All Blacks XV 2024
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In the hypothetical world where Aki stayed in NZ, he doesn't crack the ABs until at least 2016, because he would have remained behind Smith, Nonu, SBW (who returned from league) and Fekitoa (who had just guided the Highlanders to the SR title).
In this hypothetical world, I reckon he possibly goes to the Blues because SBW was coming back, and Nonu had just left to the Hurricanes... or Tamanivalu didn't end up at the Chiefs (who bolted into the ABs).
All things considered, Aki possibly makes the ABs that year, considering ALB and Tamanivalu bolted in, but they were centres. I doubt he gets in ahead of Crotty or SBW, so in short, he probably still ends up leaving anyway.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
It helps keep the third choice guys happy and in the country which helps our depth and the quality of super rugby - we might have kept e.g. Bundee Aki.
Aki left when he was well down the depth chart. He's a poor example to use of a player we might have kept.
The issue with Aki was Hansen selecting Francis Saili over him in 2013.
That's appears to just be your personal preference, Aki didn't even start for the Chiefs in the finals games in 2013.
And Saili wasn't even starting for the Blues in 2013 when he got picked for the mid Super AB squad....
Which doesn't make it the issue with Aki. It's just two players who weren't ready for the ABs only the one you don't like was selected.
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Nepia said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
It helps keep the third choice guys happy and in the country which helps our depth and the quality of super rugby - we might have kept e.g. Bundee Aki.
Aki left when he was well down the depth chart. He's a poor example to use of a player we might have kept.
The issue with Aki was Hansen selecting Francis Saili over him in 2013.
That's appears to just be your personal preference, Aki didn't even start for the Chiefs in the finals games in 2013.
And Saili wasn't even starting for the Blues in 2013 when he got picked for the mid Super AB squad....
Which doesn't make it the issue with Aki. It's just two players who weren't ready for the ABs only the one you don't like was selected.
That's where we agree to disagree. I thought Aki had shown enough to be selected.
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Aki was nowhere near the All Blacks when he left. I don't think he would have ever made the team.
@African-Monkey Brodie McAlister was excellent fo the Crusaders in 2023, showed all the attributes needed to be an All Black (not to mention the physical size too). It's only since then that he's had injury issues.
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Aki would have matured late, all the physical gifts there already and the subtleties would have come later AKA Nonu.
I’d take him in an absolute heartbeat over Jordie.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Aki would have matured late, all the physical gifts there already and the subtleties would have come later AKA Nonu.
I’d take him in an absolute heartbeat over Jordie.
Nice 20:20 hindsight
@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@MN5 said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Aki would have matured late, all the physical gifts there already and the subtleties would have come later AKA Nonu.
I’d take him in an absolute heartbeat over Jordie.
Nice 20:20 hindsight
I woulda said the same in 2017
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If the All Blacks XV were being selected with an eye to the future, as opposed to just the current 'next best' squad, then I think we'd see something along the lines of:
Hookers (2): Brodie McAlister, Jack Taylor
Props (5): George Bower, Xavier Numia, Kauvaka Kauivelata, Marcel Renata, Saula Ma'u
Locks (3): Josh Lord, Fabian Holland, Zach Gallagher
Loose forwards (7): Oliver Haig, Malachi Wrampling, Cameron Suafoa, Peter Lakai, Sean Withy, Hoskins Sotutu, Simon Parker
Halfbacks (2): Noah Hotham, Folau Fakatava
First fives (1): Josh Jacomb
Centres (4): AJ Lam, Quinn Tupaea, Dallas McLeod, Gideon Wrampling
Wings (3): Kini Naholo, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Emoni Narawa
Fullbacks (2): Ruben Love, Zarn Sullivan, Chay FihakiA couple of slightly more experienced guys in there but largely forward-thinking.
But suspect there'll be some names like Cullen Grace in there.
