All Blacks 2025
-
@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
-
-
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)
-
@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
-
-
@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.
-
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"?
-
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
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.
I don't think Ardie played anything special against France.
I'm pleased to see Kirifi get rewarded based on form, but I don't see the difference between him, Ardie and Lakai (except size). Jacobson is (slightly) a bigger body, but why bring in a (perennially injured) lock to cover for him?
Then a proper sized loose forward in Papali'i gets the arse despite his form against France.
None of this makes sense. And no, they don't "want fetchers at 7" because the way we play they aren't chasing from ruck to ruck anyway - those days are gone.
-
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
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"?
Something to do with contracts?
-
Tevita Mafileo in as injury cover over his Canes team mate Numia has me stumped. Numia is a year younger too.
Lord in over Darry has also left me a little confused. They seem to love Lord but I’m yet to see the appeal. He’s better off playing NPC where he can focus on stringing consistent games together imo. Talented and room to grow, yes. Let him play every week in NPC.
Feel for Fakatava, it must simply be they don’t see him as a fit for how they want to play. He has his ups and downs but I felt this season was one of his better ones for awhile, he’s a better player than a lot make out.
Papalii should be in this group imo.
In saying that I’m stoked for Parker, big physical athlete who has the skills to lock down the 6 jersey through till the next World Cup.
I dont see the injury cover guys getting a cap, more just an extra look at them and getting them in the environment which doesn’t hurt I guess. What sort of message does it send to Numia, Fakatava and even a Havili and Papalii? All on the outside looking in as it stands.
Excited to see how this championship unfolds.
-
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
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"?
Who are unavailable for TRC? I thought some are out for beginning, but hoping to get them back in in next few weeks.
