All Blacks 2025

MN5

@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2025:

@ploughboy said in All Blacks 2025:

@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2025:

@stodders said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@stodders said in All Blacks 2025:

I don't think dominant tackles is necessarily the issue. The ABs lack real ball carriers. Someone to punch holes and bend the defensive line. All of Read, Collins and Kaino could hit a ball up with venom. Who are the bruising ball carriers in the AB team right now that teams need to commit a couple of tacklers in order to subdue?

Sami? Sititi last year. Clarke if he is selected. His knees are weapons.

Samisoni is one, though he hasn't been as explosive so far this year.

Sititi uses his footwork more than his brawn to breach the gain line.

Clarke is a good strike weapon, granted.

Is that it? Va'ai is lightweight as a carrier, Holland has potential, Patty T is missed, T Williams when on form can carry, as can Tosi. Jordie Barrett shows glimpses of it, but it isn't his strength. Ioane can carry well at 13. That is not enough IMO.

To compare, Boks have the following ball carriers in their team: Marx, Etzebeth/de Jager/Snyman, Kolisi, PSDT, Wiese, DDA/Esterhuizen, Hooker.

I know ABs play a different kind of game, but if you allow a team with that many ball carriers possession and momentum, you're going to be battered into submission.

@stodders said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@stodders said in All Blacks 2025:

I don't think dominant tackles is necessarily the issue. The ABs lack real ball carriers. Someone to punch holes and bend the defensive line. All of Read, Collins and Kaino could hit a ball up with venom. Who are the bruising ball carriers in the AB team right now that teams need to commit a couple of tacklers in order to subdue?

Sami? Sititi last year. Clarke if he is selected. His knees are weapons.

Samisoni is one, though he hasn't been as explosive so far this year.

Sititi uses his footwork more than his brawn to breach the gain line.

Clarke is a good strike weapon, granted.

Is that it? Va'ai is lightweight as a carrier, Holland has potential, Patty T is missed, T Williams when on form can carry, as can Tosi. Jordie Barrett shows glimpses of it, but it isn't his strength. Ioane can carry well at 13. That is not enough IMO.

To compare, Boks have the following ball carriers in their team: Marx, Etzebeth/de Jager/Snyman, Kolisi, PSDT, Wiese, DDA/Esterhuizen, Hooker.

I know ABs play a different kind of game, but if you allow a team with that many ball carriers possession and momentum, you're going to be battered into submission.

Because we’re not selecting the larger enforcer type players.

Going off super rugby page stats, so give it take a kilo or two and a cm or two:
Height wise: only two of the in the top 10 tallest loose forwards have been selected (Va’ai and Parker, take out Va’ai, it’s one).

Weight wise: three - Va’ai, Parker, Finau (and Finau is actually on the shorter side

can you list the 10 tallest
finau is 1.97 so wouldnt call him on shorter side.
im all for picking bigger loose forwards

@ploughboy said in All Blacks 2025:

@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2025:

@stodders said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@stodders said in All Blacks 2025:

I don't think dominant tackles is necessarily the issue. The ABs lack real ball carriers. Someone to punch holes and bend the defensive line. All of Read, Collins and Kaino could hit a ball up with venom. Who are the bruising ball carriers in the AB team right now that teams need to commit a couple of tacklers in order to subdue?

Sami? Sititi last year. Clarke if he is selected. His knees are weapons.

Samisoni is one, though he hasn't been as explosive so far this year.

Sititi uses his footwork more than his brawn to breach the gain line.

Clarke is a good strike weapon, granted.

Is that it? Va'ai is lightweight as a carrier, Holland has potential, Patty T is missed, T Williams when on form can carry, as can Tosi. Jordie Barrett shows glimpses of it, but it isn't his strength. Ioane can carry well at 13. That is not enough IMO.

To compare, Boks have the following ball carriers in their team: Marx, Etzebeth/de Jager/Snyman, Kolisi, PSDT, Wiese, DDA/Esterhuizen, Hooker.

