All Blacks 2025
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
The referees for the tour games:
Ireland v New Zealand - Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Scotland v New Zealand - Nic Berry (RA)
England v New Zealand - Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Wales v New Zealand - Hollie Davidson (SRU)Barbarians v All Blacks XV - Nic Berry (RA)
England A v All Blacks XV - TBA (RFU appointment)
Uruguay v All Blacks XV - TBA (FFR appointment)Oh good. Random Frog I've never heard of v Ireland. That'll help.
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I can't believe the free pass some people give these coaches. Our biggest weakness right now is the loose forwards., where we get outplayed basically every game against Tier 1 sides. The coaches have inexplicably chosen to not select three of the best loose forwards in the country, whose games translate well to test footy. As a result, we continue to get beaten up in the loosies, and we continue to lose matches as a result.
And some posters just wave this away as "fringe selections that wouldn't make a difference anyway" ?? Are you guys serious? We have a small population and a shallow depth of pool to chose from, we cannot in a million years be casting aside our most talented players like this and then expect some magical game plan will make up for it. That's insane and if we continue to lose the breakdown battle then we are just going to continue to lose matches, end of story.
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
I can't believe the free pass some people give these coaches. Our biggest weakness right now is the loose forwards., where we get outplayed basically every game against Tier 1 sides. The coaches have inexplicably chosen to not select three of the best loose forwards in the country, whose games translate well to test footy. As a result, we continue to get beaten up in the loosies, and we continue to lose matches as a result.
Couldn’t agree more. Grace, Blackadder and Christie all should be in the squad.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Oh good. Random Frog I've never heard of v Ireland. That'll help.
He was the ref in Arg when the ABs won. Also did the Brumbies game against the Lions.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Oh good. Random Frog I've never heard of v Ireland. That'll help.
He was the ref in Arg when the ABs won. Also did the Brumbies game against the Lions.
I thought he was the least random we have had from a NH ref for some time.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
The referees for the tour games:
Ireland v New Zealand - Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Scotland v New Zealand - Nic Berry (RA)
England v New Zealand - Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Wales v New Zealand - Hollie Davidson (SRU)Barbarians v All Blacks XV - Nic Berry (RA)
England A v All Blacks XV - TBA (RFU appointment)
Uruguay v All Blacks XV - TBA (FFR appointment)Oh good. Random Frog I've never heard of v Ireland. That'll help.
Did you notice the first female ref for an AB game, I think ever?
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
The referees for the tour games:
Ireland v New Zealand - Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Scotland v New Zealand - Nic Berry (RA)
England v New Zealand - Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Wales v New Zealand - Hollie Davidson (SRU)Barbarians v All Blacks XV - Nic Berry (RA)
England A v All Blacks XV - TBA (RFU appointment)
Uruguay v All Blacks XV - TBA (FFR appointment)Oh good. Random Frog I've never heard of v Ireland. That'll help.
Did you notice the first female ref for an AB game, I think ever?
Reminds me of the time we played France in a RWC QF and rather than select one of the top refs they gave the most important game of the year to some young up and comer by the name of Barnes....
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I can't believe the free pass some people give these coaches. Our biggest weakness right now is the loose forwards., where we get outplayed basically every game against Tier 1 sides. The coaches have inexplicably chosen to not select three of the best loose forwards in the country, whose games translate well to test footy. As a result, we continue to get beaten up in the loosies, and we continue to lose matches as a result.
And some posters just wave this away as "fringe selections that wouldn't make a difference anyway" ?? Are you guys serious? We have a small population and a shallow depth of pool to chose from, we cannot in a million years be casting aside our most talented players like this and then expect some magical game plan will make up for it. That's insane and if we continue to lose the breakdown battle then we are just going to continue to lose matches, end of story.
