2025 All Blacks v France series
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I thought DMac played a solid game on the weekend. His kicking game was much stronger than BBs, he just didn't have much x factor. I don't mind that, and I'd like to see him get a run with Roigard and the top team
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I thought DMac played a solid game on the weekend. His kicking game was much stronger than BBs, he just didn't have much x factor. I don't mind that, and I'd like to see him get a run with Roigard and the top team
The backline didn’t look as smooth with DMac at 10, particularly the out the back plays close to the line that opened up the French defence so well, looked noticeably disjointed in this test.
The tries scored were not nearly as well constructed as in the previous tests. The grubber that resulted in Kirifis try was a dirt poor option that was made to look good by the French 15 fumbling it and Reece stripping it. The ALB try didn’t scream the smooth and well constructed out the back plays we saw in the previous two tests either. No real excuses for Dmac with a 9,11,13 combo he was very familiar with.
Dmac has also been targeted under the high ball and it’s a clear vulnerability in the ABs backfield. The Crusaders did it in the final and the international teams will target him.
But we’re stuck between rock and a hard place with Barrett and McKenzie. Either Love or someone else has to step up
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@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I thought DMac played a solid game on the weekend. His kicking game was much stronger than BBs, he just didn't have much x factor. I don't mind that, and I'd like to see him get a run with Roigard and the top team
The backline didn’t look as smooth with DMac at 10, particularly the out the back plays close to the line that opened up the French defence so well, looked noticeably disjointed in this test.
The tries scored were not nearly as well constructed as in the previous tests. The grubber that resulted in Kirifis try was a dirt poor option that was made to look good by the French 15 fumbling it and Reece stripping it. The ALB try didn’t scream the smooth and well constructed out the back plays we saw in the previous two tests either. No real excuses for Dmac with a 9,11,13 combo he was very familiar with.
Dmac has also been targeted under the high ball and it’s a clear vulnerability in the ABs backfield. The Crusaders did it in the final and the international teams will target him.
But we’re stuck between rock and a hard place with Barrett and McKenzie. Either Love or someone else has to step up
@jimmyb said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I thought DMac played a solid game on the weekend. His kicking game was much stronger than BBs, he just didn't have much x factor. I don't mind that, and I'd like to see him get a run with Roigard and the top team
But we’re stuck between rock and a hard place with Barrett and McKenzie. Either Love or someone else has to step up
I’d like to see them give Love (given he’s the options they have in squad right now) significant game time throughout the Rugby Championship, introducing him from the bench with more and more minutes each game as the tournament goes on and eventually starting, until it’s clear whether or not he’s the best option going forward. No point in mucking around with Barrett for another two years.
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@jimmyb said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I thought DMac played a solid game on the weekend. His kicking game was much stronger than BBs, he just didn't have much x factor. I don't mind that, and I'd like to see him get a run with Roigard and the top team
But we’re stuck between rock and a hard place with Barrett and McKenzie. Either Love or someone else has to step up
I’d like to see them give Love (given he’s the options they have in squad right now) significant game time throughout the Rugby Championship, introducing him from the bench with more and more minutes each game as the tournament goes on and eventually starting, until it’s clear whether or not he’s the best option going forward. No point in mucking around with Barrett for another two years.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@jimmyb said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I thought DMac played a solid game on the weekend. His kicking game was much stronger than BBs, he just didn't have much x factor. I don't mind that, and I'd like to see him get a run with Roigard and the top team
But we’re stuck between rock and a hard place with Barrett and McKenzie. Either Love or someone else has to step up
I’d like to see them give Love (given he’s the options they have in squad right now) significant game time throughout the Rugby Championship, introducing him from the bench with more and more minutes each game as the tournament goes on and eventually starting, until it’s clear whether or not he’s the best option going forward. No point in mucking around with Barrett for another two years.
