All Blacks 2025
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@nonpartizan
All NFL fans will know who both the coach, and the GM of their team is.
I follow the Bills, Brandon Beane is their GM, super smart guy, always a great interview. A better interview than the coach (McDermott).Of course as time goes on, Razor’s continuing input will mean the team becomes more and more his team.
I would say most current contracts will run out by the end of 27; and after that, if Razor is still around, it’ll be 100% his team.In olden times a new coach would come in with a clean slate, no legacy contracts then.
Back then the convenor of selectors (usually 3) was the coach, so the coach always got the team he wanted.The SR club coaches are the talent scouts.
They put their team lists together, and then they go to the GM and his team.
The GM team then play some tetris, and squeeze the players into the budgets.
That then is the AB roster.Chris Lendrum, GM Professional Rugby & Performance, had a few other interesting things to say which I may as well add.
Even seems to have a bit of an input into the style of rugby the ABs play.
Does not want the ABs to play a more basic style like the Saffers, wants to retain the more expansive style as a point of AB difference, a point of excellence.
Seems to think that the 1 point loss in the WCF indicates they are not that far off the mark.Thinks that Springboks success with the use of overseas players is down to the simple game plan they are implementing. Making it easier to integrate disparate players.
They get in trouble when they try a more elaborate game strategy.
He feels that the style that the ABs want to play will require a more close-knit set-up, so no overseas players.
Interesting that the style of play is the decisive factor in selecting overseas players, or not.Also, was fascinated to hear him say that he has absolutely no issue with SR Aupiki girls playing NRLW.
Says the competitions are “complementary.”
I don’t have an issue either, but to hear the key man in NZ pro rugby say it was interesting.
How times have changed.Said 19 pro teams was too many in NZ domestic rugby. But had a take on it that I hadn’t considered before.
Said 5 cities had 2 pro teams, which did not make sense.
Almost seemed like he was saying that if there was a change; Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury Otago PUs would be merged with the SR clubs.
Which kinda does make sense. As I recall it may have been like that at the start of SR.Likes the idea of a SR draft, for entertainment and commercial reasons at least. Everybody likes the hype of a draft. Need to get the selection criteria sorted.
That was a 2025 interview.
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2025:
@nonpartizan
All NFL fans will know who both the coach, and the GM of their team is.
I follow the Bills, Brandon Beane is their GM, super smart guy, always a great interview. A better interview than the coach (McDermott).Of course as time goes on, Razor’s continuing input will mean the team becomes more and more his team.
I would say most current contracts will run out by the end of 27; and after that, if Razor is still around, it’ll be 100% his team.In olden times a new coach would come in with a clean slate, no legacy contracts then.
Back then the convenor of selectors (usually 3) was the coach, so the coach always got the team he wanted.The SR club coaches are the talent scouts.
They put their team lists together, and then they go to the GM and his team.
The GM team then play some tetris, and squeeze the players into the budgets.
That then is the AB roster.Chris Lendrum, GM Professional Rugby & Performance, had a few other interesting things to say which I may as well add.
Even seems to have a bit of an input into the style of rugby the ABs play.
Does not want the ABs to play a more basic style like the Saffers, wants to retain the more expansive style as a point of AB difference, a point of excellence.
Seems to think that the 1 point loss in the WCF indicates they are not that far off the mark.Thinks that Springboks success with the use of overseas players is down to the simple game plan they are implementing. Making it easier to integrate disparate players.
They get in trouble when they try a more elaborate game strategy.
He feels that the style that the ABs want to play will require a more close-knit set-up, so no overseas players.
Interesting that the style of play is the decisive factor in selecting overseas players, or not.Also, was fascinated to hear him say that he has absolutely no issue with SR Aupiki girls playing NRLW.
Says the competitions are “complementary.”
I don’t have an issue either, but to hear the key man in NZ pro rugby say it was interesting.
How times have changed.Said 19 pro teams was too many in NZ domestic rugby. But had a take on it that I hadn’t considered before.
Said 5 cities had 2 pro teams, which did not make sense.
Almost seemed like he was saying that if there was a change; Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury Otago PUs would be merged with the SR clubs.
Which kinda does make sense. As I recall it may have been like that at the start of SR.Likes the idea of a SR draft, for entertainment and commercial reasons at least. Everybody likes the hype of a draft. Need to get the selection criteria sorted.
That was a 2025 interview.
Regarding the girls I would assume it is of benefit having the girls play RL because it keeps them playing football outside of the season. They are still in a pro sport environment, keeping fit and making money etc.
Regarding the unions, how much sense would it make to expand SR by a few teams from the NPC and then have those spots decided by promotion/relegation? I doubt it's feasible but you could definitely make an argument that the talent exists in NZ rugby to have an additional one or two teams in super.
Look at it this way, Fiji came dead last and no Aussie teams have won the comp in forever.
The comp could be improved with 1-2 more NZ teams as long as the talent was spread out relatively evenly.
