All Blacks 2025
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
What I struggle with, is a couple of years ago we had a loose trio that spent an entire season bitch slapping every other trio around in Super Rugby, in a style akin to test footy. They also did exactly that in the finals, the matches that are most akin to test footy at that level.
Since then, our biggest problem with the ABs has been our loosies, and these guys have been barely sighted. Akira gave up and went to Japan. Hoskins to his credit has stuck around but has been forced to watch players like Lio-Willie be brought in ahead of him, and Dalton has been kept at arms length and now dropped despite his strong form in SR and recently against France.
My point here isn't that we need to draft Akira, Dalton and Hoskins into the starting side right now (though that wouldn't hurt). My point is that the loose forward selections and tactics from these coaches have been an absolute mess from the get-go. Ignoring form, selecting undersized trios, favouring ineffective workhorses over players that can have an impact, none of it makes any sense and I think it's going to be the undoing of this AB side.
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
What I struggle with, is a couple of years ago we had a loose trio that spent an entire season bitch slapping every other trio around in Super Rugby, in a style akin to test footy. They also did exactly that in the finals, the matches that are most akin to test footy at that level.
Since then, our biggest problem with the ABs has been our loosies, and these guys have been barely sighted. Akira gave up and went to Japan. Hoskins to his credit has stuck around but has been forced to watch players like Lio-Willie be brought in ahead of him, and Dalton has been kept at arms length and now dropped despite his strong form in SR and recently against France.
My point here isn't that we need to draft Akira, Dalton and Hoskins into the starting side right now (though that wouldn't hurt). My point is that the loose forward selections and tactics from these coaches have been an absolute mess from the get-go. Ignoring form, selecting undersized trios, favouring ineffective workhorses over players that can have an impact, none of it makes any sense and I think it's going to be the undoing of this AB side.
Which loose forward trio are you referring to?
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@WoodysRFC said in All Blacks 2025:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Was really impressed last year when he deputised when Roigard was out but maybe it’s just me
Don't get me wrong mate, he was pretty handy, just I don't really think he is a real high level 9. That is the case with a bloody lot of good players we got in the country, and absolutely no insult to them. I think perhaps Viljoen could evelop a snappier pass, and pick his times to break or angle he runs, he tends to get isolated at times. Once again that's not real bad, and these things could come to round him off as a top level 9.
Seems a bit harsh, was my POD against Harbour, he's young and has a higher ceiling than the likes of Preston etc, although probably will be overtaken by Jai Tamati anyway.
Why does he have a higher ceiling? Yet another bit part canes player selected to the universe XV that would crush the world XV.
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So Jacobson will not be travelling to Argentina.
That makes the loosie options raw af. Even if Vaa'i is selected there he's still relatively inexperienced at 6.
Well trial by fire I guess against Kremer, Matera and Gonzalez etc. Pumas are strong in that area. They'll look to disrupt our loose forwards and halfback.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@WoodysRFC said in All Blacks 2025:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Was really impressed last year when he deputised when Roigard was out but maybe it’s just me
Don't get me wrong mate, he was pretty handy, just I don't really think he is a real high level 9. That is the case with a bloody lot of good players we got in the country, and absolutely no insult to them. I think perhaps Viljoen could evelop a snappier pass, and pick his times to break or angle he runs, he tends to get isolated at times. Once again that's not real bad, and these things could come to round him off as a top level 9.
Seems a bit harsh, was my POD against Harbour, he's young and has a higher ceiling than the likes of Preston etc, although probably will be overtaken by Jai Tamati anyway.
Why does he have a higher ceiling? Yet another bit part canes player selected to the universe XV that would crush the world XV.
I'm completely neutral in this discussion, as a Highlanders supporter, but apologies if I hurt your feelings. He's a 21 year old, early in his career, who in his limited opportunities has bossed players considerably more experienced than he is. Preston is 26 and in his first season, and was immediately moved to the bench once Hotham was fit and healthy.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
Tevita Mafileo in as injury cover over his Canes team mate Numia has me stumped. Numia is a year younger too.
He is a replacement for Lomax, a TH prop.
George Bower (33, Crusaders / Otago, 23) for Tamaiti Williams
Tevita Mafileo (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, ) for Tyrel Lomax
Josh Lord (24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 7) for Luke Jacobson
Finlay Christie (29, Blues / Ta$man, 23) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Kyle Preston (25, Crusaders / Wellington, ) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Leroy Carter (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, ) for Caleb ClarkeThanks. I was unaware he can play both sides. I guess that makes a bit more sense
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Finley Christie's continued selection is troubling. Kyle Preston offers something different, I guess but Folau Fakatava and Xavier Roe are better players. Weird that Josh Lord (who is injured) gets picked ahead of Sam Darry who isn't.
