All Blacks 2025
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Myth of Damian Mckenzie
Can’t tell if it was him or not, but I swear I just saw Sevu Reece buying a lotto ticket - makes sense though, man’s already hit the jackpot getting named in the squad today 🍀 One last shot for Sevu? 👀💪
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I wouldn't pick ALB. Very good player, but Jordie is starting every game at 12 and QT is for me clearly the other 12. At 13 he's behind RI or BP, and maybe QT now too. He's not a development player. The other midfielders in the squad aren't newbies who need mentoring. If someone goes down early in the tour, sure bring him over.
But why not e.g. call Leicester midfield cover and take Tangitau and start whipping him into shape? -
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Is Kyran Taumoefolau eligible for the AB XV?
I think that only matters if we designate this team as our second team, which we often haven't. So I would assume he's available for it?
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@Grooter said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Can’t tell if it was him or not, but I swear I just saw Sevu Reece buying a lotto ticket - makes sense though, man’s already hit the jackpot getting named in the squad today 🍀 One last shot for Sevu? 👀💪
I reckon Reece must be rich from all the lotto tickets he's bought over the years because he's the luckiest son of bitch on the planet.
Assaults his missus, causing him to lose his Chiefs contract, then eventually his Irish contract, get's no stand down from NZ so picks up a Crusaders contract which puts him straight in the ABs, plays more shit than good at test level but always retains his place, despite being a changed man gets on the piss and causes carnage again, doesn't impact his favoured selection, plays shit for the ABs in 24/25 and retains his spot.
I reckon he owns half of Fiji funded by Powerball.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
You'd keep ALB???
Now the most carded AB I believe.
The captain has two red cards. Both resulted in huge defeats.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Is Kyran Taumoefolau eligible for the AB XV?
I think that only matters if we designate this team as our second team, which we often haven't. So I would assume he's available for it?
If he's eligible he's probably an outside chance.
I find him quite a hard player to assess. He's evidently a lot harder to defend than he looks. Might have a bit of that Christian Cullen effortless-looking speed about him?
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Is Kyran Taumoefolau eligible for the AB XV?
I think that only matters if we designate this team as our second team, which we often haven't. So I would assume he's available for it?
If he's eligible he's probably an outside chance.
I find him quite a hard player to assess. He's evidently a lot harder to defend than he looks. Might have a bit of that Christian Cullen effortless-looking speed about him?
TBH, I assume that he'll make it, he's clearly on the radar with his switch to NZ/Chiefs. You would have seen more NPC from him but he looked class in Super.
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@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
The only real surprise for me is Lord over Darry.
Any selections you'd do different?
I can't say I'm a fan of Kirifi due to size.
Wouldn't have minded Ah Kuoi in, but not sure who for.
Otherwise it's difficult to quibble. Seems us lot are wanting change for change's sake.
Oh, I see Sevu is still there. Might have swapped him out.
You'd keep ALB???
Who's the alternative? Ennor, McLeod, Havili ...
I’d probably pick you ahead of him at this point
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@Nepia He's quite a lot different to anyone else going around, I think.
Looks quite slight and doesn't look like a rocket ship, but he might be. His try at the weekend he easily out ran the Counties defenders, but they might have been slugs.
He spends a lot of time, stepping back inside, but usually beats one or two defenders - even though it should be pretty predictable - and jinks about quite a bit. Obviously got a good side-step and he's also got a Campo goose-step, but I've never seen it actually beat a man. The step back makes me think he's not express - but, I can't really tell.
Played a bit of fullback, so competent under the high ball.
Edit: Maybe a slighter version of Mark Teleá as much as anyone?
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Yep, I not surprised with squad. They pinned their team early in season, and were never going to make big changes. Christie was a certainty almost with Hotham out, much as I like Pledger, probably ABVX is right. I perhaps would of preferred a few changes, but I suspect they may well be trying (rightly or wrongly) having different styles for different teams, partly because I not sure they know exactly who they want.
The hardest thing to remember is because we don't think say a Kirifi is big enough or Reece is fast enough, or BB is the 10 we fancy, they obviously have a different opinion. So who is right or wrong will be shown down the track.
ie I don't go along that Kirifi is too small, or Proctor is out of depth, but we all see things differently.The thing with Kirifi is, is that if he is not winning turnover ball, what else does he bring to the table? He's a specialist jackler and only that, and it hasn't transferred to the test game. It's a role that Ardie Savea does better at this level anyway.
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Guys who are unlucky to be overlooked IMHO.
Prop - George Dyer
Hooker- No one.
Locks - Sam Darry
Back Row - Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Christian Lio - Willie, Devan Flanders
Half Back - Dylan Pledger.
First Five - Rivez Reihana
Midfield - Braydon Ennor
Wing - Caleb Tangitau,
Fulll Back - No one. -
Full back maybe could say Zarn Sullivan as his form has been very good in my opinion
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@sparky said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Guys who are unlucky to be overlooked IMHO.
Prop - George Dyer
Hooker- No one.
Locks - Sam Darry
Back Row - Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Christian Lio - Willie, Devan Flanders
Half Back - Dylan Pledger.
First Five - Rivez Reihana
Midfield - Braydon Ennor
Wing - Caleb Tangitau,
Fulll Back - No one.If Ennor and Lio-Willie are considered unlucky then NZ Rugby really isn't in a particularly strong state.
