2025 All Blacks v France series

[brodean]

Ratima had some poor games last year and I'm not convinced he's currently test standard. There were a number of games this year where the Chiefs looked better when Roe came on.

At the moment it's Roigard starting with Hotham off the bench for me.

[Canes4life]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

Ratima had some poor games last year and I'm not convinced he's currently test standard. There were a number of games this year where the Chiefs looked better when Roe came on.

At the moment it's Roigard starting with Hotham off the bench for me.

Fair enough, funny though, I'm still not convinced on Hotham. He had some absolute shockers this year for the Crusaders but seemed to come right in the finals which I suppose is an important factor. I think for the first test at least we'll see Roigard start and Ratima off the bench.

Does anyone know when the ABs are being named for this week? Is it Wednesday afternoon like Super Rugby or do we not find out until Thursday?

[nostrildamus]

@MN5 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

Was just gonna say, three out of the 23 will DEFINITELY have Barrett as a surname.

In that video interview/convo you only watched a few seconds of they basically narrowed it down to
DMac QT and RI or (the Northeners) OR
BB JB and BP (Canes and ex-Canes)

Sounds possible to me.

[reprobate]

@Canes4life said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

That's the backs MOTM poll for our last French test. Clarke may have had a mediocre Super season, but not starting him at 11 for some Rieko pipe-dream would be absurd. If Clarke underperforms in black then sure, give someone else a go.

On Roigard: I don't think you have to start your best players, and I think SA have proved it. I think you have to win games, and that means combinations which allow you to be the better team on the park for 80 minutes.

I'll be very surprised if we don't see Roigard starting in the weekend. He's World Class, and just like DMac for the Chiefs, Jordan for the Crusaders and Beaudy for the Blues, Roigard has proven to be the difference maker for the Canes in the last few years and has the ability to turn a match on its head.

Who cares what the Saffas are doing, we need to start our best side available. Ratima and Hotham suit that bench role more than Roigard, Ratima showed that for the Chiefs this year so for me he will be the frontrunner for that spot.

I think you should care what they're doing, when they're beating us.
Boks 1: we dominated for 60 minutes, were up 4 tries to 1 I think - then were taken apart in the last 20 to end up losing - overtaken in the 74th minute.
Boks 2 - overtaken in the 73rd minute.
Cam Roigard can't change those results if he isn't on the field anymore - and my preference for him on the bench is not a slight. Even you Canes die-hards would probably admit that he can't play 80 minutes, and in my opinion Ratima's kicking is dodgy and we need kicking late in the game.

[nostrildamus]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

I'd suggest Caleb Tangitau needs to work on his defensive workrate and accuracy. Based on these Carter would seem a better option that Tangitau for test rugby.

and this article says Carter is the fastest
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fastest-in-new-zealand-the-shock-revelation-on-snubbed-all-black-prospect/

But didn't look very settled to me in his last game.

[SouthernMann]

@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

I'd suggest Caleb Tangitau needs to work on his defensive workrate and accuracy. Based on these Carter would seem a better option that Tangitau for test rugby.

and this article says Carter is the fastest
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fastest-in-new-zealand-the-shock-revelation-on-snubbed-all-black-prospect/

But didn't look very settled to me in his last game.

The fastest would be Michael Manson. He just doesn't have the other necessary components to support his speed.

[Nogusta]

@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@hikastags said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

Rieko Ioane posted a photo today from training with Ah Kuoi in the background.

I wonder what number Ioane was wearing..

11
Rieko has been training exclusively at wing. Zero reps in the midfield.

[george33]

@Nogusta So he starts 11 ?

[Kiwiwomble]

i dont hate it, clarke was less the stellar during SR, give him a couple of weeks for the coaches to...coach him, allow us to experiment in the midfield against an understrength French side

[Dan54]

@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

He uses a lot of hairspray to keep that combover in place

Mrs Dan reckons he has hair transplants

[Canes4life]

@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@Canes4life said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

That's the backs MOTM poll for our last French test. Clarke may have had a mediocre Super season, but not starting him at 11 for some Rieko pipe-dream would be absurd. If Clarke underperforms in black then sure, give someone else a go.

