All Blacks 2025

[KiwiMurph]

@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

I would pick Papali'i over Kirifi - which won't surprise anyone who follows my theme of picking big men over little men - but, it's a back to the future selection and Dalton's never been McCaw.

Papalii is the same age as Kirifi.

I would like the the ABs maximise the impact those in the squad are having.

Just because Papalii isn't McCaw doesnt mean he wouldn't add value - at test level every little bit counts - if he's an upgrade then pick him.

I saw more from Papalii in 15 odd minutes in the 3rd France test than Kirifi has shown all AB season.

[Chris B.]

@KiwiMurph I agree with you.

Razor apparently doesn't.

The point I'm making is that where he's wielded the new broom, there's often been plenty of complaint - and there's a degree of personal preference involved - as well as them knowing what gameplan they're trying to implement.

It's probably an interesting exercise to list the five best players in the AB XV and the five worst players in the ABs - if there's positional overlap then that's where you'd look for change.

DPK vs Paps might fall there.

[taniwharugby]

There gon' be some shit lost on this tour me thinks....

[Grooter]

@taniwharugby Scotland has me nervous, Finn Russell could wake up and decide he wants to create history, hopefully he's in no such mood

[gt12]

@taniwharugby

I was waiting for the squad to be named before voting on the results poll. I don’t think 4-0 looks very likely, but great if it happens.

1-3 however suddenly might be worth a flutter to blunt the potential that things could go south quickly…

[booboo]

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@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.

Oh, I see Sevu is still there. Might have swapped him out.

[voodoo]

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@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.

Oh, I see Sevu is still there. Might have swapped him out.

You'd keep ALB???

[ACT Crusader]

Front row - sorted. They know their top tiers and the next rung are going to get opportunities with injuries and some minimal rotation.

Locks - the top 4 are settled in my view. With one of those top 4 out injured, there’s a line ball call between a guy (Lord) who was first selected a while ago and hasn’t shown a great deal but has size on his side and another toiler (Darry) that has been there or thereabouts.

Loose forwards - still some open question marks about what to do with Luke Jacobson. Razor is a fan, but his injuries have racked up. He looked a class above on the weekend and hopefully he will be fit for selection so we can see where he fits in. For me if they persist with Ardie in the starting lineup, he’s probably the one in the squad that complements him.

Parker they’ll continue to develop. Lakai they want to see more of post his injuries. Plenty of endeavour and this could be a big opportunity for him. I like him or Sititi as a bench option.

Halfbacks - sorted.

1st 5s - when that other fella coming back…..

Midfield - more question marks even with the QT performance against the Aussies. There may be a temptation to rotate a bit. Jordie still our best midfielder but the way they are using him to drop back defensively was interesting to say the least.
Ireland and Scotland attack from the midfield quite differently to Aussie so it’s going to be interesting to see if they go with QT or Proctor.

Wings - wouldn’t mind seeing us go with both Clarke and LF for at least one test. Ioane could be a really good bench option for us. There’s a bit of versatility in there for that option.

Fullback - give Love a decent start against Wales and some bench minutes

[ACT Crusader]

@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@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.

Oh, I see Sevu is still there. Might have swapped him out.

You'd keep ALB???

Now the most carded AB I believe.

[voodoo]

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@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.

Oh, I see Sevu is still there. Might have swapped him out.

You'd keep ALB???

Now the most carded AB I believe.

Just such a retro selection. He's so far down the pecking order for a spot in the 23 for me. Total waste of a spot.

[MN5]

@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@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.

Oh, I see Sevu is still there. Might have swapped him out.

You'd keep ALB???

Now the most carded AB I believe.

Just such a retro selection. He's so far down the pecking order for a spot in the 23 for me. Total waste of a spot.

Maybe Razor wants another guy to hit 100 tests under his watch ?

[nonpartizan]

@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@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.

Oh, I see Sevu is still there. Might have swapped him out.

You'd keep ALB???

Now the most carded AB I believe.

Just such a retro selection. He's so far down the pecking order for a spot in the 23 for me. Total waste of a spot.

Yeah, his continued selection might be the most pointless of all.
He's not good enough to start and he does not offer anything off the bench and he's not versatile so just no real point in him being there.

At 13 you have Proctor, QT or Rieko, there's no need for all three and ALB.

[booboo]

@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@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.

Oh, I see Sevu is still there. Might have swapped him out.

You'd keep ALB???

Who's the alternative? Ennor, McLeod, Havili ...

[MN5]

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@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.

Oh, I see Sevu is still there. Might have swapped him out.

You'd keep ALB???

Who's the alternative? Ennor, McLeod, Havili ...

When you put it that way.......

[Chris B.]

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

Midfield - more question marks even with the QT performance against the Aussies. There may be a temptation to rotate a bit. Jordie still our best midfielder but the way they are using him to drop back defensively was interesting to say the least.
Ireland and Scotland attack from the midfield quite differently to Aussie so it’s going to be interesting to see if they go with QT or Proctor.

It's kind of a strange set of midfielders - even though it's not surprising.

On current rankings:

Second five: Jordie, Tupaea, ALB

Centre: Tupaea, Proctor, Ioane, ALB

I don't see Big Leicester starting there, unless maybe vs Wales - quite possible he plays wing or on the bench, though. I'd have grouped him with the wings.

If Jordie gets injured, I wonder whether they go Tupaea/Proctor or ALB/Tupaea?

[Grooter]

https://www.facebook.com/100066969804986/posts/1121283870113929/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

[reprobate]

I wouldn't pick ALB. Very good player, but Jordie is starting every game at 12 and QT is for me clearly the other 12. At 13 he's behind RI or BP, and maybe QT now too. He's not a development player. The other midfielders in the squad aren't newbies who need mentoring. If someone goes down early in the tour, sure bring him over.
But why not e.g. call Leicester midfield cover and take Tangitau and start whipping him into shape?

[Nepia]

@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

Is Kyran Taumoefolau eligible for the AB XV?

I think that only matters if we designate this team as our second team, which we often haven't. So I would assume he's available for it?

[Nepia]

@Grooter said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

https://www.facebook.com/100066969804986/posts/1121283870113929/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

I reckon Reece must be rich from all the lotto tickets he's bought over the years because he's the luckiest son of bitch on the planet.

Assaults his missus, causing him to lose his Chiefs contract, then eventually his Irish contract, get's no stand down from NZ so picks up a Crusaders contract which puts him straight in the ABs, plays more shit than good at test level but always retains his place, despite being a changed man gets on the piss and causes carnage again, doesn't impact his favoured selection, plays shit for the ABs in 24/25 and retains his spot.

I reckon he owns half of Fiji funded by Powerball.

[Bovidae]

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:

You'd keep ALB???

Now the most carded AB I believe.

The captain has two red cards. Both resulted in huge defeats.