All Blacks 2025
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@Chris-B haha, fair, I don't remembering him featuring all that much, and that shocker he had certainly stands out in the memory. Hard to tell how much he has improved (if any?), given Jordie is absolutely dominating up there and people are just writing that off as him playing against inferior opposition. Happy to have him back of course, but shoe horning him straight into the 15 over players that have performed a lot better seems like madness.
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B haha, fair, I don't remembering him featuring all that much, and that shocker he had certainly stands out in the memory. Hard to tell how much he has improved (if any?), given Jordie is absolutely dominating up there and people are just writing that off as him playing against inferior opposition. Happy to have him back of course, but shoe horning him straight into the 15 over players that have performed a lot better seems like madness.
He should definitely have to fight for a spot. He has accumulated no credit in the black jersey to date. But we can always do with more depth and competition, both at wing or at midfield
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
All those combinations created over a long period of time is exactly what we are missing today.
Maybe... but I wouldn't say this All Blacks side lacks experience. I think the best All Blacks 23 in the eyes of most at the end of last year (with what is still available now) would look something like: Williams, Taylor, Lomax, S Barrett, Vaa'i, Finau, Savea, Sititi, Roigard, McKenzie, Clarke, Barrett, Ioane, Tele'a, Jordan, Taukei'aho, de Groot, Newell, Tuipulotu, Lakai, Ratima, Barrett, Lienert-Brown.
You can argue the finer point for the odd change here, but the general sentiment is most of those guys were at the 2023 RWC, and of that starting side, only a handful don't have 20 test appearances.
The argument for time in the saddle is fair for youngsters, but Samapeni Finau will be 26 when he next steps out for the All Blacks, having not yet done anything of note. You contrast that to Wallace Sititi (and to a lesser extent Peter Lakai in his two appearances), who took to it like a duck to water last year. I kind of think this just says better players do adapt.
In the absence of a better option, I wouldn't mind if they gave Finau another go, but if he doesn't perform, the coaches shouldn't take the blame - and neither should Finau. It might just be an example of some of these guys not being quite good enough.
Isn't Leicester back for the test season? I'd rather see him, Tangitau & Timoci Tawatawa... than Telea & Clarke. Enough of these defensively frail wingers please.
Clarke is 10 times the player Leicester has ever been, and should be a lock for the #11 jumper. Leicester's stocks appear to have risen dramatically given his only performance in black has been an error ridden poor one. Great to have players returning to NZ but I really don't see Leicester as a solution to any of our backline problems. Inconsistent is the word that springs to mind with him.
You seem to have blotted 2023 from your memory NQ.
In 2022, Leicester played two tests against Ireland. The first he was actually pretty good. I recall this, because when he got picked I told y'all he wasn't test ready. I got a serve or two after that test. Second test he wasn't test ready. He spent the rest of the season holding tackle bags while Caleb laboured through Fozzie's annus horribilis. Caleb probably wasn't test ready either!
2023 though, he'd markedly improved, got picked for the ABs, played five games including at the World Cup. When Mark T. blotted his copybook and got suspended for the Ireland QF - Fozzie and Schmidt picked Big Leicester to play Ireland, so he'd clearly supplanted Caleb at that point.
Then he went overseas. Caleb had a great 2024. I don't really watch euro club rugby so I can't tell you if Leicester has improved as much as Caleb. Would be good for us if he has.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
All those combinations created over a long period of time is exactly what we are missing today.
Maybe... but I wouldn't say this All Blacks side lacks experience. I think the best All Blacks 23 in the eyes of most at the end of last year (with what is still available now) would look something like: Williams, Taylor, Lomax, S Barrett, Vaa'i, Finau, Savea, Sititi, Roigard, McKenzie, Clarke, Barrett, Ioane, Tele'a, Jordan, Taukei'aho, de Groot, Newell, Tuipulotu, Lakai, Ratima, Barrett, Lienert-Brown.
You can argue the finer point for the odd change here, but the general sentiment is most of those guys were at the 2023 RWC, and of that starting side, only a handful don't have 20 test appearances.
