The Silver Fern

@African-Monkey Let me make this perfectly clear. I don't actually like Chay Fihaki as a player and like Jacomb/Ruben as 10s a lot more. However, begrudgingly I have to admit Fihaki solves many problems (i.e. goalkicking, tactical kicking, and most of all defence at 10). And when you don't have a top world class 10 (even top 3 or 4 in the world), you might as well select to neutralize opposition 10s. Also, why is NZ allergic to picking a big 10?

@antipodean I admit that defense is a work on. However, if the all blacks can waste years on Reiko (whose first time tackling and initial defensive reads were poor, but had enough pace to semi-correct his own mistakes via scrambling defence) and had little attacking upside at 13, they can give Leicester a run to settle/form a partnership. YMMV.

@antipodean He was pretty good in the Top 14. He just needs game time there in black. They shouldn't pick him at wing at all. The only thing that I find worrying is he said that he shed some kilos, bc "you don't need the bulk to play in NZ" Idk if coaches simply allowed this or instructed him to do this. It's idiotic, bc a player's conditioning should be aimed at what works FOR TEST LEVEL (not for domestic level) imo.

@S3L3CTOR Left out a hooker. Samisoni/Taylor/Aumua

I think the ABs will struggle at RWC2027 if they don't select a backline similar to the following by the end of 2026. It's experimental and I just call it the "50-22 and then play from there" backline:

9. Roigard (backup = Pledger)
10. Chay Fihaki (huge boot)
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Timoci T
13. Leicester F
14. Caleb Tangitau
15. Kyren Taumoefolau (huge boot)

Power in midfield. Back three that have elite speed and are also great under high ball. Fullback is tall, posseses a great vertical leap and a sizeable boot.

Notes:

1. No Beauden, bc he has an incomplete skillset for 10 (not a goalkicker; poor tactical kicker; not a great passer)
2. No Jordie, bc he lacks power and is also not great distributor
3. No Jordan, bc not 100% under high ball, doesn't possess a boot, and generally falters against physical in-your-face teams like the Boks.
4. No Carter, bc his defensive positioning and high ball work is iffy.
5. No Dmac, but one of either he or Carter (covers 9, 11, 14) or Narawa (covers 11, 13, and 15) will provide impact from bench imo.

This team has two tactical kickers capable of successfully pulling off 50-22s (depending on angles and field position) and enough pace to prevent many quick throw-ins.

The 10-12-13 combination has real attacking venom. However, in defence, their power can be used against some of the best opposition 10s (e.g. Sascha, Ntamack, any wallaby 10) in two ways:

i) Having a sizeable 10 who can tackle and perhaps achieve dominant tackles, it might create turnover opportunities (something that both Timoci and Leicester specialise in)

ii) Since Sascha, Libbok, and Ntamack are more likely to run with the ball than kick, the 10-12-13 axis may have opportunities to execute a turnover of possession via the "held up...maul" method. For some unknown reason, the boks have probably been the most vulnerable to this tactic over the years.

Speed of NZ wingers and outside backs (4 levels):

ELITE:
Tangitau
Taumoefolau
Carter
Manson

NEAR-ELITE:
Clarke
ENS

GOOD PACE:
Jordan
Narawa

SLOW:
Reece
Reiko

UNDER THE HIGH (2 levels):

ELITE:
Clarke
Taumoefolau
Tangitau
Kneepkens
Narawa
ENS

SUSPECT:
Jordan
Reece
Rieko

Loose Trio:

I believe that Savea unbalances any loose trio that he is part of in much the same as Beauden Barrett unbalances any backline.

Tbh, Sititi is short for an 8 and his predecessor Savea was/is ridiculously light for an 8. Consequently, it's difficult for them to dominate any collision in a game. On the other hand, I think NZ has plenty of short locks who could add value in the loose trio.

6 Choose a fiery short lock e.g. Vaa'i

8 Choose a quicker* short lock (perhaps 1cm or 2cm shorter and +/- 2kg lighter than the Vaa'i type) perhaps Ah kuoi OR a more physically abrasive type Will Stoddart Or Zach Gallagher.

Basically, the all Blacks need more size at 6 and 8. So, a loose trio like the following:

6. Vaai
7. Lakai OR Dalton
8. Stodart

Front Row:

1. Williams
3. Lomax/Tosi

Locks:
Holland
Patty T
Darryl

That's about it.