All Blacks 2025
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@SouthernMann said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
I think one of Lasaqa and Casey will make it. JJ dropped a him around Casey saying it would be a toss up between the likes of him and someone established like Blackadder.
With the midfield. The mix of Lam, MacLeod, Havili and Ennor are guys who have a been investigated and tried without a lot of success.
Cooper Roberts is playing his way into a team like this. Higgins should be there if available. Just looks at the balance between who is ready and who has prospects worth checking out.
Reaching myth and legend levels…..
Riley Higgins is not a myth, but his footwork is SO good that reality questions itself.
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That's why I think Robertson is a bit restricted in who he can select up to 27.
All the big NZR contracts for the next two years have already been dished out.
He's pretty much locked in to the current crop of contractors.And . . . that's why I like the SA model.
More flexible.
NZR wouldn't have to make such large player commitments.Like Rassie can bring a player in from where ever; have look; go yeah nah; see you later.
And hasn't really cost him or SAR anything.
And just as important, hasn't cost the particular player anything either.The Aussies have just gone the same way.
Give it a couple of years for the new selection process to bed in, and the they'll be fielding their best possible combos.
Just in time for WC 27.
Which is probably why they made the decision now, to guarantee they field their best team.As for club v country.
Most of the worlds domestic rugby comps are in trouble at the mo, and I dont see that changing anytime soon.
Conversely international rugby in most places is smashing it commercially.
Going forward I see clubs as the ones that are going to be feeling the squeeze; not the countries.
I dont see NZR (a $300m per annum business) taking much crap from a shitty little overseas rugby club, which is probably close to being bankrupt, or is bankrupt. -
@taniwharugby
yep, all of those guys could have stretched it out for a bit longer -
@mohikamo My answer is for the All Blacks selectors to grow a pair and to only select players who deserve selection based on current form and future promise.
If NZR waste their money on over the hill players to stop them going to Rugby 360 or for marketing purposes, that's their problem.
The All Blacks are about excellence and winning.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@mohikamo My answer is for the All Blacks selectors to grow a pair and to only select players who deserve selection based on current form and future promise.
If NZR waste their money on over the hill players to stop them going to Rugby 360 or for marketing purposes, that's their problem.
The All Blacks are about excellence and winning.
Too right. At the moment the tail is wagging the dog, and I don't like it. Nothing wrong with going abroad to earn big coin. But at that point lets realise their interests and those of the ABs no longer align
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales on consecutive weeks in November.
" Operation Grand Slam"
Upvote for Bond even if it is the most overrated one ever.
I didn't realise the games essentially go from hardest to easiest. That should help them get it.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales on consecutive weeks in November.
" Operation Grand Slam"
Upvote for Bond even if it is the most overrated one ever.
I didn't realise the games essentially go from hardest to easiest. That should help them get it.
Nah, we needed Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland, we can't beat two good teams in a row.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales on consecutive weeks in November.
" Operation Grand Slam"
Upvote for Bond even if it is the most overrated one ever.
I didn't realise the games essentially go from hardest to easiest. That should help them get it.
Nah, we needed Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland, we can't beat two good teams in a row.
As it stands they'll need to beat three good teams and then Wales
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@sparky said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Personally I wouldn't pick Beauden Barrett for the All Blacks XV based on his horrific 2025 form, let alone the All Blacks squad.
He could help us all out by retiring from international rugby.
I bet Razor will start him in Chicago. Ugh
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Lakai being our stand-up despite being little more than adequate is damning.
Same with Ginga. When your 5th string, last-gasp halfback (admittedly playing his guts out) looks the goods, it speaks volumes.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales on consecutive weeks in November.
I actually fancy Scotland to win against us. Can see us beating Ireland and Wales though.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Lakai being our stand-up despite being little more than adequate is damning.
Same with Ginga. When your 5th string, last-gasp halfback (admittedly playing his guts out) looks the goods, it speaks volumes.
I still don't want him in the squad for the tour. Cam, Ratima, Preston for me
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Tyrel Lomax gone for the season. That’s two important tight forwards now gone burgers.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Lakai being our stand-up despite being little more than adequate is damning.
Same with Ginga. When your 5th string, last-gasp halfback (admittedly playing his guts out) looks the goods, it speaks volumes.
I still don't want him in the squad for the tour. Cam, Ratima, Preston for me
Nor me - just pointing out how an average player can shine in this team.
He can leave with his head held pretty high, though.
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Beauden Barrett? Anton Leinert-Brown? Luke Jacobson? Sevu Reece?
All too long in the tooth and with too many miles on the clock and their glory days a long time ago to be much use to us. Pick younger, better players. This is the All Blacks Northern tour, not Cocoon 3.
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Young players I'd like to see in the All Blacks XV (at least) :
Bartlett, Wrampling-Alec, Gardiner (he is playing well again after having a mare last year), Casey, Sinton, Pledger, Roberts, Brown, Tangitau, Fineanganofo. Lasaqa, the diminutive wing, is fun to watch. Maybe he is not big enough but he is a real threat when given a bit of space. Maybe one year too early for Vakasiuola but men of his size are not legions in NZ.
