All Blacks 2025
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McMillan talked about using Ah Kuoi at 6 a few years back but it hasn't happened. The same for BOP last year due to injuries to their locks. He is certainly mobile enough.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
McMillan talked about using Ah Kuoi at 6 a few years back but it hasn't happened. The same for BOP last year due to injuries to their locks. He is certainly mobile enough.
He did start one game at 6 last year, against the Crusaders in Christchurch. Can't remember whether he played well or not.
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You'd have to assume that Savea (based on this year) and Sititi (based on last year) are inked in to start. So the question is who complements them best / covers their weaknesses.
Neither is an A-grade international lineout target, though Sititi is pretty good. Finau, Sotutu, Ah Kuoi the best we have I reckon. EB and DP not as good.
Savea does not clean many attacking rucks. Our best at this are EB and DP. Ah Kuoi is not bad. Finau and HS less so.
Both are good open field runners in wide channels, and less effective in close.. Sotutu, Finau the best here by some distance. EB, DP, Ah Kuoi not so much.
So for me, three paths forward (and it could even be horses for courses):- you pick some tight forwards to maximise the ruck work (Taylor, Barrett, Newell, maybe an Ah Kuoi or Holland for the bench over Tuipolotou), and use the remaining loosie spot to get lineout and close-in power (Sotutu/Finau).
- you pick tight forwards to provide grunt running (Samisoni, Tuipolotou, Tosi) and rely on your locks and tactics for your lineout, and the remaining loosie spot goes to a ruck-hitter: EB or DP..
- you prioritise the linout and give the loosie spot to Ah Kuoi., with a balance of ruck work and close in power running required from the tighties.
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Devan Flanders could be in the conversation by the end of Super. Hopefully he comes back from his long-term injury with the same form he showed in 2024. He's the reason Howden went down to the Landers, he has the size for a test 6, and has the mobility, skillset and speed required at the next level. Would like to see more physicality in his game though, hopefully he can show that when he comes back.
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I asked Chat GTP who played 6 for the All Blacks, apart from Wallace Sititi, in 2024. I would thought the same individuals and Cullen Grace are the likely suspect this year. Peter Lakai will cover 7 and 8 behind Ardie Savea and Walllace Sititi.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
I asked Chat GTP who played 6 for the All Blacks, apart from Wallace Sititi, in 2024. I would thought the same individuals and Cullen Grace are the likely suspect this year. Peter Lakai will cover 7 and 8 behind Ardie Savea and Walllace Sititi.
I'd be inclined to also ask it who mainly played 6 in 2023, when his contract in Japan finishes and whether the AB coaches like him.
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a lot or people picking a lot of absolute midget loose forward squads.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
a lot or people picking a lot of absolute midget loose forward squads.
Based on last year, the selectors didn't seem to think size was absolutely crucial.
Ardie was a fixture at 8 and then they largely picked big sevens and small sixes - almost more left and right flankers than traditional openside/blindside. Finau the obvious exception.
As I recall, Razor even pretty much said at one point that they see loose forwards as pretty much interchangeable.
This might have been making a virtue out of a necessity.
But, it's what makes picking the loose forwards very murky - because we don't really know how Razor plans to deploy them. Will Ardie be 7 or 8? Will Sititi be 6 or 8?
The Super coaches have got into this spirit by picking lots of the contenders in positions different to where they're likely to play for the ABs - or at least where they mainly played last year.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
a lot or people picking a lot of absolute midget loose forward squads.
Based on last year, the selectors didn't seem to think size was absolutely crucial.
Ardie was a fixture at 8 and then they largely picked big sevens and small sixes - almost more left and right flankers than traditional openside/blindside. Finau the obvious exception.
As I recall, Razor even pretty much said at one point that they see loose forwards as pretty much interchangeable.
This might have been making a virtue out of a necessity.
But, it's what makes picking the loose forwards very murky - because we don't really know how Razor plans to deploy them. Will Ardie be 7 or 8? Will Sititi be 6 or 8?
The Super coaches have got into this spirit by picking lots of the contenders in positions different to where they're likely to play for the ABs - or at least where they mainly played last year.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
a lot or people picking a lot of absolute midget loose forward squads.
Based on last year, the selectors didn't seem to think size was absolutely crucial.
Ardie was a fixture at 8 and then they largely picked big sevens and small sixes - almost more left and right flankers than traditional openside/blindside. Finau the obvious exception.
As I recall, Razor even pretty much said at one point that they see loose forwards as pretty much interchangeable.
This might have been making a virtue out of a necessity.
But, it's what makes picking the loose forwards very murky - because we don't really know how Razor plans to deploy them. Will Ardie be 7 or 8? Will Sititi be 6 or 8?
The Super coaches have got into this spirit by picking lots of the contenders in positions different to where they're likely to play for the ABs - or at least where they mainly played last year.
