All Blacks 2025
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus @Canes4life I actually agree with you both equally.
Whilst I would love to see it as a leftfield option I also think a good specialist needs to be there too.
Sitting on this fence is hurting my arse.....
We have limited midfield options, not sure what has been happening in Super rugby. I can name some 12s but less quality/uninjured 13s.
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
For Telea to be tried at centre, it would need to be something the Blues would try, at this stage of the comp and where they are now it is akin to Havilli being tried out as a 10
Or play league. Then you would suggest him
As for Nostrildamus suggesting Telea as a centre it really is a terrible call. His skillset is wing and nothing else. Everything that he does well on the wing doesn't translate to the midfield. He does not set targets, he goes on random runs often going backwards to go forwards etc etc
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Personally I think Telea would be horrible in the midfield, unless you want a midfield which whenever they get the ball... stops, cuts inside, and runs completely as an individual.
He's very very evasive and hard to put down, which are great qualities - but a wing or nothing.I would agree. Based on his build and skills he has no versatility. He's one of those wingers who is only equipped to play that position as a specialist.
Edit - Duluth best me to the punch.
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
For Telea to be tried at centre, it would need to be something the Blues would try, at this stage of the comp and where they are now it is akin to Havilli being tried out as a 10
Or play league. Then you would suggest him
As for Nostrildamus suggesting Telea as a centre it really is a terrible call. His skillset is wing and nothing else. Everything that he does well on the wing doesn't translate to the midfield. He does not set targets, he goes on random runs often going backwards to go forwards etc etc
12 not 13. But I am overruled. Fair enough.
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All five of these look IMHO a better bet in 2025 for the All Blacks XV squad rather than the full ABs squad.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
All five of these look IMHO a better bet in 2025 for the All Blacks XV squad rather than the full ABs squad.
I'd argue Kirifi is probably the one that has done his time in the AB XV and is ready to step up. To me he's the best 7 in the country atm, he's matured so much in the last couple of years and the leadership skills he would bring to the ABs would be invaluable.
All this bullshit that he's too small is nonsense to me, just look at someone like Tizzano who's able to be impactful at test level and he's even smaller than Kirifi.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
All five of these look IMHO a better bet in 2025 for the All Blacks XV squad rather than the full ABs squad.
I'd argue Kirifi is probably the one that has done his time in the AB XV and is ready to step up. To me he's the best 7 in the country atm, he's matured so much in the last couple of years and the leadership skills he would bring to the ABs would be invaluable.
All this bullshit that he's too small is nonsense to me, just look at someone like Tizzano who's able to be impactful at test level and he's even smaller than Kirifi.
I certainly agree that he has improved hugely, and may well be the best 7 in the country. He could work well in a loose trio where you have bulk at 6 and 8, but that seems to be a major weakness in NZ depth right now - we spent last year getting beaten up in the loose most times we played, and I can't see a smaller 7 being a good option when our 6 and 8 are undersized too.
Totally sucks for Kirifi, in that effectively he is doing his job really well can't get a promotion because of the weaknesses of others, but that's the way I see it. -
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
All five of these look IMHO a better bet in 2025 for the All Blacks XV squad rather than the full ABs squad.
I'd argue Kirifi is probably the one that has done his time in the AB XV and is ready to step up. To me he's the best 7 in the country atm, he's matured so much in the last couple of years and the leadership skills he would bring to the ABs would be invaluable.
All this bullshit that he's too small is nonsense to me, just look at someone like Tizzano who's able to be impactful at test level and he's even smaller than Kirifi.
I certainly agree that he has improved hugely, and may well be the best 7 in the country. He could work well in a loose trio where you have bulk at 6 and 8, but that seems to be a major weakness in NZ depth right now - we spent last year getting beaten up in the loose most times we played, and I can't see a smaller 7 being a good option when our 6 and 8 are undersized too.
Totally sucks for Kirifi, in that effectively he is doing his job really well can't get a promotion because of the weaknesses of others, but that's the way I see it.Yeah that loose forward balance would definitely dictate selection but as Parson's said on the Aotearoa Rugby pod, Kirifi could be the perfect guy to bring on in the last 20-30 mins of a test.
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Tangitau I can see sneaking in and Kirifi is an option, but Robertson clearly likes bigger 7s (and if NZ are selecting a smaller 7, they might as well just shift Savea there and use a bigger 6 and 8).
TT will make the ABs XV for sure but don't think he's the 12 that NZ needs.
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Kirifi and Tangitau are two that deserve to get themselves in there.
The conversation around incumbents v uncapped is that the uncapped player has to be clearly better. If they are as good, then the incumbent stays.
As much as I really like Jim Tavatavanawai. I can't see him ever being an All Black. He is the perfect super rugby player. Just probably isn't an international quality 12 or winger. While his fetching may not be required if there are other players that bring the skillset in the team.
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Tangitau I think will be the one from that list that makes the All Blacks this year.
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@SouthernMann said in All Blacks 2025:
Kirifi and Tangitau are two that deserve to get themselves in there.
The conversation around incumbents v uncapped is that the uncapped player has to be clearly better. If they are as good, then the incumbent stays.
As much as I really like Jim Tavatavanawai. I can't see him ever being an All Black. He is the perfect super rugby player. Just probably isn't an international quality 12 or winger. While his fetching may not be required if there are other players that bring the skillset in the team.
But he's Ma'a Nonu on steroids ?!?!?!
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@SouthernMann To me he looks like a really enticing guy to have in 23 to chuck on for the final 15 minutes of games. If we want impact off the bench, he could be the best man in the country to provide it.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@SouthernMann said in All Blacks 2025:
Kirifi and Tangitau are two that deserve to get themselves in there.
The conversation around incumbents v uncapped is that the uncapped player has to be clearly better. If they are as good, then the incumbent stays.
As much as I really like Jim Tavatavanawai. I can't see him ever being an All Black. He is the perfect super rugby player. Just probably isn't an international quality 12 or winger. While his fetching may not be required if there are other players that bring the skillset in the team.
But he's Ma'a Nonu on steroids ?!?!?!
those would have to be steroids as a teenager I'd reckon.
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@SouthernMann said in All Blacks 2025:
Kirifi and Tangitau are two that deserve to get themselves in there.
The conversation around incumbents v uncapped is that the uncapped player has to be clearly better. If they are as good, then the incumbent stays.
The incumbent wingers • Reece always turns up for the Crusaders however the Test where the young French winger Bielle-biarrey upstaged him should live fresh in the mind... • the other Caleb while quiet for the blues so far, showed plenty of endeavour in Black last yr • Telea is called a tugboat by some but on his day he's an exceptional finisher as seen in the test at Twickenham.
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I'm no fan of Kirifi, but I don't recall his size being an issue in terms of him being manhandled or outmuscled by his bigger opponents all the time.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I'm no fan of Kirifi, but I don't recall his size being an issue in terms of him being manhandled or outmuscled by his bigger opponents all the time.
He's a 103kg accoring to the interweb.
low centre of gravity and no stranger to the gym by the looks of him which would help immensely.
They can't all be as tall as Ardie.......
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@SouthernMann To me he looks like a really enticing guy to have in 23 to chuck on for the final 15 minutes of games. If we want impact off the bench, he could be the best man in the country to provide it.
I kind of want to see something different, rather than assuming we need some impact off the bench, lets shock and awe this thing, tire the defence having big Jim run at the straight from kick off
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@Kiwiwomble He won't be in the ABs, enough said.
