All Blacks 2025
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So who is our 7 once Blackadder goes down? I wouldnt have him there, but we know he will be until injury, so who's the backup? I don't think they're keen on Papali'i, Lakai ended up there last year but Kirifi gets preferred at club level, Ardie started there against France but had to move out of there quickly and we all know he ain't a 7, so who is 2nd choice?
My choice is Lakai.
Savea then Lakai then Papalii for me.
Finau at 6. Sititi at 8. Lakai or Jacobson on the bench.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
Savea then Kirifi then Lakai for me.
Caveat that we're only halfway through the comp but I'm in agreement.
Savea is having a career renaissance playing openside for MP. Looks much better than the player that came out of Japan.
Kirifi has matured and is playing with greater smarts and impact.
Lakai looks nothing like the player that made the All Blacks. Much more subdued and less impact.
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Will Sititi actually be able to play for the ABs this year?
Unsure of how long he is out for. -
Over halfway through the season now so going to have a go at what a 34-man All Blacks squad might look like...
Hookers - Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei'aho
Props - Ethan de Groot, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi
Locks - Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, two of Josh Lord, Patrick Tuipulotu and Josh Beehre*
Loose forwards - Ardie Savea, Ethan Blackadder, Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Cam Christie*
Halfbacks - Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Noah Hotham
First fives - Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett, Xavi Taele*
Midfield - Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea
Outside backs - Will Jordan, Caleb Clarke, Ruben Love, Mark Tele'a, Sevu ReecePossibly another prop or loose forward instead of a midfielder/outside back. Obviously still a lot of time for players to get injured/come into form/lose form completely.
Feels a bit absurd to pick three Blues as the only debutants but think they've all been pretty good (in the case of Beehre/Christie) or shown immense promise - I can see Taele being a long-term option at 10.
Reece probably the luckiest of the bunch based on last year's form, this year's form, and the strength that NZ has in the outside backs but he's a Razor-favourite. Tangitau needs to back up next year (or in the NPC) to win a spot for my mind.
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
Over halfway through the season now so going to have a go at what a 34-man All Blacks squad might look like...
Hookers - Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei'aho
Props - Ethan de Groot, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi
Locks - Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, two of Josh Lord, Patrick Tuipulotu and Josh Beehre*
Loose forwards - Ardie Savea, Ethan Blackadder, Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Cam Christie*
Halfbacks - Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Noah Hotham
First fives - Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett, Xavi Taele*
Midfield - Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea
Outside backs - Will Jordan, Caleb Clarke, Ruben Love, Mark Tele'a, Sevu ReecePossibly another prop or loose forward instead of a midfielder/outside back. Obviously still a lot of time for players to get injured/come into form/lose form completely.
Feels a bit absurd to pick three Blues as the only debutants but think they've all been pretty good (in the case of Beehre/Christie) or shown immense promise - I can see Taele being a long-term option at 10.
Reece probably the luckiest of the bunch based on last year's form, this year's form, and the strength that NZ has in the outside backs but he's a Razor-favourite. Tangitau needs to back up next year (or in the NPC) to win a spot for my mind.
You wouldn't happen to support the Blues?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
I fully expect him to be picked, but Blackadder is looking even more average than I thought he would in SR. I really don't get the attraction.
Arguably an attraction for the AB selectors in both Jacobson and Blackadder is that they can cover all three positions in the back row. So it could be argued that they are good players to have on the bench.
But yeah, Blackadder's an average Super Player at best and would be nowhere near my AB squad on current form.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Arguably an attraction for the AB selectors in both Jacobson and Blackadder is that they can cover all three positions in the back row. So it could be argued that they are good players to have on the bench.
Except Jacobson has been given chance after chance on the AB bench and he simply doesn't offer enough.
By continuing to pick Jacobson on the bench you are taking an opportunity from someone else who may be able to have an actual impact.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Arguably an attraction for the AB selectors in both Jacobson and Blackadder is that they can cover all three positions in the back row. So it could be argued that they are good players to have on the bench.
Except Jacobson has been given chance after chance on the AB bench and he simply doesn't offer enough.
By continuing to pick Jacobson on the bench you are taking an opportunity from someone else who may be able to have an actual impact.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Arguably an attraction for the AB selectors in both Jacobson and Blackadder is that they can cover all three positions in the back row. So it could be argued that they are good players to have on the bench.
Except Jacobson has been given chance after chance on the AB bench and he simply doesn't offer enough.
By continuing to pick Jacobson on the bench you are taking an opportunity from someone else who may be able to have an actual impact.
He’s got concrete shoulders apparently. Not even Jerry Collins or Jerome Kaino had those.
I'm sure the hits will start coming
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
Over halfway through the season now so going to have a go at what a 34-man All Blacks squad might look like...
