All Blacks 2025

sparky

@canefan It's what I'd pick, not what I think Razor will pick.

I won't be too upset to see David Havili in the ABs squad. He's playing better than last year.

I don't see Ethan Blackadder and Chay Fihaki as anything other than solid to average Super Rugby players. But I don't pick the side.

sparky

@Bones If Patty T hits form or Sam Darry gets fit, I'd bump them above Holland, but I'm intrigued to see how he'd go at Test level.

Probably I'd like eventually to see
12 Quinn Tupaea
14 Will Jordan
15 Jordie Barrett

But Jordie's playing well at provincial level at 12 and Will Jordan at 15 so I'd leave them there for now.

sparky

@nostrildamus Six Nations sides and South Africa kick more than they run. Having lots of players comfortable under the high ball against them is a positive. In the back three, it's essential.

Yes, Ruben Love is my back up 10. I saw enough today from him to think he's worth developing in that role. BB's in decline and I think Love's ceiling is higher than Perofeta's.

AJ Lam's not far away and is probably ahead of Reiko Ioane for me at the moment.

Bones

@sparky I'd be tempted to see how Beehre goes too.

sparky

@Bones Yep, arguably the Blues most consistent player this year. Similar player and size to Scott Barrett but nine years younger.

KiwiInLondon

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones If Patty T hits form or Sam Darry gets fit, I'd bump them above Holland, but I'm intrigued to see how he'd go at Test level.

Probably I'd like eventually to see
12 Quinn Tupaea
14 Will Jordan
15 Jordie Barrett

But Jordie's playing well at provincial level at 12 and Will Jordan at 15 so I'd leave them there for now.

We sure Holland isn’t just the lock version of Tom Christie with a better PR team?

Holland vs Behree

Minutes
Holland: 647
Behree: 578

Carries
Holland: 51
Behree: 74

Metres
Holland:84
Behree: 187

Post contact metres
Holland: 95
Behree: 153

Defenders beaten
Holland: 2
Behree:11

Tackles:
Holland: 143 (88%)
Behree: 110 (90%)

sparky

@KiwiInLondon Fabian Holland was bloody good for the All Blacks XV against Munster last year. He won the Man of the Match award. He's a big old unit and an easy lineout target, although his Super form has been mixed this year.

KiwiInLondon

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiInLondon Fabian Holland was bloody good for the All Blacks XV against Munster last year. He won the Man of the Match award. He's a big old unit and an easy lineout target, although his Super form has been mixed this year.

I watched that game. I have a funny ol feeling that MoM award wasn’t entirely based on who played the best…

canefan

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@canefan It's what I'd pick, not what I think Razor will pick.

I won't be too upset to see David Havili in the ABs squad. He's playing better than last year.

I don't see Ethan Blackadder and Chay Fihaki as anything other than solid to average Super Rugby players. But I don't pick the side.

DH may be in form, but apart from one game in SA, has he shown he belongs at test level? Not for me

Victor Meldrew

Is it just me, or has Cam Roigard off his form a bit or is he still nursing some sort of Blackadder we don't know about?

He just hasn't looked that sharp to me so far

antipodean

@Victor-Meldrew I'll take a "Cam Roigard off his form a bit" over a Finlay Christie every day of the week.

BerniesCorner

Geez I hope Razor and Co throw caution to the wind this year and pick form players.
For the past god knows how many years we have been picking underperforming incumbents. Done my head in.
A fleet seven, a 12-13 combo that distributes, young back stars.
For starters unleash the young Canes.
Form is king, bring back the excitement

BerniesCorner

And stop mucking around. DMac is the starting first five for 2025 unless there is an injury.

antipodean

@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2025:

For starters unleash the young Canes.

A win in Canberra and the bandwagon is overloaded.

BerniesCorner

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2025:

For starters unleash the young Canes.

A win in Canberra and the bandwagon is overloaded.

Nope, Proctor should have had a run yonks ago.
And we have had a slow 7 forever

DaGrubster

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

Is it just me, or has Cam Roigard off his form a bit or is he still nursing some sort of Blackadder we don't know about?

He just hasn't looked that sharp to me so far

I was thinking that too. He has out away his running game for now and playing very conservatively.

DaGrubster

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky like it, not sold on Holland yet though and tempted to switch Jordie and Tupaea.

I dont think he has kicked on as much as i thouhht he would but his potential is obvious.

He is a big man, technically very good at set piece and breakdown and hits rucks.

He would be our biggest lock and our starting locks are less thsn 2m

MN5

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

This is what I've currently got pencilled in for the First Test, but it will be interesting to see how players go at the business end of the season.

T. Williams

C. Taylor

T. Lomax

S. Barrett (c)

T. Vai'i

S. Finau

A. Savea

W. Sititi

C. Ratima

DMac

C. Clarke

J. Barrett

B. Proctor

E. Narawa

W.Jordan

S. Taukei'aho

E. De Groot

F. Newell

F. Holland

P. Lakai

C. Roigard

R. Love

Q. Tupaea

This team would be terrific if it was actually rolled out. Whether that happens is the big question.

That loose trio is caramel strawberry mint choc chip with a dynamic coating of cookies and cream and licorice compared to the vanilla we're used to. I'm still not convinced Finau can smash anyone other than small first fives but my point stands.

Some really nice impact on that bench too.

frugby

It's almost as if Holland has been inconsistent because the Highlanders picked an illogical squad, forcing them to overplay him. I'd like to see some of those stats adjusted for possession too.

Sometimes Highlanders fans desperately over-rate players, but Fabian Holland isn't one of them. Holland's best game is way better than anything Beehre can deliver, and time will show that.

frugby

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones If Patty T hits form or Sam Darry gets fit, I'd bump them above Holland, but I'm intrigued to see how he'd go at Test level.

Probably I'd like eventually to see
12 Quinn Tupaea
14 Will Jordan
15 Jordie Barrett

But Jordie's playing well at provincial level at 12 and Will Jordan at 15 so I'd leave them there for now.

We sure Holland isn’t just the lock version of Tom Christie with a better PR team?

Holland vs Behree

Minutes
Holland: 647
Behree: 578

Carries
Holland: 51
Behree: 74

Metres
Holland:84
Behree: 187

Post contact metres
Holland: 95
Behree: 153

Defenders beaten
Holland: 2
Behree:11

Tackles:
Holland: 143 (88%)
Behree: 110 (90%)

Where are you getting these stats from?

Opta has Holland at 207m from 51 carries. I'd also note his 12 dominant tackles. Two different styles of players, who as it has been pointed out, probably shouldn't be competing for the same spot.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks 2025