On Roigard: I don't think you have to start your best players, and I think SA have proved it. I think you have to win games, and that means combinations which allow you to be the better team on the park for 80 minutes.

I'll be very surprised if we don't see Roigard starting in the weekend. He's World Class, and just like DMac for the Chiefs, Jordan for the Crusaders and Beaudy for the Blues, Roigard has proven to be the difference maker for the Canes in the last few years and has the ability to turn a match on its head.

Who cares what the Saffas are doing, we need to start our best side available. Ratima and Hotham suit that bench role more than Roigard, Ratima showed that for the Chiefs this year so for me he will be the frontrunner for that spot.

I think you should care what they're doing, when they're beating us.
Boks 1: we dominated for 60 minutes, were up 4 tries to 1 I think - then were taken apart in the last 20 to end up losing - overtaken in the 74th minute.
Boks 2 - overtaken in the 73rd minute.
Cam Roigard can't change those results if he isn't on the field anymore - and my preference for him on the bench is not a slight. Even you Canes die-hards would probably admit that he can't play 80 minutes, and in my opinion Ratima's kicking is dodgy and we need kicking late in the game.

I think we should focus on ourselves. We aren't the same as the Springoks, we need to find our own way of playing that will put us back to the top of the pile. They aren't much better than us and I think we have an improving squad that will be competing for that number 1 position by the end of the year.

Fair enough mate, it's your opinion. I just think we need our best players on the park from the get go. Hopefully Ratima or Hotham can step up and provide that quality impact we are after late in a game.

[KiwiMurph]

@Kiwiwomble said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

i dont hate it, clarke was less the stellar during SR, give him a couple of weeks for the coaches to...coach him, allow us to experiment in the midfield against an understrength French side

This. Good opportunity to see what Rieko brings at wing in 2025 - if not now then when

[Bones]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

I'd suggest Caleb Tangitau needs to work on his defensive workrate and accuracy. Based on these Carter would seem a better option that Tangitau for test rugby.

Tackle Success
92.6% Emoni Narawa
90.6% Jonah Lowe
88.2% Mark Tele'a
85.2% Macca Springer
84.7% Sevu Reece
82.6% Caleb Clarke
81.4% Kini Naholo
80.2% Leroy Carter
72.4% Caleb Tangitau
72.3% Chay Fihaki

Tackles Per 80 Minutes
9.17 Macca Springer
8.4 Mark Tele'a
7.82 Caleb Clarke
7.74 Chay Fihaki
7.56 Leroy Carter
6.68 Kini Naholo
6.54 Sevu Reece
6.05 Jonah Lowe
5.63 Emoni Narawa
4.56 Caleb Tangitau

Clarke and Tele'a look pretty good defence wise in these metrics.

That could all be a product of playing for the highlanders though.

[brodean]

@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

I'd suggest Caleb Tangitau needs to work on his defensive workrate and accuracy. Based on these Carter would seem a better option that Tangitau for test rugby.

Tackle Success
92.6% Emoni Narawa
90.6% Jonah Lowe
88.2% Mark Tele'a
85.2% Macca Springer
84.7% Sevu Reece
82.6% Caleb Clarke
81.4% Kini Naholo
80.2% Leroy Carter
72.4% Caleb Tangitau
72.3% Chay Fihaki

Tackles Per 80 Minutes
9.17 Macca Springer
8.4 Mark Tele'a
7.82 Caleb Clarke
7.74 Chay Fihaki
7.56 Leroy Carter
6.68 Kini Naholo
6.54 Sevu Reece
6.05 Jonah Lowe
5.63 Emoni Narawa
4.56 Caleb Tangitau

Clarke and Tele'a look pretty good defence wise in these metrics.

That could all be a product of playing for the highlanders though.

Are you trying to say the Highlanders are a team full of poor defenders, which is why they came last, and besides that we shouldn't pick too many players who lose more often than not?

