All Blacks 2025
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@upthelanders said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate Probably Miracle Fai’ilagi if he was eligible.
Agree yep, but he's not. He and Tupou Ta'eiloa (sp?) - who might be too small for tests - are arguably the best ball runners in the country.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
Well I am only talking about one thing: can you name someone who is as big and fast and powerful - who matches up with Wiese, Matera, Wilson?
Here are some who aren't: Savea, Sititi, Jacobson, Vaai, Parker, Kirifi, Lakai, Papalii, Blackadder, Lio-Willie, S Barrett.Akira Ioane
Nah, he's definitely not that guy. Powerful absolutely, but as a ball runner he is a wrestler not a smasher - that's actually why I think Frizzell was preferred over him.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Is some of the problem intent? I seem to recall Wallace running pretty hard in the games in SA last year for example. They just need to be told to run hard and straight by the coaches
I don't think so. Sititi was playing wider in the 6 role, so running against smaller guys typically. And he's a quick feet at the line guy, not a power runner. I think his worst test last year was at 8, even though that is supposedly his favoured position. Add that to being fast-tracked back from injury, and you have what we've got now.
Finau is probably the only guy who is big, powerful, fast enough to wind up and run straight at the defence and expect to make metres. I wouldn't be averse to giving him a run at 8 and just telling him to do that for 40 (and that Harry Wilson said he was a pussy), as I'm not convinced Vaai or Parker are dynamic or powerful enough. Wallace on a flank to play the wide role he did so well last year, Dalton or Blackadder on the other flank to hit rucks and make tackles. Savea to the bench, to come on and take up the captaincy when Taylor goes off.Really ?
I thought his selling point was all the big hits he makes on defence ( which he hasn’t really shown at test level )
Well I am only talking about one thing: can you name someone who is as big and fast and powerful - who matches up with Wiese, Matera, Wilson?
Here are some who aren't: Savea, Sititi, Jacobson, Vaai, Parker, Kirifi, Lakai, Papalii, Blackadder, Lio-Willie, S Barrett.You put the best two ball runners first at least.....
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Is some of the problem intent? I seem to recall Wallace running pretty hard in the games in SA last year for example. They just need to be told to run hard and straight by the coaches
I don't think so. Sititi was playing wider in the 6 role, so running against smaller guys typically. And he's a quick feet at the line guy, not a power runner. I think his worst test last year was at 8, even though that is supposedly his favoured position. Add that to being fast-tracked back from injury, and you have what we've got now.
Finau is probably the only guy who is big, powerful, fast enough to wind up and run straight at the defence and expect to make metres. I wouldn't be averse to giving him a run at 8 and just telling him to do that for 40 (and that Harry Wilson said he was a pussy), as I'm not convinced Vaai or Parker are dynamic or powerful enough. Wallace on a flank to play the wide role he did so well last year, Dalton or Blackadder on the other flank to hit rucks and make tackles. Savea to the bench, to come on and take up the captaincy when Taylor goes off.Really ?
I thought his selling point was all the big hits he makes on defence ( which he hasn’t really shown at test level )
Well I am only talking about one thing: can you name someone who is as big and fast and powerful - who matches up with Wiese, Matera, Wilson?
Here are some who aren't: Savea, Sititi, Jacobson, Vaai, Parker, Kirifi, Lakai, Papalii, Blackadder, Lio-Willie, S Barrett.You put the best two ball runners first at least.....
Yeah, and they're both small and not power runners. Wallace is quick feet, and Ardie is all about leg drive after the hit. He doesn't wind up and get momentum, and in fact this often stalls attacking momentum by taking 10 seconds to go to ground for 1m gain, allowing the defence to reset.
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@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2025:
A brother, Marco I think. He was big too, but not as big as Alex.
The Argentine scrum back then was legendary, in fact you could probably say that they were the inspiration for the modern day power scrum.
They could play back then too. Beat SA at Bloemfontein in '82.
Hugo Porta scored all the points.Porta held the international points scoring record for some time.
I remember around 1979 one NZ provincial scrum, possibly Manawatu, lifting Pumas props into air, and then engaging directly with Pumas second row, which proceeded to shove them backwards.
The Pumas locks in those days were beasts in scrum, although not so flash come lineout time.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
can you name someone who is as big and fast and powerful - who matches up with Wiese, Matera, Wilson?
I was replying to "can you name someone who is as big and fast and powerful - who matches up with Wiese, Matera, Wilson?"