Agreed. Neither Barrett nor McKenzie are capable of winning a team a World Cup
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@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I thought DMac played a solid game on the weekend. His kicking game was much stronger than BBs, he just didn't have much x factor. I don't mind that, and I'd like to see him get a run with Roigard and the top team
The backline didn’t look as smooth with DMac at 10, particularly the out the back plays close to the line that opened up the French defence so well, looked noticeably disjointed in this test.
The tries scored were not nearly as well constructed as in the previous tests. The grubber that resulted in Kirifis try was a dirt poor option that was made to look good by the French 15 fumbling it and Reece stripping it. The ALB try didn’t scream the smooth and well constructed out the back plays we saw in the previous two tests either. No real excuses for Dmac with a 9,11,13 combo he was very familiar with.
Dmac has also been targeted under the high ball and it’s a clear vulnerability in the ABs backfield. The Crusaders did it in the final and the international teams will target him.
But we’re stuck between rock and a hard place with Barrett and McKenzie. Either Love or someone else has to step up
@jimmyb to be fair, DMax was playing with the B team, no wonder it was clunky. I'm not totally convinced either, but he needs a decent run with the top team to see if he can lift his level. Starting BB is just wasting opportunities to look at other prospects
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@jimmyb to be fair, DMax was playing with the B team, no wonder it was clunky. I'm not totally convinced either, but he needs a decent run with the top team to see if he can lift his level. Starting BB is just wasting opportunities to look at other prospects
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@jimmyb to be fair, DMax was playing with the B team, no wonder it was clunky. I'm not totally convinced either, but he needs a decent run with the top team to see if he can lift his level. Starting BB is just wasting opportunities to look at other prospects
Exactly that, it's a shit call to say he had as good an opportunity as BB, when a vastly different team was rolled out. BB had the benefit of having DMac in his backline too...
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I'd go so far as to say it's shit management by the All Black coaches to not do a little mix and match across the three games so no particular Test you could say one was full strength. You want to see how players go when substituted in with considerable first choice experience around them. To see if they're the weak link or could be a multiplier.
I'm starting to believe that they're little more than fucking idiots.
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I'd go so far as to say it's shit management by the All Black coaches to not do a little mix and match across the three games so no particular Test you could say one was full strength. You want to see how players go when substituted in with considerable first choice experience around them. To see if they're the weak link or could be a multiplier.
I'm starting to believe that they're little more than fucking idiots.
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
You want to see how players go when substituted in with considerable first choice experience around them.
You could argue they did do that if you look at Holland at lock, Proctor at 13, Vaai at 6 and Lio Willie at 8.
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Holland looks like the find of the series, he has the size, has the tools, and will only get better. As they were explaining on the rugby pod, the best thing is that his play suits a player like Patty T perfectly, so PT could put his focus on ball running a bit more as Holland was doing heaps of cleaning.
The pod were also talking up Kirifi - apparently very very high for cleaning, and they were making a similar argument that his work at the ruck was helping save Finau's legs so that he could also get the most out of his running game. Apparently, he had 80% gainline and of those 90% were 'super' fast ball.
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Thought Love looked really good at fullback and would like to see him persisted with there in the first team, with Jordan on the right wing (and probably Caleb Clarke on the left, if everyone's available). There aren't any dud games this year with no trip to Japan and I don't think Love has quite done enough at 10 for the Canes yet to justify his selection there for the All Blacks against top opposition. Let Love play 10 for the Hurricanes regularly next year then shift him there for NZ if he steps up.
Also think Hotham did enough with his time on the field to justify a few more games off the bench behind Roigard. Still not sure Hotham has the passing game to be an international halfback but we haven't exactly seen the goods from Ratima lately either.
Lienert-Brown's defence is very underrated. He got his timing wrong once or twice in this Test but also hasn't played for a little while, so his judgement will be slightly off. Happy to stick with Proctor in the first team but would also like to see Lienert-Brown get some good minutes at 13 throughout the TRC.
