All Blacks 2024.. locked

[sparky]

Locks - Scott Barrett for sure.

And then?

I’m really not sure. Josh Lord, Patrick Tuipolutu and Tupou Vaii are the incumbents, but each needs to kick on a bit if they are to keep being selected.

Beyond that, maybe Sam Darry? Selby-Ricket? Ah Kuoi? Strange? Dunshea? Gallagher? PPP? Walker- Laewere? Josh Dickson?

Lots of guy who are okay, but not really who’d want facing the Spingboks, England, France or Ireland. Heaps of work to be done.

[MN5]

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024:

Midfield - an area of strength.

Pen in the Jordie Barrett and Reiko Ioane partnership for the next few years.

Behind them we’ve got ALB, Billy Proctor, David Havili, Quinn Tupaea, Dallas McLeod and Braydon Ennor.

Riley Higgins will put pressure on all of them if he gets plenty of game time.

Given they’re all either unproven or not up to it that shouldn’t be hard

[sparky]

Props - We’re in a really good place here.

Ethan De Groot, Tyrell Lomax, Tamati Williams and Fletcher Newell are all young enough to go again in the next RWC cycle and if they can mostly stay fit develop into the best combo around by 2027.

Ofa T will be around for a bit and covers both sides, but I suspect French and British clubs will be calling when his contract next runs out.

Beyond that, Numia and Ainsley are quality players and should get Test game time.

[Duluth]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024:

Josh Dickson?

He’s gone to Japan

If McWhannell is fit I expect him to play ahead of Darry. So I guess he could be added to your list

[sparky]

Hooker - Cheers Colesy and thanks for the memories.

Sami T and Codie Taylor are the obvious top 2 for at least next few years. Taylor will be 36 in 2027 so he might not make it that far.

We’ll need to give game time to some young guns at 2. Brodie Mcallister, George Bell and Tyrone Thompson each look to me worth developing.

[booboo]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2024:

Yep, both the Cantabs.

And keeping an eye out through Super Rugby.

If we discover a proper 6/lock, something interesting to see might be Kirifi on the bench.

Kirifi not on my potential AB list. And that's nothing to do with his Dad (Jack) being my first senior coach... who kept dropping me ... admittedly deservedly...

Just to my mind sits in the "adequate Super Rugby player" level

[sparky]

@booboo He might make the ABs squad at some point. I’d be happy with Kirifi against Japan, Italy or Tonga, but not against the Boks, France, Ireland or England.

There are other better options.

[Bones]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024:

Drummond - Just the Seven Super Titles with the Crusaders. You don’t play 100+ games for the Crusaders if there is not something about you. Enough said, a winner. He should have received a lot more All Blacks caps than he already has.

Peak virtue signalling.

[booboo]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024:

Billy Proctor

Not sold on this guy yet

[Bones]

@booboo said in All Blacks 2024:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024:

Billy Proctor

Not sold on this guy yet

Fucking hell, what more can he do? He's shat all over Ennor, Goodhue ALB in the last year or so.

[sparky]

@booboo I’m a fan. He played well in the back end of the last Super season and on the AB’s tour of Japan. I hope he gets a shot in 2024 at Test level, but ultimately he may be behind Quinn Tupaea.

If he was English, he’d be one of their starters.

[sparky]

Back Row -

Sam Cane and Shannon Frizell are off to Japan for a bit. Neither has clearly called time on their ABs career. They might have a role to play at international level again, but I don’t think either will be in the All Blacks team in 2027.

Beyond that, there is lots and lots to pick from: Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Samipeni Finau, Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, Billy Harmon, Kaylum Bolshier, Peter Lakai, Devan Flanders, MM-T, Dominic Gardiner, Christian Lio-Willie, Anton Segner and maybe Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu if they get going again.

[Bones]

@sparky mate it's way too early to be so drunk. In what world is Kaylum Boshier a better shot than Ioane and Sotutu?

[sparky]

Leadership:

It’s going to be very interesting to see who Razor picks as his Captain.

I’d go with Ardie who will only grow from his 2023 RWC experiences, is World Player of the Year and is outstanding with the off-field stuff.

Scott Barrett and Codie Taylor are all proven leaders too. Jordie Barrett was an on-field leader in the 2023 RWC and deserves to be part of the leadership group going forward.

[sparky]

@Bones He looked the business for Taranaki in this year’s NPC. Yeah, he’s obviously behind two guys with 22 and 14 All Blacks Tests at the minute, but I think Bolshier could be a helluva player by 2027.

[sparky]

If you’ll indulge me, this thread is fantastic therapy.

Despite the utter shiteness of last Saturday’s result, I’m buzzing now for 2024 and to see what Razor and his coaching team can do with this set of players.

[sparky]

@frugby Not sure about Parker and Springer yet if I’m honest. Ethan Blackadder will be there if fit. Your other calls are all a good shout.

[sparky]

@cgrant I agree with most of that. I’m not sure about Saufoa though.

[Mr Fish]

Feel like you've basically thrown every Super Rugby starter (and then some) into the ABs mix for next year, @sparky

I wouldn't be surprised if over 50% of the guys who get a call-up over the next few years have only played one Super season to date at the point in time.

The guys that absolutely need replacing for next year's squad are Coles, Laulala, Retallick, Whitelock, Frizell, Smith, Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett. You'd think most of those guys will be replaced by already capped ABs (Grace, Sotutu, Aumua, Perofeta etc) with a couple of exceptions. Then I think Razor will pad out the squad with a couple of very young options, a la Barrett, Retallick etc in 2012.

[sparky]

@Mr-Fish

1. If Super Rugby is one step down from Test Rugby, then the path way for established, high-performing and successful Super Players should be on to Test Rugby, the All Blacks XV, the New Zealand Māori or lucrative contracts overseas.

2. I’d add Sam Cane to those who will need replacing next year or in the next two years.

3. I’m not sure Aumua’s set piece work is good enough for the ABs anymore.