All Blacks 2025
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Sparky's 37 for the Rugby Championship (what I'd pick, not what I think it will be and obviously some guys will drop out if their injuries don't heal in time)
Tamati Williams
Ethan de Groot
Ollie Norris
Tyrell Lomax
Fletcher Newell
Pasilio TosiCodie Taylor
Asafo Aumua
Samisoni Taukei'ahoScott Barrett (c)
Tupou Vaa'i
Patrick Tuipolutu
Fabian Holland
Sam DarrySimon Parker (New Cap)
Samipeni Finau
Ardie Savea
Dalton Papalii
Christian Lio-Willie
Wallace SititiCam Roigard
Cortez Ratima
Noah HothamBeauden Barrett
Damien McKenzie
Rivez Reihana (New Cap)Jordie Barrett
Quinn Tupaea
Timoci Tavatavanawai
Billy Proctor
Anton Leinert-BrownReiko Ioane
Caleb Clarke
Emoni Narawa
Sevu ReeceWill Jordan
Ruben LoveOn Standby:
George Bower, Brodie McAlister, Josh Beehre, Peter Lakai, Folau Fakatava, AJ Lam, Leroy Carter
Not considered: Ofa Tu'ungafasi (out for the season), Caleb Tangitau (needs to show form and fitness), Leicester Fainga'anuku (needs to show some form back in NZ), Riley Higgins (this world ain't ready yet)
@sparky would do Jacobson and Lakai over Papali'i and Lio-Willie, and assuming everyone is fit, Lord over Darry. Otherwise, no arguments from me. Don't think Reihana will make the cut just yet, with another loosie selected in his place, but would like to see him involved.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
According to Wikipedia: Peter Lakai is 186cm and 108 kg. The same sauce claims CL-W is 189 cm and 111 kg.
The eye test thoroughly disagrees. And you really need to stop placing such reliance on AI and Wiki...
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
According to Wikipedia: Peter Lakai is 186cm and 108 kg. The same sauce claims CL-W is 189 cm and 111 kg.
The eye test thoroughly disagrees. And you really need to stop placing such reliance on AI and Wiki...
Agree ! Lio Willie standing next to Kirifi proves that he must be around 182 - 184 cm high. I can't see how he could weigh more than 105 kgs.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
But Savea, Kirifi and Lakai (and to a lesser extent Lio-Willie) appear to be much the same.
can't agree with this point because Savea continues to be an enigma.
The ruck attendance stats posted in the other thread don't seem to match the eye test so i would be interest as to how many of those he arrived at 3rd and leaned on. He absolutely cleaned a couple later in the test, memorable for their exception.
But he's getting picked, he's playing 80, and he is going to do his own thing. The bigger question is what shirt should he wear?The other 3 are small busy loose forwards without a real point of difference.
With Vaai and Finau playing the dirty stuff, Savea doing his thing, what do we need from the #8? Is it purely a worker? If so, then that guy can't be another smaller body, he needs to make a difference when contact is required.
I tell you what, a Finau, Savea, Vaai starting trio with Sititi off the bench would be tough to handle.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
But Savea, Kirifi and Lakai (and to a lesser extent Lio-Willie) appear to be much the same.
can't agree with this point because Savea continues to be an enigma.
The ruck attendance stats posted in the other thread don't seem to match the eye test so i would be interest as to how many of those he arrived at 3rd and leaned on. He absolutely cleaned a couple later in the test, memorable for their exception.
But he's getting picked, he's playing 80, and he is going to do his own thing. The bigger question is what shirt should he wear?The other 3 are small busy loose forwards without a real point of difference.
With Vaai and Finau playing the dirty stuff, Savea doing his thing, what do we need from the #8? Is it purely a worker? If so, then that guy can't be another smaller body, he needs to make a difference when contact is required.
I tell you what, a Finau, Savea, Vaai starting trio with Sititi off the bench would be tough to handle.
sevea should wear a jersey with S on the back,cos he fits no description of a position
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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.
I agree Robertson learned a lot and expanded the talent pool. Just hope he learned enough to get us closer to an established midfield and loose trio.
And the 10 spot is still problematic - at some stage we need to bite the bullet and give someone other than DMac and BB a decent opportunity
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Big Fletch has signed a new contract.
https://twitter.com/allblacks/status/1948111765797027875?s=46
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
Lakai I see as a 7 with utility value. CLW as an undersized 8.
