All Blacks 2025
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@Mr-Fish Thinking towards the next World Cup, I think Ruben Love is going to be (if fit) the back-up 10 behind DMac and I'd like to see him given some game time there this year for the ABs. But yeah, he's an option on the wing or fullback too. He's an awesome player to have on your bench.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:
Narawa over Reece.
Based on what? I hate picking players from the Crusaders as much as anyone but Reece is the better player at the minute.
Based on him being tried and hardly succeeding at the next evel. Right wing is a position where some new blood would be good to look at.
You also have Scott Barrett in your starting line up. Like, I do too, but you've dropped every other underperforming AB due to their Super form, why does Scott Barrett get picked then based on that logic?
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@African-Monkey Yes and no.
Test Rugby, especially in the Northern Hemisphere winter, there is basically no room. As you suggest, it's about how cope when when they have no time to think or adjust.
That said, the next two RWCs are going to be in Australia in October and November 2027 and the southern States of the USA in September and October 2032. The grounds are going to be harder and the playing conditions are going to be similar to the RWCs of 1995 and 2003. Having players who are good with the ball in hand is going to be useful.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish Thinking towards the next World Cup, I think Ruben Love is going to be (if fit) the back-up 10 behind DMac and I'd like to see him given some game time there this year for the ABs. But yeah, he's an option on the wing or fullback too. He's an awesome player to have on your bench.
I suppose the question is whether it would be better Love starting on the wing and shifting into 10 for the final 10 minutes of a couple of the French Tests (if the result is locked in) then starting in the last match, or just coming off the bench each time.
There aren't really any gimme games this year to give new guys many minutes.
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@African-Monkey The Crusaders are second in the table. Scott Barrett is their work horse and playing a vital role for his team who are doing a lot better than last year. For ABs (with more quality around him) he doesn't need to hit every ruck so you see more aspects of his game.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey The Crusaders are second in the table. Scott Barrett is their work horse and playing a vital role for his team who are doing a lot better than last year. For ABs (with more quality around him) he doesn't need to hit every ruck so you see more aspects of his game.
No one seems to get through Rieko's channel defensively either but that seems to count for nothing (and yes, I realise his attack is stunted at centre).
Seems like certain players get preferential treatment over others on here.
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@gt12 It's was interesting hearing Grant Fox on the Good, the Bad and the Rugby this week (link below) talking about his time All Blacks selector working under Steve Hansen's leadership.
Every year they'd be an established All Black or two who would be playing below expectation in Super Rugby and Shag would use his network as a ex-cop to find out what was going on off the field around the player (there was always something).
Hansen would visit the player and ask "Is there something we (the All Blacks coaches) can help with?"
I suspect Reiko Ioane and Caleb Clarke have already had the "Is there something we can help with" conversation this year.
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Another name to throw into the mix, though I don't really see him getting selected this year, is Daniel Rona.
He's been excellent for the Chiefs for the past few years, covering centre and wing. Very reliable and occasionally does some flashy stuff. As I say, can't see him getting picked with Ioane, Lienert-Brown, Proctor and Ennor all capped All Black centres, and Barrett, Havili and Tupaea all capped options at 12, but I think he'd make a good fist of it if a bunch of injuries struck, like when ALB first received a call-up.
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@Mr-Fish Rona? I dont think so not next year or the year after
Good player but for me does’nt say international 13 -
@Steven-Harris Maybe not - it's always good having some longer-term MABs too because that side is looking weaker and weaker every year...
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@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
All speculation its not what I hear, very destructive talk.
The Captain will be Scott Barrett 100%.It most probably will be because at the end of the day Razor gets to make the decision. Doesn’t mean the players don’t gravitate and look to someone else though… and that’s a fact. Nothing destructive at all.
The captain is also supported by the leadership group who endorse that selection and they have including Ardie so no issue.
You can defend your boys as much as you want mate and that’s totally fine. I’m just stating that it doesn’t mean the players don’t gravitate and look to someone else and that is a fact. Nothing else to be said.
We all know who Razor is picking mate. It is what it is. Just hope Barrett can pick his game up because as of right now based off form there’s an argument he shouldn’t even be in the starting XV.
Sure you are entitled to your opinion as I am.
Yeah it’s done deal Scooter will be Captain.
A couple of current ABs are on thin ice and maybe dropped. -
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish I'd have thought the All Blacks XV is more likely for Daniel Rona, but he's playing that's for sure.
Probably the best performing No 13 in Super Rugby this year - although it's not been a standout season for outside centres.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:
Narawa over Reece.
Based on what? I hate picking players from the Crusaders as much as anyone but Reece is the better player at the minute.
Nothing more than the whim of the moment.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mr-Fish I'd have thought the All Blacks XV is more likely for Daniel Rona, but he's playing that's for sure.
Probably the best performing No 13 in Super Rugby this year - although it's not been a standout season for outside centres.
He does a lot right eh, reads the game brilliantly.
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He is for sure the form 13, but I do see him drop off a couple tackles a game.
Way better than Reiko on attack, but a little behind defensively. I'm sure he can work on it.
And I wouldn't consider Love as a winger, he really lacks enough pace to play there, from what I have seen. -
