All Blacks 2025
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Tupaea has been a fucking workhorse too (leader in carries against the Saders with 15, Blues with 19, and third against Brumbies with 11).
The most important thing for me from Tupaea so far has been that he is more accurate on defense. He was 10 made, one missed against the Brumbies, and the same against the Crusaders, and 9 and one with the Blues (rugbypass stats, so beware). That feels crucial as it has been his biggest issue for me.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Tupaea's start to the year is better than Jordie has ever played at 12.
Still won't make a difference. JB will get off the plane from Ireland and walk in.
Gee when I post about AB bolters it is far too early. One week later and you're making predictions.
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Jordie Barrett - may return a better player. Huge versatility worth considering for bench at least. Personally I worry why we never seemed to make great use of his kicking power, is he that accurate? Partnership with Ioane looked pedestrian-something strange or under-used there.
Rieko Ioane - Second season blues affecting most of the team. Still a good winger? If he doesn't have speed he doesn't have USP.
Anton Lienert-Brown - reputation of steady player undid recently by brainfarts. Not explosive, distribution usually pretty good.
David Havili - "Give me strength. Should be nowhere near it - Next." Yes we keep saying that but when less than normally injured, SR sneaks him back in. Must be future son-in-law, has pictures of SR's comb - or something.
Billy Proctor - "Impressed" yes but needs more time at international level to gauge speed and defending. Looks like a good classical 13 to me.
The NZ EOYT Boys
Quinn Tupaea - agreed, must be a contender.
Riley Higgins - not good for an AB 12 to have injury clouds. Maybe we really were spoiled with Nonu (who by the way is still playing)..
AJ Lam - Damn, my project player. Seems to have lost initiative.
Dallas McLeod - Can never have enough Crusaders in the ABs. Some are even not that injured.
The Chasing Pack
Timoci Tavatavanawai - exciting.Brayden Ennor - damn, I'm not a fan, and he's always injured. I'll chalk that to bias.
Peter Umaga-Jensen - I was a fan but he has really gone off the boil.
The Could be Worth a Look if Bizarre things Occur
Tanielu Tele'a - not sure.Corey Evans/Xavi Taele/Zarn Sullivan - Sullivan is surely better at 15 and needs to get some games first?
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'100 cap All Black': Leading midfield candidates putting pressure on Razor
Three weeks into Super Rugby Pacific and the race for the All Blacks midfield is heating up with new contenders pushing into contention.
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Everyone should really have a look at JB form at Leinster. He has been v v v good. Wouldn’t be surprised though if he’s a surprise selection at fullback, rather than centre. His game management at 15 for Leinster has been v good
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@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
Everyone should really have a look at JB form at Leinster. He has been v v v good. Wouldn’t be surprised though if he’s a surprise selection at fullback, rather than centre. His game management at 15 for Leinster has been v good
I was hoping to on Saturday after seeing the fine performances in SR and then he wasn't bloody playing.
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A backline of Roigard, McKenzie, Clarke, Tupaea, ???, Jordan, Barrett doesn't sound too bad to be honest. Need a really good distributing centre to put their hand up - ALB is probably the best of the bunch in that facet of the game but Proctor will hopefully have plenty of time to stake a claim this season.
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@KiwiInLondon yeah I would not be opposed to Jordie at fullback again, he is rock solid in that position and has a few MOTM performances for the All Blacks there. Superb under the high ball, strong tackler, strong with ball in hand, and just enough pace to finish chances off. We really need someone better than Jordan who is well suited to the wing where is deficiencies are less exposed so we only get his upside on attack.
On 13 Rieko is our most talented, but we have to start using his strengths. He's one of the quickest players in the game and we never seem to even try and give him half a yard of space to skin his opposite. Just using him as a crash ball merchant was bizarre.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
Just using him as a crash ball merchant was bizarre.
the whole backline formation last year seemed designed to deliberately play against the selected players.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
Just using him as a crash ball merchant was bizarre.
the whole backline formation last year seemed designed to deliberately play against the selected players.
You spelled Beauden Barrett wrong.
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@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
Everyone should really have a look at JB form at Leinster. He has been v v v good. Wouldn’t be surprised though if he’s a surprise selection at fullback, rather than centre. His game management at 15 for Leinster has been v good
He needs to be a lot better than he was in his last stint as AB fullback if he's the answer going forward.
I don't remember these rock solid performances NQ mentioned.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
Everyone should really have a look at JB form at Leinster. He has been v v v good. Wouldn’t be surprised though if he’s a surprise selection at fullback, rather than centre. His game management at 15 for Leinster has been v good
He needs to be a lot better than he was in his last stint as AB fullback if he's the answer going forward.
I don't remember these rock solid performances NQ mentioned.
Have you tried comparing him to the incumbent?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
Everyone should really have a look at JB form at Leinster. He has been v v v good. Wouldn’t be surprised though if he’s a surprise selection at fullback, rather than centre. His game management at 15 for Leinster has been v good
He needs to be a lot better than he was in his last stint as AB fullback if he's the answer going forward.
I don't remember these rock solid performances NQ mentioned.
Have you tried comparing him to the incumbent?
you're not allowed to do that, ask Shaun Stephenson
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Anyone new needs to be perfect, not just a talented option. Or a prospect playing for the Crusaders.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Anyone new needs to be perfect, not just a talented option. Or
a prospectplaying for the Crusaders.Fixed
