All Blacks 2025
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Mauss so basically their decisions are illogical.
Yeah, the big stumbling block for me is McKenzie being dropped after Sydney. It signals two possible scenarios but each of the two makes little sense when taking other things into account.
Scenario 1: McKenzie was dropped for overplaying
McKenzie overplayed against the Wallabies, allowing them back into the contest and nearly losing the ABs the game. But if this is the case, why persist with Barrett, who pushes the team into even more passing and carrying? The worry here is that the coaches don't want this overplaying nature within the AB game but can't figure out a way to stop it from occurring.Scenario 2: McKenzie was dropped for not playing enough
Perhaps the coaches wanted to push the attack even further and put Barrett at first five with explicit directions to kick less and move the ball through the hands. Then the switch sort of makes sense. But then you get the Mo’unga-question: why push so hard for a first five who you are familiar with, if your new attack is so different from the one you implemented at the Crusaders?Either way, I can’t really figure it out. Like I said in the post above, my guess is they backed themselves into a corner by dropping McKenzie for Barrett, and are now stuck with the latter. Dropping Barrett again would leave you with two dropped first fives and no real alternative.
So now it’s like that Samuel Beckett play, two guys just aimlessly wandering around until the third one hopefully shows up: Waiting for Richie Mo.
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@Mauss said in All Blacks 2025:
. Both have shown signs of getting it right (McKenzie: SA I 24, IRE 24; Barrett: FRA II 25, ARG I 25)
A difference here being the quality of the opposition they've been able to get it right against...
I'd also wonder whether someone chucking it around against Japan or Fiji is as significant? -
What's Dave Rennie up to?
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Just watching the breakdown and they are talking about the halfback injury crisis. I can’t believe I’m sitting here in 2025 and I’ve just heard Justin Marshall say that the All Blacks should bring in Mitchell Drummond
how do you even come to that decision. Good god. -
@Landers92 It's not a serious programme. I think it's best enjoyed as a comedy.
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Looking a tough schedule for the next seven games.
Two against the world-champion Boks at home.
Away and home against a rejuvenated Australia hoping to win the Bledisloe for the first time in 23 years.
Ireland in Chicago.
Then Scotland in Edinburgh with their Lions backline and their chance to beat us for the first time ever.
Then England away.We could end up winning only one or two of those.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Looking a tough schedule for the next seven games.
Two against the world-champion Boks at home.
Away and home against a rejuvenated Australia hoping to win the Bledisloe for the first time in 23 years.
Ireland in Chicago.
Then Scotland in Edinburgh with their Lions backline and their chance to beat us for the first time ever.
Then England away.We could end up winning only one or two of those.
Wales on a one game unbeaten streak too...
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@booboo Which is one more than us currently.
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Surely it's bye, bye Beauden time?
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@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
Just watching the breakdown and they are talking about the halfback injury crisis. I can’t believe I’m sitting here in 2025 and I’ve just heard Justin Marshall say that the All Blacks should bring in Mitchell Drummond
how do you even come to that decision. Good god.Hahahahaha please tell me you're joking.
sorry I needed a good laugh. -
@Landers92 and Jeff Wilson said it should be Dylan Pledger! They literally offer no better insight than any battler at the pub, just pumping the players from their own super rugby sides
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@DurryMexted said in All Blacks 2025:
@Landers92 and Jeff Wilson said it should be Dylan Pledger! They literally offer no better insight than any battler at the pub, just pumping the players from their own super rugby sides
Sounds like the public/us on the fern (some worse than others here).
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@DurryMexted said in All Blacks 2025:
@Landers92 and Jeff Wilson said it should be Dylan Pledger! They literally offer no better insight than any battler at the pub, just pumping the players from their own super rugby sides
One of the best things rugby in general could do is get amateur era rugby players completely away from commentary
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Landers92 It's not a serious programme. I think it's best enjoyed as a comedy.
Or a modern art installation