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Btw, one of the advantages that NZR has with a centralized system imo (and I've no idea to what extent that this is used) is the capacity to harvest data on players.
If the tech exists and the budget you could have so much data on players in the system, down to this like which players have run the most in games this past week? Who has the best acceleration, who has been lifting the most etc. You could get so much data, especially on younger players that would help you evaluate their potential.
I'd think of it as similar to the advantages that the old Eastern bloc counties had in the Olympics in the sense that the athletes were essentially state employees and their entire training program, diets (and talent ID even) could be micromanaged to the nth degree. A centralized system enables an attention to detail that a free and open system does not.
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Haven’t heard a lot but know this for end of year tour. Mostly common knowledge I think.
Narawa is unavailable, injury worse than thought so out for rest of 2025.
Lomax out for rest of 2025.
Vaa’i out for rest of 2025.
Hotham out for rest of 2025.
B. Barrett will be back and Tavatavanawai should be back.
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Haven’t heard a lot but know this for end of year tour. Mostly common knowledge I think.
Narawa is unavailable, injury worse than thought so out for rest of 2025.
Lomax out for rest of 2025.
Vaa’i out for rest of 2025.
Hotham out for rest of 2025.
B. Barrett will be back and Tavatavanawai should be back.
@Landers92 Is Ollie Norris available?
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Is Luke Jacobson fit?
@family-man Jacobson wasn't on the injury list when the team was named for last weekend's game.
@Landers92 I'm not sure there will be many changes to the squad as it is right now, even with those players out injured. The replacements will be the same guys used already as injury cover in those positions, i.e, Carter was an injury replacement for Clarke. Now he just takes Narawa's spot.
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Relative to the two Bledisloe cup games - I have developed this theory that BB has been a great asset in the first half of games but a significant impediment to good second half performances this year. I thought it was observable that BB played significantly better in the first half of games this season, in fact he seems to be one of the best ABs in the first 20 minutes of games. Maybe the best. He's great in the first 20 and a big part of the reason why the ABs start games so well .
However, his play seems to massively deteriorate in the second half and he appears to indulge heavily in the most aimless of kicking. His game management is just not there.
The three second halves that he has missed (all due to injury) have all seen the ABs play better than their efforts in that first half and/or consolidate/improve their position from the first half. The other game that he missed a significant chunk of the match in the 2H was the loss in Argie and I think the ABs stepped up a gear when he was subbed.
I really think there is some sense in playing him for the first half then pulling him off at or just after halftime. He can create and be productive for 40 minutes or so but he can't manage a game after that, it's just not how he plays.
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Relative to the two Bledisloe cup games - I have developed this theory that BB has been a great asset in the first half of games but a significant impediment to good second half performances this year. I thought it was observable that BB played significantly better in the first half of games this season, in fact he seems to be one of the best ABs in the first 20 minutes of games. Maybe the best. He's great in the first 20 and a big part of the reason why the ABs start games so well .
However, his play seems to massively deteriorate in the second half and he appears to indulge heavily in the most aimless of kicking. His game management is just not there.
The three second halves that he has missed (all due to injury) have all seen the ABs play better than their efforts in that first half and/or consolidate/improve their position from the first half. The other game that he missed a significant chunk of the match in the 2H was the loss in Argie and I think the ABs stepped up a gear when he was subbed.
I really think there is some sense in playing him for the first half then pulling him off at or just after halftime. He can create and be productive for 40 minutes or so but he can't manage a game after that, it's just not how he plays.
Yeah he can't reliably focus beyond 60 minutes at best. Hes better suited to the bench rather than starting. Vaa'i is the same.
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Yeah, kinda three parts.
The NZ and Super components plus the assembly fees (match payments you could call them).
They get paid the components whether the play or not. And the assembly fees if they get selected.
For a player on a SR level deal, the AB assembly fees would be a very nice pay boost.
But for a player on an AB level contract, not so much. Their meat will be in the components.The whole AB set up seems to be modelled on the way an NFL team is put together.
It’s the GM (Chris Lendrum) who puts the roster together.
Then they bring in a coach (Robertson) and he brings in his assistants.
Attack coach, D coach, then the position coaches; forwards and backs.
And they do their thing, Robertson co-ordinating. Just like in the NFL.
The coach has only an indirect effect on the roster, he has to use what he is given.All NZR contracted players must be available for the Black teams.
There are 100's of them if you include PU players, so quite a big player pool.
Probably the biggest contracted player pool of any team, in any football code, in the world.
They must have some sort of spreadsheet at NZR HQ.Lendrum has signed 17 of the 23 players who played in the 23WCF.
So that’s the core thru to 27.JB was signed thru to 28.
He looks like the premier signing, and he's playing like it.
Lendrum will be pleased, he got JB paid (by Leinster) and he's come back into the fold, and playing great.
The perfect scenario.
A win/win.The GM is doing a financial balancing act at the top.
