2025 All Blacks v France series
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I can see how they like Norris, he's a physical presence around the field. I hope they can help him refine his scrummaging.
Shame Ah Kuoi wasn't looked at as lock/6, small for a lock but quite athletic and hardworking methinks.
It's interesting the views on Blackadder in the final, he was a workhorse as always but didn't look that impactful or dominant or particularly speedy to my eye, but I wasn't looking particularly out for him.
If I had time I'd like to go back to see if the Chiefs when off the boil as LJ got hit/off the field, the loosies looked far more effective early on I thought. -
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I can see how they like Norris, he's a physical presence around the field. I hope they can help him refine his scrummaging.
Shame Ah Kuoi wasn't looked at as lock/6, small for a lock but quite athletic and hardworking methinks.
It's interesting the views on Blackadder in the final, he was a workhorse as always but didn't look that impactful or dominant or particularly speedy to my eye, but I wasn't looking particularly out for him.
If I had time I'd like to go back to see if the Chiefs when off the boil as LJ got hit/off the field, the loosies looked far more effective early on I thought.I kept an eye on him, you are correct. and 30 carries for 0.8m is a disgrace
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@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Anyone else have a sinking feeling in their gut that Razor will select a backrow that has Ardie and Du'Plessis on the field at the same time?
that's probably my preferred TBH, with the version of Finau that's in my head there as well.
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@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Delighted for all seven Hurricanes who were picked, especially Du 'Plessis Kirifi getting in the AB squad for the first time. All seven are there on merit.
Injury costs Peter Lakai and Ausafo Aumua their places which is a shame.
They'll both be back, especially Lakai. Injuries happen unfortunately. As a Canes fan I'm definitely not annoyed at who's been selected. Du Plessis deserves it the most after a very strong NPC and then Super campaign.
From a leadership point of view, I'd say he's one of the top leaders in the country in the way he talks to his team and then backs it up on the field. A massive shift to the niggly player he was a few years ago.
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@mariner4life said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Anyone else have a sinking feeling in their gut that Razor will select a backrow that has Ardie and Du'Plessis on the field at the same time?
that's probably my preferred TBH, with the version of Finau that's in my head there as well.
I'd prefer either of them at 7. A fit Sititi at 8 and Finau on the blind.
edit - all of them playing as well as I imagine they're capable of being.
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@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@mariner4life said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Anyone else have a sinking feeling in their gut that Razor will select a backrow that has Ardie and Du'Plessis on the field at the same time?
that's probably my preferred TBH, with the version of Finau that's in my head there as well.
I'd prefer either of them at 7. A fit Sititi at 8 and Finau on the blind.
edit - all of them playing as well as I imagine they're capable of being.
Well thats just it now isn't it? Time to see Razor coach the crap out of these guys, get them playing a slightly tighter style
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i havent watched a lot of MP this season, was Savea playing 7 predominately?
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@Chris-B he’s a different sort of player than ALB, so not a like for like (if they were going for that), whereas if sat Jordie was unavailable they may have considered, but I think they are looking to the future for our midfield whilst balancing the need to have a couple of key experienced guys.
On TNT, could he be a Sam Tuitupo type? Not sure if he has the passing game of Sammy but playing a flat backline TNT could be really troubling. TNT won’t need to try and be everywhere which seemed the case at the Landers.
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@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I can see how they like Norris, he's a physical presence around the field. I hope they can help him refine his scrummaging.
Shame Ah Kuoi wasn't looked at as lock/6, small for a lock but quite athletic and hardworking methinks.
It's interesting the views on Blackadder in the final, he was a workhorse as always but didn't look that impactful or dominant or particularly speedy to my eye, but I wasn't looking particularly out for him.
If I had time I'd like to go back to see if the Chiefs when off the boil as LJ got hit/off the field, the loosies looked far more effective early on I thought.I kept an eye on him, you are correct. and 30 carries for 0.8m is a disgrace
Not sure where you are getting those stats from, but was it you who watched him closely in the semi and managed to miss the game high 30 odd tackles?
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@Kiwiwomble said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
i havent watched a lot of MP this season, was Savea playing 7 predominately?
Yes
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@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I can see how they like Norris, he's a physical presence around the field. I hope they can help him refine his scrummaging.
Shame Ah Kuoi wasn't looked at as lock/6, small for a lock but quite athletic and hardworking methinks.
It's interesting the views on Blackadder in the final, he was a workhorse as always but didn't look that impactful or dominant or particularly speedy to my eye, but I wasn't looking particularly out for him.
If I had time I'd like to go back to see if the Chiefs when off the boil as LJ got hit/off the field, the loosies looked far more effective early on I thought.I kept an eye on him, you are correct. and 30 carries for 0.8m is a disgrace
Not sure where you are getting those stats from, but was it you who watched him closely in the semi and managed to miss the game high 30 odd tackles?
Someone posted that during the game. As for the tackle count, he may have got 30 odd, but I didn't notice them as they lacked dominance
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@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Kiwiwomble said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
i havent watched a lot of MP this season, was Savea playing 7 predominately?
