All Blacks 2025

gt12

@Nogusta said in All Blacks 2025:

@george33 Hoskins was in Tauranga at the camp. Flew down this morning, was back in Auckland by the afternoon.
It was a physical/medical check type of visit with the AB docs/trainers.
Make of that what you will

Good on you. Was it a one day thing or were guys meant to stick around?

Lancaster Park

Our loosies issue is still the lack of a good big (mass and height) 6. We lack height and power in any of our loosies that play well enough to get picked. When we had both read and kaino we had height and enough mass/skill to do the tough stuff. For the last 3 seasons we had players playing well in a 6 role but either tall enough but not solid enough or a solid enforcer who wasnt tall enough.
I could be wrong as its just my perception.
Paps is the classic example. But heavy for a 7, too short for a 6 or 8. Great player for a role in the game for all sizes but ironically not quite the right size.
EB, broken a lot but brings a lot of energy. Too tall for 7, probably too light or is about more speed less power for 6 or 8. Offers things of real value to the collective group but not quite the right shape.
Hos, lots of talent and size. In the semi either was the focus of containment for the defence or just didnt have a great game in the game that mattered.
Jacobseon, great player at 6 and 8 but has the size of a 7. Not as good a 7 as he is 6 or 8. Great bench option for cover but impact.....not sure if hes the line busting 6/8 you might need in the last 20mins of a big international.
Finau. Really capable 6 with good size. Not quite there yet but could be another Kaino or just stays the same.
Satitti. Gives off the same mental aptitude and attitude of an early Mccaw. Next ABs captain if we can find a taller 6 or 8 to get the loosie balance better.
And here we are back at the big lineout option and ball carrier at 6 or 8 again that we dont seem to have.

nostrildamus

This is what I don't get, Paps has size, and is bigger than LJ according to Blues website:
https://www.blues.rugby/dalton-papalii-player-profile (https://www.allblacks.com/playerprofiles/dalton-papalii is the same)
Born 11/10/97
Height 193cm Weight 113kg

Luke Jacobson https://www.allblacks.com/playerprofiles/luke-jacobson (https://chiefs.co.nz/player/luke-jacobson/ 1kg lighter)
Born 20/04/1997
Height 191cm Weight 108kg

Paps gives away no height but 4kgs to Valetini https://wallabies.rugby/players/rob-valentini/2064 who certainly has impact and power..

if you look at Bok loosies they have 2 big munters but plenty of smaller ones
https://www.sarugby.co.za/sa-teams-players/springboks/
[and I'm really surprised if Kolisi is 1.89m tall but he certainly isn't that heavy...]

Smuts

What those stats don’t show is how big Bobby V, Siya, LJ & DP play. With the right combo DPs pretty good just doesn’t feel as big or long as you’d expect.

Ahem.

nostrildamus

@Smuts said in All Blacks 2025:

What those stats don’t show is how big Bobby V, Siya, LJ & DP play. With the right combo DPs pretty good just doesn’t feel as big or long as you’d expect.

Ahem.

yeah I agree. I'm a big fan of one of your smallest loosies, Kwagga Smith.

antipodean

@nostrildamus from that link to the larger Springbok squad, over a third of their loose forwards are 6'4" or more in old money. Of their locks only one fails to be two metres tall.

nostrildamus

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus from that link to the larger Springbok squad, over a third of their loose forwards are 6'4" or more in old money. Of their locks only one fails to be two metres tall.

Yes but

I wasn't talking about their locks. Who are monsters. And
Their tall loosies are mostly not that heavy. Some of their loosies would be locks in any other side. Good for their lineout I guess.

Now if you want to make the argument that their tight forwards are so hefty they can get away with some lighter loosies I'm not going to disagree.

antipodean

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus from that link to the larger Springbok squad, over a third of their loose forwards are 6'4" or more in old money. Of their locks only one fails to be two metres tall.

Yes but

I wasn't talking about their locks. Who are monsters. And

Their tall loosies are mostly not that heavy. Some of their loosies would be locks in any other side. Good for their lineout I guess.

Now if you want to make the argument that their tight forwards are so hefty they can get away with some lighter loosies I'm not going to disagree.

It's worse than that - they've got genuine height in their loosies which permits them to carry a small forward like Qwagga. It's much easier to carry comparable weight when you're taller which makes you leaner = less aerobic demand.

IMO NZR needs to be selecting some of our locks as loose forwards when it comes to representative duty.

Jet

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

Looks like Beaudy is already at the old man's farm and ready for team naming on Monday. Guessing will see him watching Coastal's game on Saturday.

I wish I could afford a house, or even afford the car.......well even afford that coat to be honest.

Well you certainly can't afford the player.

I can if his form continues as is

nostrildamus

@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

Looks like Beaudy is already at the old man's farm and ready for team naming on Monday. Guessing will see him watching Coastal's game on Saturday.

I wish I could afford a house, or even afford the car.......well even afford that coat to be honest.

Well you certainly can't afford the player.

