All Blacks 2026
-
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2026:
Throw in Paps (or Lakai) at 7 and you can afford to carry RD or Wally at 8.
Lakai covers quite a bit from the bench as well. Then again he seems fit over the entire 80 as well.
At least he seems to want to get stuck in
-
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
At least he seems to want to get stuck in
He's motivated, fit, can play several positions, Jane thinks he is a natural leader. Yes, worth a look again. The real problem is that he Sititi and Ardie are perhaps too similar and even if Wallace played 6 really well in his debut, he seems to be a (short) 8. We still don't seem to have a settled loose trio.
-
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
At least he seems to want to get stuck in
He's motivated, fit, can play several positions, Jane thinks he is a natural leader. Yes, worth a look again. The real problem is that he Sititi and Ardie are perhaps too similar and even if Wallace played 6 really well in his debut, he seems to be a (short) 8. We still don't seem to have a settled loose trio.
The new man is charged with fixing the problem
-
@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:
Huh, go figure. I thought Parker made a bloody good fist of it as a debutant in a clearly dysfunctional, confused team. Not blockbuster by any means, but there's not many forwards who are in their first season.
I seem to remember being impressed with Parkers ball skills/running at the Chiefs but with the AB's looking like he didn't want anything to do with the ball and just made his tackles and hit rucks.... I can only assume he was playing to instructions?
A new coach - new game plan I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he could still be an answer at 6. -
I don’t want Beauden Barrett or Savea in the starting team and maybe not even on the bench. Other than that, I’m prepared to give most other players the benefit of the doubt initially. If they perform in Super Rugby, I’m happy for them to get a chance to show their ordinary performances were down to the coaching and game plans.
-
I think a.number of players under Razor were used differently to how they were used and made them stand out at super..
Obviously test rugby requires different things but not utilising different players strengths properly is detrimental to.the team.
Super rugby will be interesting with these much maligned players and how they respond and play there (Sititi, Parker, BB, Proctor, SB et a) in thier more comfortable environment.
-
@taniwharugby Very much
I really want Proctor to remind us why so many of us were keen to see him given a go at test level.
A 10 that involves him in the attack will be a start and not just employed as a dummy runner.
Get his confidence back.
To me big seasons ahead for
Dmac
Proctor
Jordie Barrett (whatever position they need but also as a leader)
Roigard (hopefully injury free) & Favatava as a bench impact
A new exciting winger to invigorate the attack
A forward pack that scares teams..... -
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
One of the things about the omission of Sotutu was his inability to play on both sides of the ball, yet for the whole 2025, that's all Sititi did.
As I said about Parker, the way Sititi played in the ABs was different to how he played in the Chiefs. Even allowing for form, that must come down to the AB coaches and their tactics. Indicative of the ineffectiveness of the AB loose forwards.
-
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360929565/man-who-brought-down-scott-robertson
I have a small amount of sympathy for the argument that Robertson was not exactly spoiled for obvious captains when he took over. But either Savea or Dalton Papali’i would have been a more cohesive and inspirational choice. Whether Savea is still now electable after supposedly blindsiding his coach is debatable. Indeed, it is currently being debated in South Africa amongst other places.
And what of Papali’i? The former Blues captain was mysteriously jettisoned as Robertson seemed to alienate half the Blues squad that had won Super Rugby just a year earlier. Mark Telea and Hoskins Sotutu went overseas, Rieko Ioane was progressively demoted and Papali’i was thrown into exile. It was very odd.
So when the review came it was not surprising that a number of players said that Robertson was too remote, that he didn’t connect or engage. That was enough for NZR chairman David Kirk. The sacking was ruthless, but Kirk is a businessman. If he was going to fail with the All Blacks, then he would fail on his own terms.
-
-
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
Super rugby will be interesting with these much maligned players and how they respond and play there (Sititi, Parker, BB, Proctor, SB et a) in thier more comfortable environment.
Remember Scott Barrett has a non playing sabbatical this SR season.
-
-
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
So when the review came it was not surprising that a number of players said that Robertson was too remote, that he didn’t connect or engage.
Funny coz that was meant to be his strong suit
-
@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360929565/man-who-brought-down-scott-robertson
I have a small amount of sympathy for the argument that Robertson was not exactly spoiled for obvious captains when he took over. But either Savea or Dalton Papali’i would have been a more cohesive and inspirational choice. Whether Savea is still now electable after supposedly blindsiding his coach is debatable. Indeed, it is currently being debated in South Africa amongst other places.
And what of Papali’i? The former Blues captain was mysteriously jettisoned as Robertson seemed to alienate half the Blues squad that had won Super Rugby just a year earlier. Mark Telea and Hoskins Sotutu went overseas, Rieko Ioane was progressively demoted and Papali’i was thrown into exile. It was very odd.
So when the review came it was not surprising that a number of players said that Robertson was too remote, that he didn’t connect or engage. That was enough for NZR chairman David Kirk. The sacking was ruthless, but Kirk is a businessman. If he was going to fail with the All Blacks, then he would fail on his own terms.
I feel far more confident that Kirk will follow due process and make reasonable decisions compared to Robinson
-
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2026:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
Super rugby will be interesting with these much maligned players and how they respond and play there (Sititi, Parker, BB, Proctor, SB et a) in thier more comfortable environment.
Remember Scott Barrett has a non playing sabbatical this SR season.
no playing? i didn't realise
-
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2026:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
Super rugby will be interesting with these much maligned players and how they respond and play there (Sititi, Parker, BB, Proctor, SB et a) in thier more comfortable environment.
Remember Scott Barrett has a non playing sabbatical this SR season.
no playing? i didn't realise
I presume it's to rest his back. He's had back issues over the last couple of years
I wonder if he'll cut the break short like Codie Taylor did in 2024
-
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2026:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
Super rugby will be interesting with these much maligned players and how they respond and play there (Sititi, Parker, BB, Proctor, SB et a) in thier more comfortable environment.
Remember Scott Barrett has a non playing sabbatical this SR season.
no playing? i didn't realise
So much like 2025 with the ABs then...
-
@Duluth could make or break his career i guess.
Comes back refreshed and energised, or, realises that his body doesnt like the grind...I know I have mentioned it before, but with him not playing, Ardie in Japan, is even less reason for the next captain to be announced until the squad is assembled.
-
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
@Duluth could make or break his career i guess.
Comes back refreshed and energised, or, realises that his body doesnt like the grind...I know I have mentioned it before, but with him not playing, Ardie in Japan, is even less reason for the next captain to be announced until the squad is assembled.
Premediation is fine when picking the captain, as long as the guy is an undisputable pick (which SB was not IMHO). Razor fell into the Taine Randell trap
