2025 All Blacks v France series

[MN5]

@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

I have a lot of time for Jordie at fullback, he was rock solid for us there and our best player on the park in a number of matches. Defensively he is comfortably our best full back and he really nullifies opposition kicking games as there are not many better in the air than him. I have memories of him having to charge around the field taking every high ball one game as the wingers (Bridge was one of them) couldn't handle them at all. That skillset is a huge plus in the modern game.

I'm not convinced his move to 12 has been a huge success, especially when paired with Rieko, our outsides don't see enough quality ball and his height does make him a bit of an easy target on the crash. A back three of Clarke - Jordie - Jordan allows us to counter opposition kicking games much more effectively, while still offering plenty of strike power when the opportunities arise.

People were probably fooled a bit into thinking Jordie was better at 12 than he was because Havili had been ineffective compared to big units like De Allende, Esterhuizen, Aki etc.

[reprobate]

@nonpartizan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

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.

Ratima's kicks were terrible throughout. He was hooking the box kicks so far infield they were basically giving ideal attacking position to the Crusaders and completely uncontested.
The other thing which was really poor was the back three's positioning: their kicking was not so much the issue in itself, as the time they took to get the ball, being out of position, letting it bounce and roll - so that they were kicking under pressure and from further back than they should have been.

[antipodean]

@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Is Jordan still as quick as he used to be?

He's at that magical age where All Black wingers degrade.

[nonpartizan]

@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@nonpartizan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

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.

Ratima's kicks were terrible throughout. He was hooking the box kicks so far infield they were basically giving ideal attacking position to the Crusaders and completely uncontested.
The other thing which was really poor was the back three's positioning: their kicking was not so much the issue in itself, as the time they took to get the ball, being out of position, letting it bounce and roll - so that they were kicking under pressure and from further back than they should have been.

I hadn't thought about that but you are dead right. The one that springs to mind was when Carter retrieved a bouncing ball in the first half, was swarmed by Reece and the Crusaders ended up getting a penalty - iirc.

That would have been avoided if he was better positioned.

[brodean]

@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Peak Dagg didn't happen nearly as often.

Happened enough to win an RWC.

Also Dagg was much more of a playmaker looking to set up others from fullback where as Jordan has spent most of his AB career on the wing.

[brodean]

@hikastags

I certainly think there is value in this kind of configuration:

12. Tavatavanawai/Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett

[brodean]

@ACT-Crusader

He had the same issues with turnovers against SA last year too.

[brodean]

@MN5 said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Ok if we are judging by the weekend, Will Jordan is the All Black fullback.

I know Jordan will be fb. Just my opinion it should be Jordie.

I think the All Blacks are far more dynamic when they have a big ball-running 12 which takes a boat load of pressure off whoever the 10 is. The South Africans lick their lips at Jordie playing 12. He's too tall to be used as a crash-ball merchant and the big Saffas nail him like he's made of paper.

Indeed. Has never stood out vs De Allende or Esterhuizen and PSDT hit him so hard and often in the WC final I can only assume he owed him some money.

I don't think you can really fault Jordie in the RWC final considering he was having to cover loose forward on top of his 12 duties.

[Kiwiwomble]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@hikastags

I certainly think there is value in this kind of configuration:

12. Tavatavanawai/Tupaea
13. Jordan
14. Jordie Barrett

....what? has jordan played 13 before? the last time we saw Jordie on the wing was not pretty

it would be peak AB selectors to select loads of midfielders....and then play one of the names outside back in midfield...and then one of the midfielders on the win

[brodean]

@Kiwiwomble

Forum auto formatting. Wrapping it in code tags.

12. Tavatavanawai/Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett

[Duluth]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Forum auto formatting.

I can't turn it off either

You can put a backslash before the first '.' and that fixes it

eg

[Nepia]

@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.

We tried Jordie at fullback, we rightly moved him to 12.

If he wasn't a Barrett I'd say that Tupaea would have his spot at 12, and he'd likely be on the bench, especially after a rather quiet test year last year (regardless of what he's been doing in NH rugby). But he's Barrett so likely Quinn is watching from the sidelines and we all complain that we have a midfield that can't cart the ball in traffic despite the fact one of them is built like a lock.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Nepia said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@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.

We tried Jordie at fullback, we rightly moved him to 12.

If he wasn't a Barrett I'd say that Tupaea would have his spot at 12, and he'd likely be on the bench, especially after a rather quiet test year last year (regardless of what he's been doing in NH rugby). But he's Barrett so likely Quinn is watching from the sidelines and we all complain that we have a midfield that can't cart the ball in traffic despite the fact one of them is built like a lock.

was that though also a bit because we were weak in midfield? we were getting found out with the rush defence and thought a big ball player might help

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@Kiwiwomble

Forum auto formatting. Wrapping it in code tags.

12. Tavatavanawai/Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett

out, thats fine, im not against it

[antipodean]

@akan004 I don't know why the media bother asking Scott a single question. Every answer is meaningless word salad.

And tbh it looks like that's how he coaches too when you see what he's managed to do with our backline.

[hikastags]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@hikastags

I certainly think there is value in this kind of configuration:

12. Tavatavanawai/Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett

Agree.

I'd add Leicester in the mix once he's back too. He's been unbelievable in the Top14 playing midfield.

[Nepia]

@Kiwiwomble said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@Nepia said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@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.

We tried Jordie at fullback, we rightly moved him to 12.

If he wasn't a Barrett I'd say that Tupaea would have his spot at 12, and he'd likely be on the bench, especially after a rather quiet test year last year (regardless of what he's been doing in NH rugby). But he's Barrett so likely Quinn is watching from the sidelines and we all complain that we have a midfield that can't cart the ball in traffic despite the fact one of them is built like a lock.

was that though also a bit because we were weak in midfield? we were getting found out with the rush defence and thought a big ball player might help

I don't think it has to be zero sum.

[KiwiMurph]

I think Tavatavanawai is best used off of the bench - he runs sideways a lot - which you can get away with at Super level.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Nepia said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@Kiwiwomble said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@Nepia said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@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.

We tried Jordie at fullback, we rightly moved him to 12.

If he wasn't a Barrett I'd say that Tupaea would have his spot at 12, and he'd likely be on the bench, especially after a rather quiet test year last year (regardless of what he's been doing in NH rugby). But he's Barrett so likely Quinn is watching from the sidelines and we all complain that we have a midfield that can't cart the ball in traffic despite the fact one of them is built like a lock.

was that though also a bit because we were weak in midfield? we were getting found out with the rush defence and thought a big ball player might help

I don't think it has to be zero sum.

i feel the use of the term "also a bit" suggested i also thought it was multi faceted

[nonpartizan]

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

I think Tavatavanawai is best used off of the bench - he runs sideways a lot - which you can get away with at Super level.

What do you see as his best attribute in that role? Punching holes in tired defences? I only ask since I barely saw any Highlanders games so have no idea of his qualities.

[Kiwiwomble]

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

I think Tavatavanawai is best used off of the bench - he runs sideways a lot - which you can get away with at Super level.

probably right, has the ability to either change the flow of a game or shut one down with his turnovers

@nonpartizan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

I think Tavatavanawai is best used off of the bench - he runs sideways a lot - which you can get away with at Super level.

What do you see as his best attribute in that role? Punching holes in tired defences? I only ask since I barely saw any Highlanders games so have no idea of his qualities.

hes a strong runner although as has been pointed out probably doesnt have the top end speed...so more a ensure getting over the advantage line than running in tries from our own half, strong on defence and LOVES a turnover, strong stance over a ruck