2025 All Blacks v France series
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@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Kerfuffle
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@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I think a big part of the reason they are talking about locks playing 6 is they see Holland as a starter in the medium term given his attributes, so would love it if Barrett or Vai'i could make a good fist of 6 as I believe they want all three of those players on the pitch. It would also solve our height issues in the lineout and allow us to play two of the smaller dynamic loosies at 7 and 8.
Big question is whether Barrett or Vai'i can make it work at 6 - they haven't been able to in the past.
IMO it would be a big mistake to move Barrett to a position he wasn't fast enough to play years ago.
Here's Scott famously running down Jonny May in that RWC semi.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=428450447862358
I watched that game not so long ago - Scott actually went pretty well - aside from that we were supposed to dominate the lineout and that plan blew up in our face.
But, 6 years later, I'm not convinced having him play 6 is a fabulous plan.
@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
But, 6 years later, I'm not convinced having him play 6 is a fabulous plan.
It took you 6 years to be convinced? Most of us figured it out as soon as we heard the team naming.
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@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I think a big part of the reason they are talking about locks playing 6 is they see Holland as a starter in the medium term given his attributes, so would love it if Barrett or Vai'i could make a good fist of 6 as I believe they want all three of those players on the pitch. It would also solve our height issues in the lineout and allow us to play two of the smaller dynamic loosies at 7 and 8.
Big question is whether Barrett or Vai'i can make it work at 6 - they haven't been able to in the past.
IMO it would be a big mistake to move Barrett to a position he wasn't fast enough to play years ago. And moving Vai'i from lock in his current form should be investigated for treason.
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I think a big part of the reason they are talking about locks playing 6 is they see Holland as a starter in the medium term given his attributes, so would love it if Barrett or Vai'i could make a good fist of 6 as I believe they want all three of those players on the pitch. It would also solve our height issues in the lineout and allow us to play two of the smaller dynamic loosies at 7 and 8.
Big question is whether Barrett or Vai'i can make it work at 6 - they haven't been able to in the past.
IMO it would be a big mistake to move Barrett to a position he wasn't fast enough to play years ago. And moving Vai'i from lock in his current form should be investigated for treason.
I agree, except together they aren't IMO tall enough for us to get away with them as pair. I hope I'm proven wrong.
Personally, I'd give Holland his chance - he's a proper tall tight lock who works his ass off.
He may need to improve some aspects of his game, but I want to see if he can make it at this level.
What that means for Vaai is that he may come off the bench (in reality) or needs a go at 6. Vaai has become newer younger (better) Barrett and that's why I've questioned whether Barrett should be captain.
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@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
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@Chris-B
Depends on the opposition. England and Ireland have had success with Beirne and Lawes and I think Barrett is probably faster than both of those.
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Chris-B
Depends on the opposition. England and Ireland have had success with Beirne and Lawes and I think Barrett is probably faster than both of those.
Can you just stop? Everything you post is basically wrong.
Barrett faster than lawes? Maybe now. Maybe.Fuck Courtney Lawes would walk in to the AB 6 shirt
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@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Jacobson, Lio Willie, and Papali'i cover six.
Well, you can put them in the jersey and they'll play alright.
Which of them will replicate Jerome? Which of them is going to win lineouts jumping against Big Pieter-Steph?
@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Which of them will replicate Jerome? Which of them is going to win lineouts jumping against Big Pieter-Steph?
I didn't realize he was in the French team arriving.
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@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Chris-B
Depends on the opposition. England and Ireland have had success with Beirne and Lawes and I think Barrett is probably faster than both of those.
Can you just stop? Everything you post is basically wrong.
Barrett faster than lawes? Maybe now. Maybe.Fuck Courtney Lawes would walk in to the AB 6 shirt
@mariner4life said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Fuck Courtney Lawes would walk in to the AB 6 shirt
He'd be more likely to lean over the line and steal it.
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I'll be surprised if one of our starting locks will be going Dutch. That will be ballsy.
And while I like a Blackadder conspiracy on either side of the ball, I suspect they simply know what EB offers, and want to test out some new talent.
But as I said before, a blind bit of flying French crumpet could see Sititi was injured and their makeshift rejigging looks decidedly makeshift. Paps and Kirifi are specialist sevens while Savea was playing the house down at 7. Sure he could play 8 but there are quite a few others who can play 8 and 6. Hmm I guess this is a golden opportunity for CLW to show his versatility at 6 or 8.
Maybe the injuries/HIAs to Lakai and Jacobson are really hurting their selection options. -
Sititi is injured. He was the designated No. 8. CLW has been the best 8 in Super Rugby this year. Clear and simple selection. Nothing to discuss.
