All Blacks 2025
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Tevita Mafileo in as injury cover over his Canes team mate Numia has me stumped. Numia is a year younger too.
Lord in over Darry has also left me a little confused. They seem to love Lord but I’m yet to see the appeal. He’s better off playing NPC where he can focus on stringing consistent games together imo. Talented and room to grow, yes. Let him play every week in NPC.
Feel for Fakatava, it must simply be they don’t see him as a fit for how they want to play. He has his ups and downs but I felt this season was one of his better ones for awhile, he’s a better player than a lot make out.
Papalii should be in this group imo.
In saying that I’m stoked for Parker, big physical athlete who has the skills to lock down the 6 jersey through till the next World Cup.
I dont see the injury cover guys getting a cap, more just an extra look at them and getting them in the environment which doesn’t hurt I guess. What sort of message does it send to Numia, Fakatava and even a Havili and Papalii? All on the outside looking in as it stands.
Excited to see how this championship unfolds.
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
Tevita Mafileo in as injury cover over his Canes team mate Numia has me stumped. Numia is a year younger too.
He is a replacement for Lomax, a TH prop.
George Bower (33, Crusaders / Otago, 23) for Tamaiti Williams
Tevita Mafileo (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, ) for Tyrel Lomax
Josh Lord (24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 7) for Luke Jacobson
Finlay Christie (29, Blues / Ta$man, 23) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Kyle Preston (25, Crusaders / Wellington, ) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Leroy Carter (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, ) for Caleb Clarke -
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The elephant in the room is we have 4 Chiefs loose forwards plus Vaa'i in the squad now and they failed to deliver in the quarter this year, the final this year, and multiple other finals over the last few years.
your focus it on wrong positions. we loss final because our reserve props struggled and our back three couldn't catch a bomb. the fact that two of the 3 back three are in this team is what you should be worried about.
@ploughboy said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The elephant in the room is we have 4 Chiefs loose forwards plus Vaa'i in the squad now and they failed to deliver in the quarter this year, the final this year, and multiple other finals over the last few years.
your focus it on wrong positions. we loss final because our reserve props struggled and our back three couldn't catch a bomb. the fact that two of the 3 back three are in this team is what you should be worried about.
The Chiefs loose forwards got pumped at the breakdown in the final by the Cruaaders this year and in the last 20 minutes utterly failed to make metres over the advantage line.
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The coaches have learned to tone down their pro-mid-cantab bias, but are struggling with their anti-Auckland one.
If it was just one player you could write it off, but it's now three loosies very well suited for Test rugby, and played that way in Super Rugby. Small loosies are going to bite us when we get to stronger teams. Fine for France C (Just!) and probably for Oz (the last games makes me think may be not).
The Boks are going to bully the fuck out of Kirifi, especially if he's paired with Savea who has also struggled in the past when the game becomes an arm wrestle in the forwards.
And Jacobson! Replacing mid-cantabs with mid-chiefs players, sigh.
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@ploughboy said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The elephant in the room is we have 4 Chiefs loose forwards plus Vaa'i in the squad now and they failed to deliver in the quarter this year, the final this year, and multiple other finals over the last few years.
your focus it on wrong positions. we loss final because our reserve props struggled and our back three couldn't catch a bomb. the fact that two of the 3 back three are in this team is what you should be worried about.
The Chiefs loose forwards got pumped at the breakdown in the final by the Cruaaders this year and in the last 20 minutes utterly failed to make metres over the advantage line.
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@ploughboy said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
The elephant in the room is we have 4 Chiefs loose forwards plus Vaa'i in the squad now and they failed to deliver in the quarter this year, the final this year, and multiple other finals over the last few years.
your focus it on wrong positions. we loss final because our reserve props struggled and our back three couldn't catch a bomb. the fact that two of the 3 back three are in this team is what you should be worried about.
The Chiefs loose forwards got pumped at the breakdown in the final by the Cruaaders this year and in the last 20 minutes utterly failed to make metres over the advantage line.
Don't forget the Blues game as well. Finau in particular was very helpful for our win in that game.
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@Stag huh? I was agreeing with your point Stag there's no bias to those from the garden city Ennor, Havili, Bell, Blackadder & now Lio-Willie goneskis.
@Grooter said in All Blacks 2025:
@Stag huh? I was agreeing with your point Stag there's no bias to those from the garden city Ennor, Havili, Bell, Blackadder & now Lio-Willie goneskis.
Lol
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Overall I don't mind the squad but it doesn't fill me with excitement or confidence for a tough RC assignment.
Biggest qualms are over the loose forwards and the midfield.
Apart from JB the midfield was pretty average for the French series.
Loose forwards are made up of 4 Chiefs and 2 Canes plus Savea. Apart from Savea the other 6 are light on experience. None of them delivered in their last Super appearance this year and their teams in both games got owned at the breakdown.
