All Blacks 2025
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@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
Yes so many of the young and up and coming players have justified everyone sentiments about Robertson with their continued and improved form in this super rugby season....
Any position in mind? Tough to think of any 10's that haven't improved except for Miller and Hohepa.
More a lot have gone backwards or have stagnated. When you look at the ABs XV squad, it’s actually quite disappointing how many haven’t kicked on to another gear (Kirifi has been good but seems to be slipping as the season goes on). Holland, who was a big prospect last season, hasn’t showed the same level (aside from one game against the bottom team).
As for the up and coming ABs from last season. Aumua, Roigard, Ratima, Tosi, Laki, and Love haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire.
The only players that have noticeably improved imo has been Jordon (has played more like a fullback), Vai’i and Finau have got better.
I am critical of Robertson but I do feel a bit sorry for him. If Barrett continues to show good game management and McKenzie shits the bed in another semi/final, who is he supposed to select? ALB and Reiko are the only real options at 13 despite Reiko being bang average and ALB being injury prone and slow. Reece, despite being terrible last season, continues to outshine every winger through sheer enthusiasm. For all the criticism of Jordon at 15, what exactly has Love shown to provide any competition at all? Still don’t have a clear option for our backup hooker with Taylor still the obvious no. 1. Lock is ok but one injury there and we have no idea who the third lock would be. Literally only have one out and out six pushing for selection. We don’t have an 8 if Savea is sensibly selected at 7.
Jesus mate, I'm as negative as the next guy, but Taylor, Taukei'aho, Aumua is hardly a weak trio of hookers.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
Yes so many of the young and up and coming players have justified everyone sentiments about Robertson with their continued and improved form in this super rugby season....
Any position in mind? Tough to think of any 10's that haven't improved except for Miller and Hohepa.
More a lot have gone backwards or have stagnated. When you look at the ABs XV squad, it’s actually quite disappointing how many haven’t kicked on to another gear (Kirifi has been good but seems to be slipping as the season goes on). Holland, who was a big prospect last season, hasn’t showed the same level (aside from one game against the bottom team).
As for the up and coming ABs from last season. Aumua, Roigard, Ratima, Tosi, Laki, and Love haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire.
The only players that have noticeably improved imo has been Jordon (has played more like a fullback), Vai’i and Finau have got better.
I am critical of Robertson but I do feel a bit sorry for him. If Barrett continues to show good game management and McKenzie shits the bed in another semi/final, who is he supposed to select? ALB and Reiko are the only real options at 13 despite Reiko being bang average and ALB being injury prone and slow. Reece, despite being terrible last season, continues to outshine every winger through sheer enthusiasm. For all the criticism of Jordon at 15, what exactly has Love shown to provide any competition at all? Still don’t have a clear option for our backup hooker with Taylor still the obvious no. 1. Lock is ok but one injury there and we have no idea who the third lock would be. Literally only have one out and out six pushing for selection. We don’t have an 8 if Savea is sensibly selected at 7.
Jesus mate, I'm as negative as the next guy, but Taylor, Taukei'aho, Aumua is hardly a weak trio of hookers.
And Moananu is worthy of a conversation. Hooker depth a real strength at the mo.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter Moananu strikes me as the hooker version of Kirifi - having an excellent SR season but possibly too small for Test rugby.
Hopefully I'm wrong. About both.
I don't really see how being short would be a massive problem for a hooker? Being light, yes, but he's heavier than plenty of other international hookers (including Codie Taylor, Peato Mauvaka).
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter Moananu strikes me as the hooker version of Kirifi - having an excellent SR season but possibly too small for Test rugby.
Hopefully I'm wrong. About both.
I don't really see how being short would be a massive problem for a hooker? Being light, yes, but he's heavier than plenty of other international hookers (including Codie Taylor, Peato Mauvaka).