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@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
.... and broke his foot in the process
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@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
I think The Silver Fern by revealing the Dalton Papali'i head butt saga to the world played a crucial role in his All Blacks recall. Dalton owes @Duluth and @Kirwan a beer.
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@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
Thankfully. Now we don't have to see him getting bounced around like a basketball at the big boys level.
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@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Which of them will replicate Jerome? Which of them is going to win lineouts jumping against Big Pieter-Steph?
I didn't realize he was in the French team arriving.
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Which of them will replicate Jerome? Which of them is going to win lineouts jumping against Big Pieter-Steph?
I didn't realize he was in the French team arriving.
It's a shit 2nd or 3rd string French team, and we should be able to select any number of players and still beat them.
That doesn't mean we should waste the opportunity to figure out a way to beat their best team and the Saffas consistently by playing guys who can't match up to the big boys. -
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
Thankfully. Now we don't have to see him getting bounced around like a basketball at the big boys level.
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
Thankfully. Now we don't have to see him getting bounced around like a basketball at the big boys level.
Yeah what a relief we get to see the continued dominance of DP, LJ, SF.
If none of them could dominate the clearly fucking hopeless EB in play-off rugby, why should we expect them to dominant test rugby? -
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
Thankfully. Now we don't have to see him getting bounced around like a basketball at the big boys level.
Yeah what a relief we get to see the continued dominance of DP, LJ, SF.
If none of them could dominate the clearly fucking hopeless EB in play-off rugby, why should we expect them to dominant test rugby?@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
Thankfully. Now we don't have to see him getting bounced around like a basketball at the big boys level.
Yeah what a relief we get to see the continued dominance of DP, LJ, SF.
If none of them could dominate the clearly fucking hopeless EB in play-off rugby, why should we expect them to dominant test rugby?I don't recall talking up the others either. Finau has the most potential out of the others, but needs a big season. He has a stop start campaign last year and looked a bit lost with the gameplan, but needs to start showing some consistency.
I'm not getting fooled by players dominating SR, that haven't dominated on the big stage. Blackadder falls into that category. Sure, if he gets another go, I hope he does well, but he got dominated in contact against the Boks, and Bombed a certain try in that game too. If a certain Rieko Ioane did that.......
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@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
Thankfully. Now we don't have to see him getting bounced around like a basketball at the big boys level.
Yeah what a relief we get to see the continued dominance of DP, LJ, SF.
If none of them could dominate the clearly fucking hopeless EB in play-off rugby, why should we expect them to dominant test rugby?I don't recall talking up the others either. Finau has the most potential out of the others, but needs a big season. He has a stop start campaign last year and looked a bit lost with the gameplan, but needs to start showing some consistency.
I'm not getting fooled by players dominating SR, that haven't dominated on the big stage. Blackadder falls into that category. Sure, if he gets another go, I hope he does well, but he got dominated in contact against the Boks, and Bombed a certain try in that game too. If a certain Rieko Ioane did that.......
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
Thankfully. Now we don't have to see him getting bounced around like a basketball at the big boys level.
Yeah what a relief we get to see the continued dominance of DP, LJ, SF.
If none of them could dominate the clearly fucking hopeless EB in play-off rugby, why should we expect them to dominant test rugby?I don't recall talking up the others either. Finau has the most potential out of the others, but needs a big season. He has a stop start campaign last year and looked a bit lost with the gameplan, but needs to start showing some consistency.
I'm not getting fooled by players dominating SR, that haven't dominated on the big stage. Blackadder falls into that category. Sure, if he gets another go, I hope he does well, but he got dominated in contact against the Boks, and Bombed a certain try in that game too. If a certain Rieko Ioane did that.......
That's revisionist crap sorry.
He's pretty much universally derided on here, yet got 10% of the MOTM vote in Boks 1. He was close to our best forward, and certainly our best loosie. He didn't play in Boks 2. -
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
Thankfully. Now we don't have to see him getting bounced around like a basketball at the big boys level.
Yeah what a relief we get to see the continued dominance of DP, LJ, SF.
If none of them could dominate the clearly fucking hopeless EB in play-off rugby, why should we expect them to dominant test rugby?I don't recall talking up the others either. Finau has the most potential out of the others, but needs a big season. He has a stop start campaign last year and looked a bit lost with the gameplan, but needs to start showing some consistency.
I'm not getting fooled by players dominating SR, that haven't dominated on the big stage. Blackadder falls into that category. Sure, if he gets another go, I hope he does well, but he got dominated in contact against the Boks, and Bombed a certain try in that game too. If a certain Rieko Ioane did that.......
