2025 All Blacks v France series
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@Landers92 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @Tim said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @Landers92 How about off the bench in game 2, or a start in game 3? Seems that lineout and defense are his best areas. Wasn’t aware he was talking about game 1. I’m sure they have a plan for these newbies, feels like the days of throwing players to the wolves doesn’t really happen anymore. But is playing against this French side in a home series really the wolves? I don’t think so. Sure every test match is a ‘test’, but this series presents an ideal opportunity to see some of the less experienced players along side experienced ABs and what they can do. I would love to see a number of them start. 
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He's a good prospect. Some where suggesting he should be on the AB's radar based on his running game and I just wanted to show he has some weakness to his game he needs to work on. 
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@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @African-Monkey by the same strawman token, I'm definitely not convinced EB dominated them either. And yeah I'm guessing the rest of the ABs should be crusaders too, since they dominated their opposites. Give them credit man! I agree. 
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@Chris said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: He played 6 and 7 though didn't he? Christie came off and Grace came on. Blackadder shuffled to 7. He's played 6 and 7 last year. Grace covered 7 as well it was not always a swap to 7. Ok let's do 6: Lineouts for Season ( won + steals ) 
 41 (2) Samipeni Finau
 39 (2) Cullen Grace
 31 (1) Brad Shields
 25 (6) TK Howden
 23 (5) Anton Segner
 17 (3) Brayden Iose
 14 (7) Devan Flanders
 14 (3) Cam Christie
 14 (0) Simon Parker
 2 (0) Ethan BlackadderDominant Carry % 
 43.1 TK Howden
 39.4 Brayden Iose
 39.2 Simon Parker
 37.2 Cam Christie
 36.1 Samipeni Finau
 35.3 Oliver Haig
 30.8 Anton Segner
 27.1 Cullen Grace
 13.8 Ethan BlackadderGainline % 
 71.1 Samipeni Finau
 69.6 Simon Parker
 68.2 Anton Segner
 66.2 TK Howden
 64.7 Oliver Haig
 55.8 Cam Christie
 50.0 Brayden Iose
 48.6 Cullen Grace
 34.1 Ethan BlackadderTackle Evasion % 
 15.8 Oliver Haig
 15.1 Samipeni Finau
 14.1 TK Howden
 12.2 Simon Parker
 9.8 Cam Christie
 9.4 Cullen Grace
 9.2 Anton Segner
 2.5 Ethan Blackadder
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @African-Monkey by the same strawman token, I'm definitely not convinced EB dominated them either. And yeah I'm guessing the rest of the ABs should be crusaders too, since they dominated their opposites. Give them credit man! I agree.  
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@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @Chris said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: He played 6 and 7 though didn't he? Christie came off and Grace came on. Blackadder shuffled to 7. He's played 6 and 7 last year. Grace covered 7 as well it was not always a swap to 7. Ok let's do 6: Lineouts for Season ( won + steals ) 
 41 (2) Samipeni Finau
 39 (2) Cullen Grace
 31 (1) Brad Shields
 25 (6) TK Howden
 23 (5) Anton Segner
 17 (3) Brayden Iose
 14 (7) Devan Flanders
 14 (3) Cam Christie
 14 (0) Simon Parker
 2 (0) Ethan BlackadderDominant Carry % 
 43.1 TK Howden
 39.4 Brayden Iose
 39.2 Simon Parker
 37.2 Cam Christie
 36.1 Samipeni Finau
 35.3 Oliver Haig
 30.8 Anton Segner
 27.1 Cullen Grace
 13.8 Ethan BlackadderGainline % 
 71.1 Samipeni Finau
 69.6 Simon Parker
 68.2 Anton Segner
 66.2 TK Howden
 64.7 Oliver Haig
 55.8 Cam Christie
 50.0 Brayden Iose
 48.6 Cullen Grace
 34.1 Ethan BlackadderTackle Evasion % 
 15.8 Oliver Haig
 15.1 Samipeni Finau
 14.1 TK Howden
 12.2 Simon Parker
 9.8 Cam Christie
 9.4 Cullen Grace
 9.2 Anton Segner
 2.5 Ethan BlackadderTK Howden looks good on the stats page. 
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@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision. Sure, but he's is not that small I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc Jason Ryan said in an interview ( i think it was the rugby podcast ) They want their 6s to be lineout jumpers going forward , Finau was mentioned as being good in this area ...... and i think it was the same interview where it was mentioned a couple of the locks can play 6 , I think Jacobson beat him in as the utility 
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@chchfanatic if that’s true then it makes the decision to bring in papali’i even stupider. 
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@AmberArmy said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @chchfanatic if that’s true then it makes the decision to bring in papali’i even stupider. I am afraid that it had to happen after there was a United Nations resolution that everyone should move on from "Headbutt-gate". 
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@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: Blackadder could benefit from adding more muscle and strength to his frame. With his undoubted engine, that would enable him to have more impact in the collision. Sure, but he's is not that small I think it's something else. Coaches of his and EB himself have joked about how unco he is. Too often he gets himself into weak positions going into contact and crumbles/bounces off etc A lot of this you could actually apply to Rieko as well - he is a more than willing ball carrier but for a big man he goes to ground after initial contact a hell of a lot. Especially since his breakout first couple of years - my sense is that coaches have worked out where to target him as a ball carrier. 
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @Landers92 said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @Tim said in 2025 All Blacks v France series: @Landers92 How about off the bench in game 2, or a start in game 3? Seems that lineout and defense are his best areas. Wasn’t aware he was talking about game 1. I’m sure they have a plan for these newbies, feels like the days of throwing players to the wolves doesn’t really happen anymore. But is playing against this French side in a home series really the wolves? I don’t think so. Sure every test match is a ‘test’, but this series presents an ideal opportunity to see some of the less experienced players along side experienced ABs and what they can do. I would love to see a number of them start. I never said throwing them to the French was the wolves? I meant in general. I completely agree with your statement. I want Razor to go away from his comfort/safe picks and start thinking about the 2027 World Cup. 