Fakatave struggles to get start with Hawkes Bay.
What round are we in again?
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
How dare any of us question the coaches?
Razor is always right.
Anyone can question Razor and the selections, just not you, because you are always wrong…..
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Preston looked good early season, and did all he could to lose the final, terrible kicking.
Also wasn't most of the early season chat about his running game? Across the season his kicking was poor and he got rattled easily
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Preston looked good early season, and did all he could to lose the final, terrible kicking.
I quite like Preston’s game. He just needs to listen to Smithy and shelve the box kick a bit. He’s a different sort of player to Cortez and Christie which I think is important in offering variety at 9.
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@WoodysRFC said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@WoodysRFC said in All Blacks 2025:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Was really impressed last year when he deputised when Roigard was out but maybe it’s just me
Don't get me wrong mate, he was pretty handy, just I don't really think he is a real high level 9. That is the case with a bloody lot of good players we got in the country, and absolutely no insult to them. I think perhaps Viljoen could evelop a snappier pass, and pick his times to break or angle he runs, he tends to get isolated at times. Once again that's not real bad, and these things could come to round him off as a top level 9.
Seems a bit harsh, was my POD against Harbour, he's young and has a higher ceiling than the likes of Preston etc, although probably will be overtaken by Jai Tamati anyway.
Why does he have a higher ceiling? Yet another bit part canes player selected to the universe XV that would crush the world XV.
I'm completely neutral in this discussion, as a Highlanders supporter, but apologies if I hurt your feelings. He's a 21 year old, early in his career, who in his limited opportunities has bossed players considerably more experienced than he is. Preston is 26 and in his first season, and was immediately moved to the bench once Hotham was fit and healthy.
No feelings hurt, I was just asking the question...as a highlanders supporter
I've definitely missed the bossing though.
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Personally think there's the bones of a really good squad here, though the injury coverage definitely raises a few eyebrows.
I'm not surprised (nor hugely disheartened) that Christie is in the squad. Don't think there's any point in throwing out first caps willy nilly to young halfbacks when Roigard, Hotham and Ratima will all be expected to make the 2027 World Cup. I imagine that if only one of that trio had been injured, Preston would have received the call-up over Christie (although I'm not necessarily convinced he's the future either).
Front row remains strong. Suspect George Dyer is injured otherwise he would've been called up ahead of Mafileo.
Darry has played almost no rugby for 12 months so makes sense for him to get some more minutes under his belt before bringing him back into the fold and Lord is a known entity.
Glad to see Parker in the loosie mix. Knowing who was selected in the initial July squad, there aren't really any surprises here (i.e. the injury cover players have dropped out). Would personally have Papali'i in there ahead of Kirifi (or even Blackadder) but otherwise fairly consistent.
Backs are pretty much unchanged. Don't mind seeing Carter in there as injury cover, more just as a reward for a decent Super season, but can't imagine he'll actually get on the field.
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
How would Tom Christie go at All Black level?
He’s too big for this crop of loose forwards….
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
How would Tom Christie go at All Black level?
He’s too big for this crop of loose forwards….
Heads don't count!
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
Personally think there's the bones of a really good squad here, though the injury coverage definitely raises a few eyebrows.
I'm not surprised (nor hugely disheartened) that Christie is in the squad. Don't think there's any point in throwing out first caps willy nilly to young halfbacks when Roigard, Hotham and Ratima will all be expected to make the 2027 World Cup. I imagine that if only one of that trio had been injured, Preston would have received the call-up over Christie (although I'm not necessarily convinced he's the future either).
Front row remains strong. Suspect George Dyer is injured otherwise he would've been called up ahead of Mafileo.
Darry has played almost no rugby for 12 months so makes sense for him to get some more minutes under his belt before bringing him back into the fold and Lord is a known entity.
Glad to see Parker in the loosie mix. Knowing who was selected in the initial July squad, there aren't really any surprises here (i.e. the injury cover players have dropped out). Would personally have Papali'i in there ahead of Kirifi (or even Blackadder) but otherwise fairly consistent.
Backs are pretty much unchanged. Don't mind seeing Carter in there as injury cover, more just as a reward for a decent Super season, but can't imagine he'll actually get on the field.
Tamaiti Williams is out for Pumas 1, and Lomax won’t travel. Mafileo can play either side, which helps with training.
I expect EDG, Bower, Fletch and Tosi to play first game.
