All Blacks 2025
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
The Team I'd select for Perth
- Williams
- Taylor (c)
- Newell
- Holland
- Tuipulotu
- Parker
- Lakai
- Sititi
- Roigard
- Love
- Clarke
- Tupaea
> 13. J. Barrett - L. Carter
- W. Jordan
- S. Taukei'aho
- O. Norris
- T. Lomax
- T. Vaa'i
- A. Savea
- C. Ratima
- D. McKenzie
- L. Fainga'anuku
Has he ever even played there ?
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% ) -
Does anyone seriously believe the ABs have a chance next week in Perth, given what we saw at Eden Park in Bledisloe I and given the Wallabies will have Valetini and Skelton back? It seems virtually certain the win/lose cycle will continue.
I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling exasperated at the mediocrity of the selection policies and coaching quality of this regime under Scott Robertson. While the team last night had a few good moments, particularly in the first quarter, a lot of that was on the Wallabies’ passive defence. And of course, the ABs got a HUGE hand-up from the incompetent Italian ref in the second half.
With two seasons into Robertson’s rocky reign and one test to go before the Northern Hemisphere tour (who’s feeling nervous about Scotland and Wales?), the ABs still lack cohesion and confidence, while showing no sign they know what game they are trying to play.
Sure, they were better under the high ball at Eden Park and their set-piece was solid, but after the debacle in Wellington against the Boks, they needed to show more than basic competence. There was no fire or energy or focus there. They looked, yet again, like an ADHD teen on PlayStation , doing just enough to win the next round before they go back to the fridge.
A few weeks back, we were enthusing over the embarrassment of front row riches. Now, Lomax looks busted, Williams has still to fire, and we pray that Taylor doesn’t get injured again because after him, nobody can throw straight. As for the loose forwards, the constant chopping and changing there epitomises the lack of coherence or vision in the coaching. It was only a few weeks are go we were saying, ‘yes the backline is crap but at least Ryan has the forwards firing.’ But who can say that with any confidence at this point?
This team is mediocre, relying on its stars, and should have easily put away a Wallaby outfit missing several first choice players in Valetini, Skelton, Lolesio, Wright, and Kellaway. Thank heavens for Roigard last night, though what are the odds on the keystone cops in the coaching panel coaching him out of form as well?
The Wallabies are ranked, what, number six in the world? They have more than their own quota of journeymen. But they play with so much more confidence, intent and self-belief. The difference between them and the ABs is the coaching. Surely, the NZR can see that by now??
I don’t see what changes from here unless there is a clearout of the clueless and incoherent showpony Robertson and his mediocre, yes-man mates. As someone observed last night, the Bledisloe I ‘victory’ just represented a sticking plaster being placed over a gaping wound.
It could get really ugly in Perth.
@His-Bobness said in All Blacks 2025:
This team is mediocre, relying on its stars, and should have easily put away a Wallaby outfit missing several first choice players in Valetini, Skelton, Lolesio, Wright, and Kellaway. Thank heavens for Roigard last night, though what are the odds on the keystone cops in the coaching panel coaching him out of form as well?
If only Noah was playing, we would’ve won by plenty more.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )4% ? thank goodness.
Here I was thinking he was inexperienced at 13.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
The Team I'd select for Perth
- Williams
- Taylor (c)
- Newell
- Holland
- Tuipulotu
- Parker
- Lakai
- Sititi
- Roigard
- Love
- Clarke
- Tupaea
> 13. J. Barrett - L. Carter
- W. Jordan
- S. Taukei'aho
- O. Norris
- T. Lomax
- T. Vaa'i
- A. Savea
- C. Ratima
- D. McKenzie
- L. Fainga'anuku
Has he ever even played there ?
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
The Team I'd select for Perth
- Lakai
- Sititi
Tell me you haven't been paying attention without saying you haven't been paying attention.
- Tupaea
- J. Barrett
Why move Jordie if the problem of his form is solved by replacing his brother at 10?
@antipodean Papalii would be my first choice 7, but he's not with the squad.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@ExiledHalfback said in All Blacks 2025:
Just rewatched the game. The ABs look so rigid. They just don't look comfortable, at least 2 times there's a clear overlap with the line begging but the outside man is ignored. There's no confidence to make the pass. God knows how you fix that.
I saw that too. Was it Roigard who went for the line instead of passing on one ocassion?
Well he did score on one occasion doing that...
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@ExiledHalfback said in All Blacks 2025:
Just rewatched the game. The ABs look so rigid. They just don't look comfortable, at least 2 times there's a clear overlap with the line begging but the outside man is ignored. There's no confidence to make the pass. God knows how you fix that.
I saw that too. Was it Roigard who went for the line instead of passing on one ocassion?
Well he did score on one occasion doing that...
Oh not a criticism. He was arguably the best player
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
think small countries can compete with bigger countries in sport - such as how Jamaica is consistently the biggest rival to the US in sprinting despite having a population of only 3 million.
Jamaica: probably drugs
Definitely drugs.
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
think small countries can compete with bigger countries in sport - such as how Jamaica is consistently the biggest rival to the US in sprinting despite having a population of only 3 million.
Jamaica: probably drugs
Definitely drugs.
Can Nz get them for their outside backs then

