All Blacks 2026
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Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
@sparky It’s disappointing he didn’t stick around through 2027 to see how things unfold.
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Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
No point wasting game time on him when we need to sort out our team for RWC. Such a shame
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@sparky It’s disappointing he didn’t stick around through 2027 to see how things unfold.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky It’s disappointing he didn’t stick around through 2027 to see how things unfold.
Points towards a breakdown in his relationship with NZR, not just with Razor
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@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky It’s disappointing he didn’t stick around through 2027 to see how things unfold.
Points towards a breakdown in his relationship with NZR, not just with Razor
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@canefan Agreed. And if the rumours have any substance, it’d be more than fair if he’s just had enough and wants to head overseas.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan Agreed. And if the rumours have any substance, it’d be more than fair if he’s just had enough and wants to head overseas.
Probably felt that NZR failed to support him. Letting the championship winning Blues back 3 leave will be a stain on Razor's tenure, not to mention he let Plummer leave as well without even properly kicking the tyres
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
No point wasting game time on him when we need to sort out our team for RWC. Such a shame
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Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
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@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan Agreed. And if the rumours have any substance, it’d be more than fair if he’s just had enough and wants to head overseas.
Probably felt that NZR failed to support him. Letting the championship winning Blues back 3 leave will be a stain on Razor's tenure, not to mention he let Plummer leave as well without even properly kicking the tyres
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan Agreed. And if the rumours have any substance, it’d be more than fair if he’s just had enough and wants to head overseas.
Probably felt that NZR failed to support him. Letting the championship winning Blues back 3 leave will be a stain on Razor's tenure, not to mention he let Plummer leave as well without even properly kicking the tyres
I can understand if they thought Plummer was not quite up to AB standard (whatever that is) but he arguably was more valuable, in-form, and test-quality that season than the Blues 10 they did pick.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
Who are our best opensides
Savea
Lakai
Jacobson
Blackadder?Have I missed someone?
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
Who are our best opensides
Savea
Lakai
Jacobson
Blackadder?Have I missed someone?
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
Who are our best opensides
Savea
Lakai
Jacobson
Blackadder?Have I missed someone?
Kirifi.
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
Who are our best opensides
Savea
Lakai
Jacobson
Blackadder?Have I missed someone?
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
Lakai
Potential to be a superb international 7, however after claiming the 8 jersey last year his future might be there.
Personally, I'd like to see the ABs persist with Lakai at 7, and Sititi at 8, alongside a bigger 6. Ardie as impact loosie off the bench.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:
Bit of a bummer to be losing our best Openside flanker at the end of the year. Hopefully, Paps will still go on the South Africa tour.
not sure i agree, hes obviously very good but not sure hes the difference between winning and losing and that would be the only reason i would waste caps on someone when we're almost at square one for building our RWC squad
Who are our best opensides
Savea
Lakai
Jacobson
Blackadder?Have I missed someone?
Kirifi.
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I don’t want Savea starting. I’m not convinced Sititi and Lakai should start together either. I’m not sure what the answer is - we’ll see how the Super season plays out - but I’d like a bigger, more balanced loose forward trio, each with their obvious roles. It’s something people have been calling for for a while now.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
Lakai
Potential to be a superb international 7, however after claiming the 8 jersey last year his future might be there.
Personally, I'd like to see the ABs persist with Lakai at 7, and Sititi at 8, alongside a bigger 6. Ardie as impact loosie off the bench.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
Lakai
Potential to be a superb international 7, however after claiming the 8 jersey last year his future might be there.
Personally, I'd like to see the ABs persist with Lakai at 7, and Sititi at 8, alongside a bigger 6. Ardie as impact loosie off the bench.
The problem with this is the same as Savea + Sititi though. It relies on a 3rd member who doesn't exist.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
Lucas Casey will be a loosie to keep an eye on this year
im afraid hes going to be a new savea, played very well at 7 for otago....but played 8 on the weekend and i believe historically hes played 8 through ages grade.....i can just see him getting a shot down the road but plitting his time between 7 and 8 and not perfecting either
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
Lucas Casey will be a loosie to keep an eye on this year
im afraid hes going to be a new savea, played very well at 7 for otago....but played 8 on the weekend and i believe historically hes played 8 through ages grade.....i can just see him getting a shot down the road but plitting his time between 7 and 8 and not perfecting either
@Kiwiwomble think positive. Who knows - Jamie Joseph might be AB coach and might see him as an 8
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
Lakai
Potential to be a superb international 7, however after claiming the 8 jersey last year his future might be there.
Personally, I'd like to see the ABs persist with Lakai at 7, and Sititi at 8, alongside a bigger 6. Ardie as impact loosie off the bench.
The problem with this is the same as Savea + Sititi though. It relies on a 3rd member who doesn't exist.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
Lakai
Potential to be a superb international 7, however after claiming the 8 jersey last year his future might be there.
Personally, I'd like to see the ABs persist with Lakai at 7, and Sititi at 8, alongside a bigger 6. Ardie as impact loosie off the bench.
The problem with this is the same as Savea + Sititi though. It relies on a 3rd member who doesn't exist.
Hopefully someone puts their hand up in Super this year. Definitely a key missing piece for the ABs right now.
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Lucas Casey looks like an openside to me. If he wants to play for the All Blacks, he’d be better off focusing his efforts there - if the Highlanders allow it. He’s not especially tall and carrying too much extra weight could blunt his key strengths.
