All Blacks 2025
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The Christie selection given Hotham is out is understandable. I don’t think they will want to invest in a newbie just yet given their focus is still developing Roigard and Ratima.
ALB and Reece - squaddies at best. The next best midfielder and winger will be starting for the ABXV and if they go well will feature in 2026.
Kirifi and Finau - might play against Wales.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
The Christie selection given Hotham is out is understandable. I don’t think they will want to invest in a newbie just yet given their focus is still developing Roigard and Ratima.
ALB and Reece - squaddies at best. The next best midfielder and winger will be starting for the ABXV and if they go well will feature in 2026.
Kirifi and Finau - might play against Wales.
Yeah - it's entirely predictable. Aside from the injury replacements, @frugby pretty much got it spot on with the opening post.
Agree completely on Christie - it would've been a pretty major surprise to see him displaced since they have Hotham in the wings.
One of ALB or Sevu (probably Sevu) would've missed out if TwoTVs had been fit, since Big Leicester had clearly jumped ahead of him for the 2nd Oz test. It's pretty hard to think of other compelling centre options to replace ALB. Ennor might be the next in line and he's not compelling for me. Proctor was never missing out.
McAlister lost out to Bell. Not surprising - Bell has been very good for Canterbury in the games I've watched.
Lord over Darry - not much in that one probably.
The AB XV will be more interesting because it will give some idea of who next cabs off the rank will be. Also be interesting to see who is captain.
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I just hope like hell these coaches have had no input into the selection of ABXV otherwise we are in serious trouble but they would have a lot I'm thinking.
@george33 said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
I just hope like hell these coaches have had no input into the selection of ABXV otherwise we are in serious trouble but they would have a lot I'm thinking.
We'll know how much say they have in the XV selections If npc semi finalist Hawkes bay key player Fakatava can't make that touring team lol
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The XV Squad is named tomorrow. Given it is the same number of the games, I would expect a pretty similar squad makeup to last year - (3 Hookers, 5 Props, 4 Locks, 5 Loose Forwards, 2 Half Backs, 2 First Fives, 4 Midfielders, 4 Outside Backs)
Possible Squad:
Hookers: Brodie McAllister, Jack Taylor, Kurt Eklund
Props: Xavier Numia, Josh Bartlett, George Dyer, Seb Calder, Pouri Rakete-Stones
Locks: Sam Darry, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Isaia Walker-Leawere
Loose Forwards: Devan Flanders, Sean Withy, Christian Lio-Willie, Dalton Papalii, Malachi Wrampling
Halfbacks: Dylan Pledger, Kyle Preston
First Five: Josh Jacomb
Midfielders: AJ Lam, David Havili, Brayden Ennor, Dallas McLeod
Outside Backs: Caleb Tangitau, Fehi Fineanganofo, Chay Fihaki, Jona Nareki
If Finau/Lord and Love get released down for a game, they may not take anymore than this.
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@george33 said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
I just hope like hell these coaches have had no input into the selection of ABXV otherwise we are in serious trouble but they would have a lot I'm thinking.
We'll know how much say they have in the XV selections If npc semi finalist Hawkes bay key player Fakatava can't make that touring team lol
@Grooter said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@george33 said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
I just hope like hell these coaches have had no input into the selection of ABXV otherwise we are in serious trouble but they would have a lot I'm thinking.
We'll know how much say they have in the XV selections If npc semi finalist Hawkes bays key player Fakatava can't make that touring team lol
No chance…..
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@frugby I think Sullivan will make it.
@ACT-Crusader Zarn or Bailyn? Looked like Bailyn broke his wrist against Otago which is why I had him out.
I personally don't see them picking Zarn. Think I'd like to see him go and back this up for the Blues (mind you, I'd have him over Fihaki).
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Captain conservative strikes again
Razor is not the new broom I envisaged he would be.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Fucks sake.
There must be a heap of disillusioned fringe players and up and comers at this stage.
Between Fozzies tenure and now this.
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The Christie selection given Hotham is out is understandable. I don’t think they will want to invest in a newbie just yet given their focus is still developing Roigard and Ratima.
ALB and Reece - squaddies at best. The next best midfielder and winger will be starting for the ABXV and if they go well will feature in 2026.
Kirifi and Finau - might play against Wales.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
ALB and Reece - squaddies at best. The next best midfielder and winger will be starting for the ABXV and if they go well will feature in 2026.
That's just an excuse to cover up his fear of taking chances on new guys.
Reece over Tangitau is mind blowingly retarded.
Reece had already been dropped.
Tangitau is rough around the edges, but the upside is immense.An underwhelming Lord over proven test performer Darry, also retarded.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
ALB and Reece - squaddies at best. The next best midfielder and winger will be starting for the ABXV and if they go well will feature in 2026.