And potentially an advantage at scrum time, as Bongi shows.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki and Bell are shaping up as two of the most biased AB selections of all time. Neither with any runs on the board bar age grade stuff, and now both have 5 or 6 players easily ahead of them this year. Bell is not even the best hooker at the Crusaders and Fihaki has the worst stats of any NZ winger that is in the frame by some distance.
I'm expecting more of the same from Razor this year.
Havilli and Blackadder want you to hold their beers
Shane Philpott too (RIP), Ben Blair, George Bridge. Many more, enough to fill the whole bar
Bernie McCahill, Mike Clamp, Marty Berry....
I thought we were talking about Cantablacks. Lots of other guys who were less deserving of the jersey than others. Mark Carter was another
Christ here we go.
Carter had one Bledisloe Cup game where he was immense. There’s been far less deserving ABs than him.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki and Bell are shaping up as two of the most biased AB selections of all time. Neither with any runs on the board bar age grade stuff, and now both have 5 or 6 players easily ahead of them this year. Bell is not even the best hooker at the Crusaders and Fihaki has the worst stats of any NZ winger that is in the frame by some distance.
I'm expecting more of the same from Razor this year.
Havilli and Blackadder want you to hold their beers
Shane Philpott too (RIP), Ben Blair, George Bridge. Many more, enough to fill the whole bar
Bernie McCahill, Mike Clamp, Marty Berry....
I thought we were talking about Cantablacks. Lots of other guys who were less deserving of the jersey than others. Mark Carter was another
Christ here we go.
Carter had one Bledisloe Cup game where he was immense. There’s been far less deserving ABs than him.
He made one outstanding tackle on Lynagh and we moved the best 7 to ever play the game to accomodate him. Not sure he was immense in the rest of the game.
In all honesty I can't remember at all how he went in the other tests he played so not going to argue there.
Was one hell of a tackle though.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
There’s been far less deserving ABs than him.
Especially in the last few years. Project players, one test wonders, etc.
Not players whose form demanded squad selection and fitness or competition within the squad denied them additional caps and they took what looked like a better option in a short career.
Busted league converts. Players quantitatively worse than others in our highest competition. And I don't accept the argument some make that coaches are taking a punt on a "Richie McCaw" as none of them seemed to be standouts amongst age group or put in PotM performances on debut etc.
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
There’s been far less deserving ABs than him.
Especially in the last few years. Project players, one test wonders, etc.
Not players whose form demanded squad selection and fitness or competition within the squad denied them additional caps and they took what looked like a better option in a short career.
Busted league converts. Players quantitatively worse than others in our highest competition. And I don't accept the argument some make that coaches are taking a punt on a "Richie McCaw" as none of them seemed to be standouts amongst age group or put in PotM performances on debut etc.
I wonder how Nonu would have fared in today's AB environment & selection policy?
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We have absolutely no idea how Razor will pick his squad, people are losing their mind over hypotheticals… there is no way to know how he picks his team this year.
What we do know about Razor, is he has had success at every level, which would suggest it is no fluke. He is clearly a smart cookie when it comes to rugby, and I’d trust him to get the best out of the current pool of players, which simply has some gaping holes.
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird.
I’d be willing to bet good money Chay Fihaki doesn’t crack the first All Blacks squad.
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We have absolutely no idea how Razor will pick his squad, people are losing their mind over hypotheticals… there is no way to know how he picks his team this year.
What we do know about Razor, is he has had success at every level, which would suggest it is no fluke. He is clearly a smart cookie when it comes to rugby, and I’d trust him to get the best out of the current pool of players, which simply has some gaping holes.
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird.
I’d be willing to bet good money Chay Fihaki doesn’t crack the first All Blacks squad.
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We have absolutely no idea how Razor will pick his squad, people are losing their mind over hypotheticals… there is no way to know how he picks his team this year.
What we do know about Razor, is he has had success at every level, which would suggest it is no fluke. He is clearly a smart cookie when it comes to rugby, and I’d trust him to get the best out of the current pool of players, which simply has some gaping holes.