Now you want a particular type of running.
I recall Akira smashing into Australia, taking 7 lineout balls against Argentina, and standing up to Kremer.
Now tell me that sort of thing wouldn't help. -
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
can you name someone who is as big and fast and powerful - who matches up with Wiese, Matera, Wilson?
I was replying to "can you name someone who is as big and fast and powerful - who matches up with Wiese, Matera, Wilson?"
Now you want a particular type of running.
I recall Akira smashing into Australia, taking 7 lineout balls against Argentina, and standing up to Kremer.
Now tell me that sort of thing wouldn't help.Never said he wouldn't help, but the conversation is about the lack of a power ball runner in the loosies. Akira, for all his strengths, does not run like those 3 guys.
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I thought that was Parker's job but I haven't seen it and Sititi isn't last year's version.
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@nostrildamus Parker prior to this year I remember copping a bit of shit for not going hard enough into contact - big frame, bit soft. I don't think he's soft myself at all, and think he was pretty good in Super rugby, but I'm not sure he's got the explosiveness/pace to sit guys on their arse with ball in hand at test level.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Is some of the problem intent? I seem to recall Wallace running pretty hard in the games in SA last year for example. They just need to be told to run hard and straight by the coaches
I don't think so. Sititi was playing wider in the 6 role, so running against smaller guys typically. And he's a quick feet at the line guy, not a power runner. I think his worst test last year was at 8, even though that is supposedly his favoured position. Add that to being fast-tracked back from injury, and you have what we've got now.
Finau is probably the only guy who is big, powerful, fast enough to wind up and run straight at the defence and expect to make metres. I wouldn't be averse to giving him a run at 8 and just telling him to do that for 40 (and that Harry Wilson said he was a pussy), as I'm not convinced Vaai or Parker are dynamic or powerful enough. Wallace on a flank to play the wide role he did so well last year, Dalton or Blackadder on the other flank to hit rucks and make tackles. Savea to the bench, to come on and take up the captaincy when Taylor goes off.Really ?
I thought his selling point was all the big hits he makes on defence ( which he hasn’t really shown at test level )
Well I am only talking about one thing: can you name someone who is as big and fast and powerful - who matches up with Wiese, Matera, Wilson?
Here are some who aren't: Savea, Sititi, Jacobson, Vaai, Parker, Kirifi, Lakai, Papalii, Blackadder, Lio-Willie, S Barrett.You put the best two ball runners first at least.....
Yeah, and they're both small and not power runners. Wallace is quick feet, and Ardie is all about leg drive after the hit. He doesn't wind up and get momentum, and in fact this often stalls attacking momentum by taking 10 seconds to go to ground for 1m gain, allowing the defence to reset.
Are you rating Sititi before or after he put on the 20kg he supposedly did ?
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Akira is the only player that really fits the bill at 6. He had also sorted out his off-field issues and was hitting his absolute prime age wise, hence him spending his last year in NZ bitch slapping every other loosie around. Oh but Jason Ryan and Scott Robertson know better! Can't have a player they don't like personally in the squad!! Let's just pick light weights instead, that'll work out just great.
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I thought a big part of Wallace’s good ball carries last year was his footwork before the line where he would throw the tacklers timing out ,
Haven’t seen it this year .
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@No-Quarter not sure you can throw much at Razor, Ryan yes, but not Razor.
Ryan became part of Fozzies team who had not really utilised him either, so that stems back beyond Razor.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
Akira is the only player that really fits the bill at 6. He had also sorted out his off-field issues and was hitting his absolute prime age wise, hence him spending his last year in NZ bitch slapping every other loosie around. Oh but Jason Ryan and Scott Robertson know better! Can't have a player they don't like personally in the squad!! Let's just pick light weights instead, that'll work out just great.
Sotutu and Akira were immense a couple of years ago. Strange that it went downhill when Cotter traded Plummer for BB.....
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Tuipulotu basically smashes the line fairly consistently when he's on and it works for us. He's very underrated imo and should be starting with Holland.
