All Blacks 2026
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One thing I really hope the new coach will get rid of is the fascination with everyone being able to play at least two and sometimes three positions.
We've already got massive utility in the team from Super rugby - we don't need to be chopping and changing everyone all over the place. I want to see lots of specialisation in the All Blacks.
@Chris-B. said in All Blacks 2026:
One thing I really hope the new coach will get rid of is the fascination with everyone being able to play at least two and sometimes three positions.
We've already got massive utility in the team from Super rugby - we don't need to be chopping and changing everyone all over the place. I want to see lots of specialisation in the All Blacks.
yes and it ruins combinations...
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/topic/7671/6-2025-toty-blindside-flanker/4
eh? I think he's one of the world's best players and it would be petty of me to hope he is losing some form (at least against the ABs in upcoming games)...
I was tongue in cheek obviously. If I could have packed any one player from Boks in last five years it would be PSDT.
The serious point is that a big tight loosie, who cleans hard and well, makes his tackles, is a good lifter and mauler, and carries solidly, but doesn't make the highlights reel IMO is still gold. Parker has most of these attributes.
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/topic/7671/6-2025-toty-blindside-flanker/4
eh? I think he's one of the world's best players and it would be petty of me to hope he is losing some form (at least against the ABs in upcoming games)...
I was tongue in cheek obviously. If I could have packed any one player from Boks in last five years it would be PSDT.
The serious point is that a big tight loosie, who cleans hard and well, makes his tackles, is a good lifter and mauler, and carries solidly, but doesn't make the highlights reel IMO is still gold. Parker has most of these attributes.
So did Rueben Thorne.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/topic/7671/6-2025-toty-blindside-flanker/4
eh? I think he's one of the world's best players and it would be petty of me to hope he is losing some form (at least against the ABs in upcoming games)...
I was tongue in cheek obviously. If I could have packed any one player from Boks in last five years it would be PSDT.
The serious point is that a big tight loosie, who cleans hard and well, makes his tackles, is a good lifter and mauler, and carries solidly, but doesn't make the highlights reel IMO is still gold. Parker has most of these attributes.
So did Rueben Thorne.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/topic/7671/6-2025-toty-blindside-flanker/4
eh? I think he's one of the world's best players and it would be petty of me to hope he is losing some form (at least against the ABs in upcoming games)...
I was tongue in cheek obviously. If I could have packed any one player from Boks in last five years it would be PSDT.
The serious point is that a big tight loosie, who cleans hard and well, makes his tackles, is a good lifter and mauler, and carries solidly, but doesn't make the highlights reel IMO is still gold. Parker has most of these attributes.
So did Rueben Thorne.
Don't think he's ready to captain the ABs into a new era of dominance, but might be worth a try.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/topic/7671/6-2025-toty-blindside-flanker/4
eh? I think he's one of the world's best players and it would be petty of me to hope he is losing some form (at least against the ABs in upcoming games)...
I was tongue in cheek obviously. If I could have packed any one player from Boks in last five years it would be PSDT.
The serious point is that a big tight loosie, who cleans hard and well, makes his tackles, is a good lifter and mauler, and carries solidly, but doesn't make the highlights reel IMO is still gold. Parker has most of these attributes.
So did Rueben Thorne.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/topic/7671/6-2025-toty-blindside-flanker/4
eh? I think he's one of the world's best players and it would be petty of me to hope he is losing some form (at least against the ABs in upcoming games)...
I was tongue in cheek obviously. If I could have packed any one player from Boks in last five years it would be PSDT.
The serious point is that a big tight loosie, who cleans hard and well, makes his tackles, is a good lifter and mauler, and carries solidly, but doesn't make the highlights reel IMO is still gold. Parker has most of these attributes.
So did Rueben Thorne.
Fair point. He did polarise opinion. Probably too tight for my liking.
This chap was handy: https://www.rugbyworld.com/rugby-positions/blindsides/alan-whetton-66650
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/topic/7671/6-2025-toty-blindside-flanker/4
eh? I think he's one of the world's best players and it would be petty of me to hope he is losing some form (at least against the ABs in upcoming games)...
I was tongue in cheek obviously. If I could have packed any one player from Boks in last five years it would be PSDT.
The serious point is that a big tight loosie, who cleans hard and well, makes his tackles, is a good lifter and mauler, and carries solidly, but doesn't make the highlights reel IMO is still gold. Parker has most of these attributes.
So did Rueben Thorne.
Fair point. He did polarise opinion. Probably too tight for my liking.
This chap was handy: https://www.rugbyworld.com/rugby-positions/blindsides/alan-whetton-66650
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
This chap was handy: https://www.rugbyworld.com/rugby-positions/blindsides/alan-whetton-66650
My old man watched him closely and reckoned even at the time he was underrated and big bro got more of the attention.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/topic/7671/6-2025-toty-blindside-flanker/4
eh? I think he's one of the world's best players and it would be petty of me to hope he is losing some form (at least against the ABs in upcoming games)...
I was tongue in cheek obviously. If I could have packed any one player from Boks in last five years it would be PSDT.
The serious point is that a big tight loosie, who cleans hard and well, makes his tackles, is a good lifter and mauler, and carries solidly, but doesn't make the highlights reel IMO is still gold. Parker has most of these attributes.
So did Rueben Thorne.
Fair point. He did polarise opinion. Probably too tight for my liking.
This chap was handy: https://www.rugbyworld.com/rugby-positions/blindsides/alan-whetton-66650
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2026:
https://forum.silverfern.rugby/topic/7671/6-2025-toty-blindside-flanker/4
eh? I think he's one of the world's best players and it would be petty of me to hope he is losing some form (at least against the ABs in upcoming games)...