Size becomes less of an issue with the go forward that Savea and Sititi provide.
Contrast that to Blackadder, Papalii and Jacobsen who have the same impact as a fly on a windshield in comparison.
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Devan Flanders could be in the conversation by the end of Super. Hopefully he comes back from his long-term injury with the same form he showed in 2024. He's the reason Howden went down to the Landers, he has the size for a test 6, and has the mobility, skillset and speed required at the next level. Would like to see more physicality in his game though, hopefully he can show that when he comes back.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Devan Flanders could be in the conversation by the end of Super. Hopefully he comes back from his long-term injury with the same form he showed in 2024. He's the reason Howden went down to the Landers, he has the size for a test 6, and has the mobility, skillset and speed required at the next level. Would like to see more physicality in his game though, hopefully he can show that when he comes back.
He's having a decent shot at the Blackadder route to AB selection. But, he may lack a red stripe on his jersey for to be completely successful.
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Screw versatility I say, for me that’s half the All Blacks problem picking guys who can play multiple positions as opposed to picking a specialist
You end up with tradesman like fillers on the bench@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
Screw versatility I say, for me that’s half the All Blacks problem picking guys who can play multiple positions as opposed to picking a specialist
You end up with tradesman like fillers on the benchYou end up with with some of those guys in the starting XV.
Aside from the the hookers and halfbacks (and maybe the props), pretty much everyone else in our top XV will have played at least two postions for the ABs.
A bit of versatility is good, but we take it to extremes!
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i find NZ rugby to be hyper insular and conservative.
We're overly focused on reducing risk over exploiting opportunity (see nearly every player chat being focused on errors rather than anything else), and we select everywhere as cover for disaster rather than a chance to add a positive.
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@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:
Screw versatility I say, for me that’s half the All Blacks problem picking guys who can play multiple positions as opposed to picking a specialist
You end up with tradesman like fillers on the benchYou end up with with some of those guys in the starting XV.
Aside from the the hookers and halfbacks (and maybe the props), pretty much everyone else in our top XV will have played at least two postions for the ABs.
A bit of versatility is good, but we take it to extremes!
@Chris-B there’s some players that have made All Blacks squads in the last several years because of versatility as opposed to really impacting from the bench or pushing for a permanent starting place and you can guarantee they will in this squad when ABs team gets named again .
For me if we are naming 2 number 7s then it’s Ardie and based on form then it’s DPK the best 2 players , not a Jacobson or Blackadder because they can cover 7 -
It should be remembered that the guy dropping out of the loose forward trio is Sam Cane - who, for all his criticisms hits as hard as anyone in the tackle, and did the dirty work. Ardie played at 7 will somewhat fill that void, but I still think they will be looking for a grafter - preferably with some meat on them. Could easily be Lakai at 8...
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i find NZ rugby to be hyper insular and conservative.
We're overly focused on reducing risk over exploiting opportunity (see nearly every player chat being focused on errors rather than anything else), and we select everywhere as cover for disaster rather than a chance to add a positive.
This post is deleted! -
It should be remembered that the guy dropping out of the loose forward trio is Sam Cane - who, for all his criticisms hits as hard as anyone in the tackle, and did the dirty work. Ardie played at 7 will somewhat fill that void, but I still think they will be looking for a grafter - preferably with some meat on them. Could easily be Lakai at 8...
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
It should be remembered that the guy dropping out of the loose forward trio is Sam Cane - who, for all his criticisms hits as hard as anyone in the tackle, and did the dirty work. Ardie played at 7 will somewhat fill that void, but I still think they will be looking for a grafter - preferably with some meat on them. Could easily be Lakai at 8...
A backrow of Savea, Lakai and Sititi secures no lineout ball. You need a Hoskins and Samipeni sized individual in there. Preferably two.
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i find NZ rugby to be hyper insular and conservative.
We're overly focused on reducing risk over exploiting opportunity (see nearly every player chat being focused on errors rather than anything else), and we select everywhere as cover for disaster rather than a chance to add a positive.
@mariner4life hoping for some squad selections that go against the grain think Leroy Carter, Tavatavanawai and Kirifi, knock against them maybe too short for international rugby but I just don't think Havili's and Blackadders would be of much concern to the Boks or France
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Both Sititi and Savea have been used as a lineout target with success, but I wouldn't want three short loose forwards either. The key for the loose forward trio, as always, will be balance. That third loose forward needs to be someone who hits rucks and cleans because that isn't the strength of either Savea or Sititi. Otherwise, we are expecting a lot from the locks and props to do just that.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
a lot or people picking a lot of absolute midget loose forward squads.
Based on last year, the selectors didn't seem to think size was absolutely crucial.
Ardie was a fixture at 8 and then they largely picked big sevens and small sixes - almost more left and right flankers than traditional openside/blindside. Finau the obvious exception.
As I recall, Razor even pretty much said at one point that they see loose forwards as pretty much interchangeable.
