All Blacks 2025
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For a few of the 10 test players born in Fiji, their AB playing careers have crossed over., but how many tests have the ABs started two players born in Fiji?
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:
For a few of the 10 test players born in Fiji, their AB playing careers have crossed over., but how many tests have the ABs started two players born in Fiji?
Some
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What is current status of injuries?
Some of these fringe players. Some niggly and expected back, but I've lost track.
Off the top of my head:
Williams
Lomax (did he get reinjured?)
Aumua
Barrett
Lord
Darry
Sititi
Jacobsen
Blackadder
Barrett B
Ioane
ClarkeOthers?
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@booboo was just thinking about this! The AB Squad naming mentioned:
Asafo Aumua; Ofa Tu’ungafasi; Sam Darry; Peter Lakai; Stephen Perofeta.
I think I read that Asafo, Sam and Peter were expected back for TRC. Would be astounded if Ofa made it back so soon. Stevie P smacked of chronic injury, so indeterminate recovery?
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
I was going to say Arthur Jennings, but no tests and I don't think the Solomon born in Fiji played any tests either.
There may have been a forward in the 50's or 60's I think. Born in Fiji to NZ parents
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Apparently the squad for the Rugby Championship can be as many as 36 players. It'll be interesting to see who they add who wasn't involved in the France series.
Original squad plus recovered injury exclusions would get you there.
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Overall the French series was a success. New players were tried and we got an idea of what some players have to offer.
Holland was a major win. His combination with Tuipulotu and with Vaa'i there at 6 offered a lot. We saw how dominant the lineout and maul could be in the first half of the second test.
The biggest questions are around who will be the loose forwards and who will be center?
Will Savea be 7 or 8 or will he continue to move around mid game?
Savea, Kirifi, Lio Willie, Lakai and Sititi are all a bit too samey so would hope they make a decision on who to back out of those and pick a bit more variety for the remaining positions.
Would suspect that Savea, Sititi and Finau are the first three named in the squad and that the rest will be selected from there.
Can't see someone like Parker coming in with no test experience and no game time. Suspect he will need to get some games under his belt in the NPC to come under consideration for the EOYT.
Papali'i showed he can offer genuine impact off the bench and he helped us dominate possession for the last 10 minutes. Took a clean lineout on the French 5m line. Made a dominant tackle on Taofifenua. Made strong carries and probably scored a try.
Still Papali'i was only in as injury cover so there is that.
Not sure on the injury status of Jacobson or Blackadder or Lakai but suspect that they will be picking 6 from the following:
Savea, Sititi, Finau, Lakai, Kirifi, Lio-Willie, Papali'i, Jacobson and Blackadder.
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I think the biggest positives to come out of the series were at 6 and lock.
Vaa'i was very good at 6 and will only improve there with more minutes, and Finau is starting to come of age at test level with strong impact off the bench and then his best performance in black in the final test.
Between Holland, Tuiplotu, SBarret, Vaai' and Finau, we have plenty of size and height to fill the 4, 5 and 6 positions to match it with the bigger packs.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
injuries?
Updated
Tu'ungafasi
Williams
Lomax (did he get reinjured?)
Aumua
Barrett
Lord
Darry
Sititi
Jacobsen
Blackadder
Lakai
Parker
Barrett B
Perofeta
Ioane
ClarkeOthers
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I guess Gregor doesn’t read the fern
Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027
New Zealand are a better team, and better placed to triumph in 2027, with 34-year-old Barrett wearing the number 10 jersey.
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i swear i am being gaslit
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Does he have Aderns PR team or something?
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I'm interested in the perspectives of others when it comes to the point of difference our loose forwards bring as individuals.
After his debut season I'm happy for Sititi to come back when fit. But Savea, Kirifi and Lakai (and to a lesser extent Lio-Willie) appear to be much the same.
No doubt Parker will get an opportunity once for, so he can join Finau and Vaai.
I'd like to see Beehre also in that mix as his cameos in the tight were always noticeably positive.
We have the bodies to have an imposing pack, despite the preferences of the coach.