[Bones]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

I'd suggest Caleb Tangitau needs to work on his defensive workrate and accuracy. Based on these Carter would seem a better option that Tangitau for test rugby.

Tackle Success
92.6% Emoni Narawa
90.6% Jonah Lowe
88.2% Mark Tele'a
85.2% Macca Springer
84.7% Sevu Reece
82.6% Caleb Clarke
81.4% Kini Naholo
80.2% Leroy Carter
72.4% Caleb Tangitau
72.3% Chay Fihaki

Tackles Per 80 Minutes
9.17 Macca Springer
8.4 Mark Tele'a
7.82 Caleb Clarke
7.74 Chay Fihaki
7.56 Leroy Carter
6.68 Kini Naholo
6.54 Sevu Reece
6.05 Jonah Lowe
5.63 Emoni Narawa
4.56 Caleb Tangitau

Clarke and Tele'a look pretty good defence wise in these metrics.

That could all be a product of playing for the highlanders though.

Are you trying to say the Highlanders are a team full of poor defenders, which is why they came last, and besides that we shouldn't pick too many players with a losing mindset?

Sounds far too thought out for me. Especially when there's low hanging fruit like teams that somehow manage to lose twice in the finals. I imagine Tangitau was playing in a bit of a faulty defensive pattern in that first part of the season, but can't really be sure.

I'll just go back to framing the Jordan turnovers post.

[SouthernMann]

Don't the stats basically say he misses one tackle a game? Which over the course of the six games he played means he only missed seven tackles. Small sample size.

[Bones]

@SouthernMann probably not that flash when you're only making 27 tackles in those 6 games.

[nostrildamus]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

I'd suggest Caleb Tangitau needs to work on his defensive workrate and accuracy. Based on these Carter would seem a better option that Tangitau for test rugby.

Tackle Success
92.6% Emoni Narawa
90.6% Jonah Lowe
88.2% Mark Tele'a
85.2% Macca Springer
84.7% Sevu Reece
82.6% Caleb Clarke
81.4% Kini Naholo
80.2% Leroy Carter
72.4% Caleb Tangitau
> > > 72.3% Chay Fihaki

Tackles Per 80 Minutes
9.17 Macca Springer
8.4 Mark Tele'a
7.82 Caleb Clarke
7.74 Chay Fihaki
7.56 Leroy Carter
6.68 Kini Naholo
6.54 Sevu Reece
6.05 Jonah Lowe
5.63 Emoni Narawa
4.56 Caleb Tangitau

Clarke and Tele'a look pretty good defence wise in these metrics.

That could all be a product of playing for the highlanders though.

Are you trying to say the Highlanders are a team full of poor defenders, which is why they came last, and besides that we shouldn't pick too many players who lose more often than not?

Fihaki got a look..

[Kiwiwomble]

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

I'd suggest Caleb Tangitau needs to work on his defensive workrate and accuracy. Based on these Carter would seem a better option that Tangitau for test rugby.

Tackle Success
92.6% Emoni Narawa
90.6% Jonah Lowe
88.2% Mark Tele'a
85.2% Macca Springer
84.7% Sevu Reece
82.6% Caleb Clarke
81.4% Kini Naholo
80.2% Leroy Carter
72.4% Caleb Tangitau
72.3% Chay Fihaki

Tackles Per 80 Minutes
9.17 Macca Springer
8.4 Mark Tele'a
7.82 Caleb Clarke
7.74 Chay Fihaki
7.56 Leroy Carter
6.68 Kini Naholo
6.54 Sevu Reece
6.05 Jonah Lowe
5.63 Emoni Narawa
4.56 Caleb Tangitau

Clarke and Tele'a look pretty good defence wise in these metrics.

That could all be a product of playing for the highlanders though.

Are you trying to say the Highlanders are a team full of poor defenders, which is why they came last, and besides that we shouldn't pick too many players who lose more often than not?

the first bit yes but the last but might be a step too far, i always think managing to look that good in a struggling team earns you at least the chance to show what you can do with a dominant team around you

[brodean]

@Kiwiwomble

I think 3 players from the Highlanders is about right. They are a young team and will get better.