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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )This post is like fingers on the blackboard to me. American spelling of centre, calling 2nd 5 inside centre, and calling 1st 5 flyhalf.

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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )@nostrildamus
yeah
1st ⅝, and 2nd ⅝
thanks -
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )This post is like fingers on the blackboard to me. American spelling of centre, calling 2nd 5 inside centre, and calling 1st 5 flyhalf.

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )This post is like fingers on the blackboard to me. American spelling of centre, calling 2nd 5 inside centre, and calling 1st 5 flyhalf.

And who says ‘winger’. It’s 3/4
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Having just rewatched the first half you see just how much that defence is an issue.
1-25 minutes ABs completely dominant, playing great rugby, Australia barely touch the ball, all the rugby played in their half. Score 20-3.
25 - 40 minutes - Aussie on top. The very first time Australia have a sustained attack in the ABs 22 they score. Genuinely it's their very first real attack in the whole game. They score a second try again with the AB defence being weak - shit, non existent tackling.
Australia were able to build a score in the first half comparable to the ABs with just 15:mins worth of attack (compared to 25) because the AB defence was porous. The Aussies actually made the ABs earn their tries - hence why two of their tries were in the corner. Aussie tries were punched over in the middle
Any type of credible defence and the ABs take a 10+ point lead into halftime.
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@ExiledHalfback said in All Blacks 2025:
Just rewatched the game. The ABs look so rigid. They just don't look comfortable, at least 2 times there's a clear overlap with the line begging but the outside man is ignored. There's no confidence to make the pass. God knows how you fix that.
I saw that too. Was it Roigard who went for the line instead of passing on one ocassion?
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@ExiledHalfback said in All Blacks 2025:
Just rewatched the game. The ABs look so rigid. They just don't look comfortable, at least 2 times there's a clear overlap with the line begging but the outside man is ignored. There's no confidence to make the pass. God knows how you fix that.
I saw that too. Was it Roigard who went for the line instead of passing on one ocassion?
The 2 I noted were Vai'i and Tupea I believe. There may have been more.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )This post is like fingers on the blackboard to me. American spelling of centre, calling 2nd 5 inside centre, and calling 1st 5 flyhalf.

And who says ‘winger’. It’s 3/4
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )This post is like fingers on the blackboard to me. American spelling of centre, calling 2nd 5 inside centre, and calling 1st 5 flyhalf.

And who says ‘winger’. It’s 3/4
Wing 3/4 and centre 3/4. Need to differentiate.
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Biggest takeaway of the RC so far is that defences are struggling to cope and possession and territory are king. As it always has been!
@stodders and yet we kick so much possession away.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )This post is like fingers on the blackboard to me. American spelling of centre, calling 2nd 5 inside centre, and calling 1st 5 flyhalf.

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )This post is like fingers on the blackboard to me. American spelling of centre, calling 2nd 5 inside centre, and calling 1st 5 flyhalf.