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird.
I’d be willing to bet good money Chay Fihaki doesn’t crack the first All Blacks squad.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
There’s been far less deserving ABs than him.
Especially in the last few years. Project players, one test wonders, etc.
Not players whose form demanded squad selection and fitness or competition within the squad denied them additional caps and they took what looked like a better option in a short career.
Busted league converts. Players quantitatively worse than others in our highest competition. And I don't accept the argument some make that coaches are taking a punt on a "Richie McCaw" as none of them seemed to be standouts amongst age group or put in PotM performances on debut etc.
I wonder how Nonu would have fared in today's AB environment & selection policy?
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
There’s been far less deserving ABs than him.
Especially in the last few years. Project players, one test wonders, etc.
Not players whose form demanded squad selection and fitness or competition within the squad denied them additional caps and they took what looked like a better option in a short career.
Busted league converts. Players quantitatively worse than others in our highest competition. And I don't accept the argument some make that coaches are taking a punt on a "Richie McCaw" as none of them seemed to be standouts amongst age group or put in PotM performances on debut etc.
I wonder how Nonu would have fared in today's AB environment & selection policy?
The same as he did in previous ones I imagine.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki and Bell are shaping up as two of the most biased AB selections of all time. Neither with any runs on the board bar age grade stuff, and now both have 5 or 6 players easily ahead of them this year. Bell is not even the best hooker at the Crusaders and Fihaki has the worst stats of any NZ winger that is in the frame by some distance.
I'm expecting more of the same from Razor this year.
Havilli and Blackadder want you to hold their beers
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki and Bell are shaping up as two of the most biased AB selections of all time. Neither with any runs on the board bar age grade stuff, and now both have 5 or 6 players easily ahead of them this year. Bell is not even the best hooker at the Crusaders and Fihaki has the worst stats of any NZ winger that is in the frame by some distance.
I'm expecting more of the same from Razor this year.
Havilli and Blackadder want you to hold their beers
In their defence the previous coaching ticket capped them first.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird
I find it really weird that's the vibe you get.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird
I find it really weird that's the vibe you get.
Lol usually when you have mixed results as ABs coach you get criticized right?
Foster got criticised for breathing by most of the country.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird
I find it really weird that's the vibe you get.
Lol usually when you have mixed results as ABs coach you get criticized right?
Foster got criticised for breathing by most of the country.
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird
I find it really weird that's the vibe you get.
Lol usually when you have mixed results as ABs coach you get criticized right?
Foster got criticised for
breathingeating by most of the country.Yes
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird
I find it really weird that's the vibe you get.
Lol usually when you have mixed results as ABs coach you get criticized right?
Foster got criticised for
breathingeating by most of the country.Yes
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird
I find it really weird that's the vibe you get.
Lol usually when you have mixed results as ABs coach you get criticized right?
Foster got criticised for
breathingeating by most of the country.Yes
If I hadn’t had an Easter sleep in I would have written exactly this
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki and Bell are shaping up as two of the most biased AB selections of all time. Neither with any runs on the board bar age grade stuff, and now both have 5 or 6 players easily ahead of them this year. Bell is not even the best hooker at the Crusaders and Fihaki has the worst stats of any NZ winger that is in the frame by some distance.
I'm expecting more of the same from Razor this year.
Havilli and Blackadder want you to hold their beers
Shane Philpott too (RIP), Ben Blair, George Bridge. Many more, enough to fill the whole bar
Bernie McCahill, Mike Clamp, Marty Berry....
I thought we were talking about Cantablacks. Lots of other guys who were less deserving of the jersey than others. Mark Carter was another
Christ here we go.
Carter had one Bledisloe Cup game where he was immense. There’s been far less deserving ABs than him.
He made one outstanding tackle on Lynagh and we moved the best 7 to ever play the game to accomodate him. Not sure he was immense in the rest of the game.
