2025 All Blacks v France series
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@Chris-B I'd like to see Lam there, but is he the obvious casualty of the talk of Rieko as a wing/midfielder?
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Chris-B I'd like to see Lam there, but is he the obvious casualty of the talk of Rieko as a wing/midfielder?
I think they'll only select three specialist wings - and Clarke and Reece pretty certain to be two of them.
Quite a few contenders for the third spot.
Narawa, Lam, Carter - I don't really see Fihaki making it, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility. Don't think Timoci is fast enough to be picked there - but, who knows - there's been some drums beating, so Razor might balance things quite a bit differently than I expect.
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@Bovidae said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Kirifi is a New Plymouth boy.
Imagine that spanner - 'Kirifi named as new AB captain'
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Hookers: Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Brodie McAlister
Props: Ethan de Groot, Tamaiti Williams, Ollie Norris, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi
Locks: Scott Barrett (capt), Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland
Loose forwards: Samipeni Finau, Ardie Savea, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson
Halfbacks: Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Noah Hotham
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie
Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor, Timoci Tavatavanawai
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan, Ruben LoveInjury cover: Christian Lio-Willie (for Luke Jacobson), Emoni Narawa (for Anton Lienert-Brown)
Unavailable due to injury: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Sam Darry, Peter Lakai, Stephen Perofeta.
Here we are team. Brodie Mcalastair the big bolter here.
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Big Jim!...will wait to see if he actually gets any game time but love it when someone gets the nod off the back of hard graft, i've thought all season its a really good trait hes been playing well whilst being captain, so many wilt under that extra responsibility, hes truly something different, could change a game coming off the bench rather than the like for like replacements we too often see
i dont like injury cover and naming who theyre for.....if theyre not right then just give it to the guy thats fit
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So I guess we are looking at:
6: Samipeni Finau
7: Ardie Savea, Du'Plessis Kirifi
8: Wallace Sititi
6/7/8 cover: Luke JacobsenSo first test is looking like a Finau - Ardie - Sititi trio
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Soooo stoked for Du Plessis
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@Jet said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
No Blackadder
I know it was flagged earlier so was expecting it somewhat, but I think it would be hard to argue that he's not been the outstanding loosie of the playoffs, so it's still a surprise omission.
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Huge surprise to see a 28 year old hooker handed a place in the squad. Especially over Bell.
Thrilled that Razor's gone for some bold selections. No Havilli, Blackadder, Christie and Papalii are big calls but not ones I'm upset over.
On the other hand I'm stoked super rugby form has been rewarded and Big Jim and Kirifi got call ups.
Norris is a well deserved call up. And it's great to see Tupea back in Black.
Don't think Reece offers much over a few other wingers, but get why he's in the mix. Suspect we'll see him dropped for Finganuku later in the year.