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@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Was really impressed last year when he deputised when Roigard was out but maybe it’s just me
Don't get me wrong mate, he was pretty handy, just I don't really think he is a real high level 9. That is the case with a bloody lot of good players we got in the country, and absolutely no insult to them. I think perhaps Viljoen could evelop a snappier pass, and pick his times to break or angle he runs, he tends to get isolated at times. Once again that's not real bad, and these things could come to round him off as a top level 9.
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Was really impressed last year when he deputised when Roigard was out but maybe it’s just me
Don't get me wrong mate, he was pretty handy, just I don't really think he is a real high level 9. That is the case with a bloody lot of good players we got in the country, and absolutely no insult to them. I think perhaps Viljoen could evelop a snappier pass, and pick his times to break or angle he runs, he tends to get isolated at times. Once again that's not real bad, and these things could come to round him off as a top level 9.
Seems a bit harsh, was my POD against Harbour, he's young and has a higher ceiling than the likes of Preston etc, although probably will be overtaken by Jai Tamati anyway.
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What I struggle with, is a couple of years ago we had a loose trio that spent an entire season bitch slapping every other trio around in Super Rugby, in a style akin to test footy. They also did exactly that in the finals, the matches that are most akin to test footy at that level.
Since then, our biggest problem with the ABs has been our loosies, and these guys have been barely sighted. Akira gave up and went to Japan. Hoskins to his credit has stuck around but has been forced to watch players like Lio-Willie be brought in ahead of him, and Dalton has been kept at arms length and now dropped despite his strong form in SR and recently against France.
My point here isn't that we need to draft Akira, Dalton and Hoskins into the starting side right now (though that wouldn't hurt). My point is that the loose forward selections and tactics from these coaches have been an absolute mess from the get-go. Ignoring form, selecting undersized trios, favouring ineffective workhorses over players that can have an impact, none of it makes any sense and I think it's going to be the undoing of this AB side.
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
What I struggle with, is a couple of years ago we had a loose trio that spent an entire season bitch slapping every other trio around in Super Rugby, in a style akin to test footy. They also did exactly that in the finals, the matches that are most akin to test footy at that level.
Since then, our biggest problem with the ABs has been our loosies, and these guys have been barely sighted. Akira gave up and went to Japan. Hoskins to his credit has stuck around but has been forced to watch players like Lio-Willie be brought in ahead of him, and Dalton has been kept at arms length and now dropped despite his strong form in SR and recently against France.
My point here isn't that we need to draft Akira, Dalton and Hoskins into the starting side right now (though that wouldn't hurt). My point is that the loose forward selections and tactics from these coaches have been an absolute mess from the get-go. Ignoring form, selecting undersized trios, favouring ineffective workhorses over players that can have an impact, none of it makes any sense and I think it's going to be the undoing of this AB side.
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
What I struggle with, is a couple of years ago we had a loose trio that spent an entire season bitch slapping every other trio around in Super Rugby, in a style akin to test footy. They also did exactly that in the finals, the matches that are most akin to test footy at that level.
Since then, our biggest problem with the ABs has been our loosies, and these guys have been barely sighted. Akira gave up and went to Japan. Hoskins to his credit has stuck around but has been forced to watch players like Lio-Willie be brought in ahead of him, and Dalton has been kept at arms length and now dropped despite his strong form in SR and recently against France.
My point here isn't that we need to draft Akira, Dalton and Hoskins into the starting side right now (though that wouldn't hurt). My point is that the loose forward selections and tactics from these coaches have been an absolute mess from the get-go. Ignoring form, selecting undersized trios, favouring ineffective workhorses over players that can have an impact, none of it makes any sense and I think it's going to be the undoing of this AB side.
Which loose forward trio are you referring to?
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Was really impressed last year when he deputised when Roigard was out but maybe it’s just me
Don't get me wrong mate, he was pretty handy, just I don't really think he is a real high level 9. That is the case with a bloody lot of good players we got in the country, and absolutely no insult to them. I think perhaps Viljoen could evelop a snappier pass, and pick his times to break or angle he runs, he tends to get isolated at times. Once again that's not real bad, and these things could come to round him off as a top level 9.
Seems a bit harsh, was my POD against Harbour, he's young and has a higher ceiling than the likes of Preston etc, although probably will be overtaken by Jai Tamati anyway.
@WoodysRFC said in All Blacks 2025:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Was really impressed last year when he deputised when Roigard was out but maybe it’s just me
Don't get me wrong mate, he was pretty handy, just I don't really think he is a real high level 9. That is the case with a bloody lot of good players we got in the country, and absolutely no insult to them. I think perhaps Viljoen could evelop a snappier pass, and pick his times to break or angle he runs, he tends to get isolated at times. Once again that's not real bad, and these things could come to round him off as a top level 9.
Seems a bit harsh, was my POD against Harbour, he's young and has a higher ceiling than the likes of Preston etc, although probably will be overtaken by Jai Tamati anyway.
