All Blacks 2025
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@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:
If I am Robertson, Ardie announcing another sabbatical should be considered in his selections for games this year.
Marginal calls should go against him.Well, any excuse to get Papalii, Jacobsen and most importantly Blackadder in the same squad I guess.
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This won’t have come as a surprise to Razor.
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We are now less than a week out from the squad being announced, anyone know of any bolter rumours flying around? The big one from last year that no one saw coming was the announcement of Pasilio Tosi, will be interesting to see if something similar happens this year again.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Sabbaticals are fine, just don't parachute them back in unless they are 100 test greats: aaron smith / mccaw / nonu level - don't select them until they've played locally again and dominated. That in itself will somewhat reduce how attractive it is to a player.
Savea was okay last year - but only okay - he was outplayed all season by a 21 year old rookie. And let's not forget that said rookie would have been much more likely to get his chance if Savea hadn't been selected.This is a pervasive view, but I don’t think it holds much value any more given the quality of play around the world, even in places like Japan. The club scene there is far superior to what they get from their national team. And this is even more so with wavering quality at Super and NPC levels.
At the individual level, yes Ardie had a dip in the black jersey last year after an immense 2023 test season. But looking at his output this Super season he has been a real standout and looked fitter. His level of involvement for an openside has been at a high level which for me will translate to the rest arena - given his experience and understanding of test rugby. Now this won’t work for all players, but for Ardie I have very few concerns.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
We are now less than a week out from the squad being announced, anyone know of any bolter rumours flying around? The big one from last year that no one saw coming was the announcement of Pasilio Tosi, will be interesting to see if something similar happens this year again.
A couple on here have reported Fusitua? Does that count if he gets picked as I would say that most people wouldn't have taken him into consideration.
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The Highlanders that are at ABs camp this week.
JRK
EDG
TK Howden
Fabian Holland
Tavatavanawai
Jack Taylor -
@Landers92 where is the camp? just working out if its in dunners and theyre just the best local to run in defence
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@Canes4life I've head Jack Taylor is at some ABs training camp up north but doubt it means too much as there's like 5 Hookers at the Chiefs or Crusaders you would assume are ahead in the pecking order but good on Ryan and Razor for identifying him as a possible future player down the road.
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2025:
@Landers92 where is the camp? just working out if its in dunners and theyre just the best local to run in defence
Tauranga
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
No Fakatava?
That says a lot.
Glad Howden is in their sights, not sure he is there yet but he has the size and tools.
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@jamsb said in All Blacks 2025:
I saw the highlanders create a post then quickly delete - TK Howden, Jack Taylor, Ethan de Groot, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, and Timoci Tavatavanawai have been called into the All Blacks camp for this coming week
If Timoci Tavatavanawai gets picked there's no way I'll have the energy to write his whole name every time so I hope he forgives me if I ever call him T'nT..
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@nostrildamus just go with his nickname of Big Jim
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus just go with his nickname of Big Jim
Sigh. Yes that is reasonable I guess. When you have JB as competition though Big Jim doesn't really seem that big..
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
No Fakatava?
Guessing that has a bit to do with Roigard being available for camp and dare I say it, Findlay Christie too.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@jamsb said in All Blacks 2025:
I saw the highlanders create a post then quickly delete - TK Howden, Jack Taylor, Ethan de Groot, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, and Timoci Tavatavanawai have been called into the All Blacks camp for this coming week
If Timoci Tavatavanawai gets picked there's no way I'll have the energy to write his whole name every time so I hope he forgives me if I ever call him T'nT..
The last guy called TNT that I remember was Toby N Tucker from the Oliver Stone movie U Turn. The locals called him that cos when he goes off people get hurt.
( or as Sean Penns character Bobby said they weren’t very imaginative)
I hope Timoci Tavatavanawai ( which I have copied and pasted for the first and last time ) is similarly explosive
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All I’ve heard is that Big Jim looks to be in. Holland in. No blackadder.
Fusitua in. Proctor in. Reiko as a wing/centre.
Either Christian Lio Willie or Hoskins. Still have made the final call.
Forgot Kirifi too
