All Blacks 2025
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean I just want Will to realise there's 14 other players on the park on his side (15 if he's playing for the saders).
I've been watching Jordan more and while his ability to put other players into space isn't class leading, a considerable amount of that must be because he's injecting himself in the line and others have to catch up.
What is obvious is how much he communicates, which is very important for a fullback.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@mariner4life I guess my point in a nutshell is that the guy you bring in has to have a good chance of being better.
As I said last year - he's probably the third best second-five and his closest contender was a converted wing who had only played a handful of games in the position (nostrildamus can tell us how many).
If everyone was fit this year, I'm sure they'd pick Tupaea ahead of him. Tupaea will (IMO) get picked anyway, they need his midfield utility value, but Dave might get a reprieve while ALB is unavailable. Or they might pick Higgins (but he'll be lucky to get a run - and I'm not sure they'd want to give him a debut vs France if injury dictated it).
I'm not a Havili hater, and I think picking on a guy for the underperformance of a team where he barely plays is ridiculous. But he's not better than Lam, Higgins, Tavatavanawai, Tupaea - or Barrett or ALB.
I think all of those players potentially offer a valuable point(s) of difference too. We had a specialist wing on the bench at times last year, and Lam or Jim stop that. Higgins is creative and the best offloader. Jim and Tupaea (to a lesser extent) with breakdown work, and stronger carries from arguably all of them. -
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
What is obvious is how much he communicates, which is very important for a fullback.
And a centre. Faith restoring to see Rieko leading the team chats in the weekend.
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@reprobate I think Lam may well get picked as a wing who can cover the midfield. In the absence of ALB that's a valuable attribute.
Jordie is clearly the number 1 second five and ALB when fit is number 2. On form, I'd pick Tupaea ahead of Davey. Not convinced the others are currently better - we may find out if they're put to the test.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate I think Lam may well get picked as a wing who can cover the midfield. In the absence of ALB that's a valuable attribute.
Jordie is clearly the number 1 second five and ALB when fit is number 2. On form, I'd pick Tupaea ahead of Davey. Not convinced the others are currently better - we may find out if they're put to the test.
Well it depends on what you want in that position of course. I think Tavatavanawai has been very impressive for the highlanders, but he is a very different player. Higgins likewise - has some weaknesses, but his hands and ability to keep the ball alive are a big attacking upside.
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@reprobate if we end up with BB at 10, Jim would be the best pairing I reckon.
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@Chris-B i don't like Jordan at fullback yet because I don't think he's great st bringing other people in to the game or kicking.
Fucking great winger though -
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate if we end up with BB at 10, Jim would be the best pairing I reckon.
If we end up with BB at 10 just pick who ever chases shit kicks the best
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate if we end up with BB at 10, Jim would be the best pairing I reckon.
If we end up with BB at 10 just pick who ever chases shit kicks the best
Beauden can kick it away, and Jim can go and get it back.
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@reprobate I like the look of Higgins - hopefully he makes the grade. He's definitely a good distributor and I think that's what you need at second five in elite international rugby.
Even though Big Jim is one of my Ta$man boys - I'm still to be convinced he's what we need at second five. Carries well. Excellent pilferer. Can he distribute effectively? Can he kick effectively? At elite international level?
There's been much criticism that even with Jordie and Rieko in the midfield, we're poor distributors. I'm sceptical about sticking converted wings in there and expecting it to improve.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B i don't like Jordan at fullback yet because I don't think he's great st bringing other people in to the game or kicking.
Fucking great winger thoughAren't you the guy saying the coaches need to take some risks?
If you're like me and you want DMac starting at first five and Jordie playing second five, who do you want at fullback?
It's going to be Will and it's not close.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
Even though Big Jim is one of my Ta$man boys - I'm still to be convinced he's what we need at second five. Carries well. Excellent pilferer. Can he distribute effectively? Can he kick effectively? At elite international level?
We'll never know. It's not just about whether it looks like you're a silky passer though, it's about creating space. Jim definitely does that and his kicking has proven very effective at super level.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
Even though Big Jim is one of my Ta$man boys - I'm still to be convinced he's what we need at second five. Carries well. Excellent pilferer. Can he distribute effectively? Can he kick effectively? At elite international level?
We'll never know. It's not just about whether it looks like you're a silky passer though, it's about creating space. Jim definitely does that and his kicking has proven very effective at super level.
Yeah - and maybe Razor will pick him. He can only pick four or five midfielders, though. And barring injury, Jordie and Rieko are locked in. ALB would be if he weren't injured and I think Billy would be as well. So then I'm picking Quinn Tupaea - and we're into quibbling about who comes next. I don't really mind.
I just give my opinions
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I am genuinely curious, what do these "bold" selections actually look like? Wallace Sititi and Pasilio Tosi were both very bold picks.
See, for me this is concerning. We've got so used to mediocrity that selecting absolute stand out form players and only getting them on the field if injury strikes, is considered very bold.
Sititi showed good form, but hardly put in a body of work that said he was an All Black for the here and now. As for Tosi - was he on anyone's radar?
Sititi's performance in the semi final vs the Canes was about as obvious of a 'pick me I'm All Black material' as it gets - he was the best player on the field by a country mile.
But probably only got picked because the form player in the comp was hated by Jason Ryan
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I am genuinely curious, what do these "bold" selections actually look like? Wallace Sititi and Pasilio Tosi were both very bold picks.
See, for me this is concerning. We've got so used to mediocrity that selecting absolute stand out form players and only getting them on the field if injury strikes, is considered very bold.
Sititi showed good form, but hardly put in a body of work that said he was an All Black for the here and now. As for Tosi - was he on anyone's radar?
Sititi's performance in the semi final vs the Canes was about as obvious of a 'pick me I'm All Black material' as it gets - he was the best player on the field by a country mile.
But probably only got picked because the form player in the comp was hated by Jason Ryan
And then got a game because Razor's pet is made of glass