@African-Monkey by the same strawman token, I'm definitely not convinced EB dominated them either. And yeah I'm guessing the rest of the ABs should be crusaders too, since they dominated their opposites. Give them credit man!
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@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
Thankfully. Now we don't have to see him getting bounced around like a basketball at the big boys level.
Yeah what a relief we get to see the continued dominance of DP, LJ, SF.
If none of them could dominate the clearly fucking hopeless EB in play-off rugby, why should we expect them to dominant test rugby?I don't recall talking up the others either. Finau has the most potential out of the others, but needs a big season. He has a stop start campaign last year and looked a bit lost with the gameplan, but needs to start showing some consistency.
I'm not getting fooled by players dominating SR, that haven't dominated on the big stage. Blackadder falls into that category. Sure, if he gets another go, I hope he does well, but he got dominated in contact against the Boks, and Bombed a certain try in that game too. If a certain Rieko Ioane did that.......
That's revisionist crap sorry.
He's pretty much universally derided on here, yet got 10% of the MOTM vote in Boks 1. He was close to our best forward, and certainly our best loosie. He didn't play in Boks 2.@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@xman said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Good to see Razor has no hard feelings about the Papali'i headbutt.
What happened between Dalton and Razor?
Think it may have been Blackadder and Razor. Blackadder kicked Razor in the balls.
Thankfully. Now we don't have to see him getting bounced around like a basketball at the big boys level.
Yeah what a relief we get to see the continued dominance of DP, LJ, SF.
If none of them could dominate the clearly fucking hopeless EB in play-off rugby, why should we expect them to dominant test rugby?I don't recall talking up the others either. Finau has the most potential out of the others, but needs a big season. He has a stop start campaign last year and looked a bit lost with the gameplan, but needs to start showing some consistency.
I'm not getting fooled by players dominating SR, that haven't dominated on the big stage. Blackadder falls into that category. Sure, if he gets another go, I hope he does well, but he got dominated in contact against the Boks, and Bombed a certain try in that game too. If a certain Rieko Ioane did that.......
That's revisionist crap sorry.
He's pretty much universally derided on here, yet got 10% of the MOTM vote in Boks 1. He was close to our best forward, and certainly our best loosie. He didn't play in Boks 2.I certainly didn't see it that way. I saw him getting bounced out of rucks, and yeah, he did plenty of work, but a lot of the time the SA ball carriers were getting past the advantage line whilst he was 'completing' tackles. I'm also well aware he didn't play in the 2nd Boks test, he didn't play again after Boks 1. So yes, he's industrious, gives it his all, I'm happy yo admit that, but like all his detractors, I side with them, it's ineffective.
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@African-Monkey by the same strawman token, I'm definitely not convinced EB dominated them either. And yeah I'm guessing the rest of the ABs should be crusaders too, since they dominated their opposites. Give them credit man!
@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@African-Monkey by the same strawman token, I'm definitely not convinced EB dominated them either. And yeah I'm guessing the rest of the ABs should be crusaders too, since they dominated their opposites. Give them credit man!
Haha I'm happy to see Crusaders players picked, I've even praised David Havili for his service to the Crusaders and said how good he's been for them. Is he ABs level though? Can't say he is. Blackadder too, who is also another good operator for them when he gets on the field.
I'm also happy to see what Lio-Willie is made of at test level if given the opportunity.
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@African-Monkey by the same strawman token, I'm definitely not convinced EB dominated them either. And yeah I'm guessing the rest of the ABs should be crusaders too, since they dominated their opposites. Give them credit man!
@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@African-Monkey by the same strawman token, I'm definitely not convinced EB dominated them either. And yeah I'm guessing the rest of the ABs should be crusaders too, since they dominated their opposites. Give them credit man!
Bro. I'm not a Crusaders fan in the slightest. I care about NZ rugby, and really couldn't give a shit about any franchise other than enjoying certain styles of play more than others, which changes over time. That's definitely not the current Crusaders - TBH I haven't really liked the way they play since Mehrtens. I railed against Fihaki and Bell last year, think Reihana is nowhere near ready, think we have seen enough of Reece and Havili, and don't think Barrett should be AB captain because his spot is soon going to be under threat from Holland.
I do think the Crusaders dominated the loose forward battles in the play-offs. If EB wasn't a big part of that, then who did it? Grace who's not rated by anyone on here either? Tom Christie who nobody thinks is AB material? Or was it all CLW - who also didn't make the initial squad?