@No-Quarter how much of our loosies' ineffectiveness is personnel, and how much is game plan? I think the guys we do have could be made to look better if we played more direct, focussed on winning the collision and recycling our ball. For short periods during games this year when we've done that we have looked good. That is why the Blues of 2024 were such a tease to me. DP, HS and Akira all showed they can play that game, but never got a shot that year to see if they could do it at the next level
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@No-Quarter how much of our loosies' ineffectiveness is personnel, and how much is game plan? I think the guys we do have could be made to look better if we played more direct, focussed on winning the collision and recycling our ball. For short periods during games this year when we've done that we have looked good. That is why the Blues of 2024 were such a tease to me. DP, HS and Akira all showed they can play that game, but never got a shot that year to see if they could do it at the next level
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter how much of our loosies' ineffectiveness is personnel, and how much is game plan? I think the guys we do have could be made to look better if we played more direct, focussed on winning the collision and recycling our ball. For short periods during games this year when we've done that we have looked good. That is why the Blues of 2024 were such a tease to me. DP, HS and Akira all showed they can play that game, but never got a shot that year to see if they could do it at the next level
Thats not how Razor and co want to play unfortunately.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter how much of our loosies' ineffectiveness is personnel, and how much is game plan? I think the guys we do have could be made to look better if we played more direct, focussed on winning the collision and recycling our ball. For short periods during games this year when we've done that we have looked good. That is why the Blues of 2024 were such a tease to me. DP, HS and Akira all showed they can play that game, but never got a shot that year to see if they could do it at the next level
Thats not how Razor and co want to play unfortunately.
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter how much of our loosies' ineffectiveness is personnel, and how much is game plan? I think the guys we do have could be made to look better if we played more direct, focussed on winning the collision and recycling our ball. For short periods during games this year when we've done that we have looked good. That is why the Blues of 2024 were such a tease to me. DP, HS and Akira all showed they can play that game, but never got a shot that year to see if they could do it at the next level
Thats not how Razor and co want to play unfortunately.
Yet. Fozzie played helter skelter for a couple of years, then Schmidt came in and a bunch of his assistants went out. They changed their pattern and we almost won Bill. Like Fozzie, and late era Hansen before him, Razor has embraced Wayne Smith's philosophy of high paced running rugby, but they forgot that you can't be successful unless you win the battle up front
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
I can't believe the free pass some people give these coaches. Our biggest weakness right now is the loose forwards., where we get outplayed basically every game against Tier 1 sides. The coaches have inexplicably chosen to not select three of the best loose forwards in the country, whose games translate well to test footy. As a result, we continue to get beaten up in the loosies, and we continue to lose matches as a result.
Couldn’t agree more. Grace, Blackadder and Christie all should be in the squad.
@ACT-Crusader Cullen’s an interesting one, eh? Never quite kicked on. I mean, not even people on here have mentioned him
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With the problems the ABs are facing to find an adequate blindside LF, I wonder why they did not select Wrampling-Alec for the All Blacks XV ? He has all the attributes to become a very good Nr.6 (athletic, powerful ball carrier, good LO option). I don't know much about his capacities in defense though.
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I can't believe the free pass some people give these coaches. Our biggest weakness right now is the loose forwards., where we get outplayed basically every game against Tier 1 sides. The coaches have inexplicably chosen to not select three of the best loose forwards in the country, whose games translate well to test footy. As a result, we continue to get beaten up in the loosies, and we continue to lose matches as a result.
And some posters just wave this away as "fringe selections that wouldn't make a difference anyway" ?? Are you guys serious? We have a small population and a shallow depth of pool to chose from, we cannot in a million years be casting aside our most talented players like this and then expect some magical game plan will make up for it. That's insane and if we continue to lose the breakdown battle then we are just going to continue to lose matches, end of story.
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
I can't believe the free pass some people give these coaches. Our biggest weakness right now is the loose forwards., where we get outplayed basically every game against Tier 1 sides. The coaches have inexplicably chosen to not select three of the best loose forwards in the country, whose games translate well to test footy. As a result, we continue to get beaten up in the loosies, and we continue to lose matches as a result.