You have to be careful, or you'll be stuck with a big, fat, useless contract (ala Rashford).
He's mitigating NZR financial risks by increasing the use of sabbaticals, and giving veteran players the chance to have a nice earner.
Get used to it.If the AB coach wants to go outside that NZ pool, then he has to go whining to the GM.
That's where the Mounga thing is at now.
The GM and Mounga conversating, and the GM not just chattering with Mounga either.
Get used to it.Heard an interview with Lendrum a while ago. Talking about Sam Cane at Suntory.
He’s injured, and you could almost hear the sigh of relief in his voice; that that was Suntory’s problem not his!And heard some gossip about an NFL GM who had just signed his QB to a massive long-term deal.
He then said quietly to one of his colleagues NOW WE ARE FUCKED.
The QB market had forced him into the huge deal, but he knew that this particular QB was never going to win them a SB, and now they were stuck with him!
We sure don’t want that type of thing to happen. -
Haven’t heard a lot but know this for end of year tour. Mostly common knowledge I think.
Narawa is unavailable, injury worse than thought so out for rest of 2025.
Lomax out for rest of 2025.
Vaa’i out for rest of 2025.
Hotham out for rest of 2025.
B. Barrett will be back and Tavatavanawai should be back.
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
Haven’t heard a lot but know this for end of year tour. Mostly common knowledge I think.
Narawa is unavailable, injury worse than thought so out for rest of 2025.
Lomax out for rest of 2025.
Vaa’i out for rest of 2025.
Hotham out for rest of 2025.
B. Barrett will be back and Tavatavanawai should be back.
Don't think Hotham's prognosis had been confirmed, that'll be disappointing for him.
Shame about Barrett too.
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Is Luke Jacobson fit?
@family-man said in All Blacks 2025:
Is Luke Jacobson fit?
Yes. He has played for Waikato when released, and I wouldn't be surprised if Jacobson is one of the ABs available to play NPC this weekend.
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based on NPC, Jacomb has been more consistent and looked more assured, Reihana on the other hand, while playing well, has made some absolute howler errors, ones someone playing at his level shouldnt be making.
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based on NPC, Jacomb has been more consistent and looked more assured, Reihana on the other hand, while playing well, has made some absolute howler errors, ones someone playing at his level shouldnt be making.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
based on NPC, Jacomb has been more consistent and looked more assured, Reihana on the other hand, while playing well, has made some absolute howler errors, ones someone playing at his level shouldnt be making.
I would almost think Cam Millar from Otago is playing as well as or better than Reihana. Mind you he is playing outside the 9 who could well be the number 2 9 in ABs by the 27 WC gets here.
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How has Harry Godfrey been playing?
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
based on NPC, Jacomb has been more consistent and looked more assured, Reihana on the other hand, while playing well, has made some absolute howler errors, ones someone playing at his level shouldnt be making.
I would almost think Cam Millar from Otago is playing as well as or better than Reihana. Mind you he is playing outside the 9 who could well be the number 2 9 in ABs by the 27 WC gets here.
@Dan54 possibly, I'm guessing Reihana probably ranked higher due to being in the driver seat for a winning super team, but his mixed NPC season (particularly kicking from hand) will have taken some of that shine away.
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Btw, one of the advantages that NZR has with a centralized system imo (and I've no idea to what extent that this is used) is the capacity to harvest data on players.
If the tech exists and the budget you could have so much data on players in the system, down to this like which players have run the most in games this past week? Who has the best acceleration, who has been lifting the most etc. You could get so much data, especially on younger players that would help you evaluate their potential.
I'd think of it as similar to the advantages that the old Eastern bloc counties had in the Olympics in the sense that the athletes were essentially state employees and their entire training program, diets (and talent ID even) could be micromanaged to the nth degree. A centralized system enables an attention to detail that a free and open system does not.
Lendrum did mention that, particularly on the medical/injury type stuff.
With central contracting he has complete info on all player injuries.
If an AB is under contract to an overseas club, he can only go on what that particular club wants to tell him.
You can clearly see where that leads.
Happens in soccer all the time. -
How has Harry Godfrey been playing?
@family-man said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
How has Harry Godfrey been playing?
Ok, but he often at 15 for the Hawke Eyes.
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based on NPC, Jacomb has been more consistent and looked more assured, Reihana on the other hand, while playing well, has made some absolute howler errors, ones someone playing at his level shouldnt be making.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
based on NPC, Jacomb has been more consistent and looked more assured, Reihana on the other hand, while playing well, has made some absolute howler errors, ones someone playing at his level shouldnt be making.
It’s a funny one with Reihana, he looked far more comfortable playing for the Saders earlier in the year than some of the games I’ve watched him play this years NPC.
Whereas Jacomb has played with time and space.
If it were me and the current AB coaches don’t see Love as a 10 option, I would take Jacomb on tour with the ABs and have Reihana with the AB XV.
