The Silver Fern

@Duluth backline shape looking nice there, still some of that shape with the tag off the back of a pod ball off 9. But there were a couple plays where a midfielder actually steps into that role, as opposed to (De Groot/Scott Barrett).
That try to ENS down the right is a real nice look at a stacked backline which i havent seen much of from ABs, that looked real good for the U20s - though was a bloody good offload from fihaki to actually make the try happen

@canefan said in England A v All Blacks XV:

@pakman said in England A v All Blacks XV:

@nostrildamus said in England A v All Blacks XV:

Fakatava still looks like a great AB bench option to me. What is he missing?

Based on the highlights he'd be an asset in the AB squad.

Has to get pass Christie first 🤷

I don't want to bag Christie but he isn't the best option if they want to play fast attacking rugby.

That was a pleasant surprise to wake up to. What happened? Did the XV turn up or did the baa baars turn to shit? Who looked good in the second 40?

@pakman said in All Blacks XV 2025:

The winners and losers of the 2025 All Blacks XV The winners and losers of the 2025 All Blacks XV

The All Blacks XV have extended their win streak to seven with a three-from-three European tour, and as always, the fixtures have helped paint a picture of who has the goods for the next level.

"The All Blacks XV won 39 of their 40 scrums and 28 of their 32 lineouts across the three contests. " Impressive, with so-called makeshift locks! And I thought there were more stars in the backline, shows what I know!

But have to say, 3 from 3, is this some kind of GLAM SLAM?

@NTA said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

Saw highlights. How did Naholo not get a yellow card just before half-time?

Wearing a black jersey innit

Holland, Tupaea, Kirifi

Honourable mention: Plummer

Video of the haka is on the FB page. Silence from the crowd, led by Renata.

@brodean Bower, Slater, Haig, Holland, Lam and Plummer all went to Japan (as did Lio-Willie, who's now a permanent member of the All Blacks squad).

Though actually those guys were partially picked because they weren't involved in the NPC final so it's probably touch and go between Slater and Eklund.

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

Harmon certainly missed a chance to impress

The heat made the game stop and start. Not much phase play for him to make an impact

Did they ever say what his injury was?

@Bones said in Japan XV v All Blacks XV:

@pakman said in Japan XV v All Blacks XV:

@African-Monkey said in Japan XV v All Blacks XV:

He may have no pace anymore, but man Goodhue still has beautiful hands.

As @Victor-Meldrew observed recently, imagine him with Rieko's pace and you have the prince of centres.

The prince of centres throwing in a nothing grubber after being put into space down the left hand side, instead of looking to link up, would have had me stabbing him to death with the spikey bits on his crown.

The PofC was a superb grubberer!

@Duluth
I am not a fan of him as he is too indisciplined, but I have to admit that Kirifi had a storming NPC. He was the form 7 of the competition IMO.

@WillieTheWaiter said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:

@MiketheSnow

@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:

@akan004 said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:

Ffs how is that a yellow

YC every day and twice on Sunday

Came at speed, in from the side, and hit the man late

WTF is this 'came at speed' bullshit.. saw the same thing with Brodies card

didn't realise there was a speed limit in rugby

Wasn't a tap

Brought his full force from distance; illegally in from the side where the Irish player was unsighted so couldn't defend himself; and hit him late

That's a pretty shit thing to do and deserves a YC

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks XV:

@akan004 iIRC he looked handy when he got on for the Crusaders, but wasnt as good in NPC

He was completely outplayed in the NPC final by Delany, Blackwell and Bird at lineout time and he fell off a couple one on one tackles.

NZ Rugby need to stop selecting teams before the final has been played. No better measure of a player than when the heat is on. Gardiner isn't up to International standard. (yet)

Same goes for the non-selection of Cullen Grace in the ABs earlier this year when he was an obvious stand-out in the Super final.

I am happy you were wrong. Gardiner was outstanding in Dublin and this is good news for NZ rugby.

That doesn’t mean the likes of Delany wouldn’t have flourished if he got an opportunity aswell.

Cudos to Gardiner, he was impressive.