And some posters just wave this away as "fringe selections that wouldn't make a difference anyway" ?? Are you guys serious? We have a small population and a shallow depth of pool to chose from, we cannot in a million years be casting aside our most talented players like this and then expect some magical game plan will make up for it. That's insane and if we continue to lose the breakdown battle then we are just going to continue to lose matches, end of story.
It's quite the achievement when you consider that loose forward has been a strength of NZ Rugby in the past few decades.
To end up with this group of forwards is embarrassing.
We are in the era of John Mitchell telling Cullen he's holding the ball wrong. We have the talent in the players, but this bunch of yes men and the dumbest head coach I've seen since, shit I can't think of one dumber, just won't pick them.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have the coaches been chasing Frizell?
I know Ryan said he'd have preferred he hadn't left but presumably he was explicitly asked about Frizell. Have there been many examples over the last two years where the coaches have brought Frizell up?
I'll just leave this here
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have the coaches been chasing Frizell?
I know Ryan said he'd have preferred he hadn't left but presumably he was explicitly asked about Frizell. Have there been many examples over the last two years where the coaches have brought Frizell up?
I'll just leave this here
So one example from during the World Cup where Frizell was still in the squad and specially brought up by journalists? And it's not even really clear what Ryan is saying...
I don't think that's unreasonable by any stretch?
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have the coaches been chasing Frizell?
I know Ryan said he'd have preferred he hadn't left but presumably he was explicitly asked about Frizell. Have there been many examples over the last two years where the coaches have brought Frizell up?
I'll just leave this here
So one example from during the World Cup where Frizell was still in the squad and specially brought up by journalists? And it's not even really clear what Ryan is saying...
I don't think that's unreasonable by any stretch?
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have the coaches been chasing Frizell?
I know Ryan said he'd have preferred he hadn't left but presumably he was explicitly asked about Frizell. Have there been many examples over the last two years where the coaches have brought Frizell up?
I'll just leave this here
So one example from during the World Cup where Frizell was still in the squad and specially brought up by journalists? And it's not even really clear what Ryan is saying...
I don't think that's unreasonable by any stretch?
I was busy and that was the first one I found. I am sure someone else can find more but I'm still at work
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have the coaches been chasing Frizell?
I know Ryan said he'd have preferred he hadn't left but presumably he was explicitly asked about Frizell. Have there been many examples over the last two years where the coaches have brought Frizell up?
I'll just leave this here
So one example from during the World Cup where Frizell was still in the squad and specially brought up by journalists? And it's not even really clear what Ryan is saying...
I don't think that's unreasonable by any stretch?
I was busy and that was the first one I found. I am sure someone else can find more but I'm still at work
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have the coaches been chasing Frizell?
I know Ryan said he'd have preferred he hadn't left but presumably he was explicitly asked about Frizell. Have there been many examples over the last two years where the coaches have brought Frizell up?
I'll just leave this here
So one example from during the World Cup where Frizell was still in the squad and specially brought up by journalists? And it's not even really clear what Ryan is saying...
I don't think that's unreasonable by any stretch?
I was busy and that was the first one I found. I am sure someone else can find more but I'm still at work
Razor getting in on the act:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350277947/all-blacks-coach-scott-robertson-would-love-shannon-frizell-back-nzAlso @Mr-Fish it's pretty clear in the link @canefan promoted that regardless of who asked the question Ryan was fluffing Frizell.
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Moving past all the posts deliberately misreading my earlier post attempting to clearly explain why Blues player may be feeling a bit of the miff, can someone please convince me the current loose forward policy is more subtle than:
1 Play Ardie where he likes and flog him as much as possible.
2 Choose an 8 that is most like Ardie if Ardie plays 7 or a small scrapper if Ardie plays at 8.*
3 Find someone as big as possible at 6.
4. Wait for Shannon.*(Maybe steps 2 and 3 are in the wrong order of importance.)
I must be missing some of their longterm strategies and objectives. I just don't see the loose forward balance, teamwork, and collective impact improving at the moment. I must be missing something.
