All Blacks 2025
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@ExiledHalfback said in All Blacks 2025:
Just rewatched the game. The ABs look so rigid. They just don't look comfortable, at least 2 times there's a clear overlap with the line begging but the outside man is ignored. There's no confidence to make the pass. God knows how you fix that.
Overcoached? At times they looked like a bunch of guys walking through backline moves for the first time
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Does anyone seriously believe the ABs have a chance next week in Perth, given what we saw at Eden Park in Bledisloe I and given the Wallabies will have Valetini and Skelton back? It seems virtually certain the win/lose cycle will continue.
I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling exasperated at the mediocrity of the selection policies and coaching quality of this regime under Scott Robertson. While the team last night had a few good moments, particularly in the first quarter, a lot of that was on the Wallabies’ passive defence. And of course, the ABs got a HUGE hand-up from the incompetent Italian ref in the second half.
With two seasons into Robertson’s rocky reign and one test to go before the Northern Hemisphere tour (who’s feeling nervous about Scotland and Wales?), the ABs still lack cohesion and confidence, while showing no sign they know what game they are trying to play.
Sure, they were better under the high ball at Eden Park and their set-piece was solid, but after the debacle in Wellington against the Boks, they needed to show more than basic competence. There was no fire or energy or focus there. They looked, yet again, like an ADHD teen on PlayStation , doing just enough to win the next round before they go back to the fridge.
A few weeks back, we were enthusing over the embarrassment of front row riches. Now, Lomax looks busted, Williams has still to fire, and we pray that Taylor doesn’t get injured again because after him, nobody can throw straight. As for the loose forwards, the constant chopping and changing there epitomises the lack of coherence or vision in the coaching. It was only a few weeks are go we were saying, ‘yes the backline is crap but at least Ryan has the forwards firing.’ But who can say that with any confidence at this point?
This team is mediocre, relying on its stars, and should have easily put away a Wallaby outfit missing several first choice players in Valetini, Skelton, Lolesio, Wright, and Kellaway. Thank heavens for Roigard last night, though what are the odds on the keystone cops in the coaching panel coaching him out of form as well?
The Wallabies are ranked, what, number six in the world? They have more than their own quota of journeymen. But they play with so much more confidence, intent and self-belief. The difference between them and the ABs is the coaching. Surely, the NZR can see that by now??
I don’t see what changes from here unless there is a clearout of the clueless and incoherent showpony Robertson and his mediocre, yes-man mates. As someone observed last night, the Bledisloe I ‘victory’ just represented a sticking plaster being placed over a gaping wound.
It could get really ugly in Perth.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:
So Beaudie and EdG ruled out for Perth, we will at least see some changes for the starting lineup and bench.
Good chance for Norris to get some more minutes - like what I've seen this year.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:
So Beaudie and EdG ruled out for Perth, we will at least see some changes for the starting lineup and bench.
Good chance for Norris to get some more minutes - like what I've seen this year.
And DMac. Maybe even Love will get some minutes
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There were moments last night when we looked good. I enjoyed the Clarke try and Roigard's first, not because we did anything fancy, but because they came off the back of waves of attack up the guts. When we did all the over complicated back line stuff more often than not we either stuffed it up or we got smashed behind the gain line.
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@ExiledHalfback said in All Blacks 2025:
Just rewatched the game. The ABs look so rigid. They just don't look comfortable, at least 2 times there's a clear overlap with the line begging but the outside man is ignored. There's no confidence to make the pass. God knows how you fix that.
I saw that too. Was it Roigard who went for the line instead of passing on one ocassion?
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@ExiledHalfback said in All Blacks 2025:
Just rewatched the game. The ABs look so rigid. They just don't look comfortable, at least 2 times there's a clear overlap with the line begging but the outside man is ignored. There's no confidence to make the pass. God knows how you fix that.
I saw that too. Was it Roigard who went for the line instead of passing on one ocassion?
Well he did score on one occasion doing that...
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
The Team I'd select for Perth
- Williams
- Taylor (c)
- Newell
- Holland
- Tuipulotu
- Parker
- Lakai
- Sititi
- Roigard
- Love
- Clarke
- Tupaea
- J. Barrett
- L. Carter
- W. Jordan
- S. Taukei'aho
- O. Norris
- T. Lomax
- T. Vaa'i
- A. Savea
- C. Ratima
- D. McKenzie
- L. Fainga'anuku
I'm starting DMac. He's finally going to get a deserved start. But I want to see Love get some serious game time. If we get ahead enough he could have a crack at 10
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Can’t fathom why they’re not taking cover for 10 with no BB.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
Good chance for Norris to get some more minutes - like what I've seen this year.
Is Norris going to Perth? He was listed as having a back injury so it's likely Bower makes the bench.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
The Team I'd select for Perth
- Williams
- Taylor (c)
- Newell
- Holland
- Tuipulotu
- Parker
- Lakai
- Sititi
- Roigard
- Love
- Clarke
- Tupaea
- J. Barrett
- L. Carter
- W. Jordan
- S. Taukei'aho
- O. Norris
- T. Lomax
- T. Vaa'i
- A. Savea
- C. Ratima
- D. McKenzie
- L. Fainga'anuku
I'm starting DMac. He's finally going to get a deserved start. But I want to see Love get some serious game time. If we get ahead enough he could have a crack at 10
Agree no way I can feel that love should leap over DMac at 10. Bench place absolutely
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@ExiledHalfback said in All Blacks 2025:
Just rewatched the game. The ABs look so rigid. They just don't look comfortable, at least 2 times there's a clear overlap with the line begging but the outside man is ignored. There's no confidence to make the pass. God knows how you fix that.
At the game that did my fucking head in. For Roigards first, we had 1 wallaby player defending half the field and 3 ABs for 3 phases and we never shifted it once.
There was one in the 2nd half and Proctor tightened his position rather than stretching the field.
We used to be the masters of eyes up footy
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@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:
Can’t fathom why they’re not taking cover for 10 with no BB.
I guess Love is the cover
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
The Team I'd select for Perth
- Williams
- Taylor (c)
- Newell
- Holland
- Tuipulotu
- Parker
- Lakai
- Sititi
- Roigard
- Love
- Clarke
- Tupaea
> 13. J. Barrett - L. Carter
- W. Jordan
- S. Taukei'aho
- O. Norris
- T. Lomax
- T. Vaa'i
- A. Savea
- C. Ratima
- D. McKenzie
- L. Fainga'anuku
Has he ever even played there ?
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
The Team I'd select for Perth
- Lakai
- Sititi
Tell me you haven't been paying attention without saying you haven't been paying attention.
- Tupaea
- J. Barrett
Why move Jordie if the problem of his form is solved by replacing his brother at 10?
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Has he ever even played there ?
Where hasn't he played (in the backline?)
Occupied positions by Jordie on start team :
Fullback : 91 times ( Fullback 50% )
Center : 79 times ( Inside Centre 39%, Outside Centre 4% )
Winger : 11 times ( Right Wing 5%, Left Wing 1% )
Fly-Half : 1 times ( Fly-Half 1% )
