2025 All Blacks v France series
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@Nepia said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Not a bad squad.
The only guy I'm genuinely annoyed about in this squad is Reece.
Lio-Willie's inclusion as cover means form counts this year in a way it didn't last year. I think Sotutu offers more but are we resigned to seeing him turn out for England or Fiji. Don't mind Kirifi's selection after years of toiling away.
Scooter better fucking not be covering 6, it took him most of the season to get into form at his usual spot without him being shifted. And then if we move Vaa'i then were moving our best performing lock of the last two years.
I wonder if Tupaea will get a decent shot this year? Hard to overcome the last name Barrett in NZ rugby.
The finals don't appear to have had an impact on the selections.
Pleased to see McAlister there, Bell hasn't looked up to the task and isn't even the next best hooker in his franchise.
Reece has no pace and shelled a couple of high profile high balls last year.
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@Jet said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Nepia said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Not a bad squad.
The only guy I'm genuinely annoyed about in this squad is Reece.
Lio-Willie's inclusion as cover means form counts this year in a way it didn't last year. I think Sotutu offers more but are we resigned to seeing him turn out for England or Fiji. Don't mind Kirifi's selection after years of toiling away.
Scooter better fucking not be covering 6, it took him most of the season to get into form at his usual spot without him being shifted. And then if we move Vaa'i then were moving our best performing lock of the last two years.
I wonder if Tupaea will get a decent shot this year? Hard to overcome the last name Barrett in NZ rugby.
The finals don't appear to have had an impact on the selections.
Pleased to see McAlister there, Bell hasn't looked up to the task and isn't even the next best hooker in his franchise.
Reece has no pace and fudged a couple of high profile high balls last year.
He lost us the Argentina game.
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George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
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@1kiwi said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Brodie McAlister you would have to say his decision to move north to the Chiefs has paid dividends.
Especially on the Fern.
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@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Just signed a new 3 year deal with the Crusaders,
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@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Chris-B is that right? Parker and Tangitau?
I think the foreshadowing is just wrong.
I think (it's Razor) Razor just said they'll be adding three players for the Rugby Championship.
In any case, they've got CLW and EN as injury cover - and he said they're available for selection - so, effectively they're just one midfielder more than most here were picking and one loose forward less.
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@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Bell will be duking it out with Moananu in a couple years time I believe as it wouldn't surprise me if Codie Taylor either hangs up his boots or heads overseas after the next world cup.
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@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Just signed a new 3 year deal with the Crusaders,
Must love sitting on the bench.
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@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Just signed a new 3 year deal with the Crusaders,
Must love sitting on the bench.
getting paid AB wages to sit on the bench. Well, he was.
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@1kiwi said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Bell will be duking it out with Moananu in a couple years time I believe as it wouldn't surprise me if Codie Taylor either hangs up his boots or heads overseas after the next world cup.
Well, yeah, Codie Taylor will be 37 in 2028.
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there are some weird bits, JB, Tupaea and Big Jim named as midfielders, all 12's? and the RI a 13 theyve said will cover wing...just trying to work out the logistics, doesnt feel even depth across all positions
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Not a bad squad, but am not sure about Reece, McAlister and ALB. I don't understand why they didn't pick 35 players though, and with the RWC only 2 years away, surely you want to get as many players into the environment as possible and build depth.
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So the squad ends up being 11 Chiefs, 7 Crusaders, 7 Hurricanes, 4 Blues, 3 Highlanders and 1 Moana Pasifika
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@1kiwi said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Bell will be duking it out with Moananu in a couple years time I believe as it wouldn't surprise me if Codie Taylor either hangs up his boots or heads overseas after the next world cup.
Moananu really should leave. He can't even crack the Crusaders 23 where he looks to have an AB level ceiling.
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@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
George Bell. Canterbury's third string hooker. Boys needs to go aomewhere that he won't be stuck on the bench.
Just signed a new 3 year deal with the Crusaders,
Must love sitting on the bench.
more so than playing for the Highlanders maybe.