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Moving past all the posts deliberately misreading my earlier post attempting to clearly explain why Blues player may be feeling a bit of the miff, can someone please convince me the current loose forward policy is more subtle than:
1 Play Ardie where he likes and flog him as much as possible.
2 Choose an 8 that is most like Ardie if Ardie plays 7 or a small scrapper if Ardie plays at 8.*
3 Find someone as big as possible at 6.
4. Wait for Shannon.*(Maybe steps 2 and 3 are in the wrong order of importance.)
I must be missing some of their longterm strategies and objectives. I just don't see the loose forward balance, teamwork, and collective impact improving at the moment. I must be missing something.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
Moving past all the posts deliberately misreading my earlier post attempting to clearly explain why Blues player may be feeling a bit of the miff, can someone please convince me the current loose forward policy is more subtle than:
1 Play Ardie where he likes and flog him as much as possible.
2 Choose an 8 that is most like Ardie if Ardie plays 7 or a small scrapper if Ardie plays at 8.*
3 Find someone as big as possible at 6.
4. Wait for Shannon.*(Maybe steps 2 and 3 are in the wrong order of importance.)
I must be missing some of their longterm strategies and objectives. I just don't see the loose forward balance, teamwork, and collective impact improving at the moment. I must be missing something.
I personally don’t think the loose forward trio can ever be balanced with Ardie in it. It’s like having half a forward and half a back.
The 2014 2nd Bledisloe test match was on the ABs YouTube the other day and I watched it. What stood out the most was how dynamic and hard working our loose forward trio was. McCaw, Kaino, and Read were throwing themselves into everything and they complemented each other so well. There wasn’t a weak link.
There are options at 6 and 7. 8 is still a bit of a question mark
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have the coaches been chasing Frizell?
I know Ryan said he'd have preferred he hadn't left but presumably he was explicitly asked about Frizell. Have there been many examples over the last two years where the coaches have brought Frizell up?
I'll just leave this here
So one example from during the World Cup where Frizell was still in the squad and specially brought up by journalists? And it's not even really clear what Ryan is saying...
I don't think that's unreasonable by any stretch?
I was busy and that was the first one I found. I am sure someone else can find more but I'm still at work
Razor getting in on the act:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350277947/all-blacks-coach-scott-robertson-would-love-shannon-frizell-back-nzAlso @Mr-Fish it's pretty clear in the link @canefan promoted that regardless of who asked the question Ryan was fluffing Frizell.
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have the coaches been chasing Frizell?
I know Ryan said he'd have preferred he hadn't left but presumably he was explicitly asked about Frizell. Have there been many examples over the last two years where the coaches have brought Frizell up?
I'll just leave this here
So one example from during the World Cup where Frizell was still in the squad and specially brought up by journalists? And it's not even really clear what Ryan is saying...
I don't think that's unreasonable by any stretch?
I was busy and that was the first one I found. I am sure someone else can find more but I'm still at work
Razor getting in on the act:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350277947/all-blacks-coach-scott-robertson-would-love-shannon-frizell-back-nzAlso @Mr-Fish it's pretty clear in the link @canefan promoted that regardless of who asked the question Ryan was fluffing Frizell.
Don't doubt that the selectors would love to have Frizell back but there's a big difference between constantly bemoaning his absence and answering in the affirmative when being asked whether they'd like to bring him back to NZ.
Frizell is brought up one hundred times as often on these forums as he is by the coaches and somehow that's transformed the narrative here more or less into 'the coaches are constantly harking on about Frizell as our saviour'.
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Depth Chart:
October 15, 2025.Players are listed purely on number of appearances; AB first, then SR.
Not my personal preferences, rather, the current coaches.
Tie breakers are; first, appearances in other positions, then substitute appearances.
ABs officially listed as unavailable, are included as ABs.
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Depth Chart:
October 15, 2025.Players are listed purely on number of appearances; AB first, then SR.
Not my personal preferences, rather, the current coaches.Tie breakers are; first, appearances in other positions, then substitute appearances.
ABs officially listed as unavailable, are included as ABs.
