2025 All Blacks v France series
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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.
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@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@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 š
With the right guys on the field, hopefully Jordan's glaring deficiencies can be covered.
Reported the the authorities for misinformation and online abuse.
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@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Back three is an interesting one in terms of selection strategy.
Laurie Mains and Steve Hansen went with the guys in form.
John Mitchell liked raw pace.
John Hart went with what he thought were the natural players and believed he could gel them.
Graham Henry and Ian Foster were willingly to stick guys who didn't play Back Three in Super Rugby there and wanted them to be strong defensively.
Apart from Will Jordan, I don't see an obvious selection for the Back Three in Test 1. We are going to learn a lot about Scott Robertson by who he goes for.
Tangitau's injury has been so unfortunate.
Youd have to think a position was his.
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@Jet said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Lukhanyo Am
if stats I read are correct Carter is (slightly smaller) than either of them.
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@Jet said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@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 š
With the right guys on the field, hopefully Jordan's glaring deficiencies can be covered.
Reported the the authorities for misinformation and online abuse.
Yeah, probably asking a bit much of them.
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@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Turns out Fihaki has missed the most tackles this season of any back from the NZ teams squads who played in the semis
Yeah he is a poor tackler. Not to say that he can't improve in that area, but it is a concern for him at the next level.
I did find it funny when someone suggested he'd be a good 13.
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@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Turns out Fihaki has missed the most tackles this season of any back from the NZ teams squads who played in the semis
Yeah he is a poor tackler. Not to say that he can't improve in that area, but it is a concern for him at the next level.
I did find it funny when someone suggested he'd be a good 13.
I think his tackling is fine and quite strong if someone is running straight at him, but he struggles with his positioning to make the tackle. 12 might work, but not 13 and he gets caught out regularly on the wing. Has had quite a few nice touches this year, but again should be nowhere near the ABs despite Telea leaving, Clarke being average and Tangitau being injured.
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@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@African-Monkey said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Turns out Fihaki has missed the most tackles this season of any back from the NZ teams squads who played in the semis
Yeah he is a poor tackler. Not to say that he can't improve in that area, but it is a concern for him at the next level.
I did find it funny when someone suggested he'd be a good 13.
I think his tackling is fine and quite strong if someone is running straight at him, but he struggles with his positioning to make the tackle. 12 might work, but not 13 and he gets caught out regularly on the wing. Has had quite a few nice touches this year, but again should be nowhere near the ABs despite Telea leaving, Clarke being average and Tangitau being injured.
That description doesn't sound like a guy who is AB material
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Iāve had some really good oil that all of Williams, Taylor, Newell, Shelfoon, Barrett, Blackadder, Christie, Lio-Willie, Hotham, Reihana, Reece, Havili, Ennor, Fihaki and Jordan will be playing in the first test against France.
Roberstonās also apparently thinking of not having a bench. Doesnāt need it apparently. Stuff the bomb squad, new tactic is we just bore our opposition to death.
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@Canes4life said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Iāve had some really good oil that all of Williams, Taylor, Newell, Shelfoon, Barrett, Blackadder, Christie, Lio-Willie, Hotham, Reihana, Reece, Havili, Ennor, Fihaki and Jordan will be playing in the first test against France.
Roberstonās also apparently thinking of not having a bench. Doesnāt need it apparently. Stuff the bomb squad, new tactic is we just bore our opposition to death.
Itās on the fern it must be true.
Congrats to the new ABs, gutted for Grace though. Is he at least on the bench ?
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I'm sure the journalists will plump for Leroy, "Get Carter" is a headline that just writes itself.
Personally, the fact that he was also a halfback seems a point of difference to me; we don't seem to get many of those. -
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@frugby Good squad. The only changes I'd make would be to:
- replace Bower with Numia or Norris. We're likely going to start with Williams, and if he's injured de Groot. I like Numia for his potential impact off the bench. Ryan has shown that he values players that can get over the gainline. Numia is a big improvement on Bower in that area
- Jacobsen has to be in ahead of Blackadder. They seem very similar to me as potential starting 6s or loose forward bench cover, but Jacobsen is much more durable.
- Tavatavanawi ahead of Havili. I know they won't, but I wish. He could provide a real point of difference coming off the bench in the last 20 mins.
- Narawa in for JRK. JRK's defence seems quite poor(?) and Narawa has been great.
I really hope Aumua is fit and ready to be the third option at hooker. His form at the end of last year was great.
Sevu Reece has looked very good this season. I was also impressed with his work under the high ball against the Blues, which he seems to have improved(??). I think him and Clarke as starting wings will be fine. Hell, maybe even him and Reiko?
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@akan004 said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
They will go with Bower but I would prefer Norris.
I am expecting Bower to be chosen as well, but it isn't a selection for the future as he'll be 35 in 2027. Norris will at least get an opportunity for the MÄori.
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Last year in the media Jason Ryan claimed he had final say over all forward selections. Ryan really likes older players. He claimed blindsides start hitting their peak at 30 when talking about Frizell. So I think we may see Bower.
The South African team that won the last RWC was a bit of an anomaly in terms of age. They got around some of that age issue with innovative use of bench.
Prior to the 2023 RWC these were the key stats for RWC winning teams:
- Starting side has an average of 50 caps per player
- Starting side has an average of 5.5 years of test rugby
- 23 has at least 850 caps total
- At least 30% of the matchday squad in the 27-29 'prime years' range
So I'm not sold on Ryan's idea of age. Especially when we refuse to make proper use of the bench.
As Razor alluded to hopefully they really are open to using the bench better. I think the Crusaders have made good use of their bench this year and its been a key reason why they've improved.