In all honesty I can't remember at all how he went in the other tests he played so not going to argue there.
Was one hell of a tackle though.
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
Fihaki and Bell are shaping up as two of the most biased AB selections of all time. Neither with any runs on the board bar age grade stuff, and now both have 5 or 6 players easily ahead of them this year. Bell is not even the best hooker at the Crusaders and Fihaki has the worst stats of any NZ winger that is in the frame by some distance.
I'm expecting more of the same from Razor this year.
Havilli and Blackadder want you to hold their beers
Shane Philpott too (RIP), Ben Blair, George Bridge. Many more, enough to fill the whole bar
Bernie McCahill, Mike Clamp, Marty Berry....
I thought we were talking about Cantablacks. Lots of other guys who were less deserving of the jersey than others. Mark Carter was another
Christ here we go.
Carter had one Bledisloe Cup game where he was immense. There’s been far less deserving ABs than him.
He made one outstanding tackle on Lynagh and we moved the best 7 to ever play the game to accomodate him. Not sure he was immense in the rest of the game.
In all honesty I can't remember at all how he went in the other tests he played so not going to argue there.
Was one hell of a tackle though.
It was an immense tackle as was the rest of his game I’m assuming
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We have absolutely no idea how Razor will pick his squad, people are losing their mind over hypotheticals… there is no way to know how he picks his team this year.
What we do know about Razor, is he has had success at every level, which would suggest it is no fluke. He is clearly a smart cookie when it comes to rugby, and I’d trust him to get the best out of the current pool of players, which simply has some gaping holes.
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird.
I’d be willing to bet good money Chay Fihaki doesn’t crack the first All Blacks squad.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
We have absolutely no idea how Razor will pick his squad
Well.... we have the three squads he picked last year.....
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
We have absolutely no idea how Razor will pick his squad
Well.... we have the three squads he picked last year.....
Yes - in his first year in the job. Most coaches in any sport through time in their first year, will stick with what was around, with sprinkling of what they already know.
As a fan it is somewhat frustrating, but it is also the easier way to build for the long term, because you develop a base.
I don’t know why people can’t comprehend that just picking 15 new players isn’t a good idea. I’m seriously meant to believe people would have accepted us getting hidings in South Africa?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird
I find it really weird that's the vibe you get.
Lol usually when you have mixed results as ABs coach you get criticized right?
Foster got criticised for breathing by most of the country.
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird
I find it really weird that's the vibe you get.
Lol usually when you have mixed results as ABs coach you get criticized right?
Foster got criticised for breathing by most of the country.
You can criticise Razor for last year, but criticising a squad which hasn’t even been picked yet to me says you want the guy to fail.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird
I find it really weird that's the vibe you get.
Lol usually when you have mixed results as ABs coach you get criticized right?
Foster got criticised for breathing by most of the country.
You can criticise Razor for last year, but criticising a squad which hasn’t even been picked yet to me says you want the guy to fail.
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
I get the vibe there is a whole crew of Aucklanders who are willing him on to fail, which I find really weird
I find it really weird that's the vibe you get.
Lol usually when you have mixed results as ABs coach you get criticized right?
Foster got criticised for breathing by most of the country.
You can criticise Razor for last year, but criticising a squad which hasn’t even been picked yet to me says you want the guy to fail.
Me personally criticising a squad that hasn't been picked yet or Aucklanders in general? Because personally, I haven't really said anything in regards to ABs selection yet. Last year, yes, this year, I've barely made a comment so far.
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I suspect those that want Razor to fail are the marginal 'fans' that are not unlike those who wanted Henry to fail after ousting Deans.
Vast majority of fans want him to succeed, want him to return us to the top of the pile, and last year, he made it hard with some calls many saw as bias or bonkers, there will always be some provincial lines that blur calls too.
I'd say this year will give us a much better picture of whether he is upto the task or not, if we cant start to climb back up after the slide that started around 2016/2017, might be time to start supporting the Warriors....
