All Blacks 2025
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@John If you could let us know what the ABs are picked on, we might help you with the AB XV
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They will pick it on
Super form,
vibes,
potential,
next man up,
we want to see that guy,
what certain players did in certain situations during the NPC. I doubt it is out and out form. More this guy is setting up outsides well. Player B is making the gain line in the right situation. Players like Gibson Popoali and Kyle Brown are some of the form guys. They won't make it. -
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.@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.ENS has been awesome for Counties as has Zarn Sullivan for Hawkes Bay.
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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
@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@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
Am not sure who is more insulted, or how ...
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I just hope like hell these coaches have had no input into the selection of ABXV otherwise we are in serious trouble but they would have a lot I'm thinking.
@george33 said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
I just hope like hell these coaches have had no input into the selection of ABXV otherwise we are in serious trouble but they would have a lot I'm thinking.
They have a big say and most selections are theirs. Jamie Joseph will have his input and I’m sure be able to select those he really likes and I have no doubt he will do that but ultimately it’s up to the AB coaching group.
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@george33 said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
I just hope like hell these coaches have had no input into the selection of ABXV otherwise we are in serious trouble but they would have a lot I'm thinking.
They have a big say and most selections are theirs. Jamie Joseph will have his input and I’m sure be able to select those he really likes and I have no doubt he will do that but ultimately it’s up to the AB coaching group.
@Landers92 said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@george33 said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
I just hope like hell these coaches have had no input into the selection of ABXV otherwise we are in serious trouble but they would have a lot I'm thinking.
They have a big say and most selections are theirs. Jamie Joseph will have his input and I’m sure be able to select those he really likes and I have no doubt he will do that but ultimately it’s up to the AB coaching group.
That is a sobering thought. I really wish there was more of an external input on these selections from outside the AB coaching group. I say that because there had to be a lot of joined up thinking in the selections that extends beyond 2027/the length of the coaches contracts.
Whatever happens in the next two years you want to make sure that the post 2027 coaches don't inherit a squad with young players devoid of experience or a squad full of over the hill players.
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It's a massive handbrake on this team not to have the best available New Zealand Openside Flanker, Dalton Papalii, selected in the squad.
Robertson has his own reason for not for picking him, but by being so stubborn, he is making life tougher for his players against what is bound to be extremely fired up and highly organised Northern Hemisphere opposition.
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This AB team was always just going to be a packs your bags boys and carry on from the Rugby Championship squad.
Hee did hint that we will see several new guys named tomorrow which will be exciting. Quite was that there will be a 'few bolters' announced tomorrow.
Then defended his conservative selection policy saying 19 fuys have debuted over the last two years.
I'm more excited by our dirt trackers games than the full squad grandslam attempt.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
The Christie selection given Hotham is out is understandable. I don’t think they will want to invest in a newbie just yet given their focus is still developing Roigard and Ratima.
ALB and Reece - squaddies at best. The next best midfielder and winger will be starting for the ABXV and if they go well will feature in 2026.
Kirifi and Finau - might play against Wales.
Yeah - it's entirely predictable. Aside from the injury replacements, @frugby pretty much got it spot on with the opening post.
Agree completely on Christie - it would've been a pretty major surprise to see him displaced since they have Hotham in the wings.
One of ALB or Sevu (probably Sevu) would've missed out if TwoTVs had been fit, since Big Leicester had clearly jumped ahead of him for the 2nd Oz test. It's pretty hard to think of other compelling centre options to replace ALB. Ennor might be the next in line and he's not compelling for me. Proctor was never missing out.
McAlister lost out to Bell. Not surprising - Bell has been very good for Canterbury in the games I've watched.
Lord over Darry - not much in that one probably.
The AB XV will be more interesting because it will give some idea of who next cabs off the rank will be. Also be interesting to see who is captain.
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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.
@Nepia said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Kyran Taumoefolau
he looked pretty quick in his 7 minutes for Tonga against Romania in 2023!
Crowd Goes Wild has an online video pimping the Blenheimer (did I get that right?) as a FAB.
191cm tall, so a taller and leaner Tele'a, perhaps. -
Richard Knowler is picking Fakatava will be in the AB XV squad. Speculation or did Robertson mention him?
@Bovidae said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Richard Knowler is picking Fakatava will be in the AB XV squad. Speculation or did Robertson mention him?
So three halfbacks going with rhe AB XV?
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My guess:
Props: Williams, De Groot, Bower, Newell, Tosi, Mafileo
Hookers: Taylor, Taukei'aho, Bell
Locks: S Barrett, Holland, Tuipulotu, Darry
Back Row: Parker, Finau, Kirifi, Savea, Sititi, Lakai, Jacobson
Half Backs: Roigard, Ratima, Christie
First Fives: B Barrett, McKenzie
Midfield: J Barrett, Tupaea, Fainga'anuku, Proctor, ALB
Wings: Carter, Clarke, Ioane, Reece
Full Backs: Jordan, Love@sparky said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
My guess:
Props: Williams, De Groot, Bower, Newell, Tosi, Mafileo
Hookers: Taylor, Taukei'aho, Bell
Locks: S Barrett, Holland, Tuipulotu, Darry
Back Row: Parker, Finau, Kirifi, Savea, Sititi, Lakai, Jacobson
Half Backs: Roigard, Ratima, Christie
First Fives: B Barrett, McKenzie
Midfield: J Barrett, Tupaea, Fainga'anuku, Proctor, ALB
Wings: Carter, Clarke, Ioane, Reece
Full Backs: Jordan, Love35/36! A+
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It's a massive handbrake on this team not to have the best available New Zealand Openside Flanker, Dalton Papalii, selected in the squad.
Robertson has his own reason for not for picking him, but by being so stubborn, he is making life tougher for his players against what is bound to be extremely fired up and highly organised Northern Hemisphere opposition.
@sparky said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
It's a massive handbrake on this team not to have the best available New Zealand Openside Flanker, Dalton Papalii, selected in the squad.
Robertson has his own reason for not for picking him, but by being so stubborn, he is making life tougher for his players against what is bound to be extremely fired up and highly organised Northern Hemisphere opposition.
I think its a bit weird. Robertson seemed to be unhappy with him after the two England tests and the two tests against Argentina. We won 3 out of 4 of those games and we were winning when Papali'i left the field to be replaced by Sititi in the game we lost against Argentina. Sititi had a shocker giving away 3 penalties in 15 minutes.
Unhappy with that Robertson decides to replace Papali'i with Cane for some kind of redemption arc and we basically haven't seen Papali'i since except for that 15 minutes against France we he came on and smashed it.
Meanwhile Kirifi comes on in Wellington against South Africa and does bugger all on defense and some how he is still in the team.
