2025 All Blacks v France series
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Blackadder and Bell both been training with ABs this week.
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@chchfanatic if that’s true then it makes the decision to bring in papali’i even stupider.
@AmberArmy said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@chchfanatic if that’s true then it makes the decision to bring in papali’i even stupider.
I am afraid that it had to happen after there was a United Nations resolution that everyone should move on from "Headbutt-gate".
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@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
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@Landers92 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Tim said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Landers92 How about off the bench in game 2, or a start in game 3? Seems that lineout and defense are his best areas.
Wasn’t aware he was talking about game 1. I’m sure they have a plan for these newbies, feels like the days of throwing players to the wolves doesn’t really happen anymore.
But is playing against this French side in a home series really the wolves? I don’t think so. Sure every test match is a ‘test’, but this series presents an ideal opportunity to see some of the less experienced players along side experienced ABs and what they can do.
I would love to see a number of them start.
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Landers92 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Tim said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Landers92 How about off the bench in game 2, or a start in game 3? Seems that lineout and defense are his best areas.
Wasn’t aware he was talking about game 1. I’m sure they have a plan for these newbies, feels like the days of throwing players to the wolves doesn’t really happen anymore.
But is playing against this French side in a home series really the wolves? I don’t think so. Sure every test match is a ‘test’, but this series presents an ideal opportunity to see some of the less experienced players along side experienced ABs and what they can do.
I would love to see a number of them start.
I never said throwing them to the French was the wolves? I meant in general. I completely agree with your statement.
I want Razor to go away from his comfort/safe picks and start thinking about the 2027 World Cup.
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@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
He played 6 and 7 though didn't he? Christie came off and Grace came on. Blackadder shuffled to 7.
He's played 6 and 7 last year.
Grace covered 7 as well it was not always a swap to 7.
Ok let's do 6:
Lineouts for Season ( won + steals )
41 (2) Samipeni Finau
39 (2) Cullen Grace
31 (1) Brad Shields
25 (6) TK Howden
23 (5) Anton Segner
17 (3) Brayden Iose
14 (7) Devan Flanders
14 (3) Cam Christie
14 (0) Simon Parker
2 (0) Ethan BlackadderDominant Carry %
43.1 TK Howden
39.4 Brayden Iose
39.2 Simon Parker
37.2 Cam Christie
36.1 Samipeni Finau
35.3 Oliver Haig
30.8 Anton Segner
27.1 Cullen Grace
13.8 Ethan BlackadderGainline %
71.1 Samipeni Finau
69.6 Simon Parker
68.2 Anton Segner
66.2 TK Howden
64.7 Oliver Haig
55.8 Cam Christie
50.0 Brayden Iose
48.6 Cullen Grace
34.1 Ethan BlackadderTackle Evasion %
15.8 Oliver Haig
15.1 Samipeni Finau
14.1 TK Howden
12.2 Simon Parker
9.8 Cam Christie
9.4 Cullen Grace
9.2 Anton Segner
2.5 Ethan BlackadderOk let's do 6:
Lineouts for Season ( won + steals )
41 (2) Samipeni Finau
39 (2) Cullen Grace
31 (1) Brad Shields
25 (6) TK Howden
23 (5) Anton Segner
17 (3) Brayden Iose
14 (7) Devan Flanders
14 (3) Cam Christie
14 (0) Simon Parker
2 (0) Ethan BlackadderDominant Carry %
43.1 TK Howden
39.4 Brayden Iose
39.2 Simon Parker
37.2 Cam Christie
36.1 Samipeni Finau
35.3 Oliver Haig
30.8 Anton Segner
27.1 Cullen Grace
13.8 Ethan BlackadderGainline %
71.1 Samipeni Finau
69.6 Simon Parker
68.2 Anton Segner
66.2 TK Howden
64.7 Oliver Haig
55.8 Cam Christie
50.0 Brayden Iose
48.6 Cullen Grace
34.1 Ethan BlackadderTackle Evasion %
15.8 Oliver Haig
15.1 Samipeni Finau
14.1 TK Howden
12.2 Simon Parker
9.8 Cam Christie
9.4 Cullen Grace
9.2 Anton Segner
2.5 Ethan BlackadderKid's going to be very good.
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A couple of key stat metrics aligning for Parker and what I’d love to see as an impact bench 6.