I was tongue in cheek obviously. If I could have packed any one player from Boks in last five years it would be PSDT.
The serious point is that a big tight loosie, who cleans hard and well, makes his tackles, is a good lifter and mauler, and carries solidly, but doesn't make the highlights reel IMO is still gold. Parker has most of these attributes.
So did Rueben Thorne.
Fair point. He did polarise opinion. Probably too invisible for my liking.
This chap was handy: https://www.rugbyworld.com/rugby-positions/blindsides/alan-whetton-66650
Fixed your spelling mistake.
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Fakatava was the 2nd best halfback on display last night
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Fakatava was the 2nd best halfback on display last night
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@mariner4life yeah I'm a fan, but it was a shit performance by him.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@mariner4life yeah I'm a fan, but it was a shit performance by him.
I was a few seasons ago, but to my eye, not only has he not developed, I think he's regressed
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@mariner4life yeah I'm a fan, but it was a shit performance by him.
I was a few seasons ago, but to my eye, not only has he not developed, I think he's regressed
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@mariner4life yeah I'm a fan, but it was a shit performance by him.
I was a few seasons ago, but to my eye, not only has he not developed, I think he's regressed
I thought there were some pretty positive signs in npc, but that was pretty bad - one good pass making space aside. A lot of kicking but high kicks not accurate enough, and long kicks only okay-ish. Service only passable, speed to rucks only okay, and passing accuracy not at hos best either. It's all well and good to work on your kicking game, but going completely away from your strengths doesn't seem like a flash idea.
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At the 2027 RWC Barrett will be 36, Mo'unga 33, and McKenzie 32.
Love will be 26, Perofeta 30, Jacomb 26, and Reihana 27.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
@mariner4life Both looked limited on the EOYT last year. It will be interesting to see if a new Head Coach can adjust "the environment" to get more out of them.
The Fern never has much love for tight loosies.
The posters would struggle to select PSDT in Black were he available.
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
@mariner4life Both looked limited on the EOYT last year. It will be interesting to see if a new Head Coach can adjust "the environment" to get more out of them.
The Fern never has much love for tight loosies.
The posters would struggle to select PSDT in Black were he available.
Yeah that is dead on if he was an unknown young player with the same skillset and didn't have 2 RWC medals.. Many would probably say he doesn't fit in with Ardie Savea so he would only be squad cover and play when Ardie was too busy leading prayer group, giving Andrew Tate tutorials, busy with Instagram commitments or sulking because Julian wasn't selected in the team..
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Fakatava was the 2nd best halfback on display last night
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2026:
Fakatava was the 2nd best halfback on display last night
If Hotham can stay fit then great but he has form for getting injured every 5 minutes. Fakatava appeals as a player who can handle the physicality of test rugby and come off the bench and offer something different to Riogard and Hotham unlike Ratima and Christie.
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Both Holtham and Fakatava to me are competing for the impact player role- I would be happy with either, Holtham did outplay Fakatava last night, but one game doesn't tell the future.
Box kicking from Fakatava was poor but can be fixed.
Injuries will select more than form unfortunately.
Cam - Cortez - Holtham and fakatava top 4 -
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
@mariner4life Both looked limited on the EOYT last year. It will be interesting to see if a new Head Coach can adjust "the environment" to get more out of them.
The Fern never has much love for tight loosies.
The posters would struggle to select PSDT in Black were he available.
Yeah that is dead on if he was an unknown young player with the same skillset and didn't have 2 RWC medals.. Many would probably say he doesn't fit in with Ardie Savea so he would only be squad cover and play when Ardie was too busy leading prayer group, giving Andrew Tate tutorials, busy with Instagram commitments or sulking because Julian wasn't selected in the team..
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
@mariner4life Both looked limited on the EOYT last year. It will be interesting to see if a new Head Coach can adjust "the environment" to get more out of them.
The Fern never has much love for tight loosies.
The posters would struggle to select PSDT in Black were he available.
Yeah that is dead on if he was an unknown young player with the same skillset and didn't have 2 RWC medals.. Many would probably say he doesn't fit in with Ardie Savea so he would only be squad cover and play when Ardie was too busy leading prayer group, giving Andrew Tate tutorials, busy with Instagram commitments or sulking because Julian wasn't selected in the team..
I actually think it's the reverse of that. If you're going to have Savea there (and pick e.g. Sititi), then the only player in the world who could balance the trio might actually be PSDT.
Unfortunately, we don't have one. -
Both Holtham and Fakatava to me are competing for the impact player role- I would be happy with either, Holtham did outplay Fakatava last night, but one game doesn't tell the future.
Box kicking from Fakatava was poor but can be fixed.
Injuries will select more than form unfortunately.
Cam - Cortez - Holtham and fakatava top 4@kidcalder said in All Blacks 2026:
Box kicking from Fakatava was poor but can be fixed.
Fakatava debuted in Super Rugby in 2019. It's 2026 and we are still waiting. I wouldnt hold my breath.
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At the 2027 RWC Barrett will be 36, Mo'unga 33, and McKenzie 32.
Love will be 26, Perofeta 30, Jacomb 26, and Reihana 27.
@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
At the 2027 RWC Barrett will be 36, Mo'unga 33, and McKenzie 32.
Love will be 26, Perofeta 30, Jacob 26, and Reihana 27.
I've said it before, but Carter - a hugely superior 10 who wasn't reliant on pace - retired younger than Barrett. He's no chance.
For Mo'unga and (marginally more so) McKenzie it's maybe a credible last hurrah, if their form holds.
