All Blacks 2025
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
The very clear plan is Waiting on Rich-Mo. He was clearly our best 10 when he departed and that's surely been reinforced in his absence. ..
"Out of New Zealand’s three main fly-halves, Richie Mo’unga has the worst record against the top nations after All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson revealed a surprising statistic."
Wilson at about 17:20...
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@frugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@KiwiMurph That him and Kemara never really crossed over. David Havili was even preferred ahead of him in 2024.
What does 2024 have to do with anything.
Reihana delivered in the 2025 playoffs leading his team to the title outplaying Beauden and DMac along the way.
If fit, Reihana starts at 10 in 2026 for the Crusaders.
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@frugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
The looming debate about the wider All Blacks squad
One potential omission could spark debate about the purpose of the wider All Blacks squad.
Want to be careful not to break the paywall BUT:
- Pledger expected to be out as Joseph thinks he would benefit from full Super Rugby Pre-Season
That's interesting, well social media engagement numbers will be out the gate tomorrow then
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@brodean said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Unfortunately for Papali'i I'm not expecting him to be named in the All Blacks XV either.
Did he get injured yesterday?
He seemed to be one of the few CM players that didn't come back on when other players were injured. Motuga made more impact anyway.
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@frugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
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.
It is an argument, for sure. But I'd argue we shouldn't be picking ABs to hold tackle bags. Been far too much picking players and hardly playing them in the last few years
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Here's a related statistic.
Richie has played Ireland seven times.
He's started twice and we've won both games (at World Cups).
Five times he's been on the bench behind Beaudy. We've lost four of those five games.
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I really hope the AB XV select some bolters and start getting some depth built especially at 10
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Papali'i & Darry should be there over Finau & Lord... but we don't pick Blues with this coaching setup.
Monstered the Chiefs in the 1/4s missing 2 abs and took Crusaders to 86 mins in the Semi.
Razor must think Cotter is a coaching demi-god considering their clinical performances in the playoffs 2024 & 2025 with barely any test quality players!
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Midfield - more question marks even with the QT performance against the Aussies. There may be a temptation to rotate a bit. Jordie still our best midfielder but the way they are using him to drop back defensively was interesting to say the least.
Ireland and Scotland attack from the midfield quite differently to Aussie so it’s going to be interesting to see if they go with QT or Proctor.It's kind of a strange set of midfielders - even though it's not surprising.
On current rankings:
Second five: Jordie, Tupaea, ALB
Centre: Tupaea, Proctor, Ioane, ALB
I don't see Big Leicester starting there, unless maybe vs Wales - quite possible he plays wing or on the bench, though. I'd have grouped him with the wings.
If Jordie gets injured, I wonder whether they go Tupaea/Proctor or ALB/Tupaea?
It would be QT12/ALB13.
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@pakman said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Midfield - more question marks even with the QT performance against the Aussies. There may be a temptation to rotate a bit. Jordie still our best midfielder but the way they are using him to drop back defensively was interesting to say the least.
Ireland and Scotland attack from the midfield quite differently to Aussie so it’s going to be interesting to see if they go with QT or Proctor.It's kind of a strange set of midfielders - even though it's not surprising.
On current rankings:
Second five: Jordie, Tupaea, ALB
Centre: Tupaea, Proctor, Ioane, ALB
I don't see Big Leicester starting there, unless maybe vs Wales - quite possible he plays wing or on the bench, though. I'd have grouped him with the wings.
If Jordie gets injured, I wonder whether they go Tupaea/Proctor or ALB/Tupaea?
It would be QT12/ALB13.
I'd much prefer QT12/Rieko12
Edit: QT12/Rieko13
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For the All Blacks XV, Shalfoon might be there and maybe Gardiner and Stodart in the loose forwards and Roberts in the midfield. Possible bolters : Sa and Vakasiuola because of their size. A shame Gallagher is leaving because he has been convincing as a blind side loose forward.
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@restofit said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Papali'i & Darry should be there over Finau & Lord... but we don't pick Blues with this coaching setup.
Monstered the Chiefs in the 1/4s missing 2 abs and took Crusaders to 86 mins in the Semi.
Razor must think Cotter is a coaching demi-god considering their clinical performances in the playoffs 2024 & 2025 with barely any test quality players!
Well, if we picked those two guys, there would be 7 Blues in the squad and 8 Crusaders.
We won the competition and you guys lost nine games.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@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.
It seems Ray would rather an see the thrusters get game time for XV.
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@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@pakman said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Midfield - more question marks even with the QT performance against the Aussies. There may be a temptation to rotate a bit. Jordie still our best midfielder but the way they are using him to drop back defensively was interesting to say the least.
