All Blacks 2025
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Only watched 2 games this WE, but Lakai, Hotham and Holland did there selection chances no harm at all. Roigard looked a bit off-kilter to me and was pulled late in teh game. Is there some low-level injury problem?
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I'll say it.
Fihaki looked good last night ...
Given his lack of runs on the board he'll have to play like that for rest of the season to justify any sort of consideration ... but credit where it's due.
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I'll say it.
Fihaki looked good last night ...
Given his lack of runs on the board he'll have to play like that for rest of the season to justify any sort of consideration ... but credit where it's due.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Fabian Holland looking every inch an All Black in waiting.
Only this match, not been that amazing up until now. More games the same required, one offs don't cut it, imo
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Fabian Holland looking every inch an All Black in waiting.
Only this match, not been that amazing up until now. More games the same required, one offs don't cut it, imo
Yeah I wouldn't say it was even close to an AB performance. Just wasn't anonymous like previous games.
Sparky is obviously still on a bender from Friday night.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki looked good last night ...
Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki looked good last night ...
Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.
He's not the greatest of defenders that's for sure.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki looked good last night ...
Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.
He's not the greatest of defenders that's for sure.
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki looked good last night ...
Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.
He's not the greatest of defenders that's for sure.
I see nothing in his game that isn't done the same or better by the likes of ENS, Lam, Tangitau, Stephenson....
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki looked good last night ...
Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.
He's not the greatest of defenders that's for sure.
I see nothing in his game that isn't done the same or better by the likes of ENS, Lam, Tangitau, Stephenson....
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki looked good last night ...
Apart from when he waved in the first try? Stephenson would have got crucified for that.
He's not the greatest of defenders that's for sure.
I see nothing in his game that isn't done the same or better by the likes of ENS, Lam, Tangitau, Stephenson....
Neither, and as you pointed out, he's an awful defender currently. The try you pointed out and his miss on Miracle Fa'ilagi in the Moana Pasifika game being 2 examples of that.
But yeah, if it were Shaun Stevenson, every man and his dog would be out in full force letting everyone know about it.
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Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.
Didn't he hit a purple patch about this point last season? I thought he was better last year, but might not be as noticeable when you're getting beat.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Fabian Holland looking every inch an All Black in waiting.
Only this match, not been that amazing up until now. More games the same required, one offs don't cut it, imo
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Fabian Holland looking every inch an All Black in waiting.
Only this match, not been that amazing up until now. More games the same required, one offs don't cut it, imo
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Fabian Holland looking every inch an All Black in waiting.
Only this match, not been that amazing up until now. More games the same required, one offs don't cut it, imo
I think he's looked pretty good all season, except maybe quiet last week.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.
Didn't he hit a purple patch about this point last season? I thought he was better last year, but might not be as noticeable when you're getting beat.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.
Didn't he hit a purple patch about this point last season? I thought he was better last year, but might not be as noticeable when you're getting beat.
Couldn't tell you. Didn't notice him.
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Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Hey, I'm not advocating for him. As you say there's plenty on front of him. I just noticed he did some good things. Something I've not noticed previously.
Setting the bar low for him then. He's 24, if he was going to make it I'd expect him to show more by now. He's got zero X factor
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About the only thing that Fihaki can do better than any other winger in NZ is 50+ metre kicks at goal. Says it all really.
Luckily for him, he is in the right colours to get the benefit of the doubt over wingers that are actually better than him in NZ.
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Quite interesting to go back and look at previous threads. At this stage last season, people had Iose and Ioane on course for the ABs, and there were no mentions for Sititi. Hardly a mention yet of Darry, Ratima or Tosi.
It is probably the form over the next two months that will truly decide the ABs squad. If the likes of Moananu, Kirifi, Parker etc. burn out, they will not be there.
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About the only thing that Fihaki can do better than any other winger in NZ is 50+ metre kicks at goal. Says it all really.
Luckily for him, he is in the right colours to get the benefit of the doubt over wingers that are actually better than him in NZ.
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
About the only thing that Fihaki can do better than any other winger in NZ is 50+ metre kicks at goal. Says it all really.
Luckily for him, he is in the right colours to get the benefit of the doubt over wingers that are actually better than him in NZ.
A good skill to have but Isn't Stevenson considered a winger as well (at higher level anyway)? I won't be a smartarse and mention Jordie ..
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Quite interesting to go back and look at previous threads. At this stage last season, people had Iose and Ioane on course for the ABs, and there were no mentions for Sititi. Hardly a mention yet of Darry, Ratima or Tosi.
It is probably the form over the next two months that will truly decide the ABs squad. If the likes of Moananu, Kirifi, Parker etc. burn out, they will not be there.
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
Quite interesting to go back and look at previous threads. At this stage last season, people had Iose and Ioane on course for the ABs, and there were no mentions for Sititi.
Sititi only first started for the Chiefs about this time last year, so that is not surprising. I agree that the backend of SR will be more important for any newbie to be in with a chance of AB selection.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
Quite interesting to go back and look at previous threads. At this stage last season, people had Iose and Ioane on course for the ABs, and there were no mentions for Sititi.
Sititi only first started for the Chiefs about this time last year, so that is not surprising. I agree that the backend of SR will be more important for any newbie to be in with a chance of AB selection.
@Bovidae Always has and always will be. Kirifi I suspect ends up being a great example of this. Assuming they see Savea & Lakai as opensides, he is going to be up against it against Blackadder and Papalii, and if the Canes form does not turn around he probably won't get to push his case in the finals.
FWIW, I would select him at this stage, but also, you compare him to say Tizzano or McReight, who are noted for their defensive capabilities/breakdown work, and I feel like they both offer more in possession than Kirifi. Lakai and Savea present a better all-round package.
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Probable Razor's pick :
Williams
Taylor
Lomax
Barrett
Vai'i
Blackadder
Savea
Sititi
Roigard
B. Barrett
Clarke
J. Barrett
Ioane
Reece
JordanTaukei'aho
De Groot
Newell
Tuipolutu
Finau
Hotham
ALB
MacKenzie@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
Probable Razor's pick :
Williams
Taylor
Lomax
Barrett
Vai'i
Blackadder
Savea
Sititi
Roigard
B. Barrett
Clarke
J. Barrett
Ioane
Reece
JordanTaukei'aho
De Groot
Newell
Tuipolutu
Finau
Hotham
ALB
MacKenzieFinau has been the best six by a country mile. Would be outrageous to pick a seven ahead of him.