The argument for time in the saddle is fair for youngsters, but Samapeni Finau will be 26 when he next steps out for the All Blacks, having not yet done anything of note. You contrast that to Wallace Sititi (and to a lesser extent Peter Lakai in his two appearances), who took to it like a duck to water last year. I kind of think this just says better players do adapt.
In the absence of a better option, I wouldn't mind if they gave Finau another go, but if he doesn't perform, the coaches shouldn't take the blame - and neither should Finau. It might just be an example of some of these guys not being quite good enough.
Isn't Leicester back for the test season? I'd rather see him, Tangitau & Timoci Tawatawa... than Telea & Clarke. Enough of these defensively frail wingers please.
Clarke is 10 times the player Leicester has ever been, and should be a lock for the #11 jumper. Leicester's stocks appear to have risen dramatically given his only performance in black has been an error ridden poor one. Great to have players returning to NZ but I really don't see Leicester as a solution to any of our backline problems. Inconsistent is the word that springs to mind with him.
You seem to have blotted 2023 from your memory NQ.
In 2022, Leicester played two tests against Ireland. The first he was actually pretty good. I recall this, because when he got picked I told y'all he wasn't test ready. I got a serve or two after that test. Second test he wasn't test ready. He spent the rest of the season holding tackle bags while Caleb laboured through Fozzie's annus horribilis. Caleb probably wasn't test ready either!
2023 though, he'd markedly improved, got picked for the ABs, played five games including at the World Cup. When Mark T. blotted his copybook and got suspended for the Ireland QF - Fozzie and Schmidt picked Big Leicester to play Ireland, so he'd clearly supplanted Caleb at that point.
Then he went overseas. Caleb had a great 2024. I don't really watch euro club rugby so I can't tell you if Leicester has improved as much as Caleb. Would be good for us if he has.
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I'm excited LF is coming back. We have so little depth at 13. I'd love to see him get a run and see what he can do. I'm pretty much over Reiko, he has good defense but offers next to zero on attack, might be the gameplan more than him, but you almost never see him beat anyone or put away his outsides. Maybe I am being too harsh, just expected much better things from him.
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Rieko does not have any body of work to speak of at 13 for club or country.
If you stick Rieko Ioane highlights into YouTube, all of it will be with him wearing the 11 shirt.
Its so meh.
He really should be the top try scoring Allblack of all time by now......
Will Jordan debuted 4 years after him and has already overtaken him in the record books.
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After the Chiefs game today: Quinn Tupaea is getting better and better. and will be pushing hard for a slot. If Jacomb plays any more games like that, he'll def. be in Bolter territory.
Oh, Wallace is back.
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Norris could be the third LH prop.
Tangitau could thrive outside a good passing centre, but not outside Rieko as far as attack is concerned. He could do well outside Billy Proctor but I cannot imagine the All Blacks' selectors choosing two inexperienced players at international level at the same time. This is why I think Tangitau's time will not come this year. -
Leicester Fainga'anuku's availability for the All Blacks this year will just come down to how well Razor is able to negotiate with NZR. The rule is you theoretically have to play Super to play in the July Tests, and NPC to play in the TRC, but they've bent that rule in the past depending on needs.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
I would love to see Narawa given a decent chance to replace Reece too...
I'd prefer Harry potter
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
I would love to see Narawa given a decent chance to replace Reece too...
I'd prefer Harry potter
Bigot
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Leicester Fainga'anuku's availability for the All Blacks this year will just come down to how well Razor is able to negotiate with NZR. The rule is you theoretically have to play Super to play in the July Tests, and NPC to play in the TRC, but they've bent that rule in the past depending on needs.
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
Leicester Fainga'anuku's availability for the All Blacks this year will just come down to how well Razor is able to negotiate with NZR. The rule is you theoretically have to play Super to play in the July Tests, and NPC to play in the TRC, but they've bent that rule in the past depending on needs.