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A couple of key stat metrics aligning for Parker and what I’d love to see as an impact bench 6.
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
A couple of key stat metrics aligning for Parker and what I’d love to see as an impact bench 6.
Finau, Parker, Howden all jump out.
If they don’t bring Parker in post injury, it might be a shame that they didn’t look at Howden here.I really really like the 6 lineout steals, that signifies real ability in the air, maybe a bit of Jono Gibbs’s about him?
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@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
Doesn't use his feet close to contact, tucks the ball under one arm and also ducks his head so he doesn't even look up/around. I really can't understand why it hasn't been fixed.
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@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
He's quite tall but not exactly built like a tackle buster.
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@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
Doesn't use his feet close to contact, tucks the ball under one arm and also ducks his head so he doesn't even look up/around. I really can't understand why it hasn't been fixed.
@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
Doesn't use his feet close to contact, tucks the ball under one arm and also ducks his head so he doesn't even look up/around. I really can't understand why it hasn't been fixed.
I noticed when he first started playing midfield at the higher level , he instinctively used to try and use his pace to find space to run at , whether it was coached out of him out of fear of being isolated? , now he seems more content to run into contact
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@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
Doesn't use his feet close to contact, tucks the ball under one arm and also ducks his head so he doesn't even look up/around. I really can't understand why it hasn't been fixed.
I noticed when he first started playing midfield at the higher level , he instinctively used to try and use his pace to find space to run at , whether it was coached out of him out of fear of being isolated? , now he seems more content to run into contact
Maybe part of the modern game? Now that most outside backs are good at winning breakdown steals the wider you play the greater the risk of turning over the ball.
Jessie Kriel didn't pass once in the RWC Final.
I think Rieko to a degree lost some of his mojo and is a bit too comfortable.
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@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
He's quite tall but not exactly built like a tackle buster.
@MN5 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
He's quite tall but not exactly built like a tackle buster.
He looks taller and heavier than Ardie Savea who is a great tackle buster.
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@MN5 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision.
Sure, but he's is not that small
I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc
A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier.
He's quite tall but not exactly built like a tackle buster.
He looks taller and heavier than Ardie Savea who is a great tackle buster.
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
He looks taller and heavier than Ardie Savea who is a great tackle buster.
I think Ardie has a stockier core and legs. Regardless, Ioane could burst more tackles (may be a key criterion for AB coaches)...
I agree Ardie is shorter than Rieko. I went through some AB etc photos, I also don't think, despite the stats, that Dalton is much taller if at all than LJ. -
Well that was a methodic dismantling of the Blackadder myth. Confirmed beyond all doubt the "busy but ineffective" label.
@Kirwan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Well that was a methodic dismantling of the Blackadder myth. Confirmed beyond all doubt the "busy but ineffective" label.
As a ball carrier, sure. He's almost McCaw-like in his lack of metres and evasiveness.
Is a ball carrier what we need to accompany and balance Sititi and Savea? -
@Kirwan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Well that was a methodic dismantling of the Blackadder myth. Confirmed beyond all doubt the "busy but ineffective" label.
As a ball carrier, sure. He's almost McCaw-like in his lack of metres and evasiveness.
Is a ball carrier what we need to accompany and balance Sititi and Savea?@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Kirwan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Well that was a methodic dismantling of the Blackadder myth. Confirmed beyond all doubt the "busy but ineffective" label.
As a ball carrier, sure. He's almost McCaw-like in his lack of metres and evasiveness.
Is a ball carrier what we need to accompany and balance Sititi and Savea?I'd accept his lack of carrying ability if he was a bone crunching tackler and smashed rucks like a madman
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Geez, it is just a circle-jerk of butt-hurt provincial bias against Blackadder, isn't it?
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Geez, it is just a circle-jerk of butt-hurt provincial bias against Blackadder, isn't it?
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Geez, it is just a circle-jerk of butt-hurt provincial bias against Blackadder, isn't it?
No, more a case of folk expressing concern at his limitations as a player
