All Blacks 2025
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
His ruck cleaning is very effective. Apart from Vaa'i he's better than every other loose forward in yesterday's 23 at that facet.
He's also a far better lineout option apart from everyone but Vaai.
The only reason why any of Squire, Fifita, Hemopo, Luatua and Ioane didn't become a long term option is because none of them got peservered with like Vaa'i and Frizell did.
Those players were all just as talented but didn't get 4+ years of development like Frizell and Vaa'i.
Finau and Parker are the only guys with the same kind of size and talent at the moment. They both have speed and strength. They both need to be around the squad.
There's too many little guys in there at the moment.
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
His ruck cleaning is very effective. Apart from Vaa'i he's better than every other loose forward in yesterday's 23 at that facet.
He's also a far better lineout option apart from everyone but Vaai.
The only reason why any of Squire, Fifita, Hemopo, Luatua and Ioane didn't become a long term option is because none of them got peservered with like Vaa'i and Frizell did.
Those players were all just as talented but didn't get 4+ years of development like Frizell and Vaa'i.
Finau and Parker are the only guys with the same kind of size and talent at the moment. They both have speed and strength. They both need to be around the squad.
There's too many little guys in there at the moment.
If that is all we have Finau as a back up we are in trouble, hopefully Parker can show something when he is back from injury.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
This is a massive gamble which Joey is taking, if he is not an instant success, I would imagine he hits the exit button and returns to the Roosters. Both codes have changed a lot since SBW and Brad Thorn. There won't be a great deal of media attention on him in France, I don't think he is giving himself enough time.
Joey Manu? I don't think he's in anyone's thoughts.
Joey who ?
Exactly, he’s no SBW, Thorn or even Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
Joey Manu? I don't think he's in anyone's thoughts.
Joey who ?
Exactly, he’s no SBW, Thorn or even Roger Tuivasa-SheckYou mean, they know which position he is best suited for in union from the get-go?!!
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@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
And you replace him with ... ?
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
And you replace him with ... ?
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
And you replace him with ... ?
Parker when fit
Dalton Papali'i Try him at 6 he has the size
Ah Kuoi he is big enough
Howden looks promising
All have more grunt imo. -
I'm more confident now with the ABs than anytime in the last 5 years
Anyone else agree.@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2025:
I'm more confident now with the ABs than anytime in the last 5 years
Anyone else agree.Yeah but it’s a low bar. I had no confidence that they would improve at all under Foster.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
And you replace him with ... ?
Parker when fit
Dalton Papali'i Try him at 6 he has the size
Ah Kuoi he is big enough
Howden looks promising
All have more grunt imo.@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
And you replace him with ... ?
Parker when fit
Dalton Papali'i Try him at 6 he has the size
Ah Kuoi he is big enough
Howden looks promising
All have more grunt imo.On the subject of Dalton, I've gone on record to say if he wants to press his claims for the ABs next season, he should switch to 6 for the Blues. He's a bit slow to be a great 7 but he's a strong guy and could rededicate himself to doing all the physical work from the blindside
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I'm more confident now with the ABs than anytime in the last 5 years
Anyone else agree.@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2025:
I'm more confident now with the ABs than anytime in the last 5 years
Anyone else agree.No. I'm less confident about beating South Africa. Against France A its much the same. Ireland aren't quite the same as they were with Jonny Sexton.
The Pumas with Albernoz seem good for a win now and then
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
Watching the springboks, think they're buying into their own hype and pleasing to see our discipline improve while theirs declines - ABs sans Barretts might even go a game without a card.
You reckon our discipline has improved, or have we just not been put under consistent pressure yet?
@voodoo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
Watching the springboks, think they're buying into their own hype and pleasing to see our discipline improve while theirs declines - ABs sans Barretts might even go a game without a card.
You reckon our discipline has improved, or have we just not been put under consistent pressure yet?
Isn't that a bit like saying you're not saving money, you just haven't had something to spend it on?
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Two weeks in and Wayne Smith involved in coaching group he was in the coaching box Saturday night for all to see.
What is his roll actually thought he had stepped away. -
@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
What is his roll actually thought he had stepped away.
Grand Poobah of rugby.
@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
What is his roll actually thought he had stepped away.
Grand Poobah of rugby.
Guru
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Two weeks in and Wayne Smith involved in coaching group he was in the coaching box Saturday night for all to see.
What is his roll actually thought he had stepped away.@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
Two weeks in and Wayne Smith involved in coaching group he was in the coaching box Saturday night for all to see.
What is his roll actually thought he had stepped away.The KOKO lads interviewed him the other day and he's living in Australia now but is contracted with NZ Rugby to add his two cents for both the ABs and Black Ferns from time to time.
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@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
He's played 10 tests (5 starts) ...
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
He's played 10 tests (5 starts) ...
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
He's played 10 tests (5 starts) ...
Yeah that’s enough
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
He's played 10 tests (5 starts) ...
Yeah that’s enough
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
He's played 10 tests (5 starts) ...
Yeah that’s enough
Good to know what your baseline is for the future.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
He's played 10 tests (5 starts) ...
Yeah that’s enough
Good to know what your baseline is for the future.
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
He's played 10 tests (5 starts) ...
Yeah that’s enough
Good to know what your baseline is for the future.
It's not even umpteen.
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Two weeks in and Wayne Smith involved in coaching group he was in the coaching box Saturday night for all to see.
What is his roll actually thought he had stepped away.@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
Two weeks in and Wayne Smith involved in coaching group he was in the coaching box Saturday night for all to see.
What is his roll actually thought he had stepped away.The fact the ABs box-kicked long, for touch, and got out of the danger area without putting up 50/50s box-kicks in their own half indicates the profs influence on tactics.
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Caleb Clarke gone for at least 8 weeks.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360756955/all-blacks-wing-caleb-clarke-sidelined-eight-weeks-injury
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
His ruck cleaning is very effective. Apart from Vaa'i he's better than every other loose forward in yesterday's 23 at that facet.
He's also a far better lineout option apart from everyone but Vaai.
The only reason why any of Squire, Fifita, Hemopo, Luatua and Ioane didn't become a long term option is because none of them got peservered with like Vaa'i and Frizell did.
Those players were all just as talented but didn't get 4+ years of development like Frizell and Vaa'i.
Finau and Parker are the only guys with the same kind of size and talent at the moment. They both have speed and strength. They both need to be around the squad.
There's too many little guys in there at the moment.
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
His ruck cleaning is very effective. Apart from Vaa'i he's better than every other loose forward in yesterday's 23 at that facet.
He's also a far better lineout option apart from everyone but Vaai.
The only reason why any of Squire, Fifita, Hemopo, Luatua and Ioane didn't become a long term option is because none of them got peservered with like Vaa'i and Frizell did.
Those players were all just as talented but didn't get 4+ years of development like Frizell and Vaa'i.
Finau and Parker are the only guys with the same kind of size and talent at the moment. They both have speed and strength. They both need to be around the squad.
There's too many little guys in there at the moment.
Well Squire was injured (but had 23 tests etc), he looked ok, Hemopo (played at lock) and Luatua went overseas (Luatua was an AB when he signed), and Ioane was probably just too lazy at times.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
He's played 10 tests (5 starts) ...
Yeah that’s enough
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
He's played 10 tests (5 starts) ...
Yeah that’s enough
Like we should have dropped Vaa'i in 2022...