I know ABs play a different kind of game, but if you allow a team with that many ball carriers possession and momentum, you're going to be battered into submission.

@stodders said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@stodders said in All Blacks 2025:

I don't think dominant tackles is necessarily the issue. The ABs lack real ball carriers. Someone to punch holes and bend the defensive line. All of Read, Collins and Kaino could hit a ball up with venom. Who are the bruising ball carriers in the AB team right now that teams need to commit a couple of tacklers in order to subdue?

Sami? Sititi last year. Clarke if he is selected. His knees are weapons.

Samisoni is one, though he hasn't been as explosive so far this year.

Sititi uses his footwork more than his brawn to breach the gain line.

Clarke is a good strike weapon, granted.

Is that it? Va'ai is lightweight as a carrier, Holland has potential, Patty T is missed, T Williams when on form can carry, as can Tosi. Jordie Barrett shows glimpses of it, but it isn't his strength. Ioane can carry well at 13. That is not enough IMO.

To compare, Boks have the following ball carriers in their team: Marx, Etzebeth/de Jager/Snyman, Kolisi, PSDT, Wiese, DDA/Esterhuizen, Hooker.

I know ABs play a different kind of game, but if you allow a team with that many ball carriers possession and momentum, you're going to be battered into submission.

Because we’re not selecting the larger enforcer type players.

Going off super rugby page stats, so give it take a kilo or two and a cm or two:
Height wise: only two of the in the top 10 tallest loose forwards have been selected (Va’ai and Parker, take out Va’ai, it’s one).

Weight wise: three - Va’ai, Parker, Finau (and Finau is actually on the shorter side

can you list the 10 tallest
finau is 1.97 so wouldnt call him on shorter side.
im all for picking bigger loose forwards

Says Finau is 193cm on the ABs page.
Top 10 tallest:
Va’ai: 198
Parker:197
Delaney: 197
Haig: 197
Ah Khoi: 196
Saufua: 196
Saifolio: 195
Howden: 195
Wrampling: 194
Grace: 194

Top 10 heaviest (weights to be taken with a grain of salt imo):
Saifoloi: 120
Va’ai: 118
Parker: 117
Ah Kuoi: 116
Saufua: 116
Finau: 115
Haig: 114
Delaney: 114
Wrampling: 114
Dalton: 113
> Sititi: 113

Don’t forget he was 93kg last year supposedly

upthelanders

@pakman this has to be a joke right?

Bovidae

@jimmyb Finau is 118 kg. He said so in a post-match interview during SR.

Canes4life

Razor will be super stoked our saviour is returning from injury.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360826208/all-blacks-top-halfback-cam-rogard-make-comeback-injury-npc

Full list of ABs playing NPC this week:

Taranaki: Josh Lord

Counties Manukau: Cam Roigard

Auckland: Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane

Wellington: Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Ruben Love

Ta$man: Leicester Fainga'anuku

Waikato: Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Anton Lienert-Brown

Otago: George Bower

Bay of Plenty: Pasilio Tosi

Bovidae

Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.

taniwharugby

Cory Jane Criticizes All Blacks’ High-Ball Technique After Springboks Defeat

Former All Blacks star Cory Jane has voiced concern over New Zealand’s high-ball performance, describing the team’s aerial technique as “sloppy” following their recent loss to the Springboks.

Jane, a 2011 World Cup winner and one of rugby’s most reliable high-ball specialists during his 55-Test career, now coaches defense and aerial contests at the Hurricanes. He explained that while the game has evolved with more contestable kicks due to law changes, the core fundamentals of catching remain unchanged.

“The way I always try to train our boys here is to get nice and square, get your knee in front to protect you, but also to get separation from the chaser. If you let them into your airspace, it’s a genuine 50/50,” Jane told Sport Nation.

He highlighted that many current players jump off one leg, leaving them vulnerable to onrushing chasers. Against South Africa, he noted Damian McKenzie and others were jumping with the wrong knee forward, which compromised their protection.

