All Blacks 2025
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Hopefully Will does come back ok, otherwise I fear we will be seeing the DMac/BB combination again for the ABs.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Crusaders 2025:
Hopefully Will does come back ok, otherwise I fear we will be seeing the DMac/BB combination again for the ABs.
Tough decision whether I want to lose my left eye or my right eye.
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So, Tangitau is still out for the Highlanders. What ever his injury is it seems to be taking a while to heal. If he stays out for the rest of the Super season does he deserve selection based on his early form? History tells us some players can look a million dollars early in the season and not so good later on.
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@Crazy-Horse yeah tough one eh, reckon with our aging and leaving outside backs, there's got to be a punt on some newbies and what better opportunity than a touring french side? Worked wonders just over 20 years ago.
Carter would be an interesting one too, shades of Jane, his "style" might work well at test level.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse yeah tough one eh, reckon with our aging and leaving outside backs, there's got to be a punt on some newbies and what better opportunity than a touring french side? Worked wonders just over 20 years ago.
Carter would be an interesting one too, shades of Jane, his "style" might work well at test level.
French series an ideal opportunity to experiment a bit. Not just new ABs, but the likes of Love, Lakai, etc. A give players like QT & Sami T some serious game time.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse yeah tough one eh, reckon with our aging and leaving outside backs, there's got to be a punt on some newbies and what better opportunity than a touring french side? Worked wonders just over 20 years ago.
Carter would be an interesting one too, shades of Jane, his "style" might work well at test level.
French series an ideal opportunity to experiment a bit. Not just new ABs, but the likes of Love, Lakai, etc. A give players like QT & Sami T some serious game time.
Don't disagree with you, but there is the obvious problem with NZers not accepting a loss - especially to an under strength side. AB legacy and all that.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse yeah tough one eh, reckon with our aging and leaving outside backs, there's got to be a punt on some newbies and what better opportunity than a touring french side? Worked wonders just over 20 years ago.
Carter would be an interesting one too, shades of Jane, his "style" might work well at test level.
French series an ideal opportunity to experiment a bit. Not just new ABs, but the likes of Love, Lakai, etc. A give players like QT & Sami T some serious game time.
Don't disagree with you, but there is the obvious problem with NZers not accepting a loss - especially to an under strength side. AB legacy and all that.
You're right, but I think there's an experienced enough squad to start, say, Love and have back-up on the bench if things don't go well. At some stage we need to start taking chances and this is as good a time as any.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Thanks to Mauss for the Opta stats link. I couldn't be fucked working much this morning so had a bit of a play. Interesting numbers. I had a look at the AB loosie candidates plus a couple and some Aussies. From most to least:
Attacking rucks/minute: EB, DP, Withy, LJ, Kirifi, Parker, Grace, Segner, Tizzano, Lakai, McReight, Lio-Willie, Valetini, Finau, Savea, Sotutu, Wilson.
Carries/min: Valetini, Wilson, Savea, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, LJ, Tizzano, EB, Kirifi, Grace, Parker, Withy, Finau, McReight, Segner, DP.
Tackles/min: EB, Wilson, McReight, DP, Grace, Tizzano, Kirifi, Withy, Lakai, LJ, Lio-Willie, Segner, Parker, Savea, Sotutu, Finau, Valetini.
Defensive rucks/minute: Savea, Kirifi, Withy, DP, McReight, Tizzano, EB, Lakai, Segner, Sotutu, Valetini, Grace, LJ, Lio-Willie, Finau, Parker, Wilson.
Adding them all up, for a loose 'ínvolvements/min': EB (and it's not close), DP, Kirifi, Withy, Tizzano, Lakai, McReight, Savea, LJ, Grace, Lio-willie, Wilson, Segner, Valetini, Parker, Sotutu, Finau.Stats never tell the whole story, but interesting nonetheless.
One clear variable is actual position. The No. 8s are at end of list and open side flanks at beginning.
Withy's position is interesting: doesn't he play blind side?
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse yeah tough one eh, reckon with our aging and leaving outside backs, there's got to be a punt on some newbies and what better opportunity than a touring french side? Worked wonders just over 20 years ago.
Carter would be an interesting one too, shades of Jane, his "style" might work well at test level.
French series an ideal opportunity to experiment a bit. Not just new ABs, but the likes of Love, Lakai, etc. A give players like QT & Sami T some serious game time.
Don't disagree with you, but there is the obvious problem with NZers not accepting a loss - especially to an under strength side. AB legacy and all that.
You're right, but I think there's an experienced enough squad to start, say, Love and have back-up on the bench if things don't go well. At some stage we need to start taking chances and this is as good a time as any.