Yeah I can't see how Lakai doesn't make the squad. He's got plenty of experience at both 7 and 8 versus Lio-Willie and Kirifi who only really cover one position.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
Lakai I see as a 7 with utility value. CLW as an undersized 8.
Yeah I can't see how Lakai doesn't make the squad. He's got plenty of experience at both 7 and 8 versus Lio-Willie and Kirifi who only really cover one position.
@Canes4life But of the three Peter Lakai is the one who is yet to be trusted in a Test starting XV for the All Blacks.
He's a talent, he's versatile and time is on his side, but I don't quite see him as good enough yet at either 7 or 8 for the ABs. I think Peter Lakai will develop into a world-class player for the All Blacks, but he's not there yet.
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@sparky would do Jacobson and Lakai over Papali'i and Lio-Willie, and assuming everyone is fit, Lord over Darry. Otherwise, no arguments from me. Don't think Reihana will make the cut just yet, with another loosie selected in his place, but would like to see him involved.
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@Canes4life But of the three Peter Lakai is the one who is yet to be trusted in a Test starting XV for the All Blacks.
He's a talent, he's versatile and time is on his side, but I don't quite see him as good enough yet at either 7 or 8 for the ABs. I think Peter Lakai will develop into a world-class player for the All Blacks, but he's not there yet.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life But of the three Peter Lakai is the one who is yet to be trusted in a Test starting XV for the All Blacks.
He's a talent, he's versatile and time is on his side, but I don't quite see him as good enough yet at either 7 or 8 for the ABs. I think Peter Lakai will develop into a world-class player for the All Blacks, but he's not there yet.
The fact he hasn't started a test isn't his fault. If he were to start in a test, I'd imagine he wouldn't let the jersey down. He pretty much played a full game against a stronger French side last year away and didn't look out of place.
If you think Lio-Willie and Kirifi are good enough to play test rugby, then Lakai is even more suited in my opinion. If Lakai was fit, Kirfi or Lio-Willie probably wouldn't have got that opportunity so 'trust' isn't an issue for Lakai. He played pretty much a full season at 7 for the Canes in 2024 and almost a full season at 8 for the Canes this year and definitely looked the goods. The fact he can play both positions to a high standard puts him in a good place in terms of selection.
Razor and co will want to get him back in the environment considering he'll likely be a big piece of the puzzle come RWC 2027. Out all the other loosies, Lakai probably would be the most suited to provide 'impact' off the bench' due to his explosiveness.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life But of the three Peter Lakai is the one who is yet to be trusted in a Test starting XV for the All Blacks.
He's a talent, he's versatile and time is on his side, but I don't quite see him as good enough yet at either 7 or 8 for the ABs. I think Peter Lakai will develop into a world-class player for the All Blacks, but he's not there yet.
The fact he hasn't started a test isn't his fault. If he were to start in a test, I'd imagine he wouldn't let the jersey down. He pretty much played a full game against a stronger French side last year away and didn't look out of place.
If you think Lio-Willie and Kirifi are good enough to play test rugby, then Lakai is even more suited in my opinion. If Lakai was fit, Kirfi or Lio-Willie probably wouldn't have got that opportunity so 'trust' isn't an issue for Lakai. He played pretty much a full season at 7 for the Canes in 2024 and almost a full season at 8 for the Canes this year and definitely looked the goods. The fact he can play both positions to a high standard puts him in a good place in terms of selection.
Razor and co will want to get him back in the environment considering he'll likely be a big piece of the puzzle come RWC 2027. Out all the other loosies, Lakai probably would be the most suited to provide 'impact' off the bench' due to his explosiveness.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life But of the three Peter Lakai is the one who is yet to be trusted in a Test starting XV for the All Blacks.
He's a talent, he's versatile and time is on his side, but I don't quite see him as good enough yet at either 7 or 8 for the ABs. I think Peter Lakai will develop into a world-class player for the All Blacks, but he's not there yet.
The fact he hasn't started a test isn't his fault. If he were to start in a test, I'd imagine he wouldn't let the jersey down. He pretty much played a full game against a stronger French side last year away and didn't look out of place.
If you think Lio-Willie and Kirifi are good enough to play test rugby, then Lakai is even more suited in my opinion. If Lakai was fit, Kirfi or Lio-Willie probably wouldn't have got that opportunity so 'trust' isn't an issue for Lakai. He played pretty much a full season at 7 for the Canes in 2024 and almost a full season at 8 for the Canes this year and definitely looked the goods. The fact he can play both positions to a high standard puts him in a good place in terms of selection.
