All Blacks 2025
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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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@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. -
@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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@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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@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.
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@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.
Probably not too much of a problem.
There's 36 guys in the ABs. There will be around 30 more in the AB XV and easily another nine who'd be in one of the two squads if they weren't injured.
So 75 players, which neatly equates to five XVs - which equals the starting XVs of the Super rugby teams.
People will quibble around half a dozen squaddies in the ABs and again the most marginal half-dozen selections in the AB XV, but it's unlikely we're going to miss a superstar - and certainly not two years running.
Most people who pay attention and aren't total loonies could probably pick at least 85 percent of the two squads.
I haven't paid enough attention to NPC this year, but @frugby picked both squads ten days ago and I daresay he'll get most of it right.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Grooter 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.
We'll know how much say they have in the XV selections If npc semi finalist Hawkes bays key player Fakatava can't make that touring team lol
No chance…..
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360853292/why-big-freeze-set-end-ex-all-blacks-halfback-folau-fakatava
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@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.
Probably not too much of a problem.
There's 36 guys in the ABs. There will be around 30 more in the AB XV and easily another nine who'd be in one of the two squads if they weren't injured.
So 75 players, which neatly equates to five XVs - which equals the starting XVs of the Super rugby teams.
People will quibble around half a dozen squaddies in the ABs and again the most marginal half-dozen selections in the AB XV, but it's unlikely we're going to miss a superstar - and certainly not two years running.
Chris I hope Lucas Casey is selected 8 Tries, 31 Defenders beaten & 435 metres gained this bunnings npc season
how good would he be outside Davey! -
@Grooter said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Tough fall from grace for Dalton Papalii, I predicted him to be vice captain this cycle, how wrong was I!
Unfortunately for Papali'i I'm not expecting him to be named in the All Blacks XV either.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@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.
Probably not too much of a problem.
There's 36 guys in the ABs. There will be around 30 more in the AB XV and easily another nine who'd be in one of the two squads if they weren't injured.
So 75 players, which neatly equates to five XVs - which equals the starting XVs of the Super rugby teams.
People will quibble around half a dozen squaddies in the ABs and again the most marginal half-dozen selections in the AB XV, but it's unlikely we're going to miss a superstar - and certainly not two years running.
Most people who pay attention and aren't total loonies could probably pick at least 85 percent of the two squads.
I haven't paid enough attention to NPC this year, but @frugby picked both squads ten days ago and I daresay he'll get most of it right.
We are unlikely to completely miss selecting a superstar across both squads for sure.
We seem considerably more likely to allow a potential superstar or two (or at least better players) to sit on the bench / stands / play 2 part games for the AB XV for a season or two... while has-beens and never-gonna-bes are giving us mediocre results in the top side. And then have those potentially better players bugger off overseas, or have their effectiveness diminished by injuries etc. -
@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.
Christie answered the call in the RC and played his socks off. I get that, but there's an a opportunity to develop a 3rd halfback completely lost
I just don't get ALB either. He's been a good loyal servant but he looks completely over the hill these days.
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@reprobate Yeah - but, in my view that's not really happening.
I'm not seeing too many anomalous selections. There's a few I'd select or have selected differently, but I'm mainly quibbling on the fringes and I've won seven or eight less Super rugby titles than Razor.
I'm quite a bit more concerned about their gameplans and systems, which I still haven't understood quite what they're aiming at or trying to achieve. But, maybe Razor's a shitload smarter than everyone else and realises - like in politics - there's no point in releasing your best ideas two years out from the big dance.
Dry powder - it's gold!
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@Victor-Meldrew I think the argument would be, the fringe 'bolters' e.g Tangitau, are better served PLAYING for the NZ XV than holding tackle bags for the ABs.
The only place you could argue there is possibly an opening is 10, and nobody has put anything up yet to suggest they could bolt in.
Better off having guys like Reece holding the tackle bags.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@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.
Probably not too much of a problem.
There's 36 guys in the ABs. There will be around 30 more in the AB XV and easily another nine who'd be in one of the two squads if they weren't injured.
So 75 players, which neatly equates to five XVs - which equals the starting XVs of the Super rugby teams.
People will quibble around half a dozen squaddies in the ABs and again the most marginal half-dozen selections in the AB XV, but it's unlikely we're going to miss a superstar - and certainly not two years running.
Most people who pay attention and aren't total loonies could probably pick at least 85 percent of the two squads.
I haven't paid enough attention to NPC this year, but @frugby picked both squads ten days ago and I daresay he'll get most of it right.
We are unlikely to completely miss selecting a superstar across both squads for sure.
We seem considerably more likely to allow a potential superstar or two (or at least better players) to sit on the bench / stands / play 2 part games for the AB XV for a season or two... while has-beens and never-gonna-bes are giving us mediocre results in the top side. And then have those potentially better players bugger off overseas, or have their effectiveness diminished by injuries etc.Agreed.
The other element of this to me is that when Razor has been brave in his selections this season it has tended to pay dividends. Id say he is getting a bigger payout for his braver choices - like playing Holland and leaving him on for 80 mins or moving QT to 13 or picking Carter - than he is from his conservative choices.
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@nzzp Yes - because nobody has put up anything close to a body of work to suggest they deserve a crack at the next level down.
Perofeta is injured.
Love has had a few games of promise for the Hurricanes, but it seems he wants to be a fullback.
I think most would probably say Jacomb is the next best after that, and good few on this forum was calling him overrated on Saturday night.
Then you go to a Reihana, who might not even by the Crusaders first choice 10?
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@nzzp said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
The only place you could argue there is possibly an opening is 10, and nobody has put anything up yet to suggest they could bolt in.
No one has been given a run, except BB and DMac.
And even then DMac has only played when BB is injured. So he doesn't really think beyond BB which is nuts when you consider just how uneven his play is.
By this point in the year it would have made more sense to me that BB and DMac would have split their starts more equally. It's exactly what Rassie does with the Boks 10s.
