All Blacks 2025
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If picking a winning ABs squad was as easy as simply using the winning SR squad, any mug could select and coach them
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Razor picking on Super form was all well and good until the bloody Crusaders went and won the thing. Now we gotta move the goalposts so he can’t select big-game, champion players.
@Wurzel said in All Blacks 2025:
Razor picking on Super form was all well and good until the bloody Crusaders went and won the thing. Now we gotta move the goalposts so he can’t select big-game, champion players.
Like George Bridge?
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The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
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Super Rugby just isn't the same standard as what it used to be but back in the day there were always players like Adam Thomson who were Super Rugby stars that never converted Super Rugby form into Test form.
Super Rugby just isn't a reliable indicator of how well players will go in test rugby. Especially now when our premier competition is at its weakest.
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The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
He split open the Waratahs defence a few times he has been strong taking the ball to the line he certainly has the ability.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
He has vision and a reasonably big, accurate boot. Passing is a skill that can be quickly improved.
For all the awesome fast 10s with sniper's passing, that doesn't translate well into Test rugby as we've seen in the last decade. Especially where your forwards are well matched and each metre is hard earned in lung busting efforts where you're likely to drop the ball or be beaten to the ruck. Then everything becomes about who can apply pressure through territory, who can effectively place the ball so there's a contest for possession.
Players running sideways looking for gaps achieve fuck all against willing, accurate defences. Our top two have a bloke whose pact with the devil has run its course with an inaccurate boot and another who can't stamp authority on the game when he's on the back foot.
So why not invest in the bloke that brings something worthwhile to the table and see how he develops?
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
He split open the Waratahs defence a few times he has been strong taking the ball to the line he certainly has the ability.
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
He split open the Waratahs defence a few times he has been strong taking the ball to the line he certainly has the ability.
And as an outcome of that ability he can hold defences honest, creating space for people outside him rather than trying to take that space for himself, or popping the ball to an unexpecting static attacker.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
He has vision and a reasonably big, accurate boot. Passing is a skill that can be quickly improved.
For all the awesome fast 10s with sniper's passing, that doesn't translate well into Test rugby as we've seen in the last decade. Especially where your forwards are well matched and each metre is hard earned in lung busting efforts where you're likely to drop the ball or be beaten to the ruck. Then everything becomes about who can apply pressure through territory, who can effectively place the ball so there's a contest for possession.
Players running sideways looking for gaps achieve fuck all against willing, accurate defences. Our top two have a bloke whose pact with the devil has run its course with an inaccurate boot and another who can't stamp authority on the game when he's on the back foot.
So why not invest in the bloke that brings something worthwhile to the table and see how he develops?
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
He has vision and a reasonably big, accurate boot. Passing is a skill that can be quickly improved.
For all the awesome fast 10s with sniper's passing, that doesn't translate well into Test rugby as we've seen in the last decade. Especially where your forwards are well matched and each metre is hard earned in lung busting efforts where you're likely to drop the ball or be beaten to the ruck. Then everything becomes about who can apply pressure through territory, who can effectively place the ball so there's a contest for possession.
Players running sideways looking for gaps achieve fuck all against willing, accurate defences. Our top two have a bloke whose pact with the devil has run its course with an inaccurate boot and another who can't stamp authority on the game when he's on the back foot.
So why not invest in the bloke that brings something worthwhile to the table and see how he develops?
We had Plummer last year, similar skillset, albeit older. He got about 2 minutes in black and just tackled. We have been in love with shifty ball running 10s that lack an Orthodox kicking game and distribution skills since we lost DC. This kid wears a different jersey of course, so maybe he'll actually get a fair go
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I don't think his passing is as bad as made out. Both Barrett and Mckenzie hamper their teams by more often than not running sideways before passing.
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
I don't think his passing is as bad as made out. Both Barrett and Mckenzie hamper their teams by more often than not running sideways before passing.
It's not dire, it's not even poor, but it is lagging behind other parts of his game.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
He has vision and a reasonably big, accurate boot. Passing is a skill that can be quickly improved.
For all the awesome fast 10s with sniper's passing, that doesn't translate well into Test rugby as we've seen in the last decade. Especially where your forwards are well matched and each metre is hard earned in lung busting efforts where you're likely to drop the ball or be beaten to the ruck. Then everything becomes about who can apply pressure through territory, who can effectively place the ball so there's a contest for possession.