That's just an excuse to cover up his fear of taking chances on new guys.
Reece over Tangitau is mind blowingly retarded.
Reece had already been dropped.
Tangitau is rough around the edges, but the upside is immense.An underwhelming Lord over proven test performer Darry, also retarded.
@Frank said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
ALB and Reece - squaddies at best. The next best midfielder and winger will be starting for the ABXV and if they go well will feature in 2026.
That's just an excuse to cover up his fear of taking chances on new guys.
Reece over Tangitau is mind blowingly retarded.
Reece had already been dropped.
Tangitau is rough around the edges, but the upsode is immense.An underwhelming Lord over proven test performer Darry, also retarded.
Reece is the one that is the most amazing for me when you take his off field dickheadness into account too.
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An extremely predictable and disappointing squad. It’s obvious they’ve moved on from Reece and Lienert-Brown as options for big test matches, so why are they in the squad? Robertson knows they’re not good enough but doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. He’ll wait for them to get injured or retire before replacing them. Those two, along with Christie and a few others, simply aren’t test quality. Robertson’s selections are the opposite of ruthless. He is infuriatingly timid.
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@ACT-Crusader The only surprise for me is that Timoci isn't listed among those injured, but I reckon that's just an oversight.
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The only real surprise for me is Lord over Darry.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
The only real surprise for me is Lord over Darry.
Any selections you'd do different?
I can't say I'm a fan of Kirifi due to size.
Wouldn't have minded Ah Kuoi in, but not sure who for.
Otherwise it's difficult to quibble. Seems us lot are wanting change for change's sake.
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This idea that you can’t drop underperforming players and select inexperienced players or players with 'work-ons' is ridiculous. At some point, when he knows a players can’t do the job, Robertson has to take a punt on someone with potential and back himself to help them realise it. Two years out from the World Cup. The All Blacks will either be full of guys who are two years worse than they are now, or new players who haven’t been given any time to get used to test rugby.
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The XV Squad is named tomorrow. Given it is the same number of the games, I would expect a pretty similar squad makeup to last year - (3 Hookers, 5 Props, 4 Locks, 5 Loose Forwards, 2 Half Backs, 2 First Fives, 4 Midfielders, 4 Outside Backs)
Possible Squad:
Hookers: Brodie McAllister, Jack Taylor, Kurt Eklund
Props: Xavier Numia, Josh Bartlett, George Dyer, Seb Calder, Pouri Rakete-Stones
Locks: Sam Darry, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Isaia Walker-Leawere
Loose Forwards: Devan Flanders, Sean Withy, Christian Lio-Willie, Dalton Papalii, Malachi Wrampling
Halfbacks: Dylan Pledger, Kyle Preston
First Five: Josh Jacomb
Midfielders: AJ Lam, David Havili, Brayden Ennor, Dallas McLeod
Outside Backs: Caleb Tangitau, Fehi Fineanganofo, Chay Fihaki, Jona Nareki
If Finau/Lord and Love get released down for a game, they may not take anymore than this.
@frugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Props: Xavier Numia, Josh Bartlett, George Dyer, Seb Calder, Pouri Rakete-Stones
If Rakete-Stones is fit.
Midfielders: AJ Lam, David Havili, Brayden Ennor, Dallas McLeod
I'd like them to take Rona.
Outside Backs: Caleb Tangitau, Fehi Fineanganofo, Chay Fihaki, Jona Nareki
ENS
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squad is a clear statement that they think they not only have the right players, but they are close to clicking. We may beg to differ, but at least i can admire their commitment to the path.
Given that appears to be the case, i now hope it either goes spectacularly right, or spectacularly wrong. Another middle of the road tour means another 12 months of the same shit, and in fact probably right through to the World Cup.
There are some very lucky tourists who will get a mean holiday.
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This idea that you can’t drop underperforming players and select inexperienced players or players with 'work-ons' is ridiculous. At some point, when he knows a players can’t do the job, Robertson has to take a punt on someone with potential and back himself to help them realise it. Two years out from the World Cup. The All Blacks will either be full of guys who are two years worse than they are now, or new players who haven’t been given any time to get used to test rugby.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
This idea that you can’t drop underperforming players and select inexperienced players or players with 'work-ons' is ridiculous. At some point, when he knows a players can’t do the job, Robertson has to take a punt on someone with potential and back himself to help them realise it. Two years out from the World Cup. The All Blacks will either be full of guys who are two years worse than they are now, or new players who haven’t been given any time to get used to test rugby.
Agreed. And then look at the schedule next year - tour in South Africa. Hard to imagine he is going to be particularly brave in selecting for that.
Given this is the weakest Wales side in forever this tour should have been one to bring at least a couple of bolters for that last match.
