2025 All Blacks v France series
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@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Using your example, Ma'a Nonu was dropped a few times and yeah I was unhappy about each of those and argued against them on here at the time if I remember correctly.
But each time he got dropped, he came back stronger and more professional. It was interesting reading the other day Ben White (half back for Toulon, Scotland and the British and Irish Lions) say that he's never encountered a more professional Rugby player than Ma'a Nonu.
That's what the brutal All Blacks environment produces. Skilled athletes who are craftsmen.
Not really. He was given multiple opportunities and dropped multiple times. He was tried at centre and on the wing by multiple AB coaches. Didnât make the 05 Lions squad after making the ABs in 03 and even starting against the best team in the world at the time. Was dropped for the 07 RWC after featuring in 06.
He eventually became an AB great. Some players just need to be persisted with over longer periods.
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Using your example, Ma'a Nonu was dropped a few times and yeah I was unhappy about each of those and argued against them on here at the time if I remember correctly.
But each time he got dropped, he came back stronger and more professional. It was interesting reading the other day Ben White (half back for Toulon, Scotland and the British and Irish Lions) say that he's never encountered a more professional Rugby player than Ma'a Nonu.
That's what the brutal All Blacks environment produces. Skilled athletes who are craftsmen.
Not really. He was given multiple opportunities and dropped multiple times. He was tried at centre and on the wing by multiple AB coaches. Didnât make the 05 Lions squad after making the ABs in 03 and even starting against the best team in the world at the time. Was dropped for the 07 RWC after featuring in 06.
He eventually became an AB great. Some players just need to be persisted with over longer periods.
I always knew he was special.....
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Using your example, Ma'a Nonu was dropped a few times and yeah I was unhappy about each of those and argued against them on here at the time if I remember correctly.
But each time he got dropped, he came back stronger and more professional. It was interesting reading the other day Ben White (half back for Toulon, Scotland and the British and Irish Lions) say that he's never encountered a more professional Rugby player than Ma'a Nonu.
That's what the brutal All Blacks environment produces. Skilled athletes who are craftsmen.
Not really. He was given multiple opportunities and dropped multiple times. He was tried at centre and on the wing by multiple AB coaches. Didnât make the 05 Lions squad after making the ABs in 03 and even starting against the best team in the world at the time. Was dropped for the 07 RWC after featuring in 06.
He eventually became an AB great. Some players just need to be persisted with over longer periods.
I always knew he was special.....
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Using your example, Ma'a Nonu was dropped a few times and yeah I was unhappy about each of those and argued against them on here at the time if I remember correctly.
But each time he got dropped, he came back stronger and more professional. It was interesting reading the other day Ben White (half back for Toulon, Scotland and the British and Irish Lions) say that he's never encountered a more professional Rugby player than Ma'a Nonu.
That's what the brutal All Blacks environment produces. Skilled athletes who are craftsmen.
Not really. He was given multiple opportunities and dropped multiple times. He was tried at centre and on the wing by multiple AB coaches. Didnât make the 05 Lions squad after making the ABs in 03 and even starting against the best team in the world at the time. Was dropped for the 07 RWC after featuring in 06.
He eventually became an AB great. Some players just need to be persisted with over longer periods.
I always knew he was special.....
Once he ditched the hoodie I knew he would be an AB greatâŚ..
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Heard France could be making a lot of changes to the team. One french reporter said as many as 10 changes. Hard to believe
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@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Using your example, Ma'a Nonu was dropped a few times and yeah I was unhappy about each of those and argued against them on here at the time if I remember correctly.
But each time he got dropped, he came back stronger and more professional. It was interesting reading the other day Ben White (half back for Toulon, Scotland and the British and Irish Lions) say that he's never encountered a more professional Rugby player than Ma'a Nonu.
That's what the brutal All Blacks environment produces. Skilled athletes who are craftsmen.
Not really. He was given multiple opportunities and dropped multiple times. He was tried at centre and on the wing by multiple AB coaches. Didnât make the 05 Lions squad after making the ABs in 03 and even starting against the best team in the world at the time. Was dropped for the 07 RWC after featuring in 06.
He eventually became an AB great. Some players just need to be persisted with over longer periods.
I always knew he was special.....
Once he ditched the hoodie I knew he would be an AB greatâŚ..
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Using your example, Ma'a Nonu was dropped a few times and yeah I was unhappy about each of those and argued against them on here at the time if I remember correctly.
But each time he got dropped, he came back stronger and more professional. It was interesting reading the other day Ben White (half back for Toulon, Scotland and the British and Irish Lions) say that he's never encountered a more professional Rugby player than Ma'a Nonu.
That's what the brutal All Blacks environment produces. Skilled athletes who are craftsmen.
Not really. He was given multiple opportunities and dropped multiple times. He was tried at centre and on the wing by multiple AB coaches. Didnât make the 05 Lions squad after making the ABs in 03 and even starting against the best team in the world at the time. Was dropped for the 07 RWC after featuring in 06.
He eventually became an AB great. Some players just need to be persisted with over longer periods.
I always knew he was special.....
Once he ditched the hoodie I knew he would be an AB greatâŚ..
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Using your example, Ma'a Nonu was dropped a few times and yeah I was unhappy about each of those and argued against them on here at the time if I remember correctly.
But each time he got dropped, he came back stronger and more professional. It was interesting reading the other day Ben White (half back for Toulon, Scotland and the British and Irish Lions) say that he's never encountered a more professional Rugby player than Ma'a Nonu.
That's what the brutal All Blacks environment produces. Skilled athletes who are craftsmen.
