All Blacks 2025

brodean

@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

Why wouldn't a Sititi-Savea-Sotutu back row work at Test level?

At least give it a go ffs

I worry about our lineout.
I know Sotutu isn't terrible and Sititi can be used.
If we have Vaii's workrate at lock that's a good thing, right? But, you add Barrett as the other lock and suddenly we have five hybrids from 4-7.

Sotutu won the most lineouts of all NZ players last year in SR. The Blues didn't use him as much this year but he is an excellent lineout operator.

gt12

Good posts.

Yeah, actually the more I think about it, the more I'm starting to think that if we have two good locks this isn't the issue.

And, that's a great point about Sotutu. It arguably makes it better than the other options around.

Duluth

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

Why wouldn't a Sititi-Savea-Sotutu back row work at Test level?

At least give it a go ffs

I worry about our lineout.
I know Sotutu isn't terrible and Sititi can be used.
If we have Vaii's workrate at lock that's a good thing, right? But, you add Barrett as the other lock and suddenly we have five hybrids from 4-7.

Sotutu won the most lineouts of all NZ players last year in SR. The Blues didn't use him as much this year but he is an excellent lineout operator.

Long arms and good aerial skills.

nostrildamus

I don't see SB as a hybrid. If he isn't playing as one of the top locks or doesn't balance lineout weakness elsewhere in his game then choose someone who can.

nostrildamus

@Duluth said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

Why wouldn't a Sititi-Savea-Sotutu back row work at Test level?

At least give it a go ffs

I worry about our lineout.
I know Sotutu isn't terrible and Sititi can be used.
If we have Vaii's workrate at lock that's a good thing, right? But, you add Barrett as the other lock and suddenly we have five hybrids from 4-7.

Sotutu won the most lineouts of all NZ players last year in SR. The Blues didn't use him as much this year but he is an excellent lineout operator.

Long arms and good aerial skills.

And he uses those long arms really well in mauls too.

brodean

It's disappointing how conservative NZ coaches have become. Going back to Christie over Funaki. Going for Cameron over Love at 10.

Over the last 5+ years NZ coaches are preferring experienced journeymen over actual talent and ability

brodean

Papali'i is the best cleaner in NZ rugby and I hope he's picked for the ABs.

DaGrubster

@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky i have said it before and i will say it again a loose forward trio of Savea,Sititi and Sotutu would be one of the most skilkful ball trio going around

The three S’s would be an unfortunste name for the trio

Tim

@brodean Nick Bishop had some comments on him that he's shown his carrying ability at test level in the past, but with the Blues he's used very strictly to tackle and clean. Limits his turnover opportunities too.

brodean

@Tim said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean Nick Bishop had some comments on him that he's shown his carrying ability at test level in the past, but with the Blues he's used very strictly to tackle and clean. Limits his turnover opportunities too.

That's probably a fair comment but without his cleans we lose that game last night. He allows us to retain possession for long periods when we needed too. That's how the last RWC final was played and that's how it was when we won 2011.

He's also faster getting to the ball on breakouts compared to Blackadder who has no 4th or 5th gear.

According to those opta stats his running impact is high as a percentage. When he runs he has a high impact.

sparky

@Tim said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean Nick Bishop had some comments on him that he's shown his carrying ability at test level in the past, but with the Blues he's used very strictly to tackle and clean. Limits his turnover opportunities too.

I can't believe that people log onto here and proceed to bash the Bishop publicly.

Tim

@sparky well don't trust that south african too much. He is still a patriot.

canefan

Cleanouts are critical, as the Canes found out to their cost last night. Being given a limited but very important task, and performing that well for the good of the team and resulting in victory? Sounds like good coaching and good player performance to me

brodean

https://super.rugby/superrugby/match-centre/match-packs/2025-qualifying-finals/

Looking at the match pack stats for loose forwards this season:

Defenders Beaten ( carries ) :
36 Lio-Willie (143)
22 Sotutu (131)
23 Kirifi (125)
18 Lakai (168)
16 Papali'i (56)
15 Iose (74)
10 Finau (79)
9 Parker (70)
2 Blackadder (65)

Defenders Beaten per carry:
0.28 Papali'i
0.25 Lio-Willie
0.2 Iose
0.18 Kirifi
0.17 Sotutu
0.13 Finau
0.13 Parker
0.11 Lakai
0.03 Blackadder

( Sititi not in the match pack)

Wapiti

@brodean where do you access that?

Wapiti

@canefan Short memories. This time last year the same people were bitching and moaning about Sititi being picked over Sotutu, how did that turn out? I think i will back the AB coaches over silverfern couch selectors...

KiwiMurph

@Wapiti said in All Blacks 2025:

@canefan Short memories. This time last year the same people were bitching and moaning about Sititi being picked over Sotutu, how did that turn out? I think i will back the AB coaches over silverfern couch selectors...

What you are not addressing is that it doesn't have to be Sotutu vs Sititi.

You can pick both in the squad.

Instead we end up with these versatile/hybrid loosies that leave you wanting more.

At loosie we have Sititi, Savea and then a whole bunch of just dudes.

canefan

@KiwiMurph dudes that are all much of a muchness , and that don't even get to play. Surely it's better to pick different horses for courses?

brodean

@Wapiti said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean where do you access that?

Link is in the post.

brodean

@Wapiti said in All Blacks 2025:

@canefan Short memories. This time last year the same people were bitching and moaning about Sititi being picked over Sotutu, how did that turn out? I think i will back the AB coaches over silverfern couch selectors...

Sotutu never got a chance to show his wares for the ABs though did he?

Sotutu was a better 8 than both Parker and Sititi last night.

It wasn't actually a great year for the ABs last year and while Sititi had some good games we didn't actually win against the South Africa and France who have the tougher packs compared to the rest.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks 2025