All Blacks 2025
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
To my eye Rieko still has (most) of his top end pace, once he's in the clear he is gone and that hasn't changed. His acceleration probably isn't quite what it was 5 years ago, but pace won't be an issue for him overall.
The problem with that though is that acceleration is actually more important than pace... See number of tries scored by Jordan, Will.
Well it's not like he has poor acceleration, and the top end speed is very useful on the wing for scoring long range tries which he's done quite a bit of, whereas a winger like Reece gets run down every time.
I think Jordan's biggest strength lies in the angles he runs and his eye for a mismatch, he's a very smart operator on attack.
Also the calmest looking outside back since Christian Cullen. Seems to have so much time compared to others
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
To my eye Rieko still has (most) of his top end pace, once he's in the clear he is gone and that hasn't changed. His acceleration probably isn't quite what it was 5 years ago, but pace won't be an issue for him overall.
The problem with that though is that acceleration is actually more important than pace... See number of tries scored by Jordan, Will.
Well it's not like he has poor acceleration, and the top end speed is very useful on the wing for scoring long range tries which he's done quite a bit of, whereas a winger like Reece gets run down every time.
I think Jordan's biggest strength lies in the angles he runs and his eye for a mismatch, he's a very smart operator on attack.
Every time? Don’t make me post the YouTube videos, I’ll even slap on some loud rock music to make him look even more devastating….
Ioane is a great winger and whilst I prefer him on the wing and that he shouldn’t have been moved, the only concern now is him getting back to wing play so he can utilise his pace out wider. But I’m more optimistic about that than keeping him at centre right now.
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@ACT-Crusader it's like when you see a plane going past in the sky and it looks like it's hovering - his mahoosive head makes it look like he's going slower than he is.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
To my eye Rieko still has (most) of his top end pace, once he's in the clear he is gone and that hasn't changed. His acceleration probably isn't quite what it was 5 years ago, but pace won't be an issue for him overall.
You have a better eye than me. I don't recall seeing Rieko in space for way too long now.
Playing outside shit centres who can't distribute has diminished his opportunities.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@ACT-Crusader it's like when you see a plane going past in the sky and it looks like it's hovering - his mahoosive head makes it look like he's going slower than he is.
Damien McKenzie has the same problem
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@ACT-Crusader it's like when you see a plane going past in the sky and it looks like it's hovering - his mahoosive head makes it look like he's going slower than he is.
Damien McKenzie has the same problem
Just when he’s running sideways
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Am I too late for the Love song gags? “It must have been Love but it’s Mo’unga now”
I’ll see myself out
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@1ShadeOfBlack said in All Blacks 2025:
Am I too late for the Love song gags? “It must have been Love but it’s Mo’unga now”
I’ll see myself out
I think we’ve (thankfully) moved on from the song gags and are now back focusing on serious rugby talk, like is Rieko Ioane actually fast.
So, you know. What’s Love got to do with it?
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@Nepia said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
TBF, no matches matter until the return of Atua Mo'unga in late 2026.
And TBF that's exactly how Mo'unga feels, and I'm not having a dig at him there as he's chasing the money like most people do in life. He doesn't value the AB tests between world cups so chooses to go and make as much money as he can in that time. Then in WC year he comes swooning back in to be eligible for that, and then leaves again straight after. It takes us down the path of anything outside of the WC is just a friendly if more and more players start doing the same thing.
And our idiot coach has just indulged this bullshit instead of trying to help protect NZ rugby from overseas clubs taking all of our talent from local competitions.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@Nepia said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
TBF, no matches matter until the return of Atua Mo'unga in late 2026.
And TBF that's exactly how Mo'unga feels, and I'm not having a dig at him there as he's chasing the money like most people do in life. He doesn't value the AB tests between world cups so chooses to go and make as much money as he can in that time. Then in WC year he comes swooning back in to be eligible for that, and then leaves again straight after. It takes us down the path of anything outside of the WC is just a friendly if more and more players start doing the same thing.
And our idiot coach has just indulged this bullshit instead of trying to help protect NZ rugby from overseas clubs taking all of our talent from local competitions.
I agree with all of this, except for the 'not having a dig at him' bit, because I think you should. If everyone just goes 'oh good on him' when someone is a greedy fluffybunny, that's when greedy fluffybunny is okay and normal.
That is after all what Robertson has done - so I don't see how you can criticise him for indulging Mo'unga and at the same time say you think what Mo'unga is doing is fine? -
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@Nepia said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
TBF, no matches matter until the return of Atua Mo'unga in late 2026.
And TBF that's exactly how Mo'unga feels, and I'm not having a dig at him there as he's chasing the money like most people do in life. He doesn't value the AB tests between world cups so chooses to go and make as much money as he can in that time. Then in WC year he comes swooning back in to be eligible for that, and then leaves again straight after. It takes us down the path of anything outside of the WC is just a friendly if more and more players start doing the same thing.
And our idiot coach has just indulged this bullshit instead of trying to help protect NZ rugby from overseas clubs taking all of our talent from local competitions.
Maybe this is the way of the future, players coming and going will then morph into open eligibility. I am dead against it and I hope not. But Razor clearly doesn't give a crap about the status quo as a way to protect the jersey, and for what? It's not like he's rolling over for Dan Carter
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@canefan said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@Nepia said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
TBF, no matches matter until the return of Atua Mo'unga in late 2026.
