All Blacks 2026
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@reprobate I thought it was interesting when they showed he was 5th for assists last night....Ratima is 2nd!
@Bones Interesting, and impressive. Chiefs probably a few more tries than the Highlanders though eh?
To my eye at least, I'd assume Ratima would probably get a lot through being the final pass due to being an excellent support player, whereas Fakatava would get more from hitting a runner at the try line like Smith used to, or making a half break and offloading. -
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
I thought Fakatava played well in the NZXV. I mean, he's competing against Christie for christ sake.
He did, and he was one of very few players to play well in that horrible NZ/AU team, and he had a very good NPC. But he was pretty shit last night.
He does have a decent point of difference when he's playing well, in that his running and offloading game in close, and ability to put a close runner in a gap is better than the alternatives. That's why he gets a lot of try assists, and it's potentially a very attractive asset off the bench.
But he needs to tidy his kicking up and get more consistent.@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
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But he needs to tidy his kicking up and get more consistent.Kicking seems to be a NZ-wide Achilles heel..
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Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
@sparky It’s disappointing he didn’t stick around through 2027 to see how things unfold.
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Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
No point wasting game time on him when we need to sort out our team for RWC. Such a shame
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@sparky It’s disappointing he didn’t stick around through 2027 to see how things unfold.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky It’s disappointing he didn’t stick around through 2027 to see how things unfold.
Points towards a breakdown in his relationship with NZR, not just with Razor
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@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky It’s disappointing he didn’t stick around through 2027 to see how things unfold.
Points towards a breakdown in his relationship with NZR, not just with Razor
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@canefan Agreed. And if the rumours have any substance, it’d be more than fair if he’s just had enough and wants to head overseas.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan Agreed. And if the rumours have any substance, it’d be more than fair if he’s just had enough and wants to head overseas.
Probably felt that NZR failed to support him. Letting the championship winning Blues back 3 leave will be a stain on Razor's tenure, not to mention he let Plummer leave as well without even properly kicking the tyres
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
No point wasting game time on him when we need to sort out our team for RWC. Such a shame
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Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
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@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan Agreed. And if the rumours have any substance, it’d be more than fair if he’s just had enough and wants to head overseas.
Probably felt that NZR failed to support him. Letting the championship winning Blues back 3 leave will be a stain on Razor's tenure, not to mention he let Plummer leave as well without even properly kicking the tyres
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan Agreed. And if the rumours have any substance, it’d be more than fair if he’s just had enough and wants to head overseas.
Probably felt that NZR failed to support him. Letting the championship winning Blues back 3 leave will be a stain on Razor's tenure, not to mention he let Plummer leave as well without even properly kicking the tyres
I can understand if they thought Plummer was not quite up to AB standard (whatever that is) but he arguably was more valuable, in-form, and test-quality that season than the Blues 10 they did pick.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
Who are our best opensides
Savea
Lakai
Jacobson
Blackadder?Have I missed someone?
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
Who are our best opensides
Savea
Lakai
Jacobson
Blackadder?Have I missed someone?
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
Who are our best opensides
Savea
Lakai
Jacobson
Blackadder?Have I missed someone?
Kirifi.
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
Who are our best opensides
Savea
Lakai
Jacobson
Blackadder?Have I missed someone?
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
Lakai
Potential to be a superb international 7, however after claiming the 8 jersey last year his future might be there.
Personally, I'd like to see the ABs persist with Lakai at 7, and Sititi at 8, alongside a bigger 6. Ardie as impact loosie off the bench.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
Who are our best opensides
Savea
Lakai
Jacobson
Blackadder?Have I missed someone?
Kirifi.
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I don’t want Savea starting. I’m not convinced Sititi and Lakai should start together either. I’m not sure what the answer is - we’ll see how the Super season plays out - but I’d like a bigger, more balanced loose forward trio, each with their obvious roles. It’s something people have been calling for for a while now.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
Lakai
Potential to be a superb international 7, however after claiming the 8 jersey last year his future might be there.
Personally, I'd like to see the ABs persist with Lakai at 7, and Sititi at 8, alongside a bigger 6. Ardie as impact loosie off the bench.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
Lakai
Potential to be a superb international 7, however after claiming the 8 jersey last year his future might be there.
Personally, I'd like to see the ABs persist with Lakai at 7, and Sititi at 8, alongside a bigger 6. Ardie as impact loosie off the bench.
The problem with this is the same as Savea + Sititi though. It relies on a 3rd member who doesn't exist.