Players running sideways looking for gaps achieve fuck all against willing, accurate defences. Our top two have a bloke whose pact with the devil has run its course with an inaccurate boot and another who can't stamp authority on the game when he's on the back foot.
So why not invest in the bloke that brings something worthwhile to the table and see how he develops?
We had Plummer last year, similar skillset, albeit older. He got about 2 minutes in black and just tackled. We have been in love with shifty ball running 10s that lack an Orthodox kicking game and distribution skills since we lost DC. This kid wears a different jersey of course, so maybe he'll actually get a fair go
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
He can't really pass fast or that accurately, and I haven't seen him create anything on attack. So you just mean he can kick?
He has vision and a reasonably big, accurate boot. Passing is a skill that can be quickly improved.
For all the awesome fast 10s with sniper's passing, that doesn't translate well into Test rugby as we've seen in the last decade. Especially where your forwards are well matched and each metre is hard earned in lung busting efforts where you're likely to drop the ball or be beaten to the ruck. Then everything becomes about who can apply pressure through territory, who can effectively place the ball so there's a contest for possession.
Players running sideways looking for gaps achieve fuck all against willing, accurate defences. Our top two have a bloke whose pact with the devil has run its course with an inaccurate boot and another who can't stamp authority on the game when he's on the back foot.
So why not invest in the bloke that brings something worthwhile to the table and see how he develops?
We had Plummer last year, similar skillset, albeit older. He got about 2 minutes in black and just tackled. We have been in love with shifty ball running 10s that lack an Orthodox kicking game and distribution skills since we lost DC. This kid wears a different jersey of course, so maybe he'll actually get a fair go
Exactly this.
If our AB coaches are half decent they should be able to develop Reihana in camp - he's not exactly a kid - he's 25 and played 70 odd first class games. Get him in there.
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The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
I am not adverse to bringing him in as a project type player, but I would be concerned if the ABs had to play him in a big game. If push comes to shove I would rather Love in that scenario.
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DMac is thinking a mile a minute feeling like he's gotta do something magic on every play when the best option is often quite simple. Very unconventional and flighty player whose enormous natural ability means he tries too much. Can he tone it down a bit? Hope so.
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I actually don’t think Plummer is a natural 10. For me he looked at his best at 12. Now for the Blues I admit he was a better 10 option than Barrett and Perofeta, but he was good at taking on the line but not a spectacular passer going left. I was a fan.
I think we need to get Love some decent minutes. If he’s not starting then we play him in the Cruden role when he started out.
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DMac is thinking a mile a minute feeling like he's gotta do something magic on every play when the best option is often quite simple. Very unconventional and flighty player whose enormous natural ability means he tries too much. Can he tone it down a bit? Hope so.
@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:
DMac is thinking a mile a minute feeling like he's gotta do something magic on every play when the best option is often quite simple. Very unconventional and flighty player whose enormous natural ability means he tries too much. Can he tone it down a bit? Hope so.
He definitely over played his hand last night. He was the third equal for carries from both teams.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
I am not adverse to bringing him in as a project type player, but I would be concerned if the ABs had to play him in a big game. If push comes to shove I would rather Love in that scenario.
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The reason I like Reihana is he possesses a skillset that aligns well with Test rugby. Hopefully the coaches recognise this and bring him into the environment to accelerate his development.
I am not adverse to bringing him in as a project type player, but I would be concerned if the ABs had to play him in a big game. If push comes to shove I would rather Love in that scenario.
I'd like to see both Love and Reihana in the squad. I agree that Love should be ahead of Reihana and we should be giving Love more time over Reihana.
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I actually don’t think Plummer is a natural 10. For me he looked at his best at 12. Now for the Blues I admit he was a better 10 option than Barrett and Perofeta, but he was good at taking on the line but not a spectacular passer going left. I was a fan.
I think we need to get Love some decent minutes. If he’s not starting then we play him in the Cruden role when he started out.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:
I actually don’t think Plummer is a natural 10. For me he looked at his best at 12. Now for the Blues I admit he was a better 10 option than Barrett and Perofeta, but he was good at taking on the line but not a spectacular passer going left. I was a fan.
I think we need to get Love some decent minutes. If he’s not starting then we play him in the Cruden role when he started out.
Pretty good assessment. I do think Plummer was ideally suited to Vernball at 10 but we'll never know how he would have gone in test rugby without him getting a real chance. Direct running at 10 is what I think we've been missing since 2015.
Even just running straight onto the ball and passing Plummer did better than Barrett and Mckenzie.
