All Blacks 2025
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
How the fuck did combover win so many SR titles?
Four of the loose forwards are effectively carbon copies of each other.
Richie McCaw. Dan Carter.
both left the saders before razors time.....
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I’ve just watch Tupou Vaa’i put in some of the better back to back performances we’ve seen and Ardie Savea play great rugby back at openside, yet people are moaning about the loose forward mix?
Sititi was great last year, deservedly comes back in and gets a go at 8. Parker, who was everyone’s favourite bolter also comes in presumably as the backup 8.
Kirifi, who many wanted to be given a chance, is retained, and Lakai, who went past Papalii last year, and by most accounts is a very special player returns from injury.
Squabbling about Sotutu (and Akira Ioane!) is a waste of time. They want fetchers at 7, and Papalii isn’t that.
Jacobson possibly fortunate, but on paper he shapes as the last picked loosie anyway. This meltdown is crazy.
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If you think this is a meltdown, then you've never seen the Fern in full on meltdown time.
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How dare any of us question the coaches?
Razor is always right.
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@Kiwiwomble People are moaning for moaning sake - it’s boring. The loosies went well against France, and the only changes are the addition of Parker and Lakai.
Papalii was only ever there as cover, as I say they want a fetcher at 7, and he is not that. The things Papalii did well, don’t compliment the rest of the trio.
I think the big positive is the coaches have actually identified what they want each position to do, they clearly want a huge blindside who is a lineout option (Vaa’i, Parker & Finau), a fetcher at 7, and a ball playing eight.
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@Stag yep no overwhelming cantab bias this season. Last year social media did go into rage when Fihaki and Bell were around the team. Truth is Taylor, Williams, Newell, Barrett & Jordan obviously in our best 23. Preston gets in as cover ok but he's just cover. Reece well here's hoping 1 of the chiefs wingers can leap ahead of him
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If the coaches think Dalton Papalii isn't a fetcher, then coach him to be a fetcher. To dismiss him as "not a fetcher" shows a closed mindset.
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Reminds me of the Wayne Smith ABs, and also the Mitchell Blacks. They tried to play fast and wide, but IIRC we were undone by teams that took us to task up the guts. If the Lions series suggested anything, it's the importance of the collision area and the breakdown (surprise surprise)
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
If the coaches think Dalton Papalii isn't a fetcher, then coach him to be a fetcher. To dismiss him as "not a fetcher" shows a closed mindset.
Perhaps they tried that last year when he was in the squad and it didn't take
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On the positive side, I think Simon Parker has the potential to play several Tests for the ABs and Leroy Carter is a raw talent. I am intrigued to see how they go if selected in a Test 23.
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Folau Fakatava could opt to play for Tonga in RWC 2027.
