All Blacks 2024
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
The thing Clarke possesses that the others don't is the power to bust through an organised defense, which can make a huge difference at test level
His kickoff work is really useful too
@Duluth this is why this AB squad announcement is so intriguing. Roberston could go a few ways for most of the positions and it would be hard to argue with. There is going to be a lot of talented players that will be disappointed at 5pm on July 24.
The silver lining is that we will have a very strong All Blacks XV squad.
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@Duluth this is why this AB squad announcement is so intriguing. Roberston could go a few ways for most of the positions and it would be hard to argue with. There is going to be a lot of talented players that will be disappointed at 5pm on July 24.
The silver lining is that we will have a very strong All Blacks XV squad.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
The silver lining is that we will have a very strong All Blacks XV squad.
Irrelevant for the England series though as they tour later in the year.
The Māori ABs play a Japan XV during the June/July window so many who miss out on the AB squad will be involved in that.
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It really just shows what a horrible year Stevenson's had given everyones form XV has Love starting at 15 now.
Somehow hes managed to make his defence even worse this year, seems to have lost his try scoring touch and his much vanuted kicking game has dissapointed.
Was his year to make a massive claim on the jersey especaily with Jordan getting injured so early and boy - has he missed.
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The thing Clarke possesses that the others don't is the power to bust through an organised defense, which can make a huge difference at test level
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
The thing Clarke possesses that the others don't is the power to bust through an organised defense, which can make a huge difference at test level
He's worked hard at not immediately looking around for support once he's broken the defence as well.
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With the modern game there is the luxury of subbing players at 60 minutes to see how they go.
Sotutu for Savea, Proctor for R Ioane, Vaa'i for Patty and bring on Numia.
Overall things are looking good.I agree, very good players coming through in almost every position, not all of them will make it through to be world-class Test player but a few will. I think the 2027 squad will be very strong indeed.
The problem position for me is 10. For whatever reason, the NZ system is struggling badly at the minute to produce First Fives of any real quality.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
The thing Clarke possesses that the others don't is the power to bust through an organised defense, which can make a huge difference at test level
He's worked hard at not immediately looking around for support once he's broken the defence as well.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
The thing Clarke possesses that the others don't is the power to bust through an organised defense, which can make a huge difference at test level
He's worked hard at not immediately looking around for support once he's broken the defence as well.
He is very good under the high ball, too.
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@Frank said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Probably scandalous to suggest - but I am wondering if they might pick Clarke and Reece ahead of Telea as the starting wings. I think both are playing a little better and both have test experience.
Clarke is an out and out left winger so it’s between Tele’a, Narawa and Reece for the 14 jersey. The latter 3 can play on the left if needed but playing on the right is something that Clarke hasn’t done.
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
but playing on the right is something that Clarke hasn’t done.
Clarke has played on the right for the Blues before.
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@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
but playing on the right is something that Clarke hasn’t done.
Clarke has played on the right for the Blues before.
It barely counts, but he also played 14 against Namibia at the RWC
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@Kiwiwomble same Telea and Reece over Clarke for me aswell. A back three of Telea, Reece and Love would be electric.
If I had to pick an AB team to play England it would look like the following:
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Lomax
- Barrett
- Tuipolotu
- Finau
- Papali'i
- Savea (C)

- Perenara (he starts until Roigard gets back)
- McKenzie
- Telea
- Barrett
- Ioane
- Reece
- Love
- Aumua
- Williams
- Newell
- Vaai ?? I don't rate Vaai but I expect him to be there.
- Sotutu
- Ratima
- Barrett
- Proctor
Rest of the squad for me would be:
24. Taukei'aho
25. Numia
26. Tu'ungafasi
27. Delany/McWhannell/Walker-Leawere/Darry - a bolter here, who knows who it will be.
28. Lakai
29. Blackadder - I think Razor will select his man.
30. Funaki
31. Leinert-Brown
32. ClarkeSquad reserves:
33. another lock
34. Jacobsen
35. Plummer
36. Stevenson@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
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@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
but playing on the right is something that Clarke hasn’t done.
Clarke has played on the right for the Blues before.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
but playing on the right is something that Clarke hasn’t done.
Clarke has played on the right for the Blues before.
I looked it up, back in 2019 he played most of the games at 14. Ioane was still playing 11 back then
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
but playing on the right is something that Clarke hasn’t done.
Clarke has played on the right for the Blues before.
I looked it up, back in 2019 he played most of the games at 14. Ioane was still playing 11 back then
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
but playing on the right is something that Clarke hasn’t done.
Clarke has played on the right for the Blues before.
I looked it up, back in 2019 he played most of the games at 14. Ioane was still playing 11 back then
I stand corrected. I don’t recall that at all so thanks for that info.
Going to be interesting come selection time for sure
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@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
I've got both of them in the squad. If I had to pick one to start it would be Funaki, but I like Ratima more as an impact player which is why I've got him in the 23. His running game is awesome, not saying that Funaki doesn't have a running game, I just think Ratima against tiring defences could be a real weapon for the ABs.
Not much in it tbh, some solid options at halfback. That's why I find it annoying that Christie is still in the conversation, he clearly isn't as good as these young guys coming through. Hotham is another that I'd rather have over Christie tbh. All will be revealed soon I suppose.
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@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
He plays for the Crusaders.
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@Kiwiwomble same Telea and Reece over Clarke for me aswell. A back three of Telea, Reece and Love would be electric.
If I had to pick an AB team to play England it would look like the following:
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Lomax
- Barrett
- Tuipolotu
- Finau
- Papali'i
- Savea (C)

- Perenara (he starts until Roigard gets back)
- McKenzie
- Telea
- Barrett
- Ioane
- Reece
- Love
- Aumua
- Williams
- Newell
- Vaai ?? I don't rate Vaai but I expect him to be there.
- Sotutu
- Ratima
- Barrett
- Proctor
Rest of the squad for me would be:
24. Taukei'aho
25. Numia
26. Tu'ungafasi
27. Delany/McWhannell/Walker-Leawere/Darry - a bolter here, who knows who it will be.
28. Lakai
29. Blackadder - I think Razor will select his man.
30. Funaki
31. Leinert-Brown
32. ClarkeSquad reserves:
33. another lock
34. Jacobsen
35. Plummer
36. Stevenson@Canes4life no Walker Leawere for me sorry. Otherwise, that looks a very strong squad
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
He plays for the Crusaders.
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
He plays for the Crusaders.
Shitballs. Get him in there starting. He's been earmarked after all.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
He plays for the Crusaders.
Shitballs. Get him in there starting. He's been earmarked after all.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
He plays for the Crusaders.
Shitballs. Get him in there starting. He's been earmarked after all.
He has played well recently but shit, an AB based off three pretty good games? Hope not. But, and I know you said it in jest, he may well have been 'earmarked'. He was a standout in age grade so if (and it's a big if) Razor is going to select a development type player, Hotham is in with a chance.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
He plays for the Crusaders.
Shitballs. Get him in there starting. He's been earmarked after all.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Shitballs. Get him in there starting. He's been earmarked after all.
A Hotham/Havili axis sounds awesome. Could be really exciting.
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If Razor is going to pick a development type player, it will be a Crusader
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If Razor is going to pick a development type player, it will be a Crusader
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
If Razor is going to pick a development type player, it will be a Crusader
Based on what evidence?
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You can take the coach out of Canterbury but you can't take the Canterbury out of the coach.
Also didn't he want Havili to play 10 as a "project". What. The. Fuck.