2025 All Blacks v France series
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@brodean Yeah, but Robertson will get the final say. Grant Fox is now record as saying on his panels , the Head Coach got the final vote. Whatever gets said in public, I've little doubt it's the same with this coaching group.
Scott Hansen will advise but it's Scott Robertson who the buck stops with.
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@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@brodean Yeah, but Robertson will get the final say. Grant Fox is now record as saying on his panels , the Head Coach got the final vote. Whatever gets said in public, I've little doubt it's the same with this coaching group.
Scott Hansen will advise but it's Scott Robertson who the buck stops with.
I thought it was more along the lines of 'ok these are all the guys I want' ... 'yes that's fine but you have to pick that guy instead of this guy'
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Jordan and Love pick themselves in my view and in spite of what @Bones posts about Jordan 😉
With the right guys on the field, hopefully Jordan's glaring deficiencies can be covered.
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@brodean I think it's more a case of the expert proving to the boss that a decision that the boss is going to be held to account for is the correct one.
Specialists will have their say and will be allowed to present their evidence over a series of months. But if they can't convince the boss then they will go with their gut instinct.
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I’ll just say this. In regards to outside backs and getting the open spot with Telea leaving, it would be extremely disappointing to see guys like Narawa, Tangitau, Carter and even JRK miss out to someone like a Chay Fihaki… that would tell us all we need to know
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Is France sending their speedster winger? Hope so. And that might be a factor in the AB winger decision.
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@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Is France sending their speedster winger? Hope so. And that might be a factor in the AB winger decision.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
It all depends on how far Bordeaux go in the Top 14 playoffs.
So yeah, it's a bit complicated.
France are going to name a 28-man squad on Monday to play England next Saturday from teams not in the Top 14 playoffs. They will then add 14 more players from sides eliminated in the Top 14 playoffs to tour NZ, but it's unlikely that any players involved in the Top 14 final will be selected in the 42 man squad to tour NZ but they could come in if there are injuries after the First Test.
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@nostrildamus This is the Top 14 playoff bracket.
Semi Final qualifiers today. Semi Finals next week and the Final the week after so they are a week behind Super Rugby.
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@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I think Leroy Carter is worth a shot on the Wing, but I've no idea if he's in the selectors thinking. He's raw but he's got potential.
Clarke's out of from.
Tangitau is injured.
Telea is going offshore.
Reece is in decline.
Jordan is a fullback these days.
Not sure JRK is Test quality.
Not sold on Fihaki.
Narawa's not really busy enough for me. But he might be worth another go.Thin pickings on the wing.
I'm not interested in a coaching group that worries about players going offshore or in decline from previous highs - this isn't the abridged Rugby Championship before a RWC - form should be rewarded.
Based on the form of the semi-finals Narawa should be a lock and Fihaki is staking a claim. If Reece, despite not being at his best, and Telea - despite going OS - are amongst the best wingers, they should be included.
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@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Is France sending their speedster winger? Hope so. And that might be a factor in the AB winger decision.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
It all depends on how far Bordeaux go in the Top 14 playoffs.
So yeah, it's a bit complicated.
France are going to name a 28-man squad on Monday to play England next Saturday from teams not in the Top 14 playoffs. They will then add 14 more players from sides eliminated in the Top 14 playoffs to tour NZ, but it's unlikely that any players involved in the Top 14 final will be selected in the 42 man squad to tour NZ but they could come in if there are injuries after the First Test.
Don't think LBB will be touring regardless. He's already played well over 2000 minutes which is the threshold previously mentioned for touring players - but that might only apply to players who feature in the final, it's a bit unclear.
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@frugby said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Imagine it will be close to that.
Last outside back is one I am unsure on. Had heard JRK was in the frame, and noted he was playing for Taranaki, whilst the majority of the rest of the Highlanders are now on a break - wondered if the ABs coaches have asked him to keep himself fit. >
JRK will also be playing for the Barbarians against the Boks later this month. Jimi the Bruss too.
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@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I'd be fascinated to see Leroy Carter in the squad. He has some X factor
You look at him and think he isnt fast and he isnt strong.
But he is both!
Has a bit of Cory Jane and Lukhanyo Am in him. Intangible.
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@Jet said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I'd be fascinated to see Leroy Carter in the squad. He has some X factor
You look at him and think he isnt fast and he isnt strong.
But he is both!
Has a bit of Cory Jane and Lukhanyo Am in him. Intangible.
Cory Jane definitely springs to mind.
