All Blacks 2024
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there has to be a middle ground between picking purely on form and ignoring things like the RWC cycle/planning for the future (ie picking someone like shields).....and ignoring form and just picking the same people over and over (the last few years under fozzie)
33 year old shields....if he not going to be around for the next RWC i dont want him...and if we're in a position where we're picking 37 loosies that only broke into the AB so late in their career...then we're fucked
@Kiwiwomble fair call, I'm in the same boat with Sam Cane. Why pick him if he's not committed to the next World Cup. Let's blood fresh talent like Lakai or give a man like Billy Harmon a run at international footy. He'd go well.
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@Landers92 yeah he's eligible I'm pretty sure. Who do we select then if Finau and Blackadder aren't available? Razor isn't going to select Ioane, he's crumbled under pressure so many times and is far too inconsistent. Razor may go with Grace but the ABs won't dominate physically with him there. Who else is there? I mean if we're still picking Cane then why wouldn't Shields be in the mix? He's one of the form blindsides in Super this year.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Landers92 yeah he's eligible I'm pretty sure. Who do we select then if Finau and Blackadder aren't available? Razor isn't going to select Ioane, he's crumbled under pressure so many times and is far too inconsistent. Razor may go with Grace but the ABs won't dominate physically with him there. Who else is there? I mean if we're still picking Cane then why wouldn't Shields be in the mix? He's one of the form blindsides in Super this year.
It might just have to be Ioane. I have no doubt Razor can get the best out of Grace but that boy hasn’t been the same since his run of injuries.
Knowing Razor he will still pick Blackadder and it’ll be Finaus jersey to start with. You could be looking at the bolter/apprentice selection for the 6 jersey. It’s definitely a position that we need to do something like that for. Keep in mind Harmon can cover all 3 loose forward positions so could work in his favor here.
There is no benefit of selecting a 33 year old Brad Shields to play a mid year series.
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@Kiwiwomble fair call, I'm in the same boat with Sam Cane. Why pick him if he's not committed to the next World Cup. Let's blood fresh talent like Lakai or give a man like Billy Harmon a run at international footy. He'd go well.
@Canes4life at least Harmon COULD be around for the next world cup, might not be a long long term option but this cycle...and he's earn't consideration
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Landers92 yeah he's eligible I'm pretty sure. Who do we select then if Finau and Blackadder aren't available? Razor isn't going to select Ioane, he's crumbled under pressure so many times and is far too inconsistent. Razor may go with Grace but the ABs won't dominate physically with him there. Who else is there? I mean if we're still picking Cane then why wouldn't Shields be in the mix? He's one of the form blindsides in Super this year.
It might just have to be Ioane. I have no doubt Razor can get the best out of Grace but that boy hasn’t been the same since his run of injuries.
Knowing Razor he will still pick Blackadder and it’ll be Finaus jersey to start with. You could be looking at the bolter/apprentice selection for the 6 jersey. It’s definitely a position that we need to do something like that for. Keep in mind Harmon can cover all 3 loose forward positions so could work in his favor here.
There is no benefit of selecting a 33 year old Brad Shields to play a mid year series.
@Landers92 I get it, Shields is aging but he's still one of the form 6s in the comp and he offers the physicality required to step in if injuries strike. He's also playing the best footy of his career. Razor won't want to start his reign in a losing manner so surely you pick the best players available right now to get results.
It's a definite area of weakness for the ABs at the moment.
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@Canes4life at least Harmon COULD be around for the next world cup, might not be a long long term option but this cycle...and he's earn't consideration
@Kiwiwomble in saying that I would have Lakai infront of Harmon, so for Harmon to get a chance all of Papali'i, Savea and Lakai would need to be injured.
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@Kiwiwomble in saying that I would have Lakai infront of Harmon, so for Harmon to get a chance all of Papali'i, Savea and Lakai would need to be injured.
@Canes4life fair...so can we at least stop talking about shields
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@Canes4life fair...so can we at least stop talking about shields
@Kiwiwomble yeah fair.
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Why the fuck would they pick Cane. His form has been a roller coaster over the last four years - especially when coming back from injury. He was immense in the quarter final - ok in the semi and then a pile of shit in the final. Cost us the game. If he was covering a position that had no depth I'd understand. But that isn't the case. There should still be a good core of experienced players in the team so his leadership isn't needed.
Also hope they don't pick Shields. If he wanted the jersey he should've stayed to battle it out. Just can't see how he's playing good enough to have this conversation.
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@Landers92 yeah he's eligible I'm pretty sure. Who do we select then if Finau and Blackadder aren't available? Razor isn't going to select Ioane, he's crumbled under pressure so many times and is far too inconsistent. Razor may go with Grace but the ABs won't dominate physically with him there. Who else is there? I mean if we're still picking Cane then why wouldn't Shields be in the mix? He's one of the form blindsides in Super this year.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
he's crumbled under pressure so many times and is far too inconsisten
Multiple MOTM efforts for the ABs. Didn't step up against the more physical sides. I'm not sure I'd pick him, but he is far from a failure in Black
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Why the fuck would they pick Cane. His form has been a roller coaster over the last four years - especially when coming back from injury. He was immense in the quarter final - ok in the semi and then a pile of shit in the final. Cost us the game. If he was covering a position that had no depth I'd understand. But that isn't the case. There should still be a good core of experienced players in the team so his leadership isn't needed.
Also hope they don't pick Shields. If he wanted the jersey he should've stayed to battle it out. Just can't see how he's playing good enough to have this conversation.