Why does he have a higher ceiling? Yet another bit part canes player selected to the universe XV that would crush the world XV.
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The cleverest part of this All Blacks squad is not selecting Riley Higgins. Keeping your best powder dry.
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So Jacobson will not be travelling to Argentina.
That makes the loosie options raw af. Even if Vaa'i is selected there he's still relatively inexperienced at 6.
Well trial by fire I guess against Kremer, Matera and Gonzalez etc. Pumas are strong in that area. They'll look to disrupt our loose forwards and halfback.
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@WoodysRFC said in All Blacks 2025:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Was really impressed last year when he deputised when Roigard was out but maybe it’s just me
Don't get me wrong mate, he was pretty handy, just I don't really think he is a real high level 9. That is the case with a bloody lot of good players we got in the country, and absolutely no insult to them. I think perhaps Viljoen could evelop a snappier pass, and pick his times to break or angle he runs, he tends to get isolated at times. Once again that's not real bad, and these things could come to round him off as a top level 9.
Seems a bit harsh, was my POD against Harbour, he's young and has a higher ceiling than the likes of Preston etc, although probably will be overtaken by Jai Tamati anyway.
Why does he have a higher ceiling? Yet another bit part canes player selected to the universe XV that would crush the world XV.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@WoodysRFC said in All Blacks 2025:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Was really impressed last year when he deputised when Roigard was out but maybe it’s just me
Don't get me wrong mate, he was pretty handy, just I don't really think he is a real high level 9. That is the case with a bloody lot of good players we got in the country, and absolutely no insult to them. I think perhaps Viljoen could evelop a snappier pass, and pick his times to break or angle he runs, he tends to get isolated at times. Once again that's not real bad, and these things could come to round him off as a top level 9.
Seems a bit harsh, was my POD against Harbour, he's young and has a higher ceiling than the likes of Preston etc, although probably will be overtaken by Jai Tamati anyway.
Why does he have a higher ceiling? Yet another bit part canes player selected to the universe XV that would crush the world XV.
I'm completely neutral in this discussion, as a Highlanders supporter, but apologies if I hurt your feelings. He's a 21 year old, early in his career, who in his limited opportunities has bossed players considerably more experienced than he is. Preston is 26 and in his first season, and was immediately moved to the bench once Hotham was fit and healthy.
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@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
Tevita Mafileo in as injury cover over his Canes team mate Numia has me stumped. Numia is a year younger too.
He is a replacement for Lomax, a TH prop.
George Bower (33, Crusaders / Otago, 23) for Tamaiti Williams
Tevita Mafileo (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, ) for Tyrel Lomax
Josh Lord (24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 7) for Luke Jacobson
Finlay Christie (29, Blues / Ta$man, 23) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Kyle Preston (25, Crusaders / Wellington, ) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Leroy Carter (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, ) for Caleb Clarke@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
Tevita Mafileo in as injury cover over his Canes team mate Numia has me stumped. Numia is a year younger too.
He is a replacement for Lomax, a TH prop.
George Bower (33, Crusaders / Otago, 23) for Tamaiti Williams
Tevita Mafileo (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, ) for Tyrel Lomax
Josh Lord (24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 7) for Luke Jacobson
Finlay Christie (29, Blues / Ta$man, 23) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Kyle Preston (25, Crusaders / Wellington, ) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham
Leroy Carter (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, ) for Caleb ClarkeThanks. I was unaware he can play both sides. I guess that makes a bit more sense
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Finley Christie's continued selection is troubling. Kyle Preston offers something different, I guess but Folau Fakatava and Xavier Roe are better players. Weird that Josh Lord (who is injured) gets picked ahead of Sam Darry who isn't.
Also , I certainly not convinced that either Fakatava or Roe are better players than Christie. Not really a Christie fan, but don't think the other 2 set the world on fire.. Fakatave struggles to get start with Hawkes Bay, and Roe has looked good at times for Chiefs, but also at times bloody ordinary. We really lose a lot with Roigard.
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Finley Christie's continued selection is troubling. Kyle Preston offers something different, I guess but Folau Fakatava and Xavier Roe are better players. Weird that Josh Lord (who is injured) gets picked ahead of Sam Darry who isn't.
Fakatave struggles to get start with Hawkes Bay.
What round are we in again?
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
How dare any of us question the coaches?
Razor is always right.
Anyone can question Razor and the selections, just not you, because you are always wrong…..
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Preston looked good early season, and did all he could to lose the final, terrible kicking.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Preston looked good early season, and did all he could to lose the final, terrible kicking.
Also wasn't most of the early season chat about his running game? Across the season his kicking was poor and he got rattled easily
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Preston looked good early season, and did all he could to lose the final, terrible kicking.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Preston looked good early season, and did all he could to lose the final, terrible kicking.
I quite like Preston’s game. He just needs to listen to Smithy and shelve the box kick a bit. He’s a different sort of player to Cortez and Christie which I think is important in offering variety at 9.