I can if his form continues as is

Well he's been making 780 K in pounds apparently, so even half of that would not be too shabby

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/top-10-highest-paid-rugby-union-players-as-richie-mounga-triples-salary-in-japan-but-misses-out-on-number-one-spot

Tim

@Nogusta A million time more reliable than some blow hard moron on NZ radio. Thank you

Darren

I was just catching up on this, I would never listen to some 3rd rate Journo saying he knows Hoskins said no to the selectors. I hate people spreading these kind of rumors. When things get posted here, then tend to make it into the media and it just spreads.

Steven Harris

@Frank there’s a range of tests that are performed

Aerobic and Anaerobic Endurance:
Tests like the Yo-Yo test or shuttle runs (e.g., Bronco test) high intensity test which is designed to see how fast a player can recover
Speed and agility which consists of short sprint tests with changes of directions over shorter distances
Strength and power (explosive weight tests ,Power squats ,bench press fatigue)
Body composition (fat percentage and lean muscle mass )

There’s some several other tests which in rugby specific skills , eg Tackling,passing kicking ,ground skills , footwork ability
Also included Injury fitness assessment and an HIA protocol
That’s just a snap shop of what the players will be put through
I suppose one thing to take into account with Tavatavanawai is Fijian genetics, some of these lads are just freaks of nature

taniwharugby

Is alot to scan through after being away for a couple ofndays, but didn't look like any mention of JRK apparently wanting to play for Fiji?

Highlanders’ outside backs Jona Nareki and Jacob Kneepkens-Ratumaitavuki want to play for the Fiji Water Flying Fijians, but their New Zealand Rugby Union contracts require availability for the All Blacks, preventing them from doing so. Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne said both players fear losing their Super Rugby contracts if they switch. Byrne explained that New Zealand can select players from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Europe, limiting Fiji's player pool. He hopes NZRU will release players unlikely to make the All Blacks so they can represent Fiji. The Super Rugby Pacific final between Crusaders and Chiefs will be at 7:05 pm Saturday in Christchurch.

From "ON Times" https://www.facebook.com/share/1CWdPhk7tp/

zedsdeadbaby

Me thinks they might have been letting Mick down easy - Nareki I could see playing for them, I think his All Blacks window has closed. JRK still a chance.

MN5

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

This is what I don't get, Paps has size, and is bigger than LJ according to Blues website:
https://www.blues.rugby/dalton-papalii-player-profile (https://www.allblacks.com/playerprofiles/dalton-papalii is the same)
Born 11/10/97
Height 193cm Weight 113kg

Luke Jacobson https://www.allblacks.com/playerprofiles/luke-jacobson (https://chiefs.co.nz/player/luke-jacobson/ 1kg lighter)
Born 20/04/1997
Height 191cm Weight 108kg

Paps gives away no height but 4kgs to Valetini https://wallabies.rugby/players/rob-valentini/2064 who certainly has impact and power..

if you look at Bok loosies they have 2 big munters but plenty of smaller ones
https://www.sarugby.co.za/sa-teams-players/springboks/
[and I'm really surprised if Kolisi is 1.89m tall but he certainly isn't that heavy...]

Papalii looks around the same size as someone like Louis Picamole. He went ok

Chris B.

@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:

@Frank there’s a range of tests that are performed

Aerobic and Anaerobic Endurance:
Tests like the Yo-Yo test or shuttle runs (e.g., Bronco test) high intensity test which is designed to see how fast a player can recover
Speed and agility which consists of short sprint tests with changes of directions over shorter distances
Strength and power (explosive weight tests ,Power squats ,bench press fatigue)
Body composition (fat percentage and lean muscle mass )

There’s some several other tests which in rugby specific skills , eg Tackling,passing kicking ,ground skills , footwork ability
Also included Injury fitness assessment and an HIA protocol
That’s just a snap shop of what the players will be put through
I suppose one thing to take into account with Tavatavanawai is Fijian genetics, some of these lads are just freaks of nature

I guess they might think they're giving away too much information - but, at the start of the Super rugby season - I reckon you could make a very watchable TV programme having each of the franchise "champions" for these events go up against one another.

Sort of like NFL Combine, which you can watch - though admittedly thats potential recruits rather than established stars.

Australia used to have a Top Athletes TV programme - I think Billy Slater won at least once.

People tune in to see Sir Ted's Match Fit programme.

taniwharugby

@Chris-B clash of the codes (think thats what it was called?) was good to watch back in the day

gt12

@Tim said in All Blacks 2025:

@Nogusta A million time more reliable than some blow hard moron on NZ radio. Thank you

I find it pretty amazing that the guy would say it on 'national' radio, you would think that you would have your sources correct? That's pretty scandalous to spread that rumor if it isn't true.

ACT Crusader

@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Tim said in All Blacks 2025:

@Nogusta A million time more reliable than some blow hard moron on NZ radio. Thank you

I find it pretty amazing that the guy would say it on 'national' radio, you would think that you would have your sources correct? That's pretty scandalous to spread that rumor if it isn't true.

With so many today trying to out hot take the next show/podcast, I’m not surprised by anything these days, especially when it involves a player that hits a certain nerve or will get an immediate reaction.

The thing is there’s no real consequences for coming out and saying whatever when it comes to this stuff.

The Fern is fortunate to have a few close to players, coaches, administrators that get oil or some are just lucky enough to sit at the cafe table next to some ABs for breakfast - it’s all part of the drama and buildup.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks 2025