It is stupid rule imo. I'm all for not allowing overseas players (fuck off r as zor and mounga) but once they're on our books, employed by NZR, then they should be available
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Norris could be the third LH prop.
Tangitau could thrive outside a good passing centre, but not outside Rieko as far as attack is concerned. He could do well outside Billy Proctor but I cannot imagine the All Blacks' selectors choosing two inexperienced players at international level at the same time. This is why I think Tangitau's time will not come this year.@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
Norris could be the third LH prop.
Tangitau could thrive outside a good passing centre, but not outside Rieko as far as attack is concerned. He could do well outside Billy Proctor but I cannot imagine the All Blacks' selectors choosing two inexperienced players at international level at the same time. This is why I think Tangitau's time will not come this year.What ?
Tangitau isn't picked because Rieko can't pass? -
Tangitau can score tries outside some pretty average inside backs. He's been doing it all season (until he got injured)
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Rieko does not have any body of work to speak of at 13 for club or country.
If you stick Rieko Ioane highlights into YouTube, all of it will be with him wearing the 11 shirt.
Its so meh.
He really should be the top try scoring Allblack of all time by now......
Will Jordan debuted 4 years after him and has already overtaken him in the record books.
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
Rieko does not have any body of work to speak of at 13 for club or country.
If you stick Rieko Ioane highlights into YouTube, all of it will be with him wearing the 11 shirt.
Its so meh.
He really should be the top try scoring Allblack of all time by now......
Will Jordan debuted 4 years after him and has already overtaken him in the record books.
He also has an unusually ganguly build for a centre, his upper body is slender but is strongly built from waist down, he has a lanky physique (much like Joe Rokocoko) for endurance running & acceleration off the mark, he should be out in space not in the midfield.
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
Rieko does not have any body of work to speak of at 13 for club or country.
If you stick Rieko Ioane highlights into YouTube, all of it will be with him wearing the 11 shirt.
Its so meh.
He really should be the top try scoring Allblack of all time by now......
Will Jordan debuted 4 years after him and has already overtaken him in the record books.
He also has an unusually ganguly build for a centre, his upper body is slender but is strongly built from waist down, he has a lanky physique (much like Joe Rokocoko) for endurance running & acceleration off the mark, he should be out in space not in the midfield.
@darylmitchell built like Umaga and Smith. What you on lately fella?
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@darylmitchell built like Umaga and Smith. What you on lately fella?
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@Bones Reiko's a bit taller than those 2 and has longer legs, more emphasis on lower body & leg strength. Smith & Umaga had a more balanced core, even though weighed less.
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@darylmitchell I'm not sure that extra inch means as much as you think it does.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell I'm not sure that extra inch means as much as you think it does.
Mrs Mitchell will vouch for that.
Plus Reiko is a much better athlete than anyone the Boks can churn out apparently so it’s all irrelevant
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
Norris could be the third LH prop.
Tangitau could thrive outside a good passing centre, but not outside Rieko as far as attack is concerned. He could do well outside Billy Proctor but I cannot imagine the All Blacks' selectors choosing two inexperienced players at international level at the same time. This is why I think Tangitau's time will not come this year.What ?
Tangitau isn't picked because Rieko can't pass?@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
Norris could be the third LH prop.
Tangitau could thrive outside a good passing centre, but not outside Rieko as far as attack is concerned. He could do well outside Billy Proctor but I cannot imagine the All Blacks' selectors choosing two inexperienced players at international level at the same time. This is why I think Tangitau's time will not come this year.What ?
Tangitau isn't picked because Rieko can't pass?I fear this will happen.
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They played Rieko on the wing in the final quarter a few times last season, and he looked very dangerous with the extra space. If the coaches are not going to implement a gameplan that allows Rieko to get on the outside shoulder of his man, then he is better served playing out wide. A back three of Clarke - Jordan - Rieko would be pretty scary to defend against.
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Something like Roigard - DMac - Clarke - Jordie - Proctor - Rieko - Jordan would be awesome to watch if they got going.
@ScottRobertson tagging you so you see this post, give the fans what they want