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV 2024:
If the All Blacks XV were being selected with an eye to the future, as opposed to just the current 'next best' squad, then I think we'd see something along the lines of:
Hookers (2): Brodie McAlister, Jack Taylor
Props (5): George Bower, Xavier Numia, Kauvaka Kauivelata, Marcel Renata, Saula Ma'u
Locks (3): Josh Lord, Fabian Holland, Zach Gallagher
Loose forwards (7): Oliver Haig, Malachi Wrampling, Cameron Suafoa, Peter Lakai, Sean Withy, Hoskins Sotutu, Simon Parker
Halfbacks (2): Noah Hotham, Folau Fakatava
First fives (1): Josh Jacomb
Centres (4): AJ Lam, Quinn Tupaea, Dallas McLeod, Gideon Wrampling
Wings (3): Kini Naholo, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Emoni Narawa
Fullbacks (2): Ruben Love, Zarn Sullivan, Chay FihakiA couple of slightly more experienced guys in there but largely forward-thinking.
But suspect there'll be some names like Cullen Grace in there.
I think that depends entirely on how far into the future you're looking.
In my eyes the form players of SR who:
- Didn't make the AB squad, and
- Are contracted for at least next year to NZR
should be the ones selected. Even if the AB XV is considered a development squad, it requires guys with experience to mentor the younger guys and offer an incentive in case injury/ form strikes those selected before them.
We can't just keep throwing young guys in the deep end hoping that exposure is beneficial.
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Aki was nowhere near the All Blacks when he left. I don't think he would have ever made the team.
@African-Monkey Brodie McAlister was excellent fo the Crusaders in 2023, showed all the attributes needed to be an All Black (not to mention the physical size too). It's only since then that he's had injury issues.
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Aki was nowhere near the All Blacks when he left. I don't think he would have ever made the team.
@African-Monkey Brodie McAlister was excellent fo the Crusaders in 2023, showed all the attributes needed to be an All Black (not to mention the physical size too). It's only since then that he's had injury issues.
He seemed to gain 10kg in the Irish ‘system’.
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Why does Brodie McAlister get rated so highly? He's never been a regular starter at SR level and is always injured. What is it, 40 games in 6 seasons and is 27?
For all the criticism Ricci Riccitelli gets, at least he's a regular at SR level and was arguably the best performing SR hooker this year (with Aumua).
I'm not Riccitelli's biggest fan over the years by any stretch, but he deserves to be ahead of McAlister that's for sure.
One of the most debated topics on here recently, if Riccitelli wore a red and black jersey, would that help his chances?
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Why does Brodie McAlister get rated so highly? He's never been a regular starter at SR level and is always injured. What is it, 40 games in 6 seasons and is 27?
For all the criticism Ricci Riccitelli gets, at least he's a regular at SR level and was arguably the best performing SR hooker this year (with Aumua).
I'm not Riccitelli's biggest fan over the years by any stretch, but he deserves to be ahead of McAlister that's for sure.
One of the most debated topics on here recently, if Riccitelli wore a red and black jersey, would that help his chances?
Corey Flynn springs to mind.
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Brodie McAlister is 27 and made 43 appearances for the Crusaders since 2019 - 10 as a starter.
I've never seen him play a single game that suggests he should be anywhere near the ABs.
@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Brodie McAlister is 27 and made 43 appearances for the Crusaders since 2019 - 10 as a starter.
I've never seen him play a single game that suggests he should be anywhere near the ABs.
No, but that says more about the hooker depth than anything.
In 2020/2021, the ABs had Taylor, Coles, Aumua and Taukei'aho.
Still playing Super Rugby were capped ABs in Parsons, Coltman & Harris, with Eklund, Dixon also playing great rugby. Add in Makalio being a very solid backup for the Crusaders, and both Vikena and McAlister being viewed as good up and comers, and the situation was totally different to what we saw this year...
Taylor now playing out of his skin, Aumua awesome in Super Rugby, Riccitelli good in a great team, Taukei'aho underwhelming by his own standards before snapping his achilles.