It's banned to start fresh players alongside incumbents though, you have to play them alongside other newbies and/or completely incompatible players to confirm your original decisions. Unless injury, of course.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Withy's position is interesting: doesn't he play blind side?He has played 6, 7 and 8 this season. A lot of chopping and changing due to injuries to other loosies. Withy has done a more than ok job in all 3 spots.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse yeah tough one eh, reckon with our aging and leaving outside backs, there's got to be a punt on some newbies and what better opportunity than a touring french side? Worked wonders just over 20 years ago.
Carter would be an interesting one too, shades of Jane, his "style" might work well at test level.
French series an ideal opportunity to experiment a bit. Not just new ABs, but the likes of Love, Lakai, etc. A give players like QT & Sami T some serious game time.
Don't disagree with you, but there is the obvious problem with NZers not accepting a loss - especially to an under strength side. AB legacy and all that.
You're right, but I think there's an experienced enough squad to start, say, Love and have back-up on the bench if things don't go well. At some stage we need to start taking chances and this is as good a time as any.
It's banned to start fresh players alongside incumbents though, you have to play them alongside other newbies and/or completely incompatible players to confirm your original decisions. Unless injury, of course.
You forgot the other reason: "Look, it's too late in the season to try new players and the next game's a must-win..."
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
So, Tangitau is still out for the Highlanders. What ever his injury is it seems to be taking a while to heal. If he stays out for the rest of the Super season does he deserve selection based on his early form? History tells us some players can look a million dollars early in the season and not so good later on.
Tangitau will have to convince Razor to drop his boy Fihaki. Not sure that's gonna happen
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Thanks to Mauss for the Opta stats link. I couldn't be fucked working much this morning so had a bit of a play. Interesting numbers. I had a look at the AB loosie candidates plus a couple and some Aussies. From most to least:
Attacking rucks/minute: EB, DP, Withy, LJ, Kirifi, Parker, Grace, Segner, Tizzano, Lakai, McReight, Lio-Willie, Valetini, Finau, Savea, Sotutu, Wilson.
Carries/min: Valetini, Wilson, Savea, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, LJ, Tizzano, EB, Kirifi, Grace, Parker, Withy, Finau, McReight, Segner, DP.
Tackles/min: EB, Wilson, McReight, DP, Grace, Tizzano, Kirifi, Withy, Lakai, LJ, Lio-Willie, Segner, Parker, Savea, Sotutu, Finau, Valetini.
Defensive rucks/minute: Savea, Kirifi, Withy, DP, McReight, Tizzano, EB, Lakai, Segner, Sotutu, Valetini, Grace, LJ, Lio-Willie, Finau, Parker, Wilson.
Adding them all up, for a loose 'ínvolvements/min': EB (and it's not close), DP, Kirifi, Withy, Tizzano, Lakai, McReight, Savea, LJ, Grace, Lio-willie, Wilson, Segner, Valetini, Parker, Sotutu, Finau.Stats never tell the whole story, but interesting nonetheless.
One clear variable is actual position. The No. 8s are at end of list and open side flanks at beginning.
Withy's position is interesting: doesn't he play blind side?
Yup, lots of different ways to cut it.
If you look at the % gainline for carries, then it's Finau, Segner, Sotutu, Valetini, Lio-Willie, Lakai...
Dominant tackles/min: Parker, EB, Mcreight, Finau, AS, Withy, Lakai...
Steals/min: Kirifi, Savea, McReight, LJ, DP, Lio-Willie.The thing really is about balance in the back row and the whole forward pack. As soon as you decide to pick Savea who does not hit many attacking rucks, you need to balance that by picking other players who do clean. DP hardly carries the ball for the Blues - does/can he change his role for the ABs - or do you need to pick a couple of high carry guys if you want his exceptional attacking ruck and tackling work?
I have been impressed with Withy this year, but was still surprised to see how good his stats were.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Crusaders 2025:
Hopefully Will does come back ok, otherwise I fear we will be seeing the DMac/BB combination again for the ABs.
And otherwise you 15 would be?
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Catching up with The Breakdown, Justin Marshall (Razor's mate) talking up Kyle Preston as an AB possibility. Not sure I see it.
Of course he is.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Catching up with The Breakdown, Justin Marshall (Razor's mate) talking up Kyle Preston as an AB possibility. Not sure I see it.
Pretty similar impact to Fakatava when he first burst on the scene. Plays for the right team. Sold.
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@booboo said in Crusaders 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in Crusaders 2025:
Hopefully Will does come back ok, otherwise I fear we will be seeing the DMac/BB combination again for the ABs.
And otherwise you 15 would be?
That's the problem isn't it? There aren't too many options at this stage when it comes to up and comers.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Crusaders 2025:
@booboo said in Crusaders 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in Crusaders 2025:
Hopefully Will does come back ok, otherwise I fear we will be seeing the DMac/BB combination again for the ABs.
And otherwise you 15 would be?
That's the problem isn't it? There aren't too many options at this stage when it comes to up and comers.
Love maybe?
