All Blacks 2025
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@booboo said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:
@Canes4life said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:
Ardie is insane. Fuck you all that ever thought he wasn’t AB level. He’s on another planet.
Who thought anyone holds a grudge for nine years about an opinion about a player not being as good as another player in that moment nine years ago.
Maybe change that to the last few years and you’d be a bit more accurate with that statement.
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@African-Monkey yeah Reiko at wing could be interesting.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
For mine, Savea is at 7, and Sititi is with him. I am not convinced Finau compliments those two, as his best attribute is running with it in the wide channels.
Recycling an old joke:
Finau - "Fuck, you're playing well, Ardie!!!"
Ardie (to Sititi) - "What did he say?"
Sititi - "Dunno. I couldn't hear him. He's out in the wide channels!"
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
For mine, Savea is at 7, and Sititi is with him. I think to free Sititi up to roam, we probably want a really tight guy, which could be Lio-Willie, or they could take a risk on a bruiser in Parker. I am not convinced Finau compliments those two, as his best attribute is running with it in the wide channels.
With all the talent at lock, I do also expect them to consider Barrett or Vaa'i on the blindside.
Not a terrible shout, which is why I wouldn't be surprised to see someone like Jacobsen picked at 6, not because I'm his number 1 fan, but because he at least will work hard I'm the tight.
It's a real position of interest I feel, and the whole balance of the loose trio is the main area where there is uncertainty around who will play where.
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@cgrant Still plenty of Super games for injuries to take a toll.
On Tight forwards:
I think they'd have been pretty comfortable with Wiliams, EDG and Ofa as their looseheads. Any news on when Ofa will be back? I guess with a neck injury they'll be a bit cautious. Bower and Numia were the NZ XV props last year. Some drums beating for Norris. Fusitua also worth a look I think. I'm inclined to think Norris might have jumped up a few rungs on the ladder and might get the nod, but still water to pass under the bridge.
Hooker - Taylor, Tukei'aho and Aumua clearly the first three in the pecking order - probably in that order. George Bell clearly in the frame if one of them gets injured and he can quickly find form. McAlister also worth a mention.
I can't see them switching from Lomax, Tosi and Newell unless there's an injury. NZ XV tightheads last year were Dyer, Ma'u and Renata and I think it would be one of those three would be promoted if there was an injury. Taávao been going well, but a blast from the past.
Locks - Barrett and Vaa'i are certainties and Scott will surely be captain unless he resigns. I think Patty T. and Darry had the inside running for the other two spots if they were both fit. With Darry out, I think Patty becomes a certainty and they will pick either Lord or Holland as the fourth lock. Lord feels a bit more like an incumbent, so I'd guess they'll go with him.
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@booboo said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:
Who on earth has thought that "Ardie is not All Black level" in the last nine years?
Plenty suggested he didn't play that well last year. And they were right.
Plot twist. At the end of the year, Ardie removes his mask and underneath he's....Laumape.
Haterz
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@booboo said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:
@Canes4life said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:
Ardie is insane. Fuck you all that ever thought he wasn’t AB level. He’s on another planet.
Who thought anyone holds a grudge for nine years about an opinion about a player not being as good as another player in that moment nine years ago.
The fern always remembers.
Ardie will pass 100 test caps this year. Richly deserved. Never seen a player quite like him. Very easily my favourite current All Black.
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@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:
Ah Kuoi has a good workrate and size for a 6.
This could be his best position at int. level.
is he quick enough?Can't see him being any slower than Kaino, Grace, Blackadder, Finau, etc. Plus Vaai, Savea, Sititi are no slouches.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant Still plenty of Super games for injuries to take a toll.
On Tight forwards:
I think they'd have been pretty comfortable with Wiliams, EDG and Ofa as their looseheads. Any news on when Ofa will be back?
I read something on Twitter which suggested that may be that for Ofa pro-Rugby career.
Even if that's true, Williams and EDG are certainees with Bower, Norris and Numia as excellent backup. Of the three I'd give the nod to Bower based on form.
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In terms of Back Row selection, I've always thought (unless you're playing a test in shit playing conditions) it's too conservative to have one guy who is just there to be an extra tight forward.
What you want are three players whose bread and butter is the hard stuff in and around the breakdown, but if the situation and the game plan needs it can be devastating in the wide channels too.
The Kaino-McCaw-Read trio was like that.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet Terrible video.
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"Look here's some bad play by Anton Leinert-Brownwhen Reiko wasn't playing." That's not convincing.
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"Pundits and ex-players like him." Everyone knows the NZ rugby establishment stick together. That's one reason why we haven't won won a World Cup for 10 years and we're only third in the world.
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Then at 1:41 we got the "both sides of the ball" cliche.
I gave up after that.
The Blues have stopped scoring backline tries. They have totally dried up. Drier than the Sahara Desert. You can't pick the Blues Centre for the All Blacks when that happens.
Agreed.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
In terms of Back Row selection, I've always thought (unless you're playing a test in shit playing conditions) it's too conservative to have one guy who is just there to be an extra tight forward.
What you want are three players whose bread and butter is the hard stuff in and around the breakdown, but if the situation and the game plan needs it can be devastating in the wide channels too.
The Kaino-McCaw-Read trio was like that.
Razor did play a lot of Rugby with Ruben Thorne.
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@MN5 I'll resist the easy bait as I've already provoked a red and black swarm this weekend.
But I'll say this, by far the best Test performance I saw from Reuben Thorne was in the 2003 Bledisloe decider in the wet in Auckland. And the Aussies haven't touched the trophy since.