“I just think for all the glove work, or bubble as they used to call it, protecting the catcher, the technique’s got sloppy. We need to get back to having better technique in the air, to catch more than we drop,” Jane said.

Jane emphasized that confidence is crucial in aerial battles, recalling how the All Blacks of his era built a reputation that unsettled opponents. But he warned that without sharper skills, today’s team risks losing those contests.

He also pointed out the tactical shift in defensive setups, where playmakers are increasingly exposed under the high ball. In the Springboks clash, Beauden and Jordie Barrett swapped positions in the backfield to manage pressure, with Jordie often taking the deeper role.

“There are ways you can get around it, but the reality is the majority of 10s have to catch high balls these days,” Jane concluded.

#AllBlacks #Springboks #CoryJane #RugbyUnion #RugbyAnalysis #URC

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MV8eiKU97/

KiwiMurph

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:

Auckland: Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane

Will be interesting where Rieko plays. Presumably Clarke will play 11 - will Rieko play 13 or 14 (or bench)

reprobate

@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

Why the flying fuck do they persist with Beauden Barrett at First Five?

His game management is atrocious these days.

BB was actually quite good in first 60. But we need a closer rather than a joker for the difficult games.

It took BB about 7 minutes into the game to throw a loopy pass in his own in-goal, putting Proctor under immense pressure for zero possible gain.
He was shit.

edit to add: then in the 8th minute, samisoni good counterruck, next runner a bit isolated and savea turnover, quick ball, mckenzie wide pass - to beauden with a 3 on 2. hates an overlap. decides to kick. decides that too late. partially charged. just horrible.
2nd edit: 14th minute, 3 men outside him with mckenzie hitting the line at pace, no SA defence, and the cover 10m back... BB hates an overlap, takes the tackle. this one was so bad that both commentators called him out on it.

canefan

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:

@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

Why the flying fuck do they persist with Beauden Barrett at First Five?

His game management is atrocious these days.

BB was actually quite good in first 60. But we need a closer rather than a joker for the difficult games.

It took BB about 7 minutes into the game to throw a loopy pass in his own in-goal, putting Proctor under immense pressure for zero possible gain.
He was shit.

I don't think he can help himself. But clearly this is what Razor wants, otherwise surely he would be dropped for all this recidivist Harlem Globetrotter shit?

No Quarter

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:

Razor will be super stoked our saviour is returning from injury.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360826208/all-blacks-top-halfback-cam-rogard-make-comeback-injury-npc

Full list of ABs playing NPC this week:

Taranaki: Josh Lord

Counties Manukau: Cam Roigard

Auckland: Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane

Wellington: Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Ruben Love

Ta$man: Leicester Fainga'anuku

Waikato: Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Anton Lienert-Brown

Otago: George Bower

Bay of Plenty: Pasilio Tosi

Boo, I agreed with @Chris, send EVERY single AB back to NPC this weekend (including the captains) and tell them if they don't perform to standard then they won't be considered for selection. There has to be some consequence to that embarrassing shit show they served up!

Jet

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:

Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.

Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.

Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.

Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.

canefan

@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:

Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.

Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.

Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.

Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.

I don't see the harm in switching him in for ALB, who IMHO is cooked

brodean

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:

Cory Jane Criticizes All Blacks’ High-Ball Technique After Springboks Defeat

Former All Blacks star Cory Jane has voiced concern over New Zealand’s high-ball performance, describing the team’s aerial technique as “sloppy” following their recent loss to the Springboks.

Jane, a 2011 World Cup winner and one of rugby’s most reliable high-ball specialists during his 55-Test career, now coaches defense and aerial contests at the Hurricanes. He explained that while the game has evolved with more contestable kicks due to law changes, the core fundamentals of catching remain unchanged.

“The way I always try to train our boys here is to get nice and square, get your knee in front to protect you, but also to get separation from the chaser. If you let them into your airspace, it’s a genuine 50/50,” Jane told Sport Nation.

