2025 All Blacks v France series
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@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant. -
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.Quick enough. Do you enjoy watching a 6ft 5 Jordie cart it up as a crash-ball 12 where the South Africans chew him up like nothing?
And no, it would be Jordie considering the kicking game in today's game.
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@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.
And? Outside Stevenson, who was a complete no-show in the final, none of the Chiefs back three are good kickers.
Tell me what he does under the high ball when he's in a 10x bigger game vs much better kickers.
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Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.Quick enough. Do you enjoy watching a 6ft 5 Jordie cart it up as a crash-ball 12 where the South Africans chew him up like nothing?
And no, it would be Jordie considering the kicking game in today's game.
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.Quick enough. Do you enjoy watching a 6ft 5 Jordie cart it up as a crash-ball 12 where the South Africans chew him up like nothing?
And no, it would be Jordie considering the kicking game in today's game.
I never said Jordie should be our 12.
If you run like Christian Cullen, okay kicking is sufficient. His cover defence would be a lot better than Jordie's too. -
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027.
When he played fullback a few years ago he didn't really pass or playmake, he wasn't really used on exits and whilst he has a long punt from fullback it wasn't one that he utilised to great effect from 15. Whilst he is quick enough he didn't offer the strike ability that Jordan possesses either.
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@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027.
When he played fullback a few years ago he didn't really pass or playmake, he wasn't really used on exits and whilst he has a long punt from fullback it wasn't one that he utilised to great effect from 15. Whilst he is quick enough he didn't offer the strike ability that Jordan possesses either.
When he played fullback a few years ago he didn't really pass or playmake, he wasn't really used on exits and whilst he has a long punt from fullback it wasn't one that he utilised to great effect from 15. Whilst he is quick enough he didn't offer the strike ability that Jordan possesses either.
And when Jordan plays fullback against a team with a quality kicking game he's unfortunately looked mediocre.
The strike ability is useless when the opposition plays through the air, spams high balls and kicks into the corner all game.
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@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.I’ve seen very little of Jordies ‘high IQ’ either
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@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.I’ve seen very little of Jordies ‘high IQ’ either
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I’ve seen very little of Jordies ‘high IQ’ either
Way to tell everyone you haven't watched a second of Jordie this year.
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I’ve seen very little of Jordies ‘high IQ’ either
Way to tell everyone you haven't watched a second of Jordie this year.
Playing 12.....
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@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I’ve seen very little of Jordies ‘high IQ’ either
Way to tell everyone you haven't watched a second of Jordie this year.
Playing 12.....
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I’ve seen very little of Jordies ‘high IQ’ either
Way to tell everyone you haven't watched a second of Jordie this year.
Playing 12.....
Yes, his jersey number is 12.
Have you watched Leinster play? Defensively he's at fullback. As his kicking game and counter-attacks are far better than Hugo Keenan's.
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@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.
And? Outside Stevenson, who was a complete no-show in the final, none of the Chiefs back three are good kickers.
Tell me what he does under the high ball when he's in a 10x bigger game vs much better kickers.
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
And? Outside Stevenson, who was a complete no-show in the final, none of the Chiefs back three are good kickers.
You don't rate Narawa's kicking game? I rate it, can be pretty good.
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When he played fullback a few years ago he didn't really pass or playmake, he wasn't really used on exits and whilst he has a long punt from fullback it wasn't one that he utilised to great effect from 15. Whilst he is quick enough he didn't offer the strike ability that Jordan possesses either.
And when Jordan plays fullback against a team with a quality kicking game he's unfortunately looked mediocre.
The strike ability is useless when the opposition plays through the air, spams high balls and kicks into the corner all game.
Jordan turned the ball over 5 times against France last year
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@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
And? Outside Stevenson, who was a complete no-show in the final, none of the Chiefs back three are good kickers.
You don't rate Narawa's kicking game? I rate it, can be pretty good.
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
And? Outside Stevenson, who was a complete no-show in the final, none of the Chiefs back three are good kickers.
You don't rate Narawa's kicking game? I rate it, can be pretty good.
ENS has a very good kicking game too.
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On the subject of Chiefs kicking game - in the final one thing they lacked was a big boot to get them out of their 22, especially in the 2nd half. It might have been their Achilles heel.
Ratima's kicks were puny tbh and Mackenzie was not getting much distance on the ball either. -
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
And? Outside Stevenson, who was a complete no-show in the final, none of the Chiefs back three are good kickers.
You don't rate Narawa's kicking game? I rate it, can be pretty good.
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@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
And? Outside Stevenson, who was a complete no-show in the final, none of the Chiefs back three are good kickers.
You don't rate Narawa's kicking game? I rate it, can be pretty good.
ENS has a very good kicking game too.
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@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.Jordan is our most talented outside back but as an overall rugby player he isn't close to Cullen or Smith or young BB off the bench. He's probably not as good as peak Israel Dagg either.
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@nostrildamus It's fine but don't think it's anything to crow home about. Didn't do much for the Chiefs in the weekend.
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@nostrildamus It's fine but don't think it's anything to crow home about. Didn't do much for the Chiefs in the weekend.
Ok if we are judging by the weekend, Will Jordan is the All Black fullback.
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Jordan turned the ball over 5 times against France last year
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Jordan turned the ball over 5 times against France last year
Yeah they targeted him. As do the Boks when he's at fullback. Happened in 2023 also, both teams targeted him when he was on the wing .
I like Jordan at fullback FWIW... just not vs the Boks and the French. Jordie is better suited to counter their aerial game IMO.
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@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Darren I see 14 as Will Jordan's natural position at test level, but he played bloody well for the Crusaders at fullback this year and I suspect Robertson will play him there.
Agree. Boks and the French with their kicking games have made Jordan look silly when he's played at fb.
If you built a fullback in a lab - Jordie would be it. Tall, quick, high IQ, great under high ball, can pass and playmake, kicks long and has great exits. I think he should be our fullback come 2027. Also allows you to play a crash-ball type at 12 like Tavatavanawai, Tupaea or Fainga'anuku which I think is best if you have DMac at 10. The crash-ball 12 would take a ton of pressure off DMac and holds off the blitz-D systems that everyone seems to be using these days.
Jordie's not quick, and he's not elusive. If most people could build a fullback in a lab, I reckon they'd build Christian Cullen - and Jordie most certainly isn't that.
Also it was the Chiefs back 3 who looked silly in what was largely a kicking battle on the weekend, not Will Jordan - he was dominant.Jordan is our most talented outside back but as an overall rugby player he isn't close to Cullen or Smith or young BB off the bench. He's probably not as good as peak Israel Dagg either.
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Jordan is our most talented outside back but as an overall rugby player he isn't close to Cullen or Smith or young BB off the bench. He's probably not as good as peak Israel Dagg either.
Peak Jordan is darn good.
Peak Dagg didn't happen nearly as often.
And overall, Dagg scored just 138 points in 66 games.
Jordan, 190 points in 41 games. At age 27.
https://stats.allblacks.com/all-players/profile/Israel-Dagg-AB-1101
https://stats.allblacks.com/all-players/profile/Will-Jordan-AB-1191There's little point comparing Dagg to Cullen because he's a GOAT.
Or to Ben Smith, because he's one of my all-time favourite accountants.
