All Blacks 2025
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I think Quinn Tupaea is a good shot to replace ALB in the midfield - can play 12 and 13 and they'll likely want that on the bench.
Dave Havili will be looked at closely, but I don't think he's a certainty.
It all depends on how Robertson sees his squad in 2 years time. If he's conservative like last year then it'll be Havili, otherwise it has to be Tupaea
If he's conservative, we will see BB, EB and DH in the squad
If you don't pick Beauden Barrett, who honestly else do you pick? BB and DMac proved themselves us our two best 10s in SR this season. It's concerning, but it's also the truth.
Just not all 3. Re BB: understand why he used him last year and maybe as a bench option, but he really needs to start blooding a new 10 this year.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections. “You learn on the job,” he surmises with a smile, and he “feels better for that”.But, but, but...... Weren't we repeatedly assured international experience wasn't necessary and he'd bring a totally fresh approach?
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
If only the 2025 SR's performances are taken into account, then certainties like Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipolutu shouldn't be in the squad. The only Blues players deserving a selection are AJ Lam and Dalton Papali'i.
i think all these players will be in camp this week but all wont be in first squad
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections. “You learn on the job,” he surmises with a smile, and he “feels better for that”.But, but, but...... Weren't we repeatedly assured international experience wasn't necessary and he'd bring a totally fresh approach?
As arguably Foster's most ardent defender on here, it's kinda strange that you keep heaping criticism on Robertson for not changing enough?
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I’d be tempted to take a punt on Leroy carter ,
I think wing is probably a bit unique in that players tend to run hot and cold more so than most other positions , and I think it’s one position where you can play the guys who are running hot and replace them when they aren’t .
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
If only the 2025 SR's performances are taken into account, then certainties like Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipolutu shouldn't be in the squad. The only Blues players deserving a selection are AJ Lam and Dalton Papali'i.
Beehre was pretty good
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
If only the 2025 SR's performances are taken into account, then certainties like Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipolutu shouldn't be in the squad. The only Blues players deserving a selection are AJ Lam and Dalton Papali'i.
Ngani Laumape couldnt get a gig in 2019 with much better form than the rogues gallery named in your first sentence.
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2025:
I’d be tempted to take a punt on Leroy carter ,
I think wing is probably a bit unique in that players tend to run hot and cold more so than most other positions , and I think it’s one position where you can play the guys who are running hot and replace them when they aren’t .
Id agree.
When someone has a hot hand you have to go with them.
Beauden up until 2019ish, Roigard in RWC final 2023. Milner Skudder in 2015.
They couldnt be ignored, but in Roigards case he was.
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
When someone has a hot hand you have to go with them.
up to a point, yes. Outside backs probably. But Test rugby is a different beast to Super. Form does not necessarily translate.
Edit: experience in Tests are valued for a reason. They are (and should be) damn hard
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections. “You learn on the job,” he surmises with a smile, and he “feels better for that”.But, but, but...... Weren't we repeatedly assured international experience wasn't necessary and he'd bring a totally fresh approach?
As arguably Foster's most ardent defender on here, it's kinda strange that you keep heaping criticism on Robertson for not changing enough?
Nah. Just pointing out the absurdity of much of the hype posted on here and elsewhere about what a "once-in-a-century, transformational coaching God" Robertson was touted to be.
I've consistently predicted Robertson would be understandably conservative in his first year, and equally consistently, said this year is the opportunity for him to be much bolder. For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
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The positive for the All Blacks is we do seem to have some quite depth in certain positions. Lock particularly, where after Retallick and Whitelock it seemed we had nobody. Even in the midfield and in the front row there is going to be several capable guys missing out, where in recent years we have had some absolute duds getting selected.
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
If only the 2025 SR's performances are taken into account, then certainties like Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipolutu shouldn't be in the squad. The only Blues players deserving a selection are AJ Lam and Dalton Papali'i.
Who would you pick over Tuipulotu at Lock? His form during the last 3 weeks has been very good - when it counts.
Blues have 100% success rate in scrum and restarts in the last 3 games. They comfortably won the most lineouts in the first 2 games and won 100% of lineouts off their own ball against the Crusaders compared to the Crusaders 75%.
On what basis do you think Tuipolotu shouldn't be in the squad?
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
When someone has a hot hand you have to go with them.
up to a point, yes. Outside backs probably. But Test rugby is a different beast to Super. Form does not necessarily translate.
Edit: experience in Tests are valued for a reason. They are (and should be) damn hard
But how do you find out, if you never try someone?
It's hard to say that test experience is so valuable when there's a few ABs at the moment that clearly are not better for their extra experience. Beauden was way better as a newbie than he is now. That would be true for half the team, come to think of it.
Also Leroy Carter has played international level, so we know whether he can handle the pressure.
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
When someone has a hot hand you have to go with them.
up to a point, yes. Outside backs probably. But Test rugby is a different beast to Super. Form does not necessarily translate.
Edit: experience in Tests are valued for a reason. They are (and should be) damn hard
The irony is we keep selecting the same players that perform in Super that doesn't translate to tests.
That's what will annoy me if/when Lam misses out - I want to see whether or not he can foot it at test level.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
When someone has a hot hand you have to go with them.
up to a point, yes. Outside backs probably. But Test rugby is a different beast to Super. Form does not necessarily translate.
Edit: experience in Tests are valued for a reason. They are (and should be) damn hard
The irony is we keep selecting the same players that perform in Super that doesn't translate to tests.
That's what will annoy me if/when Lam misses out - I want to see whether or not he can foot it at test level.
He seems like a great bench option if the backline is largely the same as last year
Assuming BB, DM & WJ are all in the 23 there's no need to carry a specialist fullback on the bench. Lam can slot straight in to 12/13 or power wing with no other shuffling
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
For some weird reason, he seems to agree.
He says, before razor has even selected his squad.
From the article.......
He admits at times last year he might have been “too conservative”, and that he could have been “braver”, with approach and selections.
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@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
If only the 2025 SR's performances are taken into account, then certainties like Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipolutu shouldn't be in the squad. The only Blues players deserving a selection are AJ Lam and Dalton Papali'i.
Who would you pick over Tuipulotu at Lock? His form during the last 3 weeks has been very good - when it counts.
Blues have 100% success rate in scrum and restarts in the last 3 games. They comfortably won the most lineouts in the first 2 games and won 100% of lineouts off their own ball against the Crusaders compared to the Crusaders 75%.
On what basis do you think Tuipolotu shouldn't be in the squad?
He will be in the squad, that's for sure. His efforts in the last games were far better but the Blues scrum was back pedalling against the Crusaders during the semi final. That may be Ta'avao's and Lay's fault but not exclusively. Tuipolutu's LO work has been consistently efficient though.
Concerning Beehre, I think he had a better overall season than Tuipolutu. His future looks bright but I think he won't be selected before the EOYT or next year.
As far as locks are concerned, Scott Barrett did not have a great season so far. He has been very anonymous in the first two thirds of the SR. On pure form, Shalfoon should be selected and not him. Of course, this won't happen. My post was just a thought about selection criterias and these will probably not take the SR performances into account but will rely essentially on experience and possibly Crusaders favoritism.
