All Blacks XV 2024
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@canefan said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Bones flat track bully would be a better way to put it
Yeah I don't see it. The guy has put in some massive performances in big games.
Since he came back after his broken jaw (which was a bad outcome after a really poor decision) he was immense in the NPC playoffs. Huge defensive effort especially, whenever the Lions were under the pump and needed a turnover, he came up with the goods. He was far more discplined than I remember
His Mrs was on the 'Sport's Cafe-ish' podcast last week and she mentioned that she's seen a shift in Kirifi's mental and physical approach to the game in the last year. The main catalyst being his bench role for the Canes and the fact he wants his spot back.
A big change in Kirifi is his leadership IMO, years gone by he was always guilty of getting involved with a whole load of niggle with other teams. A good example of his development was when Leroy Carter dumped Filipo on his back towards the end of the final and instead of rushing in and potentially making the situation worse, he ran in and calmed everyone down. A big change in character for me.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@canefan said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Bones flat track bully would be a better way to put it
Yeah I don't see it. The guy has put in some massive performances in big games.
Since he came back after his broken jaw (which was a bad outcome after a really poor decision) he was immense in the NPC playoffs. Huge defensive effort especially, whenever the Lions were under the pump and needed a turnover, he came up with the goods. He was far more discplined than I remember
His Mrs was on the 'Sport's Cafe-ish' podcast last week and she mentioned that she's seen a shift in Kirifi's mental and physical approach to the game in the last year. The main catalyst being his bench role for the Canes and the fact he wants his spot back.
That can only be good for the Canes. Competition in the back row will be fierce next season
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@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Kirifi is one hell of a warrior, the guy seems tough as nails but has let himself down over the years with some brain farts. I am hoping he can sort the mental side of things out while his body is still holding up. He is one of those players whom I think is underestimated. Not saying he should be an AB, but I have always enjoyed watching him play.
As for Kellow, he has played well this NPC, the best I have seen him consistently play. Time for him to do it at Super level.
Kirifi is a bit like Laumape. Great when he’s against someone smaller and weaker than him. Absolutely useless against someone who’s the same size.
Maybe ask the big fellas in Waikato or even Ah Kuoi what he thinks of Kirifi after getting bumped off by him on the weekend. Pretty sure he's a bit bigger than Kirifi and what you're saying is actually an assumption and you haven't watched him this year?
If Kirifi was given an opportunity in the Black jersey, I'd be pretty certain he wouldn't let the jersey down.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Kirifi is one hell of a warrior, the guy seems tough as nails but has let himself down over the years with some brain farts. I am hoping he can sort the mental side of things out while his body is still holding up. He is one of those players whom I think is underestimated. Not saying he should be an AB, but I have always enjoyed watching him play.
As for Kellow, he has played well this NPC, the best I have seen him consistently play. Time for him to do it at Super level.
Kirifi is a bit like Laumape. Great when he’s against someone smaller and weaker than him. Absolutely useless against someone who’s the same size.
Maybe ask the big fellas in Waikato or even Ah Kuoi what he thinks of Kirifi after getting bumped off by him on the weekend. Pretty sure he's a bit bigger than Kirifi and what you're saying is actually an assumption and you haven't watched him this year?
If Kirifi was given an opportunity in the Black jersey, I'd be pretty certain he wouldn't let the jersey down.
Yeah unfortunate he wasn't given a run in the AB XV.
Would be nice to see form rewarded once in a while instead of potential.
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Undoubtedly the stand-out in the play-offs, although I thought the lenient refereeing of the breakdown suited him. Definitely plays above his weight, and the comparison to Laumape is accurate in that pocket powerhouse way at least.
Hope the stuff about his mental shift is accurate, because I've always thought of him as a bit of a thug previously. -
Ruben Love has joined the All Blacks XV squad:
@sparky said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Ruben Love has joined the All Blacks XV squad:
Good call I reckon, hopefully he starts at fullback.
When I first saw that post I thought he injured himself again.
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So updated side will probably look like this:
George Bower (Crusaders / Otago)*
Kurt Eklund (Blues / Bay of Plenty)
George Dyer (Chiefs / Waikato)
Fabian Holland ( Highlanders / Otago)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)
Oliver Haig (Highlanders / Otago)
Du Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Devan Flanders (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Finlay Christie (29 / Blues / Ta$man)*
Harry Plummer (26 / Blues / Auckland)*
Kiniviliame Naholo (25 / Hurricanes / Taranaki)
AJ Lam (26 / Blues / Auckland)
Quinn Tupaea (25 / Chiefs / Waikato)*
Emoni Narawa (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)*
Ruben Love (Hurricanes / Wellington)*
Bradley Slater (Chiefs / Taranaki)
Xavier Numia (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Marcel Renata (Blues / Auckland)
Caleb Delany (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Corey Kellow (Crusaders / Canterbury)
Noah Hotham (Crusaders / Ta$man)*
Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour / Chiefs)
Riley Higgins (Hurricanes / Wellington) -
If anyone might have been wondering why Brayden Iose wasn't called in as cover, I've been told unfortunately he's injured.