Hookers - Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei'aho
Props - Ethan de Groot, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi
Locks - Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, two of Josh Lord, Patrick Tuipulotu and Josh Beehre*
Loose forwards - Ardie Savea, Ethan Blackadder, Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Cam Christie*
Halfbacks - Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Noah Hotham
First fives - Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett, Xavi Taele*
Midfield - Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea
Outside backs - Will Jordan, Caleb Clarke, Ruben Love, Mark Tele'a, Sevu ReecePossibly another prop or loose forward instead of a midfielder/outside back. Obviously still a lot of time for players to get injured/come into form/lose form completely.
Feels a bit absurd to pick three Blues as the only debutants but think they've all been pretty good (in the case of Beehre/Christie) or shown immense promise - I can see Taele being a long-term option at 10.
Reece probably the luckiest of the bunch based on last year's form, this year's form, and the strength that NZ has in the outside backs but he's a Razor-favourite. Tangitau needs to back up next year (or in the NPC) to win a spot for my mind.
You wouldn't happen to support the Blues?
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I don't think Taele has played 10 since he was in the NZ Schools.
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So who is our 7 once Blackadder goes down? I wouldnt have him there, but we know he will be until injury, so who's the backup? I don't think they're keen on Papali'i, Lakai ended up there last year but Kirifi gets preferred at club level, Ardie started there against France but had to move out of there quickly and we all know he ain't a 7, so who is 2nd choice?
My choice is Lakai.
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
So who is our 7 once Blackadder goes down? I wouldnt have him there, but we know he will be until injury, so who's the backup? I don't think they're keen on Papali'i, Lakai ended up there last year but Kirifi gets preferred at club level, Ardie started there against France but had to move out of there quickly and we all know he ain't a 7, so who is 2nd choice?
My choice is Lakai.
How dare you all forget razors other red and black man, Tom Christie. Duh.
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Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
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Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
I feel like at this point I've seen him play 12/15/wing? He doesn't seem to have a natural position and certainly isn't enough of an attacking threat for ABs at wing. Has always been a big kicker of the ball though.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
I feel like at this point I've seen him play 12/15/wing? He doesn't seem to have a natural position and certainly isn't enough of an attacking threat for ABs at wing. Has always been a big kicker of the ball though.
@HugeCarrot2 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
I feel like at this point I've seen him play 12/15/wing? He doesn't seem to have a natural position and certainly isn't enough of an attacking threat for ABs at wing. Has always been a big kicker of the ball though.
Fihaki has never played 12 a wing /FB
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Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
Watch him against an NZ side. You’ll see your statement about him looking nothing like an AB winger is in fact correct.
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Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
One thing I have noticed he is doing a lot of defending in the MF against the opposition forwards and pulling off some good hits.
Something the AB coaches were giving him as work ons.
I believe he is in the frame for the ABs like it or not. -
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
I feel like at this point I've seen him play 12/15/wing? He doesn't seem to have a natural position and certainly isn't enough of an attacking threat for ABs at wing. Has always been a big kicker of the ball though.
@HugeCarrot2 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me
I feel like at this point I've seen him play 12/15/wing? He doesn't seem to have a natural position and certainly isn't enough of an attacking threat for ABs at wing. Has always been a big kicker of the ball though.
Someone begs to differ...
https://www.periodismo-rugby.com.ar/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Robertson-foto.jpg
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
So who is our 7 once Blackadder goes down? I wouldnt have him there, but we know he will be until injury, so who's the backup? I don't think they're keen on Papali'i, Lakai ended up there last year but Kirifi gets preferred at club level, Ardie started there against France but had to move out of there quickly and we all know he ain't a 7, so who is 2nd choice?
My choice is Lakai.
How dare you all forget razors other red and black man, Tom Christie. Duh.
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
So who is our 7 once Blackadder goes down? I wouldnt have him there, but we know he will be until injury, so who's the backup? I don't think they're keen on Papali'i, Lakai ended up there last year but Kirifi gets preferred at club level, Ardie started there against France but had to move out of there quickly and we all know he ain't a 7, so who is 2nd choice?
My choice is Lakai.
How dare you all forget razors other red and black man, Tom Christie. Duh.
Don't give them ideas if someone in ABs camp is reading haha, and no, I don't want to see 7s making 35 legs tackles a game.
He'd go well in the Blues side as our loosies love soaking up the tackles.
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Had not thought of Taele Beehre or Christie as AB contenders this year.
The ones I think might get a look if 41 or 42 players are in squad for home season:
Tangitau, better than Narawa currently. Big Jim or Tupaea may replace the injured Procter, more likely Havili. Jacomb or Godfrey may be in extended squad. I think Roe and Preston playing better each week than Ratima, Christie and Hotham and either may be looked at.
In forwards Kirifi earns a spot at 7. Lio Willie or Parker may get a shot at 8.
Stumped at lock. Lord might edge out Holland Cahill??
I hope and expect a new prop or two. Numia, Dyer and Norris are all pushing hard for Ofa or Tosi spot. -
Tangitau let himself down last night. Given his greenness, that performance may have given the selectors the yips for this year. He can't afford any more games like that.
