All Blacks 2025
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@george33 how does this look for a Possibles lineup George
Fusitua
Taylor
Williams
Beehre
S Barett
Blackadder
Papalii
Sotutu
Hotham
Beaudy
Clarke
Havili
R Ioane
Chay Fihaki
Jordan. Could have Vern and Deans link up to coach the side -
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Looking like Mark Telea's on his way overseas so that opens up a spot on the Wing.
All good. We have Fihaki.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Looking like Mark Telea's on his way overseas so that opens up a spot on the Wing.
All good. We have Fihaki.
You mean that unexplosive guy from Canterbury ?
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Looking like Mark Telea's on his way overseas so that opens up a spot on the Wing.
All good. We have Fihaki.
You mean that unexplosive guy from Canterbury ?
That's the one. Does everything in slow motion but is good on both sides of the ball.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Looking like Mark Telea's on his way overseas so that opens up a spot on the Wing.
All good. We have Fihaki.
You mean that unexplosive guy from Canterbury ?
George Bridge is from Gisborne, isn't he?
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse Jordie was Man of the Match for Leinster yesterday in the big European Cup QF win against Glasgow. He's not be used every game so he's had some rest time. He will be available for the AB tests and, if fit will be, the starting 12.
I'm more interested in who'll be his under-study and who he'll partner with in midfield, TBH.
Sticking with RI at 13 is fine for now, but we need to look at other options ASAP.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Looking like Mark Telea's on his way overseas so that opens up a spot on the Wing.
All good. We have Fihaki.
You mean that unexplosive guy from Canterbury ?
That's the one. Does everything in slow motion but is good on both sides of the ball.
Ah good. He’s a shoe in then
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@Victor-Meldrew Spot on. Jordie's spell at Leinster proves beyond any doubt that he is world class. But an advantage he's had at Leinster is he can be rotated with Gary Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw.
The ABs have no such luxury.
Reiko Ioane's a funny one. 81 All Black Tests, but he often looks bored and disinterested in games. He doesn't make things happen in the way you'd expect from a senior All Black.
ALB and David Havili are solid options who Robertson likes, but they don't look as strong with the ball in hand or as creative as the midfielders Australia and France have at disposal.
At the end of last year, I'd have said Quinn Tupaea and Billy Proctor were the rising stars, but Tupaea has been a mixed bag in Super Rugby this year and Proctor has been injured.
I can't remember the NZ midfield pickings being so lean. Jordie's shoulders are broad but too much rests on them for the All Blacks at the moment.
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@sparky Sparky it would be daft to discount Tavatavanawai as a squad option. his Stats are immense for a midfielder. 334 carry metres, 75 tackles, 7 offloads, 16 Turnovers. Is there a chance he has a short career in black like Anthony Tuitavaake sure but there's only 1 way to find out..
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Reiko Ioane's a funny one. 81 All Black Tests, but he often looks bored and disinterested in games
Don't know what games you're watching, he works hard as fuck for not a huge amount of impact bar the odd crucial tackle is my take. Hate to say it, but that sounds like the Blackadder of the backs.
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For all of the criticism that comes Rieko Ioane's way, he sure as hell covers a lot of ground on defence. Yeah, I see the criticisms with him on attack and yes, probably attacks better on the wing, but he's an elite defender.
As has been pointed out, using him as a constant crash ball option also doesn't suit him. He's not Levi Aumua.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter What's the situation with him playing for Fiji or New Zealand?
He has only represented Fiji at u20 level. Started playing rep level in NZ in 2021 for Ta$man so he’s eligible, was part of the reason he made his shift from Moana.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
For all of the criticism that comes Rieko Ioane's way, he sure as hell covers a lot of ground on defence. Yeah, I see the criticisms with him on attack and yes, probably attacks better on the wing, but he's an elite defender.
He does work hard on defence I agree, but his decision making in complex scenarios isn't elite - I think his scramble is right up there, tho
As has been pointed out, using him as a constant crash ball option also doesn't suit him.
Doesn't Jordie or Havili or ALB, but the ABs have been doing it for years - you'd kinda have hoped Razor might have changed that.
He's not Levi Aumua.
Neither is Levi Aumua, this year!
