All Blacks 2025
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Would be surprised if McAlister dropped out for Bell.
Despite comments from some posters, McAlister had an excellent Super season - was clearly the third best hooker in the country. One game aside, he's normally very safe at lineouts and I'm sure the coaches will be comfortable with where he's at.
He's had two - both - games for the ABs when his throwing went to shit. Good player, good super season, but that part is essential.
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@reprobate Almost like test rugby is a substantially higher level game than Super Rugby ...
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@mariner4life Practice your leg spin!
She’s a sucker for a good googly!
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@John said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
What’s your guys predictions for the abs xv tour team ?!
Fresh faces for the XV I would be happy too see Josh Bartlett, Fiti Sa, Lucas Casey, Fehi Fineanganofo, Daniel Rona & of course Dylan Pledger
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The biggest challenge I see selection wise for the ABs is who they play at 12 if Jordie doesn't start all four tests.
He started 8 of 9 and the one he didn't he came off the bench to put in a match winning/saving effort..
What he is doing right now on attack and in defence is close to irreplacable, Id say he is averaging a try saver and a try assist every game as well as tons of carries and at least 1-2 contestable catches. He covers so much ground and is like a last line of defence. Him not playing is gonna leave a pretty big void so they will have to tactically plan around it.
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QT/Leicester? Bash brothers in midfield? Unlikely I know…
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@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
QT/Leicester? Bash brothers in midfield? Unlikely I know…
The Hungus and Mungus brothers.
Not likely to be high on distribution but could be quite impactful. -
@mariner4life said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Id like to see him develop into a starting quality 13 who distributes and allows players around him to flourish
and i would like to fuck Liz Hurley.
That reveals a shocking lack of pimped out strategy. It'll take her another 5 years to get a QLD seniors card.
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
The biggest challenge I see selection wise for the ABs is who they play at 12 if Jordie doesn't start all four tests.
It's not as if 12 is the one position we don't have enough candidates.
And if they don't like every 12 they've tried, why not AJ Lam. They've tried every other 12 they could, even put them in other positions to fit them on the field. -
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@brodean said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
The players who are most at risk are Christie, Kirifi and McAlister. They were the three players who dropped out of the squad after the record Bok loss. Maybe Reece for Fainga'anuku.
Christie was a last-gasp option though, as choices 1 to 4 were injured. He played bloody well and some of the criticism of him was OTT - but he shouldn't be on the EOYT.
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@Tim said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@reprobate Almost like test rugby is a substantially higher level game than Super Rugby ...
Except for coaching.....
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@brodean said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Zarn Sullivan is the most similar to JB and hes been showing strong form over the last few weeks.
In his (Zarn's) customary fullback role? Or has he changed positions?
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
The players who are most at risk are Christie, Kirifi and McAlister. They were the three players who dropped out of the squad after the record Bok loss. Maybe Reece for Fainga'anuku.
Christie was a last-gasp option though, as choices 1 to 4 were injured. He played bloody well and some of the criticism of him was OTT - but he shouldn't be on the EOYT.
He surpassed the very low expectations people had. ‘Bloody well’ is a stretch.
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@brodean said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Zarn Sullivan is the most similar to JB and hes been showing strong form over the last few weeks.
Is the Jordie Barrett style of player optimal? Just because that’s what’s there now doesn’t make it ideal and doesn’t mean the backups need to be as similar as possible.
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@nostrildamus so no change from the years since Conrad?
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@reprobate said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
that part is essential
And yet Bell got picked
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@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Zarn Sullivan is the most similar to JB and hes been showing strong form over the last few weeks.
Is the Jordie Barrett style of player optimal? Just because that’s what’s there now doesn’t make it ideal and doesn’t mean the backups need to be as similar as possible.
Attack wise it's debatable. But it's defensively that his contribution will be hardest to replicate. He is key to being able to defuse the contestable kicks. I just doubt that he will be able to play four times in consecutive weekends effectively without a reprieve, although maybe he could?
