2025 All Blacks v France series
-
-
@MN5 said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Rieko Ioane.
first AND second name spelt correctly. Well done.
Baby steps. Baby steps.
-
-
@cgrant said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Blues best player (AJ Lam) is the most unlucky. With LF probably coming in for the RC, I guess he won't be selected this year.
Isn't AJ more a 12 and LF more a 13?
-
Are these stats correct? If so as big as Sititi, and CLW can play 6?
I mean, he hits hard and gets around a bit. Auckland, Otago, Canterbury... -
Lam is probably a better 13 than 12.
-
-
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Are these stats correct? If so as big as Sititi, and CLW can play 6?
I mean, he hits hard and gets around a bit. Auckland, Otago, Canterbury...They should do weigh ins before each game like combat sports. Some of them sound extremely made up.
-
@mariner4life said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
If they were set on starting a lock at 6 they would have selected more than 4 of them.
Both Barrett and Vaai are proven failures at 6 at test level as well
I think there is a space there waiting for Parker. In the mean time they'll try to experiment with Vaaii. I personally think it's better than using another utility holding piece there, even if I don't like moving players from Super to international level.
Looking forward, if Holland transfers his game to the next level, Scooter's position could/should be in jeopardy.
-
@gt12 said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@mariner4life said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
If they were set on starting a lock at 6 they would have selected more than 4 of them.
Both Barrett and Vaai are proven failures at 6 at test level as well
I think there is a space there waiting for Parker. In the mean time they'll try to experiment with Vaaii. I personally think it's better than using another utility holding piece there, even if I don't like moving players from Super to international level.
Looking forward, if Holland transfers his game to the next level, *** Scooter's position could/should be in jeopardy.**
Barrett’s don’t get dropped they leave when they want to
-
@Landers92 said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Can’t remember who it was that said it, but just a friendly reminder to the guy who said Tavatavanawai has a pot belly. He is now an All Black with a supposed pot belly. There’s still hope for us all
That was me. I wasn't against his selection btw. Just thought he might have a gut and the coaches might not like it.
Didn't realise it would be such a sensitive topic for forum members so my apologies.
-
@brodean it's alright to have an incorrect assumption mate, when Beaver Donald was banging the drums for Jim I thought he would be a chance, Donald seems to have a real knack for identifying FABS, he said Roigard would be 1 before he had joined the Canes fulltime, he also predicted Norris would be a future ABs prop, if Ioane Moananu ever makes it in future then it has to be more than simply luck in throwing out names!
-
Kirsty was giving him flowers on his picking today on their show.
I reckon Beaver is right with his analysis too - for better or worse the coaches have selected players to play in a certain way.
We now get to see whether there is clarity on what that style of play will be, whether they've selected correctly to implement it (80% of success according to some past AB coaches), whether they can get the group going in that direction, and of course, whether it works.
-
@Mauss I think the corner has been turned for Will Jordan and we started to see in the latter part of the test season when he was consistently selected at fullback and then into this super season.
It would be a retrograde step to not have him start at fullback for the all the key games this season.
-
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Mauss I think the corner has been turned for Will Jordan and we started to see in the latter part of the test season when he was consistently selected at fullback and then into this super season.
It would be a retrograde step to not have him start at fullback for the all the key games this season.
My only argument against this is that I think my preferred back three combo would utilise Jordan, Clarke and Love, and I think that trio works better with Jordan on the wing and Love at fullback rather than vice versa.
While Jordan could be world class at fullback, we know for a fact that he's a world-class wing.
My preferred backline would be Roigard, McKenzie, Clarke, Barrett, Proctor, Jordan, Love, with Ratima, Tupaea and Ioane on the bench. Tavatavanawai is definitely worth a run from the reserves too, and Barrett will no doubt need a rest or two given the long season he's had.
I'm also well aware that Beauden Barrett will be somewhere in the 23, even though I don't really want him there.
-
If it was my choice (and yes Scott the email is on its way), then I’d be a little more bolder. Only 2 backs on the bench.
Roigard
Love
Clarke
Jordie
Proctor
Reece/Ioane
JordanRatima
DMac / Barrett -
I think NZ could get away with a 6:2 split on the bench given the flexibility of guys like McKenzie/Barrett/Barrett/Love and Ioane/Tavatavanawai, but I don't think Love should be the starting 10 at this stage. Would like to see him get some game time there during the season and seeing if he can push McKenzie for the starting role, but at this point in time McKenzie is very clearly the best operator at 10.