This might have been making a virtue out of a necessity.
But, it's what makes picking the loose forwards very murky - because we don't really know how Razor plans to deploy them. Will Ardie be 7 or 8? Will Sititi be 6 or 8?
The Super coaches have got into this spirit by picking lots of the contenders in positions different to where they're likely to play for the ABs - or at least where they mainly played last year.
Size becomes less of an issue with the go forward that Savea and Sititi provide.
Contrast that to Blackadder, Papalii and Jacobsen who have the same impact as a fly on a windshield in comparison.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
a lot or people picking a lot of absolute midget loose forward squads.
Based on last year, the selectors didn't seem to think size was absolutely crucial.
Ardie was a fixture at 8 and then they largely picked big sevens and small sixes - almost more left and right flankers than traditional openside/blindside. Finau the obvious exception.
As I recall, Razor even pretty much said at one point that they see loose forwards as pretty much interchangeable.
This might have been making a virtue out of a necessity.
But, it's what makes picking the loose forwards very murky - because we don't really know how Razor plans to deploy them. Will Ardie be 7 or 8? Will Sititi be 6 or 8?
The Super coaches have got into this spirit by picking lots of the contenders in positions different to where they're likely to play for the ABs - or at least where they mainly played last year.
Size becomes less of an issue with the go forward that Savea and Sititi provide.
Contrast that to Blackadder, Papalii and Jacobsen who have the same impact as a fly on a windshield in comparison.
Except... it was an issue last year, with Savea and Sititi playing most matches - and Blackadder and Papalii playing fuck-all.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
a lot or people picking a lot of absolute midget loose forward squads.
Based on last year, the selectors didn't seem to think size was absolutely crucial.
Ardie was a fixture at 8 and then they largely picked big sevens and small sixes - almost more left and right flankers than traditional openside/blindside. Finau the obvious exception.
As I recall, Razor even pretty much said at one point that they see loose forwards as pretty much interchangeable.
This might have been making a virtue out of a necessity.
But, it's what makes picking the loose forwards very murky - because we don't really know how Razor plans to deploy them. Will Ardie be 7 or 8? Will Sititi be 6 or 8?
The Super coaches have got into this spirit by picking lots of the contenders in positions different to where they're likely to play for the ABs - or at least where they mainly played last year.
Size becomes less of an issue with the go forward that Savea and Sititi provide.
Contrast that to Blackadder, Papalii and Jacobsen who have the same impact as a fly on a windshield in comparison.
Except... it was an issue last year, with Savea and Sititi playing most matches - and Blackadder and Papalii playing fuck-all.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
a lot or people picking a lot of absolute midget loose forward squads.
Based on last year, the selectors didn't seem to think size was absolutely crucial.
Ardie was a fixture at 8 and then they largely picked big sevens and small sixes - almost more left and right flankers than traditional openside/blindside. Finau the obvious exception.
As I recall, Razor even pretty much said at one point that they see loose forwards as pretty much interchangeable.
This might have been making a virtue out of a necessity.
But, it's what makes picking the loose forwards very murky - because we don't really know how Razor plans to deploy them. Will Ardie be 7 or 8? Will Sititi be 6 or 8?
The Super coaches have got into this spirit by picking lots of the contenders in positions different to where they're likely to play for the ABs - or at least where they mainly played last year.
Size becomes less of an issue with the go forward that Savea and Sititi provide.
Contrast that to Blackadder, Papalii and Jacobsen who have the same impact as a fly on a windshield in comparison.
Except... it was an issue last year, with Savea and Sititi playing most matches - and Blackadder and Papalii playing fuck-all.
I said "less"......whichever trio they select will have deficiencies of some sort.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Devan Flanders could be in the conversation by the end of Super. Hopefully he comes back from his long-term injury with the same form he showed in 2024. He's the reason Howden went down to the Landers, he has the size for a test 6, and has the mobility, skillset and speed required at the next level. Would like to see more physicality in his game though, hopefully he can show that when he comes back.
He's having a decent shot at the Blackadder route to AB selection. But, he may lack a red stripe on his jersey for to be completely successful.
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Devan Flanders could be in the conversation by the end of Super. Hopefully he comes back from his long-term injury with the same form he showed in 2024. He's the reason Howden went down to the Landers, he has the size for a test 6, and has the mobility, skillset and speed required at the next level. Would like to see more physicality in his game though, hopefully he can show that when he comes back.
He's having a decent shot at the Blackadder route to AB selection. But, he may lack a red stripe on his jersey for to be completely successful.
I feel like he ticks all the boxes but obviously needs to get back on the park. The only real concern I have is his physical presence on defence but I feel like he wasn't far off last year. Notably that game against the Drua in Fiji last year he really stood out as the dominant Canes loosie that day. Just needs to consistently dominate, he's definitely at peak age now so hopefully he can come back strong.
