2025 All Blacks v France series
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@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Just signed a new 3 year deal with the Crusaders,
Must love sitting on the bench.
@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Just signed a new 3 year deal with the Crusaders,
Must love sitting on the bench.
more so than playing for the Highlanders maybe.
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I think Caleb Clarke can count himself lucky to be there. He didn't score a try for the Blues this season.
@1kiwi said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I think Caleb Clarke can count himself lucky to be there. He didn't score a try for the Blues this season.
disclaimer: I haven't watched a lot of Super this year - but his work off the ball has been sensational for a few seasons. Kickoff reception is elite - and his kick chase has been on point.
Tries aren't the best metric. It's more play and opportunities - Bridge got leading try scorer and the 'highlights reel' was running it in untouched from a few yards out. Be careful what you wish for
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I think Caleb Clarke can count himself lucky to be there. He didn't score a try for the Blues this season.
@1kiwi said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I think Caleb Clarke can count himself lucky to be there. He didn't score a try for the Blues this season.
He was one of the ABs best last year. Does that count for anything?
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@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Bell will be duking it out with Moananu in a couple years time I believe as it wouldn't surprise me if Codie Taylor either hangs up his boots or heads overseas after the next world cup.
@1kiwi said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Bell will be duking it out with Moananu in a couple years time I believe as it wouldn't surprise me if Codie Taylor either hangs up his boots or heads overseas after the next world cup.
Yep Codie will be gone after the 2027 WC.
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Not a bad squad, but am not sure about Reece, McAlister and ALB. I don't understand why they didn't pick 35 players though, and with the RWC only 2 years away, surely you want to get as many players into the environment as possible and build depth.
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@1kiwi said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Bell will be duking it out with Moananu in a couple years time I believe as it wouldn't surprise me if Codie Taylor either hangs up his boots or heads overseas after the next world cup.
Moananu really should leave. He can't even crack the Crusaders 23 where he looks to have an AB level ceiling.
@KiwiMurph Blues would be a great Fit
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So Sotutu not interested or just not picked?
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Blackadder is a surprise, but can understand it due to the continuous injuries.
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@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
They've only picked 33 guys I think - when 35 was foreshadowed?
Based on this posted by @Number-10.
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Blackadder is a surprise, but can understand it due to the continuous injuries.
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Blackadder is a surprise, but can understand it due to the continuous injuries.
They really missed an opportunity not naming him as the injury cover.
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@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
McAlister ahead of Bell is the right call.
Hopefully Brodie is over his injuries the last couple of years he has had a lot of injuries, Shoulders,Calfs etc he was injured a lot at the Crusaders and for Canterbury.
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I think Caleb Clarke can count himself lucky to be there. He didn't score a try for the Blues this season.
@1kiwi said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I think Caleb Clarke can count himself lucky to be there. He didn't score a try for the Blues this season.
His form has been dreadful for the Blues this year, but the coaches are backing themselves to get the best out of him in the AB environment and train/play him back into form. Fair enough. I hope it works.
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interesting squad.
Tight 5 pretty much selected itself bar maybe the next hooker in line.
I can understand the loose forward numbers, not as attritional as some think, we don't tend to go through too many.
Lots of 12s which is interesting.I look forward to seeing how this squad is turned in to a team.
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Well done Narawa.
I hope De Groot is fit enough
So this season the coaches don't have a Crusaders bias, they have an anti blues one. Joke! But Clarke and Ioane may be considered a little lucky.@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Well done Narawa.
He didn't make the team, just injury cover for the midfield, but Reece did.
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interesting squad.
Tight 5 pretty much selected itself bar maybe the next hooker in line.
I can understand the loose forward numbers, not as attritional as some think, we don't tend to go through too many.
Lots of 12s which is interesting.I look forward to seeing how this squad is turned in to a team.
@mariner4life said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Lots of 12s which is interesting.
It suggests that JB faces a lot of competition for the 12 jersey or they see him as a bit more of a utility back.
