All Blacks 2025
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
Likewise, AB maul has been weak with him there. TBF that’s a skill which can be taught/learned.
Good point. Watching him against Northland, it was noticeable how his maul defence, even at NPC level, wasn't effective, often losing his bind too easily or not quite getting his body positioning right at the moment of engagement.
Like you say, it's something that can be taught but he probably should be further in his development there.
I was at Twickenham débâcle
Commiserations.
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If Lord does have a weakness in the maul, Ryan and Co are the guys to fix it if it can be fixed. Their teams always seem to be effective at mauling.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
@pakman Not sure how Mafileo's ability to play either side makes much of a difference for trainings?
If that quartet are the starters, Norris and Dyer could oppose them just as well as Norris and Mafileo.
Based on Razor’s interview, Mafileo will also be packing down at LH at training. Something which Dyer isn’t able to do.
I'm no international coach but I struggle to see what there really is to gain from that? What's the need for an additional loosehead at training when you've already got three specialist looseheads in the squad and only two specialist tightheads?
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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.
I actually was a bit more impressed with Tamatai in NH game Woody, probably because I had never seen him, and he really impressed with his snappy pass etc.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@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?
I thought he did last year too, certainly didn't gat a lot for Highlanders this season as well.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
If Lord does have a weakness in the maul, Ryan and Co are the guys to fix it if it can be fixed. Their teams always seem to be effective at mauling.
So Ryan anc Co. can fix mauling, but can't fix pilfering, defence, etc...
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@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?
I thought he did last year too, certainly didn't gat a lot for Highlanders this season as well.
15 games, 13 starts last year. So, no.
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@Mauss said in All Blacks 2025:
I’ve seen some questions around the precise value of Josh Lord and what he brings to the All Blacks so I thought it would be interesting to briefly take a closer look at his profile as a rugby player.
Fake news
I don’t mind that they are giving Lord another chance. There is a skill set there that would fit in with the way we want to attack. On the defensive side, whilst the effort is there we will need to see an improvement in impact.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@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?
I thought he did last year too, certainly didn't gat a lot for Highlanders this season as well.
15 games, 13 starts last year. So, no.
Hell did he get that many, I thought Hastie got more, I need o use fingers and toes to count . Lol
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@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?
I thought he did last year too, certainly didn't gat a lot for Highlanders this season as well.
15 games, 13 starts last year. So, no.
Hell did he get that many, I thought Hastie got more, I need o use fingers and toes to count . Lol
I think you are both talking about different seasons
Hastie definitely started more than 2 games in 2025
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Saw a post on Instagram yesterday from the mythofdmac account showcasing the depth across NZ at the moment. thought i'd chuck it up here for reference of what Razors trying to build.
- just so no one jumps down their back, the criteria was mentioned as adding in capped players before the uncapped.
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Godfrey over Reihana? Whoever wrote this can piss off.
Razor's idea is cool in theory but ultimately he is going to alienate a bunch of players spreading caps to thin. How will players become world class if the caps are being shared around?
We will see higher exodus because of this.
Players will be able to command more money overseas once they can show they're an All Black after one or two caps.
Rassies system only works due to their selection policy allowing overseas selections.
Also I personally don't believe you can build excellence with this approach. What we will end up with is a bunch of mediocre teams.
The forth teams backline would be mediocre even at Super Rugby level.
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'Intimidating', 'fastest in NZ': What Razor sees in the newest ABs squad members
