All Blacks 2025
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
When someone has a hot hand you have to go with them.
up to a point, yes. Outside backs probably. But Test rugby is a different beast to Super. Form does not necessarily translate.
Edit: experience in Tests are valued for a reason. They are (and should be) damn hard
The irony is we keep selecting the same players that perform in Super that doesn't translate to tests.
That's what will annoy me if/when Lam misses out - I want to see whether or not he can foot it at test level.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
When someone has a hot hand you have to go with them.
up to a point, yes. Outside backs probably. But Test rugby is a different beast to Super. Form does not necessarily translate.
Edit: experience in Tests are valued for a reason. They are (and should be) damn hard
The irony is we keep selecting the same players that perform in Super that doesn't translate to tests.
That's what will annoy me if/when Lam misses out - I want to see whether or not he can foot it at test level.
He seems like a great bench option if the backline is largely the same as last year
Assuming BB, DM & WJ are all in the 23 there's no need to carry a specialist fullback on the bench. Lam can slot straight in to 12/13 or power wing with no other shuffling
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections. “You learn on the job,” he surmises with a smile, and he “feels better for that”.But, but, but...... Weren't we repeatedly assured international experience wasn't necessary and he'd bring a totally fresh approach?
As arguably Foster's most ardent defender on here, it's kinda strange that you keep heaping criticism on Robertson for not changing enough?
Nah. Just pointing out the absurdity of much of the hype posted on here and elsewhere about what a "once-in-a-century, transformational coaching God" Robertson was touted to be.
I've consistently predicted Robertson would be understandably conservative in his first year, and equally consistently, said this year is the opportunity for him to be much bolder. For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
If only the 2025 SR's performances are taken into account, then certainties like Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipolutu shouldn't be in the squad. The only Blues players deserving a selection are AJ Lam and Dalton Papali'i.
Who would you pick over Tuipulotu at Lock? His form during the last 3 weeks has been very good - when it counts.
Blues have 100% success rate in scrum and restarts in the last 3 games. They comfortably won the most lineouts in the first 2 games and won 100% of lineouts off their own ball against the Crusaders compared to the Crusaders 75%.
On what basis do you think Tuipolotu shouldn't be in the squad?
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
If only the 2025 SR's performances are taken into account, then certainties like Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipolutu shouldn't be in the squad. The only Blues players deserving a selection are AJ Lam and Dalton Papali'i.
Who would you pick over Tuipulotu at Lock? His form during the last 3 weeks has been very good - when it counts.
Blues have 100% success rate in scrum and restarts in the last 3 games. They comfortably won the most lineouts in the first 2 games and won 100% of lineouts off their own ball against the Crusaders compared to the Crusaders 75%.
On what basis do you think Tuipolotu shouldn't be in the squad?
He will be in the squad, that's for sure. His efforts in the last games were far better but the Blues scrum was back pedalling against the Crusaders during the semi final. That may be Ta'avao's and Lay's fault but not exclusively. Tuipolutu's LO work has been consistently efficient though.
Concerning Beehre, I think he had a better overall season than Tuipolutu. His future looks bright but I think he won't be selected before the EOYT or next year.
As far as locks are concerned, Scott Barrett did not have a great season so far. He has been very anonymous in the first two thirds of the SR. On pure form, Shalfoon should be selected and not him. Of course, this won't happen. My post was just a thought about selection criterias and these will probably not take the SR performances into account but will rely essentially on experience and possibly Crusaders favoritism. -
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
If only the 2025 SR's performances are taken into account, then certainties like Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipolutu shouldn't be in the squad. The only Blues players deserving a selection are AJ Lam and Dalton Papali'i.
Who would you pick over Tuipulotu at Lock? His form during the last 3 weeks has been very good - when it counts.
Blues have 100% success rate in scrum and restarts in the last 3 games. They comfortably won the most lineouts in the first 2 games and won 100% of lineouts off their own ball against the Crusaders compared to the Crusaders 75%.
On what basis do you think Tuipolotu shouldn't be in the squad?
He will be in the squad, that's for sure. His efforts in the last games were far better but the Blues scrum was back pedalling against the Crusaders during the semi final. That may be Ta'avao's and Lay's fault but not exclusively. Tuipolutu's LO work has been consistently efficient though.
Concerning Beehre, I think he had a better overall season than Tuipolutu. His future looks bright but I think he won't be selected before the EOYT or next year.