First-choice backline for me:
Roigard, Barrett (prefer McKenzie but resigned to the fact that Razor loves Barrett), Clarke, Barrett, Proctor, Jordan, Love. Reserves: Hotham, McKenzie, Tupaea/Ioane. -
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
You want to see how players go when substituted in with considerable first choice experience around them.
You could argue they did do that if you look at Holland at lock, Proctor at 13, Vaai at 6 and Lio Willie at 8.
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
You want to see how players go when substituted in with considerable first choice experience around them.
You could argue they did do that if you look at Holland at lock, Proctor at 13, Vaai at 6 and Lio Willie at 8.
I would argue that's a post facto justification and a pretty poor one.
Holland starting was admittedly a big call that would be covered by Vaai moving back to lock and Finau coming into blindside if it didn't work. It did and there's very little jeopardy in keeping him there for the series.
Proctor had to be given time at 13. Again, the big surprise is they gave him another chance. Then removed an opportunity to let him continue to improve and cement himself.
Lio-Willie proved to be an adequate stopgap.
Then there's the rest of the squad...
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Holland looks like the find of the series, he has the size, has the tools, and will only get better. As they were explaining on the rugby pod, the best thing is that his play suits a player like Patty T perfectly, so PT could put his focus on ball running a bit more as Holland was doing heaps of cleaning.
The pod were also talking up Kirifi - apparently very very high for cleaning, and they were making a similar argument that his work at the ruck was helping save Finau's legs so that he could also get the most out of his running game. Apparently, he had 80% gainline and of those 90% were 'super' fast ball.
@gt12 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Holland looks like the find of the series, he has the size, has the tools, and will only get better. As they were explaining on the rugby pod, the best thing is that his play suits a player like Patty T perfectly, so PT could put his focus on ball running a bit more as Holland was doing heaps of cleaning.
The pod were also talking up Kirifi - apparently very very high for cleaning, and they were making a similar argument that his work at the ruck was helping save Finau's legs so that he could also get the most out of his running game. Apparently, he had 80% gainline and of those 90% were 'super' fast ball.
I posted this table in the Blues thread when talking about Papali’i but it applies pretty well here too, so I’ll post it again.
While you could spin it in a positive way, I suppose, Holland looked like he was already digging deep into his reserves quite early in the game. It was impressive how he kept finding energy to get up and clean, again and again, but the coaches should really manage his workload or I suspect he’ll burn out somewhere during the Rugby Championship. Tuipulotu didn't look right at all, to me. I wouldn't be surprised if he was playing through an injury.
Kirifi really came to life at the breakdown in the second half but he was struggling to impose himself during the first. It was noticeable how his timing at the attacking ruck was off, which meant that he would struggle to shift the bigger French bodies.
To me, Finau looks and plays more like a number 8. Strong carrier of the ball, great offensive instincts and vision, broad skillset both in the lineout and in open play. He’s like what Scott Robertson hoped that Cullen Grace would be but then without being folded every time he carries the ball up from kick return while also being a much better defender.
That being said, I would've liked to have seen Finau at 6 alongside Savea and Lio-Willie. I think that's more balanced than Kirifi and Savea.
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@gt12 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Holland looks like the find of the series, he has the size, has the tools, and will only get better. As they were explaining on the rugby pod, the best thing is that his play suits a player like Patty T perfectly, so PT could put his focus on ball running a bit more as Holland was doing heaps of cleaning.
The pod were also talking up Kirifi - apparently very very high for cleaning, and they were making a similar argument that his work at the ruck was helping save Finau's legs so that he could also get the most out of his running game. Apparently, he had 80% gainline and of those 90% were 'super' fast ball.
I posted this table in the Blues thread when talking about Papali’i but it applies pretty well here too, so I’ll post it again.