Ireland and Scotland attack from the midfield quite differently to Aussie so it’s going to be interesting to see if they go with QT or Proctor.It's kind of a strange set of midfielders - even though it's not surprising.
On current rankings:
Second five: Jordie, Tupaea, ALB
Centre: Tupaea, Proctor, Ioane, ALB
I don't see Big Leicester starting there, unless maybe vs Wales - quite possible he plays wing or on the bench, though. I'd have grouped him with the wings.
If Jordie gets injured, I wonder whether they go Tupaea/Proctor or ALB/Tupaea?
It would be QT12/ALB13.
I'd much prefer QT12/Rieko12
Iwas assuming that for the point of discussion we were limiting choice to the two Chiefs.
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@cgrant said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
For the All Blacks XV, Shalfoon might be there and maybe Gardiner and Stodart in the loose forwards and Roberts in the midfield. Possible bolters : Sa and Vakasiuola because of their size. A shame Gallagher is leaving because he has been convincing as a blind side loose forward.
It would be great to see a couple of young 6’ 6” 120kg locks get run in XV.
Are there any others hiding somewhere?
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Here's a related statistic.
Richie has played Ireland seven times.
He's started twice and we've won both games (at World Cups).
Five times he's been on the bench behind Beaudy. We've lost four of those five games.
Yeah I prefer him over Beaudy. But Japan isn't a great preparation and he is getting on as well.
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I think the selection is perfectly reasonable. The UK teams will take no prisoners. Pledger Casey and Mathis could all do with a season of initiation to super rugby. And not sure Tangitau is accurate enough for next level yet.
Maybe would have Darry over Lord. And surprised Mafileo chosen over Dyer, but that was flagged anyway.
Papalii would be a good captain for AB XV if available. Look forward to seeing Jacomb and Reihana there too.
Bolters? Bartlett, Beehre, V,Lasaga and Fineangano would all please me. -
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Here's a related statistic.
Richie has played Ireland seven times.
He's started twice and we've won both games (at World Cups).
Five times he's been on the bench behind Beaudy. We've lost four of those five games.
Another related statistic, Mo'unga has played 0 games for the ABs since 2023 because he chose money and easy rugby over country.
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@voodoo said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@ACT-Crusader 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???
Now the most carded AB I believe.
Just such a retro selection. He's so far down the pecking order for a spot in the 23 for me. Total waste of a spot.
Yeah, his continued selection might be the most pointless of all.
He's not good enough to start and he does not offer anything off the bench and he's not versatile so just no real point in him being there.At 13 you have Proctor, QT or Rieko, there's no need for all three and ALB.
He is 8 caps away from equalling Conrad Smiths 94 caps.
It is staggering. I cant remember a line break, a try, an offload.......
He is a totem for everything that has gone wrong and stale with the Allblacks in the last 10 years.
You could literally pick anyone and it would be a better use of a place.
Any other centre our outside back deserves a chance.Fucking anyone.
Most of our best players over the last 5 years have been new guys or guys on the outer getting a gig.. Jordan, Carter, Roigard, Leicester, Tupea, Sititi last year. Holland. Tamaiti Williams. Ratima has been decent. Aumua was imperious against Ireland and England pre injury.
The only incumbents who have been consistently of a high level are Taylor and Jordie.
The rest of the 80/90 cappers, our Captain, and "world player of the year" Savea, are giving us fuck all to write home about.
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@ARHS said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
I think the selection is perfectly reasonable. The UK teams will take no prisoners. Pledger Casey and Mathis could all do with a season of initiation to super rugby. And not sure Tangitau is accurate enough for next level yet.
Maybe would have Darry over Lord. And surprised Mafileo chosen over Dyer, but that was flagged anyway.
Papalii would be a good captain for AB XV if available. Look forward to seeing Jacomb and Reihana there too.
Bolters? Bartlett, Beehre, V,Lasaga and Fineangano would all please me.I understand your argument, but we have to be careful not to "Stevenson" or "Laumape" more players.
We need to get them involved and feeling involved early doors or they will fuck off somewhere else.
Has Ruben Love got a fair shake? Did Perofeta? Did Plummer? Did Sotutu?
The Allblacks has an ever growing list of hard luck stories and "guess we will never know's".
Its all well and good having incumbents and centrally contracted stars, but they need to hold up their end of the couch, otherwise it is akin to a bloated over paid civil service.
Players have to think good performances provincially will be rewarded with higher honours and the corollary of that also applies....under performing Allblacks need to have their feet held to the fire.
