All Blacks 2025
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@Crazy-Horse I'm a bit more optimistic.
Despite all our dud coaches, dud players and terrible selections and tactics - we are, I believe, about to be the number one team in the world later today.
At first five we have the much-maligned Beauden, behind him DMac - who last year went from a guy with about five sporadic starts at first-five in test rugby, to someone who had a decent run (last year was somewhat about developing him, rather than developing other young options - and I suspect this year might be too).
Then, obviously Richie is waiting in the wings - we have to see if he comes back as good as he left.
The there's Love, Jacombe and Reihana - Rivez spent most of the season playing ahead of JOC and mainly looked a better player.
Loosies - I think we're on the verge of having a properly balanced trio - moving Ardie to 7 and some tall timber (Vaa'i, Finau and Parker) at 6. And a bunch of others in and around the squad.
Wing - it's a bit surprising that we're not up to our ears in World Class wings, but if Clarke can find last year's form and Tangitau arrives and fires, we could quickly solve that.
Billy is a couple of good games away from solving our problem at centre. We can revert to Rieko, who was good enough to nearly win a RWC there - though I'm a bit concerned he might have peaked. Things are a bit thin behind them - ALB is a bit frustrating. Not sure who is the next cab off the rank - maybe Rona?
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there are a few really nice signs, but gee some gaping holes.
After yesterday morning there were calls to start playing tight, 10-man rugby. That's going to be very difficult with the 10 we have right now and the sorry state of his kicking game. Having our pack work hard to get the ball back, and then him immediately re-apply pressure with a shit clearance is not a recipe for success. We have a good lineout, kick the fluffybunny out and lets use it!! or, you know, do a not overly high, uncontested bomb which they return at us easily.
The backline attack looks lost, but worse than that, it's the same as nearly everyone else. Block plays to a looping inside back, or, Irelands attack for the last 6 years. Both teams fucking ran it. We're also not very good at it, if you look at home many times we throw passes that immediately put the receiver under pressure.
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I think the big positive is we are putting together a forward pack that can compete with the best
The other issues we have feel like more fixable ones than a weak tight five . So I’m happy to at least see that progress being made .
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the tight 5 looks good, and, more importantly, seems to have a bit of depth about it.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
the tight 5 looks good, and, more importantly, seems to have a bit of depth about it.
1-6 looks good. When Roigard is there, 9 is fine, when he's not we are shaky. JB at 12 is fine, Will at 15 is fine. 7, 8, 13, 11 (Sevu did have a nice game in Argie 1) and 14 need work, 10 is a problem that Razor appears to lack the courage to fix, if we correct 10 it should improve all the rest of the backs
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Alternatively the 10 is giving him what he wants.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Alternatively the 10 is giving him what he wants.
Chaos? He's on record saying he wants fast pace, wide running rugby. So I guess that's what he's trying to give us, from Wayne Smith's playbook, or what he understands as his playbook
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
the tight 5 looks good, and, more importantly, seems to have a bit of depth about it.
Giving credit where it’s due , maybe Jason Ryan does know his shit , after 3 years in the job( or whatever it’s been ) the results are there to see .
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2025:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
the tight 5 looks good, and, more importantly, seems to have a bit of depth about it.
Giving credit where it’s due , maybe Jason Ryan does know his shit , after 3 years in the job( or whatever it’s been ) the results are there to see .
Now if they can fix the back row.... I'm hopeful that Wallace and Parker will help solve the puzzle
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@mariner4life you have to wonder what his remit is, cos he must be doing what is asked otherwise why isn't he being reined in or dropped?
His tactical kicking has long appeared shite, but maybe he is doing what is.asked? Maybe he isn't.far off what they want/need?
But is surely something we are missing?
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Give DMac the reins and let him develop. I can't believe he wasn't given the keys after the Ireland game. Yes, he can be targeted, and teams often do so because they know if you shut him down, the Chiefs are going nowhere. But the ABs are not the Chiefs, and with the platform the ABs can now provide.....
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I think the plan for Dmac is to have him off the bench for final 30 minute impact - which was the previous coaches plan for 2019 (injured but that seems the plan) and 2023.
I’m not sure it is the best way to use him but u cant see them changing it.
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the best performance by a 10 on teh November tour? Dmac
the best performance by a 10 in 2025? Dmac.and yet here we are. shit's not changing boys.
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@Wurzel said in All Blacks 2025:
If Proctor misfires again this weekend where does that leave us for the Springboks?
Because, Wallabies aberration aside, I don't like the sound of Kriel, DDA and Esterhuizen running at Mr. Looks-Good-At-Super
According to Mauss' analysis, it's not all his fault. He got sold down the river by Ardie for a try, and by BB getting smashed behind the gain line
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@Wurzel said in All Blacks 2025:
If Proctor misfires again this weekend where does that leave us for the Springboks?
Because, Wallabies aberration aside, I don't like the sound of Kriel, DDA and Esterhuizen running at Mr. Looks-Good-At-Super
Maybe we should give him the ball then instead of fluffing around at 9 and 10. The best thing for Proctor right now would be an injury to Mr Kick the Ball Away.
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@Wurzel said in All Blacks 2025:
Mr. Looks-Good-At-Super
Richie's a couple of years off
That’s Sir Richie, you show some god damn respect to our lord and saviour
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Paddy Tups with a fractured scull. Won’t see him again this year I suspect.