Yes
thats what i thought, im kind of hoping thats where they see him primarily (i know they more than likely dont), when he was playing 8 and we were struggling for a 7 when it was suggested he play 7 for the AB's it was quickly shot down "hasen't played first class rugby at 7 for years, hes an 8 now"...would think its works both ways
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@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I can see how they like Norris, he's a physical presence around the field. I hope they can help him refine his scrummaging.
Shame Ah Kuoi wasn't looked at as lock/6, small for a lock but quite athletic and hardworking methinks.
It's interesting the views on Blackadder in the final, he was a workhorse as always but didn't look that impactful or dominant or particularly speedy to my eye, but I wasn't looking particularly out for him.
If I had time I'd like to go back to see if the Chiefs when off the boil as LJ got hit/off the field, the loosies looked far more effective early on I thought.I kept an eye on him, you are correct. and 30 carries for 0.8m is a disgrace
Not sure where you are getting those stats from, but was it you who watched him closely in the semi and managed to miss the game high 30 odd tackles?
Someone posted that during the game. As for the tackle count, he may have got 30 odd, but I didn't notice them as they lacked dominance
Ah, so not real then.
If you only see dominant tackles, you're missing about 90% of the game - which kinda makes sense. -
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I can see how they like Norris, he's a physical presence around the field. I hope they can help him refine his scrummaging.
Shame Ah Kuoi wasn't looked at as lock/6, small for a lock but quite athletic and hardworking methinks.
It's interesting the views on Blackadder in the final, he was a workhorse as always but didn't look that impactful or dominant or particularly speedy to my eye, but I wasn't looking particularly out for him.
If I had time I'd like to go back to see if the Chiefs when off the boil as LJ got hit/off the field, the loosies looked far more effective early on I thought.I kept an eye on him, you are correct. and 30 carries for 0.8m is a disgrace
Not sure where you are getting those stats from, but was it you who watched him closely in the semi and managed to miss the game high 30 odd tackles?
Someone posted that during the game. As for the tackle count, he may have got 30 odd, but I didn't notice them as they lacked dominance
Tackle counts are not that important. Racking up numbers hitting one off defensive players and being late to attacking rucks doesn't really help win games. It's just avoiding errors. Safe boring players are great, but if you have too many (if any) you can just beige your way out of any impact and dynamism.
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@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
If you only see dominant tackles, you're missing about 90% of the game - which kinda makes sense.
you know that was the primary stat that Wayne Smith looked at? He didn't really care about many others ... and what would he know
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@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I can see how they like Norris, he's a physical presence around the field. I hope they can help him refine his scrummaging.
Shame Ah Kuoi wasn't looked at as lock/6, small for a lock but quite athletic and hardworking methinks.
It's interesting the views on Blackadder in the final, he was a workhorse as always but didn't look that impactful or dominant or particularly speedy to my eye, but I wasn't looking particularly out for him.
If I had time I'd like to go back to see if the Chiefs when off the boil as LJ got hit/off the field, the loosies looked far more effective early on I thought.I kept an eye on him, you are correct. and 30 carries for 0.8m is a disgrace
Not sure where you are getting those stats from, but was it you who watched him closely in the semi and managed to miss the game high 30 odd tackles?
Yeah I don’t believe that metres per carry I went back at watched the game one run he made at least 3 or 4 metres when he got between 2 tacklers.
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@Chris-B he’s a different sort of player than ALB, so not a like for like (if they were going for that), whereas if sat Jordie was unavailable they may have considered, but I think they are looking to the future for our midfield whilst balancing the need to have a couple of key experienced guys.
I was thinking they'd pick four midfielders - Jordie, Tupaea, Proctor and Rieko - but, a chance they'd pick five and with ALB injured Dave might have got the fifth spot, especially after he'd gone pretty well in the play-offs.
But that would likely only have been a reprieve until ALB returned.
I'm not surprised he missed out.
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@nzzp said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
I can see how they like Norris, he's a physical presence around the field. I hope they can help him refine his scrummaging.
Shame Ah Kuoi wasn't looked at as lock/6, small for a lock but quite athletic and hardworking methinks.
It's interesting the views on Blackadder in the final, he was a workhorse as always but didn't look that impactful or dominant or particularly speedy to my eye, but I wasn't looking particularly out for him.
If I had time I'd like to go back to see if the Chiefs when off the boil as LJ got hit/off the field, the loosies looked far more effective early on I thought.I kept an eye on him, you are correct. and 30 carries for 0.8m is a disgrace
Not sure where you are getting those stats from, but was it you who watched him closely in the semi and managed to miss the game high 30 odd tackles?
Someone posted that during the game. As for the tackle count, he may have got 30 odd, but I didn't notice them as they lacked dominance
Tackle counts are not that important. Racking up numbers hitting one off defensive players and being late to attacking rucks doesn't really help win games. It's just avoiding errors. Safe boring players are great, but if you have too many (if any) you can just beige your way out of any impact and dynamism.
So defence doesn’t count then someone can make one tackle per game at that’s all good.
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