@Toddy said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Why the fuck would they pick Cane. His form has been a roller coaster over the last four years - especially when coming back from injury. He was immense in the quarter final - ok in the semi and then a pile of shit in the final. Cost us the game. If he was covering a position that had no depth I'd understand. But that isn't the case. There should still be a good core of experienced players in the team so his leadership isn't needed.
Also hope they don't pick Shields. If he wanted the jersey he should've stayed to battle it out. Just can't see how he's playing good enough to have this conversation.
There have been a lot of loosies starring in SRP so far. I agree, probably time to move on
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris I have a feeling that Akira will be in squad
Can't see it mate
Razor coached Akira at U20s so he's known him for a long time.
It's now or never for Akira - he's certainly giving the selectors something to think about with his form - Stern Vern has him humming and a bit of a blueprint for how Akira can be effective at test level. There's not an abundance of 6s around.
We will see I don't expect him to be there, Jacobsen probably has more chance as he is seen by some to have a high work rate.
Razor has stated he likes Loosies that get off the ground quickly and keep working and are always in the game and don't drift.That is why he mentioned Lilo-Willie although I don't expect he will be in the squad. -
@Kiwiwomble in saying that I would have Lakai infront of Harmon, so for Harmon to get a chance all of Papali'i, Savea and Lakai would need to be injured.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Kiwiwomble in saying that I would have Lakai in front of Harmon.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
he's crumbled under pressure so many times and is far too inconsisten
Multiple MOTM efforts for the ABs. Didn't step up against the more physical sides. I'm not sure I'd pick him, but he is far from a failure in Black
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
he's crumbled under pressure so many times and is far too inconsisten
Multiple MOTM efforts for the ABs. Didn't step up against the more physical sides. I'm not sure I'd pick him, but he is far from a failure in Black
More that the tactic of positioning him in the wide channels failed against the Boks because almost none of the rugby took place there. He paid the price for low involvements caused by tactics
The way he was used by the AB XV last year is interesting. In one match he was exclusively in the wide channels but in the other he was in the centre of the field. Testing an A & B scenario?
The Blues have used him in a tight role this season. It works for this stage of his career. Not sure he has that same acceleration after all the ankle problems
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
he's crumbled under pressure so many times and is far too inconsisten
Multiple MOTM efforts for the ABs. Didn't step up against the more physical sides. I'm not sure I'd pick him, but he is far from a failure in Black
More that the tactic of positioning him in the wide channels failed against the Boks because almost none of the rugby took place there. He paid the price for low involvements caused by tactics
The way he was used by the AB XV last year is interesting. In one match he was exclusively in the wide channels but in the other he was in the centre of the field. Testing an A & B scenario?
The Blues have used him in a tight role this season. It works for this stage of his career. Not sure he has that same acceleration after all the ankle problems
@Duluth i think almost anyone thats showed some potential deserves another shot under razor, as you say different tactics might have completed different results
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
he's crumbled under pressure so many times and is far too inconsisten
Multiple MOTM efforts for the ABs. Didn't step up against the more physical sides. I'm not sure I'd pick him, but he is far from a failure in Black
More that the tactic of positioning him in the wide channels failed against the Boks because almost none of the rugby took place there. He paid the price for low involvements caused by tactics
The way he was used by the AB XV last year is interesting. In one match he was exclusively in the wide channels but in the other he was in the centre of the field. Testing an A & B scenario?
The Blues have used him in a tight role this season. It works for this stage of his career. Not sure he has that same acceleration after all the ankle problems
@Duluth Case in point being when he got the ball with space out wide in the first half against the Canes. In 2016 he probably goes the length of the field and scores. Today, definitely not haha.
He was better in the wider channels up until about 2022. He doesn't have the same athleticism to play wider anymore, so he has no choice but to play a tighter game that involves more contact.
It helps that he's playing under a coach domestically that can get the best out of him playing closer to the ruck.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Can't see the point of selecting a player who won't play Super Rugby in 2024 or 2025. You are effectively selecting a player from overseas. May as well get Mo'unga and Retallick in that case.
I'd select Cane. He's a 95 test AB and AB captain who was playing excellent rugby at the World Cup.
Get a young loosie (I.e. Lakai or whoever) around the squad for the year to soak up knowledge from Cane then transition in 2025.
Presuming the coaching staff are conservative for the England series:
I think the additions to the front rowers club may be solely Numia for Laulala and Aumua for Coles. Locks will be Barrett, Tuipulotu and two others (hopefully McWhannell). Cane, Sotutu, Papali'i, Finau, Savea, Ioane as backrowers (Lakai to come in after England are dispatched). Halves are TJP, Christie and Funaki. First fives are DMac and Beaudy with Havili in the team covering positions in midfield too. Midfielders are Jordie, Rieko, Havili and Proctor. Back three will be Reece, Clarke, Love, Tele'a and ..?
A some of those selections will not be in the squad I reckon.
Ioane won’t be there or Funaki
Darry more likely than McWhannell.
The rest I think will be there.
Bower a big chance under Ryan as well.Obviously Ioane isn't liked by the coaches but is Funaki not either or is that just your opinion? Fair enough if it's your my opinion, just curious haha.
Just my opinion I don’t think he will pick a real rookie HB in his first squad.
Funaki may become an AB latter but not for that first squad imo. -
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Just my opinion I don’t think he will pick a real rookie HB in his first squad.
There's 3 experienced halfbacks?
TJ, Christie and ?
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Just my opinion I don’t think he will pick a real rookie HB in his first squad.
There's 3 experienced halfbacks?
TJ, Christie and ?
Fakatava or Ratima who Razor rates he tried to get both to the Crusaders they have more SR minutes under their belts than Funaki.
