All Blacks 2025
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@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.
@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.
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@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.
@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.
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@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.
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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
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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)
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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)
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Why wouldn't a Sititi-Savea-Sotutu back row work at Test level?
Coz Ryan and Razor
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@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...
@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.
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@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.
@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?
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@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...
@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.
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Let's just hope the weight they put on finals footy last year applies this year.
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I estimate the current mood on here for AB success in 2025 as the highest it's been for 6-8 years.
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Savea 7 Sititi 8 DMac locked in at 10 Proctor 13 and Rieko wing would all help the cause
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@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...
@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...
I think people had every right to be up in arms about Sotutu's non selection, and yes, they got it right with Sititi.
Also, this is a forum lol. People on Here are gonna express their opinions rightly or wrongly. A lot of the time selectors get it wrong too.
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Rieko can cover wing....
Rieko is a winger
Exactly
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They picked Sititi at 6 and could have played Savea at 7 (and Sotutu at 8). Where did Savea mostly play for Moana this year? Where he had a stormer?
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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)
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
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)
I like Dalton, and agree he's probably the best ruck forward in NZ (and also a very accurate defender) - but he is not a great carrier, or support runner. He's not bad, but having him at the top of a carrying stat as if he's a gun is misleading, and there's a good reason the Blues use him where his strengths lie.
His problem re AB selection isn't that though in my opinion - it's that he's not that big, not an outstanding lineout forward, and neither are Savea, Sititi and Barrett. -
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
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)
I like Dalton, and agree he's probably the best ruck forward in NZ (and also a very accurate defender) - but he is not a great carrier, or support runner. He's not bad, but having him at the top of a carrying stat as if he's a gun is misleading, and there's a good reason the Blues use him where his strengths lie.
His problem re AB selection isn't that though in my opinion - it's that he's not that big, not an outstanding lineout forward, and neither are Savea, Sititi and Barrett.@reprobate Barrett is a lock. You would think he was very good at his core job. Otherwise he's just another middling player who can do some good things but isn't a master of the most important ones
