All Blacks 2025

[booboo]

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:

I would be interested, now that we are a little over half way through the comp, what you blokes would pick as your AB 23 for a hypothetical first test.
Not interested in what you think the selectors would do, but who YOU would select.

Be interesting to see if there are a lot of consensus picks

I preface this with the comment that this is based on gut feels and if I was really selecting a team I'd probably pick something completely different if I had access to actual stats and video analysis. And I've picked some players over others because better bench impact (eg Tosi v Newell), and there are some positions where I'd be delighted with any number of combinations including some I haven't put on the bench (eg Hooker).

I've also assumed all named are injury free and available.

So.

1. Williams

2. Taylor

3. Lomax

4. Barrett

5. Vaa'i

6. Finau

7. Savea

8. Sititi

9. Roigard

10. McKenzie

11. Clarke

12. Barrett

13. Ioane

14. Jordan

15. Barrett

16. Taukei'aho

17. Groot

18. Tosi

19. Tuipulotu

20. Kirifi

21. Hotham

22. Tupaea

23. Narawa

Criticise away all.

[booboo]

@sparky good forward pack

[sparky]

@booboo I'd have Lakai ahead of Kirifi, but I like the rest. I think Love and Perofeta will move ahead of Beauden Barrett at some point.

The place where we look short of options in the midfield. We are going to have less creativity there than I'd like.

[sparky]

@booboo I think the ABs are in a good place in the forwards and will at least match anyone else there.

[Crazy Horse]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

Noah Hotham did his ABs chances no harm tonight. Interesting calls ahead at 9.

So far he has been very tidy and is making clearing the ball under pressure look easy. His pass is so natural it looks effortless, and he gets to the ruck quickly. He has some things to work on but I think he has a game that could be useful long term at test level.

[frugby]

A few of the challengers for the ABs squad/starting spots had poor games last night… one poor game doesn’t change anything, though particularly for those Canes guys it is a missed opportunity. I do see an irony though, that a lot of people here moan at Razor’s selections, yet are now suggesting some of these guys aren’t good enough to replace the incumbents.

[booboo]

Quick aside here. Saw Williams go to TH at one stage when Bower came in for Newell's HIA. Developing on both sides? Good option to have.

[Landers92]

@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:

Quick aside here. Saw Williams go to TH at one stage when Bower came in for Newell's HIA. Developing on both sides? Good option to have.

Tams has always been capable of playing both sides. Over the last few years he has really just stuck to loosehead. Big bonus and massive flexibility when it comes to being selected in the 23. He’s already in it without a doubt before that is even considered though.

[sparky]

Another strong performance by Dalton Papalii. He deserves to wear the Black Jersey this year and to show what he can do for the international team.

[sparky]

Fabian Holland looking every inch an All Black in waiting.

[Machpants]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

Fabian Holland looking every inch an All Black in waiting.

Only this match, not been that amazing up until now. More games the same required, one offs don't cut it, imo

[Victor Meldrew]

Only watched 2 games this WE, but Lakai, Hotham and Holland did there selection chances no harm at all. Roigard looked a bit off-kilter to me and was pulled late in teh game. Is there some low-level injury problem?

[booboo]

I'll say it.

Fihaki looked good last night ...

Given his lack of runs on the board he'll have to play like that for rest of the season to justify any sort of consideration ... but credit where it's due.

[sparky]

@booboo He finishes well. I think he could develop into a successor to Sevu Reece and Mark Telea.

[Bones]

@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:

Fihaki looked good last night ...

Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.

[Bones]

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

Fabian Holland looking every inch an All Black in waiting.

Only this match, not been that amazing up until now. More games the same required, one offs don't cut it, imo

Yeah I wouldn't say it was even close to an AB performance. Just wasn't anonymous like previous games.

Sparky is obviously still on a bender from Friday night.

[African Monkey]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:

Fihaki looked good last night ...

Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.

He's not the greatest of defenders that's for sure.

[Bones]

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:

Fihaki looked good last night ...

Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.

He's not the greatest of defenders that's for sure.

I see nothing in his game that isn't done the same or better by the likes of ENS, Lam, Tangitau, Stephenson....

[African Monkey]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:

Fihaki looked good last night ...

Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.

He's not the greatest of defenders that's for sure.

I see nothing in his game that isn't done the same or better by the likes of ENS, Lam, Tangitau, Stephenson....

Neither, and as you pointed out, he's an awful defender currently. The try you pointed out and his miss on Miracle Fa'ilagi in the Moana Pasifika game being 2 examples of that.

But yeah, if it were Shaun Stevenson, every man and his dog would be out in full force letting everyone know about it.

[booboo]

Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.