All Blacks 2025
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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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Is Luke Jacobson fit?
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@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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@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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@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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@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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Would you rather have Josh Jacomb or Rivez Reihana starting for the All Blacks XV at 10…?
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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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@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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@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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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. -
@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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@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.
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I like Jacomb as a prospect, but also he has not shown anything yet to remotely suggest he would be an upgrade on Barrett/McKenzie at Super Rugby level.
It is imperative he plays week in week out next season for the sake of NZR, as I personally think of those who have already played first class rugby, he is the only one at this point who looks like he could be an ABs 10.
