All Blacks 2025
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
And I suspect it's because you guys are looking at what his career could have been and I'm looking at what his career was.
Nah.
I suspect it's because Ryan et al are looking at what Shannon's career could have been and I'm looking at what his career was.Hot take, Akira played better in the ABs than Shannon. He's over a year younger. And he stood up to drunk bogan halfbacks without collecting restraining orders.
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@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have I completely misunderstood that ENS is buggering off?
There was chat he was going to France but he has signed with the Chiefs for another year. Last year I thought he was the second best left winger behind Caleb Clarke. It was unfortunate he got injured this year. I expect he plays mainly at Fullback for the Chiefs next year and could be an improvement on Stevenson with better all-round skills.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@KiwiMurph I'm not going to disagree with much of that.
Except, we have no real idea about the discussions Akira and Razor might have had.
Unless they tell us, it's all in the realm of fantasy.
My view is that given how much time Razor has had in the role, the noises he and Ryan have made about other players and that Akira didn't last long after Ryan took over says all you need to know about what the regime thinks of Akira.
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@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
How have we got this far into conspiracy and not brought up that Razor's number 1 guy decided to fuck off after Razor got the top gig?
He did.
It's quite extraordinary that we weren't able to retain the number one "must have".
But, Richie is no moron.
He's realised that he can have his cake and eat it too. He can be the Six Million Dollar Man and probably waltz back in and helm the ABs at the World Cup.
Because while the NZR Board are rattling their sabres about defectors doing their time in NPC, they've already bent a bit on letting Big Leicester back into the fold as soon as a slightly adverse wind has blown. A little bit of an example.
But, Richie isn't going to be some minimum wage Mofo. He's going to be a primary finacial asset on top dollar.
I expect the lesson to be that if you want to fuck off overseas for a couple of years, you'd better be extremely indispensable.
Frizz can sit out the South African tour to pay the price.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@African-Monkey yeah was Ice, he had played 8 games for Auckland (according to Wiki)
Rokocoko debuted at both super and ABs in 2003
Mitchell and Deans definitely picked Joe Rok on potential given in that super season he wasn’t a permanent starter with Rupeni and Dougie there plus Mils and Rico.
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@mikedogz said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have I completely misunderstood that ENS is buggering off?
There was chat he was going to France but he has signed with the Chiefs for another year. Last year I thought he was the second best left winger behind Caleb Clarke. It was unfortunate he got injured this year. I expect he plays mainly at Fullback for the Chiefs next year and could be an improvement on Stevenson with better all-round skills.
Awesome, really rate him and think his game would translate well to test rugby. Shades of Mils...
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@African-Monkey yeah was Ice, he had played 8 games for Auckland (according to Wiki)
Rokocoko debuted at both super and ABs in 2003
Mitchell and Deans definitely picked Joe Rok on potential given in that super season he wasn’t a permanent starter with Rupeni and Dougie there plus Mils and Rico.
Super Rugby in 2003 was a great watch
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Rupeni...
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@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@mikedogz said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have I completely misunderstood that ENS is buggering off?
There was chat he was going to France but he has signed with the Chiefs for another year. Last year I thought he was the second best left winger behind Caleb Clarke. It was unfortunate he got injured this year. I expect he plays mainly at Fullback for the Chiefs next year and could be an improvement on Stevenson with better all-round skills.
Awesome, really rate him and think his game would translate well to test rugby. Shades of Mils...
Not certain he's big enough to be an international fullback but could definitely make an impact on the wing.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@mikedogz said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have I completely misunderstood that ENS is buggering off?
There was chat he was going to France but he has signed with the Chiefs for another year. Last year I thought he was the second best left winger behind Caleb Clarke. It was unfortunate he got injured this year. I expect he plays mainly at Fullback for the Chiefs next year and could be an improvement on Stevenson with better all-round skills.
Awesome, really rate him and think his game would translate well to test rugby. Shades of Mils...