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So updated side will probably look like this:
George Bower (Crusaders / Otago)*
Kurt Eklund (Blues / Bay of Plenty)
George Dyer (Chiefs / Waikato)
Fabian Holland ( Highlanders / Otago)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)
Oliver Haig (Highlanders / Otago)
Du Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Devan Flanders (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Finlay Christie (29 / Blues / Ta$man)*
Harry Plummer (26 / Blues / Auckland)*
Kiniviliame Naholo (25 / Hurricanes / Taranaki)
AJ Lam (26 / Blues / Auckland)
Quinn Tupaea (25 / Chiefs / Waikato)*
Emoni Narawa (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)*
Ruben Love (Hurricanes / Wellington)*
Bradley Slater (Chiefs / Taranaki)
Xavier Numia (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Marcel Renata (Blues / Auckland)
Caleb Delany (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Corey Kellow (Crusaders / Canterbury)
Noah Hotham (Crusaders / Ta$man)*
Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour / Chiefs)
Riley Higgins (Hurricanes / Wellington)@Canes4life Of they can gel, that's a great line-up.
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Seems a real shame that they couldn't have organised games against meaningful oppo... even a couple of games against Aussie A would have been good. Playing Munster just feels a bit like a piss around.
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@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Are you being cereal?
It's s bunch of Super Rugby players playing a top European team.
In theory we should smoke them though. It is good to get these guys rugby at a next level up, but would be good to play a next level up oppo. Georgia is an outstanding opportunity, and would really prefer to stick to Tier 2 countries, or Tier 1 B teams.
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Munster sack their coach a few days before this match -
https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2024/10/29/graham-rowntree-departs-munster-rugby/
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@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Are you being cereal?
It's s bunch of Super Rugby players playing a top European team.
In theory we should smoke them though. It is good to get these guys rugby at a next level up, but would be good to play a next level up oppo. Georgia is an outstanding opportunity, and would really prefer to stick to Tier 2 countries, or Tier 1 B teams.
@frugby said in All Blacks XV 2024:
@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Are you being cereal?
It's s bunch of Super Rugby players playing a top European team.
In theory we should smoke them though. It is good to get these guys rugby at a next level up, but would be good to play a next level up oppo. Georgia is an outstanding opportunity, and would really prefer to stick to Tier 2 countries, or Tier 1 B teams.
Munster won the URC the previous season. They've previously beaten an AB team. I'd expect Munster to beat Georgia.
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Narawa was also a late withdrawal.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/update-to-all-blacks-xv-squad-for-northern-tour
@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Narawa was also a late withdrawal.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/update-to-all-blacks-xv-squad-for-northern-tour
So Dallas McLeod likley to come into 13 for Narawa based on the 23 above.
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Undoubtedly the stand-out in the play-offs, although I thought the lenient refereeing of the breakdown suited him. Definitely plays above his weight, and the comparison to Laumape is accurate in that pocket powerhouse way at least.
Hope the stuff about his mental shift is accurate, because I've always thought of him as a bit of a thug previously.@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Undoubtedly the stand-out in the play-offs, although I thought the lenient refereeing of the breakdown suited him. Definitely plays above his weight, and the comparison to Laumape is accurate in that pocket powerhouse way at least.
Hope the stuff about his mental shift is accurate, because I've always thought of him as a bit of a thug previously.Fair assessment on his previous approach, I agree he used to be a bit of a hot head but I feel like he's reigned a lot of that in after taking on more leadership.
If you jump to min 34 on the replay of the Breakdown you'll see what an asset Kirifi really is in terms of leadership and how much he's grown as a player.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV 2024:
Narawa was also a late withdrawal.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/update-to-all-blacks-xv-squad-for-northern-tour
So Dallas McLeod likley to come into 13 for Narawa based on the 23 above.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV 2024:
So Dallas McLeod likley to come into 13 for Narawa based on the 23 above.
Fihaki or Stevenson will be on one wing if Love starts at fullback. All the midfielders are more suited to 12 but maybe Lam plays at centre.
