All Blacks 2025

[Kiwiwomble]

@frugby since when does a few passing comments = a meltdown, wild take

[sparky]

How dare any of us question the coaches?

Razor is always right.

[frugby]

@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.

[Stag]

Supposedly they are looking for size and that’s why Parker is there and they played Va’ii at 6. But then they select Lakai, who is far smaller than Blackadder, Grace, Papalii, Lio-Willie etc. Makes very little sense.

[Grooter]

@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

[sparky]

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.

[canefan]

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)

[KiwiMurph]

@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

[SBW1]

[sparky]

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.

[kidcalder]

Surprised Christie has made himself available as I thought he would try to make Scots WC squad as he would be qualified by then.
Better shot there than AB 's WC27

[sparky]

Folau Fakatava could opt to play for Tonga in RWC 2027.

[pakman]

I think we can expect Savea to split his playing minutes between 7 and 8.
If he starts at 8, Sititi on bench, and then RD can move to 7 when Wally comes on.

[Sprig]

Just to trigger the Jaffa's, Gods gift to the Centres isn't considered a centre anymore.

[Stag]

@Grooter the only cantab bias has been between your ears…

[Stag]

This post is deleted!

[brodean]

The elephant in the room is we have 4 Chiefs loose forwards plus Vaa'i in the squad now and they failed to deliver in the quarter this year, the final this year, and multiple other finals over the last few years.

[ploughboy]

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

The elephant in the room is we have 4 Chiefs loose forwards plus Vaa'i in the squad now and they failed to deliver in the quarter this year, the final this year, and multiple other finals over the last few years.

your focus it on wrong positions. we loss final because our reserve props struggled and our back three couldn't catch a bomb. the fact that two of the 3 back three are in this team is what you should be worried about.

[Grooter]

@Stag huh? I was agreeing with your point Stag there's no bias to those from the garden city Ennor, Havili, Bell, Blackadder & now Lio-Willie goneskis.

[antipodean]

One other thing I don't get; if players are unavailable for selection during the TRC, why name them and then bring in "injury cover"?