While you could spin it in a positive way, I suppose, Holland looked like he was already digging deep into his reserves quite early in the game. It was impressive how he kept finding energy to get up and clean, again and again, but the coaches should really manage his workload or I suspect he’ll burn out somewhere during the Rugby Championship. Tuipulotu didn't look right at all, to me. I wouldn't be surprised if he was playing through an injury.
Kirifi really came to life at the breakdown in the second half but he was struggling to impose himself during the first. It was noticeable how his timing at the attacking ruck was off, which meant that he would struggle to shift the bigger French bodies.
To me, Finau looks and plays more like a number 8. Strong carrier of the ball, great offensive instincts and vision, broad skillset both in the lineout and in open play. He’s like what Scott Robertson hoped that Cullen Grace would be but then without being folded every time he carries the ball up from kick return while also being a much better defender.
That being said, I would've liked to have seen Finau at 6 alongside Savea and Lio-Willie. I think that's more balanced than Kirifi and Savea.
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Did you watch / hear the rugbypod?
They provided slightly different data to yours and focused on first or second to the breakdown for Holland and Kirifi. I'm interested in how it stacks up against the stuff you presented.
@gt12 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Did you watch / hear the rugbypod?
They provided slightly different data to yours and focused on first or second to the breakdown for Holland and Kirifi. I'm interested in how it stacks up against the stuff you presented.
No, I haven't, I'll take a listen. My numbers for the attacking ruck arrivals are very rudimentary: I just look at each breakdown and take note of who the cleaners are. It doesn't take into account the quality of the clean (although I do sometimes write down when the clean was poor) or who arrives first.
Speaking of stats, there's certainly value in looking at things yourself. I was just looking at some numbers from the U20 World Cup and comparing the stats from RugbyPass (I think they use Opta?) and the SA Rugby match centre (they use a service called 'Stratus', which I haven't heard of).
These are the numbers given by both for the metres carried for the NZ U20 back five in the U20 World Cup final against South Africa.
Perhaps they use different criteria - total metres vs. post-contact perhaps? - but it still makes very little sense that someone like Woodley has carried the ball for either 8 or 82 metres (I'd have no idea how Woodley would've gotten 74 pre-contact metres so it doesn't make a lot of sense, either way).
All of this just to say, rugby statistics still have some way to go and it's probably best to look at things yourself if you really want to make your mind up.
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@gt12 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Did you watch / hear the rugbypod?
They provided slightly different data to yours and focused on first or second to the breakdown for Holland and Kirifi. I'm interested in how it stacks up against the stuff you presented.
No, I haven't, I'll take a listen. My numbers for the attacking ruck arrivals are very rudimentary: I just look at each breakdown and take note of who the cleaners are. It doesn't take into account the quality of the clean (although I do sometimes write down when the clean was poor) or who arrives first.
Speaking of stats, there's certainly value in looking at things yourself. I was just looking at some numbers from the U20 World Cup and comparing the stats from RugbyPass (I think they use Opta?) and the SA Rugby match centre (they use a service called 'Stratus', which I haven't heard of).
These are the numbers given by both for the metres carried for the NZ U20 back five in the U20 World Cup final against South Africa.
Perhaps they use different criteria - total metres vs. post-contact perhaps? - but it still makes very little sense that someone like Woodley has carried the ball for either 8 or 82 metres (I'd have no idea how Woodley would've gotten 74 pre-contact metres so it doesn't make a lot of sense, either way).
All of this just to say, rugby statistics still have some way to go and it's probably best to look at things yourself if you really want to make your mind up.
@Mauss said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Mauss said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
My numbers for the attacking ruck arrivals are very rudimentary: I just look at each breakdown and take note of who the cleaners are. It doesn't take into account the quality of the clean (although I do sometimes write down when the clean was poor) or who arrives first.
Here's the opta numbers for the full match if you're interested:
Attacking Ruck Arrival Carries/Carry Metres Linebreaks/Defenders beaten Holland 44 14/56m 0/1 Tuipulotu 23 16/61m 0/0 Finau (65mins) 16 15/82m 0/1 Kirifi 39 10/43m 1/2 Savea 23 21/132m 0/6 - - - - Papali'i (15mins) 11 4/30m 0/1 Carry metres are quite different?