As far as locks are concerned, Scott Barrett did not have a great season so far. He has been very anonymous in the first two thirds of the SR. On pure form, Shalfoon should be selected and not him. Of course, this won't happen. My post was just a thought about selection criterias and these will probably not take the SR performances into account but will rely essentially on experience and possibly Crusaders favoritism.There was no dominance of any kind from the Crusaders scrum when the Blues had the full quota of forwards and props on the field.
The Blues had two yellow cards in the forwards and had two hookers in the frontrow at one stage if you didn't notice. That was the only time the Crusaders looked like they were getting any ascendancy but mostly the scrum just went sideways in those passages of play.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
I like that from razor , to be openly transparent like that is a positive imo .
Coaches can be a secretive protective bunch
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
I like that from razor , to be openly transparent like that is a positive imo .
Coaches can be a secretive protective bunch
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
I like that from razor , to be openly transparent like that is a positive imo .
Coaches can be a secretive protective bunch
Yeah, it's a positive statement and hopefully we'll see a bit more adventurous stuff this year.
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seeing Savea taking up a sabbatical next season, i know there has been some chat in the MP thread but im more interesting in any effect on the AB's
do we think it would be better for sabbaticals to only be taken in the two years after a world cup, therefore playing in NZ for the two super seasons before a world cup and synchronising with the other that would maker a WRC squad...and in those years we see more young people coming through in what could be considered the rebuilt years after a WRC
OR...do we think taking a sabbatical the year before a world cup is a good thing, less punishing than NZ super derbies
or, doesnt matter?
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oh good, we get the shit version of Ardie playing 80 mins every week in Black next year as well. Every one seems to battle coming back from these, and we have very real evidence of Savea last friggen year.
Who okayed a 2nd one in 3 seasons? idiotic.
Grow a pair NZRU.
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oh good, we get the shit version of Ardie playing 80 mins every week in Black next year as well. Every one seems to battle coming back from these, and we have very real evidence of Savea last friggen year.
Who okayed a 2nd one in 3 seasons? idiotic.
Grow a pair NZRU.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
oh good, we get the shit version of Ardie playing 80 mins every week in Black next year as well. Every one seems to battle coming back from these, and we have very real evidence of Savea last friggen year.
Who okayed a 2nd one in 3 seasons? idiotic.
Grow a pair NZRU.
If the RU won't grow a pair, then Razor has to. Otherwise we will waste another year. It's a good reason to try AS from the bench at least a couple of times this season
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seeing Savea taking up a sabbatical next season, i know there has been some chat in the MP thread but im more interesting in any effect on the AB's
do we think it would be better for sabbaticals to only be taken in the two years after a world cup, therefore playing in NZ for the two super seasons before a world cup and synchronising with the other that would maker a WRC squad...and in those years we see more young people coming through in what could be considered the rebuilt years after a WRC
OR...do we think taking a sabbatical the year before a world cup is a good thing, less punishing than NZ super derbies
or, doesnt matter?
@Kiwiwomble
That's taking the piss.
Players should only be allowed one sabbatical. -
After playing for MP instead of the Canes it’s almost like Ardie is taking a sabbatical within a sabbatical
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
Does that mean he'll pick Fihaki on a hunch?
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
Does that mean he'll pick Fihaki on a hunch?
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
Does that mean he'll pick Fihaki on a hunch?
Riddle: How many Crusaders can you fit in the ABs team bus? Ugh
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oh good, we get the shit version of Ardie playing 80 mins every week in Black next year as well. Every one seems to battle coming back from these, and we have very real evidence of Savea last friggen year.
Who okayed a 2nd one in 3 seasons? idiotic.
Grow a pair NZRU.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
oh good, we get the shit version of Ardie playing 80 mins every week in Black next year as well. Every one seems to battle coming back from these, and we have very real evidence of Savea last friggen year.
Who okayed a 2nd one in 3 seasons? idiotic.
Grow a pair NZRU.
My immediate reaction too.
Was nearly a #booboo
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
Does that mean he'll pick Fihaki on a hunch?
Riddle: How many Crusaders can you fit in the ABs team bus? Ugh
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Riddle: How many Crusaders can you fit in the ABs team bus? Ugh
Not sure but for those tight spaces Ethan can be easily collapsed.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Riddle: How many Crusaders can you fit in the ABs team bus? Ugh
Not sure but for those tight spaces Ethan can be easily collapsed.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Riddle: How many Crusaders can you fit in the ABs team bus? Ugh
Not sure but for those tight spaces Ethan can be easily collapsed.
The suitcase joke belonged to Daddy's friend. Suitbag maybe?
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Presumably he was going for good if he didn’t get 2
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Presumably he was going for good if he didn’t get 2
Then "thanks for your service". He's not the
and considering his form last year, we'd be better off without him.