Razor and co will want to get him back in the environment considering he'll likely be a big piece of the puzzle come RWC 2027. Out all the other loosies, Lakai probably would be the most suited to provide 'impact' off the bench' due to his explosiveness.
Get him in the squad, give him game time, let him (hopefully) realise his potential. Stick with Lio-Willie and Kirifi and they'll get to the World Cup wishing they had better players. The All Blacks have a few place holders at the moment. I'd much rather they pick guys with promise and see if they can get them to the required level. Robertson talked about being more bold in his selections. Time to really go for it.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life But of the three Peter Lakai is the one who is yet to be trusted in a Test starting XV for the All Blacks.
He's a talent, he's versatile and time is on his side, but I don't quite see him as good enough yet at either 7 or 8 for the ABs. I think Peter Lakai will develop into a world-class player for the All Blacks, but he's not there yet.
The fact he hasn't started a test isn't his fault. If he were to start in a test, I'd imagine he wouldn't let the jersey down. He pretty much played a full game against a stronger French side last year away and didn't look out of place.
If you think Lio-Willie and Kirifi are good enough to play test rugby, then Lakai is even more suited in my opinion. If Lakai was fit, Kirfi or Lio-Willie probably wouldn't have got that opportunity so 'trust' isn't an issue for Lakai. He played pretty much a full season at 7 for the Canes in 2024 and almost a full season at 8 for the Canes this year and definitely looked the goods. The fact he can play both positions to a high standard puts him in a good place in terms of selection.
Razor and co will want to get him back in the environment considering he'll likely be a big piece of the puzzle come RWC 2027. Out all the other loosies, Lakai probably would be the most suited to provide 'impact' off the bench' due to his explosiveness.
Get him in the squad, give him game time, let him (hopefully) realise his potential. Stick with Lio-Willie and Kirifi and they'll get to the World Cup wishing they had better players. The All Blacks have a few place holders at the moment. I'd much rather they pick guys with promise and see if they can get them to the required level. Robertson talked about being more bold in his selections. Time to really go for it.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life But of the three Peter Lakai is the one who is yet to be trusted in a Test starting XV for the All Blacks.
He's a talent, he's versatile and time is on his side, but I don't quite see him as good enough yet at either 7 or 8 for the ABs. I think Peter Lakai will develop into a world-class player for the All Blacks, but he's not there yet.
The fact he hasn't started a test isn't his fault. If he were to start in a test, I'd imagine he wouldn't let the jersey down. He pretty much played a full game against a stronger French side last year away and didn't look out of place.
If you think Lio-Willie and Kirifi are good enough to play test rugby, then Lakai is even more suited in my opinion. If Lakai was fit, Kirfi or Lio-Willie probably wouldn't have got that opportunity so 'trust' isn't an issue for Lakai. He played pretty much a full season at 7 for the Canes in 2024 and almost a full season at 8 for the Canes this year and definitely looked the goods. The fact he can play both positions to a high standard puts him in a good place in terms of selection.
Razor and co will want to get him back in the environment considering he'll likely be a big piece of the puzzle come RWC 2027. Out all the other loosies, Lakai probably would be the most suited to provide 'impact' off the bench' due to his explosiveness.
Get him in the squad, give him game time, let him (hopefully) realise his potential. Stick with Lio-Willie and Kirifi and they'll get to the World Cup wishing they had better players. The All Blacks have a few place holders at the moment. I'd much rather they pick guys with promise and see if they can get them to the required level. Robertson talked about being more bold in his selections. Time to really go for it.
Yeah and when you factor in Lakai's age (only 22) he's got a lot of growth still in him. He's already played a lot of rugby, he's been influential in two NPC titles, he's been one of the better performing Canes players over the past two seasons and I only see him getting better.
You compare his build to when Ardie was the same age and he is certainly more suited to test rugby. I guess when you combine Ghanaian and Tongan genes you are likely to get a solid athlete. I'd say he will be around the 110kg+ mark come the RWC in 2027.
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Joey Manu and Kalyn Ponga
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Well yeah Williams is literally a big gun.
There is a lot of hype around Sititi but having won zero tests against SA or France or Argentina he doesn't qualify as a big gun yet. He's still finding his feet at this level really.
He looked very tentative this year for the Chiefs. Not sure how much of his games he was playing through injuries but young players with a handful of caps can't be expected to rock back up into test rugby with zero game time and perform like a legendary test veteran.