It irks me when South Africans say "Flank" instead of "Flanker".
Oh, and "eighthman"
As we get older I find it's the little things that really grate.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )This post is like fingers on the blackboard to me. American spelling of centre, calling 2nd 5 inside centre, and calling 1st 5 flyhalf.

It irks me when South Africans say "Flank" instead of "Flanker".
Oh, and "eighthman"
As we get older I find it's the little things that really grate.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )This post is like fingers on the blackboard to me. American spelling of centre, calling 2nd 5 inside centre, and calling 1st 5 flyhalf.

It irks me when South Africans say "Flank" instead of "Flanker".
Oh, and "eighthman"
As we get older I find it's the little things that really grate.
Yes to all three points!
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Are we big enough in the forwards? Our front row is but the Aussies had bigger men running at us from 4-8 and were bending the line on most occasions. Our obsession with mobility and speed in NZ rugby has resulted in us not producing large forwards. I look at the NPC and our loosies are all virtually the same size, sitting around the 110kg mark and our locks aren't massive. We saw what a bigger body like Patty T could do when he came on, and that's where the game is heading now - power and size.
A decade ago, we could rely on our players running the opposition off their feet and our pack, while not being the largest, were always the quickest and most skilled, which gave us an advantage. Now, the opposition is as skilled, as fit and they generally have bigger men than us, while the introduction of impact players means that they will always have fresh forwards to close the game out.
It's not a question of us not being able to produce big guys. We do have the largest PI population in the world so size shouldn't be an issue, it's just that we tend to pick guys to suit the traditional NZ speed game which has always favoured slightly smaller men. Guys like Skelton, LSL, Meafou, the Vunipola brothers, Antonio etc are all NZ born, so we certainly can produce bigger athletes. We just need to start identifying them and bringing them through.
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Are we big enough in the forwards? Our front row is but the Aussies had bigger men running at us from 4-8 and were bending the line on most occasions. Our obsession with mobility and speed in NZ rugby has resulted in us not producing large forwards. I look at the NPC and our loosies are all virtually the same size, sitting around the 110kg mark and our locks aren't massive. We saw what a bigger body like Patty T could do when he came on, and that's where the game is heading now - power and size.
A decade ago, we could rely on our players running the opposition off their feet and our pack, while not being the largest, were always the quickest and most skilled, which gave us an advantage. Now, the opposition is as skilled, as fit and they generally have bigger men than us, while the introduction of impact players means that they will always have fresh forwards to close the game out.
It's not a question of us not being able to produce big guys. We do have the largest PI population in the world so size shouldn't be an issue, it's just that we tend to pick guys to suit the traditional NZ speed game which has always favoured slightly smaller men. Guys like Skelton, LSL, Meafou, the Vunipola brothers, Antonio etc are all NZ born, so we certainly can produce bigger athletes. We just need to start identifying them and bringing them through.
@akan004 said in All Blacks 2025:
Are we big enough in the forwards? Our front row is but the Aussies had bigger men running at us from 4-8 and were bending the line on most occasions. Our obsession with mobility and speed in NZ rugby has resulted in us not producing large forwards. I look at the NPC and our loosies are all virtually the same size, sitting around the 110kg mark and our locks aren't massive. We saw what a bigger body like Patty T could do when he came on, and that's where the game is heading now - power and size.
A decade ago we could rely on our players running the opposition off their feet and our pack, while not being the largest, were always the quickest and most skilled which gave us an advantage. Now the opposition are as skilled, as fit and they generally have bigger men than us, while the introduction of impact players mean that they will always have fresh forwards to close the game out.
It's not a question of us not being able to produce big guys. We do have the largest PI population in the world so size shouldn't be an issue, it's just that we tend to pick guys to suit the traditional NZ speed game which has always favoured slightly smaller men. Guys like Skelton, LSL, Meafou, the Vunipola brothers, Antonio etc are all NZ born so we certainly can produce bigger athletes, we just need to start identifying them and bringing them through.
It's ok, Sititi put on 20kg apparently so he'll be fine
but if they don't have a small mobile player attitude they will be excluded for the non playing myth Luke Jacobson