He highlighted that many current players jump off one leg, leaving them vulnerable to onrushing chasers. Against South Africa, he noted Damian McKenzie and others were jumping with the wrong knee forward, which compromised their protection.

“I just think for all the glove work, or bubble as they used to call it, protecting the catcher, the technique’s got sloppy. We need to get back to having better technique in the air, to catch more than we drop,” Jane said.

Jane emphasized that confidence is crucial in aerial battles, recalling how the All Blacks of his era built a reputation that unsettled opponents. But he warned that without sharper skills, today’s team risks losing those contests.

He also pointed out the tactical shift in defensive setups, where playmakers are increasingly exposed under the high ball. In the Springboks clash, Beauden and Jordie Barrett swapped positions in the backfield to manage pressure, with Jordie often taking the deeper role.

“There are ways you can get around it, but the reality is the majority of 10s have to catch high balls these days,” Jane concluded.

#AllBlacks #Springboks #CoryJane #RugbyUnion #RugbyAnalysis #URC

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MV8eiKU97/

Another reason to move Love to 10

brodean

Ive seen a number of photos of Finau standing next to Vaa'i and they look the same height with Finau looking a bit heavier.

canefan

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:

Cory Jane Criticizes All Blacks’ High-Ball Technique After Springboks Defeat

Former All Blacks star Cory Jane has voiced concern over New Zealand’s high-ball performance, describing the team’s aerial technique as “sloppy” following their recent loss to the Springboks.

Jane, a 2011 World Cup winner and one of rugby’s most reliable high-ball specialists during his 55-Test career, now coaches defense and aerial contests at the Hurricanes. He explained that while the game has evolved with more contestable kicks due to law changes, the core fundamentals of catching remain unchanged.

“The way I always try to train our boys here is to get nice and square, get your knee in front to protect you, but also to get separation from the chaser. If you let them into your airspace, it’s a genuine 50/50,” Jane told Sport Nation.

He highlighted that many current players jump off one leg, leaving them vulnerable to onrushing chasers. Against South Africa, he noted Damian McKenzie and others were jumping with the wrong knee forward, which compromised their protection.

“I just think for all the glove work, or bubble as they used to call it, protecting the catcher, the technique’s got sloppy. We need to get back to having better technique in the air, to catch more than we drop,” Jane said.

Jane emphasized that confidence is crucial in aerial battles, recalling how the All Blacks of his era built a reputation that unsettled opponents. But he warned that without sharper skills, today’s team risks losing those contests.

He also pointed out the tactical shift in defensive setups, where playmakers are increasingly exposed under the high ball. In the Springboks clash, Beauden and Jordie Barrett swapped positions in the backfield to manage pressure, with Jordie often taking the deeper role.

“There are ways you can get around it, but the reality is the majority of 10s have to catch high balls these days,” Jane concluded.

#AllBlacks #Springboks #CoryJane #RugbyUnion #RugbyAnalysis #URC

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MV8eiKU97/

Another reason to move Love to 10

A reason to get CJ in to coach high kick receptions

MN5

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:

Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.

Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.

Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.

Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.

> I don't see the harm in switching him in for ALB, who IMHO is cooked

The fact he could theoretically get 100 test caps doesn’t sit well with me

canefan

@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:

Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.

Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.

Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.

Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.

> I don't see the harm in switching him in for ALB, who IMHO is cooked

The fact he could theoretically get 100 test caps doesn’t sit well with me

The corporate walahs think it will make great telly....

nostrildamus

Ok I read enough of Jane's explanations to think he'd make a useful AB skills coach.

nostrildamus

If SB has lower back issues that explains quite a bit, and possibly some of the scrum issues. No lock should be playing in the ABs with lower back frailties.

taniwharugby

@nostrildamus even if he isn't, his insight is going to be superior to what we have currently which looks like maybe chucking up a few bombs for the lads to catch uncontested.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks 2025