to rush him into the midfield - if he were to appear immediately, I reckon there's more opportunity as a wing. But, no need to rush him in there either.

In any case, I'd be amazed if Razor hasn't been watching him closely on the telly.

Yes Leicester has signed with Ta$man .

[hikastags]

@Wurzel he's been outstanding in the Top14. Easily one of the best midfielders in the comp, if not the best.
We currently have the best midfielder in the URC. And the best midfielder in the Top14 (arguably).

There's a lot of pessimism around, but I think we're close to being very good again.

[Gunner]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Turns out Fihaki has missed the most tackles this season of any back from the NZ teams squads who played in the semis

So theoretically his work on both sides of the ball won’t be good enough…

[nonpartizan]

Will Jordie usurp the NZ based midfielders or will playing in SR be counted in the favour of the rest. By chance.

[Dan54]

@Gunner said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Turns out Fihaki has missed the most tackles this season of any back from the NZ teams squads who played in the semis

So theoretically his work on both sides of the ball won’t be good enough…

Or just his work either side of ball isn't good enough.

[KiwiMurph]

I like the idea of Leicester into the squad at some point this year. What will be of interest to me is who makes way for him.

[nostrildamus]

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

I like the idea of Leicester into the squad at some point this year. What will be of interest to me is who makes way for him.

Impact off the bench at wing or 13 I imagine

[gt12]

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

I like the idea of Leicester into the squad at some point this year. What will be of interest to me is who makes way for him.

I love ALB but I would move off him for Leicester (assuming he comes back and looks good). LF is a midfield / wing which is the main role we get from ALB.

I'm wondering whether Tupaea is going to get a go - a specialist 2nd five in squad is hard unless he is the starter.

[canefan]

@gt12 said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

I like the idea of Leicester into the squad at some point this year. What will be of interest to me is who makes way for him.

I love ALB but I would move off him for Leicester (assuming he comes back and looks good). LF is a midfield / wing which is the main role we get from ALB.

I'm wondering whether Tupaea is going to get a go - a specialist 2nd five in squad is hard unless he is the starter.

ALB would drop out for me

[brodean]

Main difference with Fainga'anuku is his defensive accuracy. When he was at the Crusaders it was between 55% - 75%. He's bumped that up to 75.6% at Toulon this year. It's an improvement.

But if you look at the other midfield contenders he'd be near the bottom in Super Rugby:

Midfield Players by Tackle Success
93.3% Anton Lienert-Brown
91.3% Billy Proctor
91.3% Braydon Ennor
89.1% AJ Lam
88.7% Xavi Taele
88.4% Quinn Tupaea
86.1% Riley Higgins
85.9% Peter Umaga-Jensen
84.7% Levi Aumua
83.1% David Havili
83.0% Bailyn Sullivan
80.6% Rieko Ioane
80.0% Daniel Rona
80.0% Gideon Wrampling
79.7% Tanielu Tele'a
78.8% Lalomilo Lalomilo

[Kiwiwomble]

@brodean do you have the stats for Tavatavanawai?

[Frank]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Main difference with Fainga'anuku is his defensive accuracy. When he was at the Crusaders it was between 55% - 75%. He's bumped that up to 75.6% at Toulon this year. It's an improvement.

But if you look at the other midfield contenders he'd be near the bottom in Super Rugby:

Midfield Players by Tackle Success
93.3% Anton Lienert-Brown
91.3% Billy Proctor
91.3% Braydon Ennor
89.1% AJ Lam
88.7% Xavi Taele
88.4% Quinn Tupaea
86.1% Riley Higgins
85.9% Peter Umaga-Jensen
84.7% Levi Aumua
83.1% David Havili
83.0% Bailyn Sullivan
80.6% Rieko Ioane
80.0% Daniel Rona
80.0% Gideon Wrampling
79.7% Tanielu Tele'a
78.8% Lalomilo Lalomilo

I thought Rieko's tackle success would be higher.
I took his defense to be one of his strengths.

[frugby]

Tackles success not always the best way to measure how good a defender someone is.

[brodean]

@frugby said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Tackles success not always the best way to measure how good a defender someone is.

It's not the only way but when you're at the bottom it's not good no matter what way you spin it.

[Chris]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@frugby said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Tackles success not always the best way to measure how good a defender someone is.

It's not the only way but when you're at the bottom it's not good no matter what way you spin it.

Fainga'anuku will be in the squad as soon as possible Razor got him back for a reason and he was involved in getting Leicester back.

[brodean]

@Kiwiwomble said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@brodean do you have the stats for Tavatavanawai?

Yes. I'd filtered him out by mistake because his association was listed with Fiji.

93.3% Anton Lienert-Brown
91.3% Billy Proctor
91.3% Braydon Ennor
89.1% AJ Lam
88.7% Xavi Taele
88.4% Quinn Tupaea
87.0% Timoci Tavatavanawai
86.1% Riley Higgins
85.9% Peter Umaga-Jensen
84.7% Levi Aumua
83.1% David Havili
83.0% Bailyn Sullivan
80.6% Rieko Ioane
80.0% Daniel Rona
80.0% Gideon Wrampling
79.7% Tanielu Tele'a
78.8% Lalomilo Lalomilo
66.7% Corey Evans
65.7% Sam Gilbert

[brodean]

@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@frugby said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Tackles success not always the best way to measure how good a defender someone is.

It's not the only way but when you're at the bottom it's not good no matter what way you spin it.

Fainga'anuku will be in the squad as soon as possible Razor got him back for a reason and he was involved in getting Leicester back.

Yup I'm not debating that. That's obvious. I'm doubtful it will be in the midfield though. There is a reason why Razor preferred him on the wing and I believe part of it is his defence.

Someone said they would move ALB out for Fainga'anuku. While Fainga'anuku is an exceptional attacker, ALB is an exceptional defender. I'm not sure what it is this year but last year ALB had the highest amount of try assists of any NZ midfielder in SRP.

[sparky]

@brodean Potentially misleading statistic if someone defends a massively wide channel. This could be the case for Reiko Ioane. The facts he defends a big area makes life easier for other Blues.