Not really. He was given multiple opportunities and dropped multiple times. He was tried at centre and on the wing by multiple AB coaches. Didnât make the 05 Lions squad after making the ABs in 03 and even starting against the best team in the world at the time. Was dropped for the 07 RWC after featuring in 06.
He eventually became an AB great. Some players just need to be persisted with over longer periods.
I always knew he was special.....
Once he ditched the hoodie I knew he would be an AB greatâŚ..
Fake news. Saw him at the pools just a couple of years back with a hoodie.
Hoodies are awesome and so is Nonu.
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Heard France could be making a lot of changes to the team. One french reporter said as many as 10 changes. Hard to believe
@tomk said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Heard France could be making a lot of changes to the team. One french reporter said as many as 10 changes. Hard to believe
So their game plan is to ensure the All Blacks coaches scouting reports on last week's test match is futile..... Wheres the All blacks are a known quantity to France.
I can kind of understand what they are doing in that their approach takes all the pressure off them.
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@Omega said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Hi guys...new here.
Hi Omega, do you think Riley Higgins should be in the All Blacks squad?
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@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Using your example, Ma'a Nonu was dropped a few times and yeah I was unhappy about each of those and argued against them on here at the time if I remember correctly.
But each time he got dropped, he came back stronger and more professional. It was interesting reading the other day Ben White (half back for Toulon, Scotland and the British and Irish Lions) say that he's never encountered a more professional Rugby player than Ma'a Nonu.
That's what the brutal All Blacks environment produces. Skilled athletes who are craftsmen.
Not really. He was given multiple opportunities and dropped multiple times. He was tried at centre and on the wing by multiple AB coaches. Didnât make the 05 Lions squad after making the ABs in 03 and even starting against the best team in the world at the time. Was dropped for the 07 RWC after featuring in 06.
He eventually became an AB great. Some players just need to be persisted with over longer periods.
@ACT-Crusader, I agre re Nonu, but also,
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Some players just
needtobepersisted withover longer periods.There been a few that have buggered off early because they perceive their way is blocked.
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@tomk said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Heard France could be making a lot of changes to the team. One french reporter said as many as 10 changes. Hard to believe
So their game plan is to ensure the All Blacks coaches scouting reports on last week's test match is futile..... Wheres the All blacks are a known quantity to France.
I can kind of understand what they are doing in that their approach takes all the pressure off them.
@nonpartizan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@tomk said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Heard France could be making a lot of changes to the team. One french reporter said as many as 10 changes. Hard to believe
So their game plan is to ensure the All Blacks coaches scouting reports on last week's test match is futile..... Wheres the All blacks are a known quantity to France.
I can kind of understand what they are doing in that their approach takes all the pressure off them.
I heard there are a grand total of 72 caps in this French squad.
I dont care what they are doing - it is incredibly disrespectful to do this. France vs All Blacks is an iconic fixture i. Rugby and they have turned it into a joke.
I really hope that we spank them by 50
Points in the next two tests and tell them donât darken our door again -
@nonpartizan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@tomk said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Heard France could be making a lot of changes to the team. One french reporter said as many as 10 changes. Hard to believe
So their game plan is to ensure the All Blacks coaches scouting reports on last week's test match is futile..... Wheres the All blacks are a known quantity to France.
I can kind of understand what they are doing in that their approach takes all the pressure off them.
I heard there are a grand total of 72 caps in this French squad.
I dont care what they are doing - it is incredibly disrespectful to do this. France vs All Blacks is an iconic fixture i. Rugby and they have turned it into a joke.
I really hope that we spank them by 50
Points in the next two tests and tell them donât darken our door again@DaGrubster said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@nonpartizan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@tomk said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Heard France could be making a lot of changes to the team. One french reporter said as many as 10 changes. Hard to believe
So their game plan is to ensure the All Blacks coaches scouting reports on last week's test match is futile..... Wheres the All blacks are a known quantity to France.
I can kind of understand what they are doing in that their approach takes all the pressure off them.
I heard there are a grand total of 72 caps in this French squad.
I dont care what they are doing - it is incredibly disrespectful to do this. France vs All Blacks is an iconic fixture i. Rugby and they have turned it into a joke.
I really hope that we spank them by 50
Points in the next two tests and tell them donât darken our door againTrust me, I don't disagree with you at all.
What it does is not only undermine the fixture and test rugby at large it puts them in a no loss position of they either excuse the loss as it wasnt our best side or they crow about their second string winning.
Their approach takes all the pressure off them but it's unsportsmanlike. I believe the term would be it's not cricket.
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And it allows them to develop depth while devaluing test rugby. It doesn't help that we then can't pump them the way they deserve
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
And it allows them to develop depth while devaluing test rugby. It doesn't help that we then can't pump them the way they deserve
This makes zero sense.
Grrrr how dare they develop depth with these uncapped players! Grrr how dare those inexperienced players be too good for us to beat by more!
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And it allows them to develop depth while devaluing test rugby. It doesn't help that we then can't pump them the way they deserve
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
And it allows them to develop depth while devaluing test rugby. It doesn't help that we then can't pump them the way they deserve
But doesn't it speak volumes about the levels of NZ & French Rugby that we struggle to put away a French development team?
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@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
And it allows them to develop depth while devaluing test rugby. It doesn't help that we then can't pump them the way they deserve
But doesn't it speak volumes about the levels of NZ & French Rugby that we struggle to put away a French development team?
@Victor-Meldrew can remember when full strength All Black teams touring France use to struggle to put away French Divisional teams during the 80s and 90s ..
France have always had depth but issues in and around coaching and selectionThese days the have 30 professional clubs including aligned academyâs
Money also trumps anything we see down here in NZ
