2025 All Blacks v France series
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Maybe Blackadder time is not over in the black jersey
Crusaders loose forward Ethan Blackadder is one of the unlucky names to miss out, although it must be said he's another who has struggled with injury problems."He could have easily been picked," Robertson says.
"It's margins and we've got to balance the squad. He'll be in and around at some stage this campaign.
"We're just looking for a little bit more versatility."
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It's concerning that the Chiefs have the most forwards with 6 after they failed to do a job against the Blues and Crusaders.
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
It's concerning that the Chiefs have the most forwards with 6 after they failed to do a job against the Blues and Crusaders.
wasn't the starting 8 that was the prob was replacement probs and lock
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@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@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.
I’m hoping he’s good to go because he should get an opportunity in this series.
A couple of more adept dark arts observers on here called McAlister a couple of seasons ago to make the ABs. Specific mention to his scrum work was made.
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@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.
I’m hoping he’s good to go because he should get an opportunity in this series.
A couple of more adept dark arts observers on here called McAlister a couple of seasons ago to make the ABs. Specific mention to his scrum work was made.
He is along with Taylor one of the best scrummaging hookers in NZ probably a big factor in selecting him.
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If I remember correctly, Rieko's mainly a left wing - but, he can play right wing as well?
If you name him on the wing, you can effectively cover all positions against injury - without ALB needing to be on the bench. e.g.
Roigard, Beaudy, Rieko, Jordie, Proctor, Reece, Jordan
Ratima, DMac, Tupaea
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ALB has been very good this season and he is a leader in this team. I am not surprised by his naming one bit. Like many senior AB in the past 15 years, they have been selected even when under a cloud with cover bought in.
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@Frank said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Can Tupaea play 13?
He used to play mostly 13, but probably 4-5 years ago now. I don't think he's started there recently. Recently meaning in the past 2-3 years - maybe once I think.
@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Frank said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Can Tupaea play 13?
He used to play mostly 13, but probably 4-5 years ago now.
Tupaea has mainly been a 12 (since school) who has played 13, but probably more for Waikato than the Chiefs.
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Maybe Blackadder time is not over in the black jersey
Crusaders loose forward Ethan Blackadder is one of the unlucky names to miss out, although it must be said he's another who has struggled with injury problems."He could have easily been picked," Robertson says.
"It's margins and we've got to balance the squad. He'll be in and around at some stage this campaign.
"We're just looking for a little bit more versatility."
@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Maybe Blackadder time is not over in the black jersey
Crusaders loose forward Ethan Blackadder is one of the unlucky names to miss out, although it must be said he's another who has struggled with injury problems."He could have easily been picked," Robertson says.
"It's margins and we've got to balance the squad. He'll be in and around at some stage this campaign.
"We're just looking for a little bit more versatility."
He can play all three positions can't he ?
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@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Maybe Blackadder time is not over in the black jersey
Crusaders loose forward Ethan Blackadder is one of the unlucky names to miss out, although it must be said he's another who has struggled with injury problems."He could have easily been picked," Robertson says.
"It's margins and we've got to balance the squad. He'll be in and around at some stage this campaign.
"We're just looking for a little bit more versatility."
He can play all three positions can't he ?
@MN5 said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Maybe Blackadder time is not over in the black jersey
Crusaders loose forward Ethan Blackadder is one of the unlucky names to miss out, although it must be said he's another who has struggled with injury problems."He could have easily been picked," Robertson says.
"It's margins and we've got to balance the squad. He'll be in and around at some stage this campaign.
"We're just looking for a little bit more versatility."
He can play all three positions can't he ?
Not effectively
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Maybe Blackadder time is not over in the black jersey
Crusaders loose forward Ethan Blackadder is one of the unlucky names to miss out, although it must be said he's another who has struggled with injury problems."He could have easily been picked," Robertson says.
"It's margins and we've got to balance the squad. He'll be in and around at some stage this campaign.
"We're just looking for a little bit more versatility."
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@MN5 said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Maybe Blackadder time is not over in the black jersey
Crusaders loose forward Ethan Blackadder is one of the unlucky names to miss out, although it must be said he's another who has struggled with injury problems."He could have easily been picked," Robertson says.
"It's margins and we've got to balance the squad. He'll be in and around at some stage this campaign.
"We're just looking for a little bit more versatility."
He can play all three positions can't he ?
Not effectively
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@MN5 said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Maybe Blackadder time is not over in the black jersey
Crusaders loose forward Ethan Blackadder is one of the unlucky names to miss out, although it must be said he's another who has struggled with injury problems."He could have easily been picked," Robertson says.
"It's margins and we've got to balance the squad. He'll be in and around at some stage this campaign.
"We're just looking for a little bit more versatility."
He can play all three positions can't he ?
Not effectively
That wasn't what I asked
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@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.
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@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.
Gold
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@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Frank said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Can Tupaea play 13?
He used to play mostly 13, but probably 4-5 years ago now.
Tupaea has mainly been a 12 (since school) who has played 13, but probably more for Waikato than the Chiefs.
@Bovidae Yeah - I looked at this very question a few weeks ago, because someone said he was only a 12, but my memory was that he'd played more at 13 than what he has.
https://all.rugby/player/quinn-tupaea
2019/20 he played a lot of 13, but very little since - starting anyway.
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If I remember correctly, Rieko's mainly a left wing - but, he can play right wing as well?
If you name him on the wing, you can effectively cover all positions against injury - without ALB needing to be on the bench. e.g.
Roigard, Beaudy, Rieko, Jordie, Proctor, Reece, Jordan
Ratima, DMac, Tupaea
@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
If I remember correctly, Rieko's mainly a left wing - but, he can play right wing as well?
If you name him on the wing, you can effectively cover all positions against injury - without ALB needing to be on the bench. e.g.
Roigard, Beaudy, Rieko, Jordie, Proctor, Reece, Jordan
Ratima, DMac, Tupaea
It’s a home test against France, so I would take this chance to get a mix of young and experienced.
Roigard, Love
Jordie, Proctor
Clarke, Reece/Ioane
Jordan -
@sparky one of the blokes on reddit was saying apparently he made a late night call to Razor that burned some bridges. Obviously nothing more than hearsay at this stage, and it's not like he wasn't already battling for a spot in the squad. But anyone here know anything about that / can confirm / deny?
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@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
If I remember correctly, Rieko's mainly a left wing - but, he can play right wing as well?
If you name him on the wing, you can effectively cover all positions against injury - without ALB needing to be on the bench. e.g.
Roigard, Beaudy, Rieko, Jordie, Proctor, Reece, Jordan
Ratima, DMac, Tupaea
It’s a home test against France, so I would take this chance to get a mix of young and experienced.
Roigard, Love
Jordie, Proctor
Clarke, Reece/Ioane
Jordan