And TBF that's exactly how Mo'unga feels, and I'm not having a dig at him there as he's chasing the money like most people do in life. He doesn't value the AB tests between world cups so chooses to go and make as much money as he can in that time. Then in WC year he comes swooning back in to be eligible for that, and then leaves again straight after. It takes us down the path of anything outside of the WC is just a friendly if more and more players start doing the same thing.
And our idiot coach has just indulged this bullshit instead of trying to help protect NZ rugby from overseas clubs taking all of our talent from local competitions.
Maybe this is the way of the future, players coming and going will then morph into open eligibility. I am dead against it and I hope not. But Razor clearly doesn't give a crap about the status quo as a way to protect the jersey, and for what? It's not like he's rolling over for Dan Carter
It'd be nice if New Zealand Rugby had noticed players don't come back from playing in Japan and perform all that well straight away but they seem to be taking their time working that out. If Mo'unga isn't up to standard upon return (and Savea after his sabbatical) I'd hope they'd shut this kind of thing down. By all means, take a year away after a World Cup, come back and play your way back into the team but players should have to prove their ability before being selected.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@Nepia said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
TBF, no matches matter until the return of Atua Mo'unga in late 2026.
And TBF that's exactly how Mo'unga feels, and I'm not having a dig at him there as he's chasing the money like most people do in life. He doesn't value the AB tests between world cups so chooses to go and make as much money as he can in that time. Then in WC year he comes swooning back in to be eligible for that, and then leaves again straight after. It takes us down the path of anything outside of the WC is just a friendly if more and more players start doing the same thing.
And our idiot coach has just indulged this bullshit instead of trying to help protect NZ rugby from overseas clubs taking all of our talent from local competitions.
I agree with all of this, except for the 'not having a dig at him' bit, because I think you should. If everyone just goes 'oh good on him' when someone is a greedy fluffybunny, that's when greedy fluffybunny is okay and normal.
That is after all what Robertson has done - so I don't see how you can criticise him for indulging Mo'unga and at the same time say you think what Mo'unga is doing is fine?I guess, but there will always be players like Mo'unga that chase the money over the AB jersey, so yeah it's crap but not specific to Mo'unga. I can understand the lure overseas when they are offering life changing amounts of $ to play club footy, personally I'd find that pretty hard to turn down.
It's really up to those in charge to ensure this is kept under control, and that the integrity of the game is maintained in NZ. What Robertson is doing is trying to let players like Mo'unga have their cake and eat it, so yes most of my ire will be directed at him over this. Short sighted nonsense that may help Robertson's AB coaching record in the short term, but would go a long way towards killing the game here in the medium to long term.
And sorry mods feel free to move these posts to the ABs thread so it doesn't clog the game thread.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@Nepia said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
TBF, no matches matter until the return of Atua Mo'unga in late 2026.
And TBF that's exactly how Mo'unga feels, and I'm not having a dig at him there as he's chasing the money like most people do in life. He doesn't value the AB tests between world cups so chooses to go and make as much money as he can in that time. Then in WC year he comes swooning back in to be eligible for that, and then leaves again straight after. It takes us down the path of anything outside of the WC is just a friendly if more and more players start doing the same thing.
And our idiot coach has just indulged this bullshit instead of trying to help protect NZ rugby from overseas clubs taking all of our talent from local competitions.
I'm having a dig at him. He wants to have his cake and eat it too ... and it's working out for him because he's had the backing of his bestie coach the entire time.
Despite my hatred of the Village of the Damned I was always in favour of Razor coming in, however, his infatuation with and allowances for the little overhyped 10 have me questioning if he's the right man for the job.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
Short sighted nonsense that may help Robertson's AB coaching record in the short term, but would go a long way towards killing the game here in the medium to long term.
Well his stated goal is to win a RWC with two sides. Poor medium/long term thinking helps his goal
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@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@Nepia said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
TBF, no matches matter until the return of Atua Mo'unga in late 2026.
And TBF that's exactly how Mo'unga feels, and I'm not having a dig at him there as he's chasing the money like most people do in life. He doesn't value the AB tests between world cups so chooses to go and make as much money as he can in that time. Then in WC year he comes swooning back in to be eligible for that, and then leaves again straight after. It takes us down the path of anything outside of the WC is just a friendly if more and more players start doing the same thing.
And our idiot coach has just indulged this bullshit instead of trying to help protect NZ rugby from overseas clubs taking all of our talent from local competitions.
Maybe this is the way of the future, players coming and going will then morph into open eligibility. I am dead against it and I hope not. But Razor clearly doesn't give a crap about the status quo as a way to protect the jersey, and for what? It's not like he's rolling over for Dan Carter
It'd be nice if New Zealand Rugby had noticed players don't come back from playing in Japan and perform all that well straight away but they seem to be taking their time working that out. If Mo'unga isn't up to standard upon return (and Savea after his sabbatical) I'd hope they'd shut this kind of thing down. By all means, take a year away after a World Cup, come back and play your way back into the team but players should have to prove their ability before being selected.
And these guys shouldn't come home on top dollar contracts either, perhaps performance based ones so they earn the bucks when they prove they are still proper