Not certain he's big enough to be an international fullback but could definitely make an impact on the wing.
Cripes, if being a decently solid, 6 ft bloke doesn't make you big enough for an international fullback, there's going to be a fair few blokes going redundant or shifting to wing soon. Who's going to be left?
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@African-Monkey yeah was Ice, he had played 8 games for Auckland (according to Wiki)
Rokocoko debuted at both super and ABs in 2003
Mitchell and Deans definitely picked Joe Rok on potential given in that super season he wasn’t a permanent starter with Rupeni and Dougie there plus Mils and Rico.
Yes he was, Doug mostly played fullback and Mils mostly played centre. I think Joe had the most appearances of all the wings and played the finals. Rico was on the bench the most.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
- They were never going to pick him once he signed in Japan.
They picked Cane and Perenara.
Yes, but Cane is a 100 cap All Black captain and Perenara has been around for 10 years as an ever-present. In a team that had been badly shorn of experience. And TJ didn't announce he'd signed overseas until after the AB season had started and he'd been picked.
Akira had a chequered AB career and hadn't even made the team for RWC.
Is there not an obvious difference?
Akira's best rugby was in front of him..?
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@Nepia said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@African-Monkey yeah was Ice, he had played 8 games for Auckland (according to Wiki)
Rokocoko debuted at both super and ABs in 2003
Mitchell and Deans definitely picked Joe Rok on potential given in that super season he wasn’t a permanent starter with Rupeni and Dougie there plus Mils and Rico.
Yes he was, Doug mostly played fullback and Mils mostly played centre. I think Joe had the most appearances of all the wings and played the finals. Rico was on the bench the most.
Maybe my memory is hazy, but what I do remember was a match I went to whilst in NZ at Okara Park against Qld and he didn’t start.
Being 19 yo he certainly was showing potential in a backline that had all sorts of talent.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
- They were never going to pick him once he signed in Japan.
They picked Cane and Perenara.
Yes, but Cane is a 100 cap All Black captain and Perenara has been around for 10 years as an ever-present. In a team that had been badly shorn of experience. And TJ didn't announce he'd signed overseas until after the AB season had started and he'd been picked.
Akira had a chequered AB career and hadn't even made the team for RWC.
Is there not an obvious difference?
Akira's best rugby was in front of him..?
Considering that Frizell for most of his ABs career so far has been pretty inconsequential, with flashes of quality here and there, he is getting far better treatment than Akira. But I still struggle to see how he justifies it. I don't feel strongly about him either way, that's based on his on field play. When he should have stood up in the RWC23 final I don't remember him doing so. Just another flat track bully who will fit in with the rest of them
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
- They were never going to pick him once he signed in Japan.
They picked Cane and Perenara.
Yes, but Cane is a 100 cap All Black captain and Perenara has been around for 10 years as an ever-present. In a team that had been badly shorn of experience. And TJ didn't announce he'd signed overseas until after the AB season had started and he'd been picked.
Akira had a chequered AB career and hadn't even made the team for RWC.
Is there not an obvious difference?
Those goalposts have shifted so much I am not sure they're even in the same stadium.
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@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@mikedogz said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have I completely misunderstood that ENS is buggering off?
There was chat he was going to France but he has signed with the Chiefs for another year. Last year I thought he was the second best left winger behind Caleb Clarke. It was unfortunate he got injured this year. I expect he plays mainly at Fullback for the Chiefs next year and could be an improvement on Stevenson with better all-round skills.
Awesome, really rate him and think his game would translate well to test rugby. Shades of Mils...
Not certain he's big enough to be an international fullback but could definitely make an impact on the wing.
Cripes, if being a decently solid, 6 ft bloke doesn't make you big enough for an international fullback, there's going to be a fair few blokes going redundant or shifting to wing soon. Who's going to be left?
Wouldn't have guessed he was 6 ft from looking at him! Guess he'll do.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@mikedogz said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
Have I completely misunderstood that ENS is buggering off?