Here are the loose forward stats from Super Rugby:
Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
76.7% Cam Christie
76.5% Oliver Haig
75.1% Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa
74.6% Luke Jacobson
70.3% TK Howden
69.8% Corey Kellow
69.6% Ardie Savea
68.9% Hoskins Sotutu
68.2% Anton Segner
67.9% Du'Plessis KirifiDominant Carry %
56.1 Vaiolini Ekuasi
45.7 Peter Lakai
44.2 Veveni Lasaqa
43.8 Luke Jacobson
43.1 TK Howden
39.4 Brayden Iose
39.4 Jahrome Brown
39.2 Simon Parker
39.1 Sean Withy
37.2 Cam ChristieGainline %
73.6 Veveni Lasaqa
73.5 Jahrome Brown
72.1 Vaiolini Ekuasi
71.1 Samipeni Finau
70.8 Hoskins Sotutu
69.6 Simon Parker
68.8 Ardie Savea
68.3 Christian Lio-Willie
68.2 Anton Segner
66.7 Peter LakaiTackle Evasion %
34.6 Veveni Lasaqa
26.7 Ardie Savea
22.8 Dalton Papali'i
20.0 Jahrome Brown
19.5 Luke Jacobson
18.9 Christian Lio-Willie
18.4 Du'Plessis Kirifi
18.3 Brayden Iose
16.7 Hoskins Sotutu
15.8 Oliver HaigSititi isn't in the top 10 for any of these stats. I realise he didn't play much and was coming back from injury but I will point at these metrics are percentage based.
These are the players who appear the most.
Luke Jacobson: (in "Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers," "Dominant Carry %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Ardie Savea: (in "Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Jahrome Brown: (in "Dominant Carry %," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Veveni Lasaqa: (in "Dominant Carry %," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Hoskins Sotutu: (in "Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").It would be good if there was a loose forward who appeared in top 10 for the following 3 but there isn't:
Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
Dominant Carry %,
Gainline %,"Patrick Tuipulotu appears in top 10 for all 3 for locks.
Forwards Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
82.3% Xavier Numia
76.9% Ollie Norris
76.7% Cam Christie
76.5% Asafo Aumua
76.5% Oliver Haig
75.1% Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa
75.0% Pasilio Tosi
74.6% Luke Jacobson
73.6% Patrick Tuipulotu
73.3% Tevita Mafile'oBacks Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
82.1% Julian Savea
75.3% AJ Lam
71.6% Timoci Tavatavanawai
67.0% Quinn Tupaea
65.0% Leicester Fainga'anuku ( France )
64.0% Anton Lienert-Brown
63.6% Peter Umaga-Jensen
63.6% Dallas McLeod
61.5% Billy Proctor
59.7% Thomas Umaga-JensenFYI Lasaqa hits bugger all rucks and makes bugger all tackles.
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@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Tuipulotu basically smashes the line fairly consistently when he's on and it works for us. He's very underrated imo and should be starting with Holland.
Here are the loose forward stats from Super Rugby:
Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
76.7% Cam Christie
76.5% Oliver Haig
75.1% Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa
74.6% Luke Jacobson
70.3% TK Howden
69.8% Corey Kellow
69.6% Ardie Savea
68.9% Hoskins Sotutu
68.2% Anton Segner
67.9% Du'Plessis KirifiDominant Carry %
56.1 Vaiolini Ekuasi
45.7 Peter Lakai
44.2 Veveni Lasaqa
43.8 Luke Jacobson
43.1 TK Howden
39.4 Brayden Iose
39.4 Jahrome Brown
39.2 Simon Parker
39.1 Sean Withy
37.2 Cam ChristieGainline %
73.6 Veveni Lasaqa
73.5 Jahrome Brown
72.1 Vaiolini Ekuasi
71.1 Samipeni Finau
70.8 Hoskins Sotutu
69.6 Simon Parker
68.8 Ardie Savea
68.3 Christian Lio-Willie
68.2 Anton Segner
66.7 Peter LakaiTackle Evasion %
34.6 Veveni Lasaqa
26.7 Ardie Savea
22.8 Dalton Papali'i
20.0 Jahrome Brown
19.5 Luke Jacobson
18.9 Christian Lio-Willie
18.4 Du'Plessis Kirifi
18.3 Brayden Iose
16.7 Hoskins Sotutu
15.8 Oliver HaigSititi isn't in the top 10 for any of these stats. I realise he didn't play much and was coming back from injury but I will point at these metrics are percentage based.
These are the players who appear the most.
Luke Jacobson: (in "Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers," "Dominant Carry %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Ardie Savea: (in "Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Jahrome Brown: (in "Dominant Carry %," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Veveni Lasaqa: (in "Dominant Carry %," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Hoskins Sotutu: (in "Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").It would be good if there was a loose forward who appeared in top 10 for the following 3 but there isn't:
Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
Dominant Carry %,
Gainline %,"Patrick Tuipulotu appears in top 10 for all 3 for locks.