Any other opta numbers you want me to post?
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@Mauss said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Mauss said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
My numbers for the attacking ruck arrivals are very rudimentary: I just look at each breakdown and take note of who the cleaners are. It doesn't take into account the quality of the clean (although I do sometimes write down when the clean was poor) or who arrives first.
Here's the opta numbers for the full match if you're interested:
Attacking Ruck Arrival Carries/Carry Metres Linebreaks/Defenders beaten Holland 44 14/56m 0/1 Tuipulotu 23 16/61m 0/0 Finau (65mins) 16 15/82m 0/1 Kirifi 39 10/43m 1/2 Savea 23 21/132m 0/6 - - - - Papali'i (15mins) 11 4/30m 0/1 Carry metres are quite different?
Any other opta numbers you want me to post?
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Holland looks like the find of the series, he has the size, has the tools, and will only get better. As they were explaining on the rugby pod, the best thing is that his play suits a player like Patty T perfectly, so PT could put his focus on ball running a bit more as Holland was doing heaps of cleaning.
The pod were also talking up Kirifi - apparently very very high for cleaning, and they were making a similar argument that his work at the ruck was helping save Finau's legs so that he could also get the most out of his running game. Apparently, he had 80% gainline and of those 90% were 'super' fast ball.
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@gt12 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
'super' fast ball.
Which is better?
SQB or ultra quick ball?
Are both SQB and UQB quicker than very quick ball?
And is just plain or garden variety quick ball a relic from the 4 point try days?
@booboo said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@gt12 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
'super' fast ball.
Which is better?
SQB or ultra quick ball?
Are both SQB and UQB quicker than very quick ball?
And is just plain or garden variety quick ball a relic from the 4 point try days?
Just don't let Marshall call the ball a nut in this instance.
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@Mauss said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Mauss said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
My numbers for the attacking ruck arrivals are very rudimentary: I just look at each breakdown and take note of who the cleaners are. It doesn't take into account the quality of the clean (although I do sometimes write down when the clean was poor) or who arrives first.
Here's the opta numbers for the full match if you're interested:
Attacking Ruck Arrival Carries/Carry Metres Linebreaks/Defenders beaten Holland 44 14/56m 0/1 Tuipulotu 23 16/61m 0/0 Finau (65mins) 16 15/82m 0/1 Kirifi 39 10/43m 1/2 Savea 23 21/132m 0/6 - - - - Papali'i (15mins) 11 4/30m 0/1 Carry metres are quite different?
Any other opta numbers you want me to post?
@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Mauss said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Mauss said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
My numbers for the attacking ruck arrivals are very rudimentary: I just look at each breakdown and take note of who the cleaners are. It doesn't take into account the quality of the clean (although I do sometimes write down when the clean was poor) or who arrives first.
Here's the opta numbers for the full match if you're interested:
Attacking Ruck Arrival Carries/Carry Metres Linebreaks/Defenders beaten Holland 44 14/56m 0/1 Tuipulotu 23 16/61m 0/0 Finau (65mins) 16 15/82m 0/1 Kirifi 39 10/43m 1/2 Savea 23 21/132m 0/6 - - - - Papali'i (15mins) 11 4/30m 0/1 Carry metres are quite different?
Any other opta numbers you want me to post?
These look like the stats they showed, they also had first or second to the breakdown (if you happen to have it?).
For ruck speed do they connect that with the carrier - that was the secondary argument for Finau’s carrying (theirs, not mine). They said he had 80% gainline and of those 90% were super/ultra fast ball. Is it easy to see if that is provided? This was the core of Gipper’s argument.
The argument (theirs, not mine) is that these loose forwards and locks achieved balance via different guys focusing on different roles.