There was chat he was going to France but he has signed with the Chiefs for another year. Last year I thought he was the second best left winger behind Caleb Clarke. It was unfortunate he got injured this year. I expect he plays mainly at Fullback for the Chiefs next year and could be an improvement on Stevenson with better all-round skills.
Awesome, really rate him and think his game would translate well to test rugby. Shades of Mils...
Not certain he's big enough to be an international fullback but could definitely make an impact on the wing.
Cripes, if being a decently solid, 6 ft bloke doesn't make you big enough for an international fullback, there's going to be a fair few blokes going redundant or shifting to wing soon. Who's going to be left?
Wouldn't have guessed he was 6 ft from looking at him! Guess he'll do.
I've certainly never had the impression he's small, especially when you compare him to other chiefs outside backs.
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@brodean said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks & All Blacks XV EOYT Squads 2025:
My real point is - many of you Blues guys seem to see a massive conspiracy, where there's really just a few line calls gone against you.
Our best performing 10 is gone. Our 6 (arguably best 6 in the comp) is gone. Our 8 (player of the year) looks like he is going. Our 7, another ex-AB, won't get picked. They talk about getting big men but Peter Dinklage has more hope of being picked as an AB loose forward.
Who does get picked? Christie and BB. Two players I can't remember any Blues supporter on here demanding to get picked. 3, if you add Stephen ('even Ethan Blackadders's tougher than me') Perofeta. Ok, he played ok when picked but I think even ardent Blues fans were surprised.
Darry was a good one but picked out of necessity.
Your 6 was gone before Razor ever named his first squad. He took the yen. And neither he nor his brother - who aren't social media shrinking violets - have ever suggested Razor had any role in this decision. Once he signed in Japan, it would have been moronic to pick him for the All Blacks. If you want to be upset with an AB coach about Akira - blame Hansen.
Plummer - well, there's a theory that we need a solid journeyman at 10. I don't subcribe to it. But, they picked Beauden and Perofeta ahead of him - I'm overwhelmed by the bias!
Now Hoskins was unlucky. But, they were only ever going to pick two number 8s and Ardie was a mortal lock. They went for Sititi and he won World Breakout Player of the year, so it wasn't really a terrible pick. And they were going to call Hoskins up for the EOYT, but he was broken. He was less compelling this year and now he's broken again.
Paps - no more unlucky than Blackadder, who outplayed all comers in the Super play-offs. There's no Crusaders in the loosies either and despite the prognostications of doom, I see Dalton in the AB XV.
I believe we've discussed AJ Lam and Ricky Riccitelli previously. RR is a hard no from me.
My feeling was Akira knew he was not going to get picked. Could be completely wrong. He said money was part (and could well be the major part) of his decision but he didn't clearly say what the remaining reasons were.
MY real point is not that more Blues need to be in the ABs but the way they were or weren't treated may have been a factor in them leaving or potentially leaving, weakening the Blues.
Lam was my major grump about non-AB selection previously but he has a lot more competition now so I'm not so energetic in my laments. RR, yeah, good Super player, can see why they didn't choose him. I don't really see a Crusaders bias but a loyalty bias favouring oldtimers and Crusaders stalwarts (Ioane has been lucky to be picked, as has Reece and ALB).
Riccitelli is better at the Hooker core roles than everyone bar Taylor.
They same capitulation that happened to McAlister in Wellington could happen to Bell.
Well, if you see the core roles of the hooker as throwing to the lineout and taking a ring to Mordor, then I agree with you.
But, if you want a big, fast, dynamic runner - a powerful scrummager - a guy who's going to win collisions vs the Boks - then picking a small journeyman hooker is not on my list.
He's the Kirifi of hookers, but less compelling.
The Blues scrum has actually been close to the strongest in Super Rugby with him there. It's been 1 or 2 for most scrum penalties won for several years.
Renata with Patty T behind him!