Forwards Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
82.3% Xavier Numia
76.9% Ollie Norris
76.7% Cam Christie
76.5% Asafo Aumua
76.5% Oliver Haig
75.1% Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa
75.0% Pasilio Tosi
74.6% Luke Jacobson
73.6% Patrick Tuipulotu
73.3% Tevita Mafile'oBacks Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
82.1% Julian Savea
75.3% AJ Lam
71.6% Timoci Tavatavanawai
67.0% Quinn Tupaea
65.0% Leicester Fainga'anuku ( France )
64.0% Anton Lienert-Brown
63.6% Peter Umaga-Jensen
63.6% Dallas McLeod
61.5% Billy Proctor
59.7% Thomas Umaga-JensenFYI Lasaqa hits bugger all rucks and makes bugger all tackles.
Wow, looks like AJ Lam had an even stronger case than I at first thought for AB selection this year.
Based on eye test I thought he could have made it - those carry stats really enforce that view.
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@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Tuipulotu basically smashes the line fairly consistently when he's on and it works for us. He's very underrated imo and should be starting with Holland.
Here are the loose forward stats from Super Rugby:
Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
76.7% Cam Christie
76.5% Oliver Haig
75.1% Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa
74.6% Luke Jacobson
70.3% TK Howden
69.8% Corey Kellow
69.6% Ardie Savea
68.9% Hoskins Sotutu
68.2% Anton Segner
67.9% Du'Plessis KirifiDominant Carry %
56.1 Vaiolini Ekuasi
45.7 Peter Lakai
44.2 Veveni Lasaqa
43.8 Luke Jacobson
43.1 TK Howden
39.4 Brayden Iose
39.4 Jahrome Brown
39.2 Simon Parker
39.1 Sean Withy
37.2 Cam ChristieGainline %
73.6 Veveni Lasaqa
73.5 Jahrome Brown
72.1 Vaiolini Ekuasi
71.1 Samipeni Finau
70.8 Hoskins Sotutu
69.6 Simon Parker
68.8 Ardie Savea
68.3 Christian Lio-Willie
68.2 Anton Segner
66.7 Peter LakaiTackle Evasion %
34.6 Veveni Lasaqa
26.7 Ardie Savea
22.8 Dalton Papali'i
20.0 Jahrome Brown
19.5 Luke Jacobson
18.9 Christian Lio-Willie
18.4 Du'Plessis Kirifi
18.3 Brayden Iose
16.7 Hoskins Sotutu
15.8 Oliver HaigSititi isn't in the top 10 for any of these stats. I realise he didn't play much and was coming back from injury but I will point at these metrics are percentage based.
These are the players who appear the most.
Luke Jacobson: (in "Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers," "Dominant Carry %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Ardie Savea: (in "Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Jahrome Brown: (in "Dominant Carry %," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Veveni Lasaqa: (in "Dominant Carry %," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").
Hoskins Sotutu: (in "Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers," "Gainline %," and "Tackle Evasion %").It would be good if there was a loose forward who appeared in top 10 for the following 3 but there isn't:
Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
Dominant Carry %,
Gainline %,"Patrick Tuipulotu appears in top 10 for all 3 for locks.
Forwards Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
82.3% Xavier Numia
76.9% Ollie Norris
76.7% Cam Christie
76.5% Asafo Aumua
76.5% Oliver Haig
75.1% Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa
75.0% Pasilio Tosi
74.6% Luke Jacobson
73.6% Patrick Tuipulotu
73.3% Tevita Mafile'oBacks Carries Committing 2+ Tacklers
82.1% Julian Savea
75.3% AJ Lam
71.6% Timoci Tavatavanawai
67.0% Quinn Tupaea
65.0% Leicester Fainga'anuku ( France )
64.0% Anton Lienert-Brown
63.6% Peter Umaga-Jensen
63.6% Dallas McLeod
61.5% Billy Proctor
59.7% Thomas Umaga-JensenFYI Lasaqa hits bugger all rucks and makes bugger all tackles.
I appreciate the stats and the percentages do make comparisons easier, but would you happen to have the carries per 80 mins as well?
Sorry if I missed it and you had a stipulation, but a guy who commits 2 tacklers 75% of the time, but only runs twice a game isn't that useful in comparison to guy who commits 2 tacklers 60% of the time, but runs 12 times a game.