In behind that, the Highlanders had little, the Canes arguably even less, the Chiefs had Slater doing tidy, and Thompson who for all his x-factor is way too inconsistent. The Blues had Eklund and Vikena battling for who could warm the bench for RR. Other than Bell showing good signs around the field for the Crusaders, outside of the above, the hooker landscape was atrocious.
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Brodie McAlister is 27 and made 43 appearances for the Crusaders since 2019 - 10 as a starter.
I've never seen him play a single game that suggests he should be anywhere near the ABs.
@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Brodie McAlister is 27 and made 43 appearances for the Crusaders since 2019 - 10 as a starter.
I've never seen him play a single game that suggests he should be anywhere near the ABs.
10 starts in 6 years? Far out, and he's seen as an option for higher honours, whilst Riccitelli gets laughed at as an option? That'll do me.
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@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Brodie McAlister is 27 and made 43 appearances for the Crusaders since 2019 - 10 as a starter.
I've never seen him play a single game that suggests he should be anywhere near the ABs.
10 starts in 6 years? Far out, and he's seen as an option for higher honours, whilst Riccitelli gets laughed at as an option? That'll do me.
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Brodie McAlister is 27 and made 43 appearances for the Crusaders since 2019 - 10 as a starter.
I've never seen him play a single game that suggests he should be anywhere near the ABs.
10 starts in 6 years? Far out, and he's seen as an option for higher honours, whilst Riccitelli gets laughed at as an option? That'll do me.
He's had Codie Taylor ahead of him (and was injured when Taylor was out this year). Ricky Riccitelli hasn't had an All Black hooker to compete with or he would have no doubt earned far fewer starts.
Based on how Asafo Aumua has been playing off the bench for the All Blacks, maybe someone who's a specialist bench hooker at Super Rugby level isn't a bad option.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Brodie McAlister is 27 and made 43 appearances for the Crusaders since 2019 - 10 as a starter.
I've never seen him play a single game that suggests he should be anywhere near the ABs.
10 starts in 6 years? Far out, and he's seen as an option for higher honours, whilst Riccitelli gets laughed at as an option? That'll do me.
He's had Codie Taylor ahead of him (and was injured when Taylor was out this year). Ricky Riccitelli hasn't had an All Black hooker to compete with or he would have no doubt earned far fewer starts.
Based on how Asafo Aumua has been playing off the bench for the All Blacks, maybe someone who's a specialist bench hooker at Super Rugby level isn't a bad option.
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Brodie McAlister is 27 and made 43 appearances for the Crusaders since 2019 - 10 as a starter.
I've never seen him play a single game that suggests he should be anywhere near the ABs.
10 starts in 6 years? Far out, and he's seen as an option for higher honours, whilst Riccitelli gets laughed at as an option? That'll do me.
He's had Codie Taylor ahead of him (and was injured when Taylor was out this year). Ricky Riccitelli hasn't had an All Black hooker to compete with or he would have no doubt earned far fewer starts.
Based on how Asafo Aumua has been playing off the bench for the All Blacks, maybe someone who's a specialist bench hooker at Super Rugby level isn't a bad option.
Big difference when Brodie McAlister was coming on at SR level off the bench when the majority of the time the Crusaders were well in control and up by plenty infront of half full stadiums, compared to top tier test rugby where most games are in the balance. Infact, the only thing McAlister did this year was botch that lineout against the Tahs (with the game inthe balance) which ended up costing the Crusaders the game, and also a spot in the playoffs.
Anyone could have been effective off the bench at hooker in those Crusaders glory years, even Andrew Makalio was. He didn't seem to be anywhere near as good however when he left and went to the Highlanders.
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No one seems to rate Cam Millar but I think he is more suited to international rugby than Jacomb. I would take these two though.
@cgrant said in All Blacks XV 2024:
No one seems to rate Cam Millar but I think he is more suited to international rugby than Jacomb. I would take these two though.
I'd definitely take both... what is massively in Millar's favour (short-term) is that the Highlanders' 10 jersey is his, and I think at first five, to reach the All Blacks you need to pretty much be a nailed on starter. Unless McKenzie gets injured, Jacomb's best bet is starting at fullback.
