All Blacks 2025
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@kidcalder said in All Blacks 2025:
Christie, Preston and Hastie looking good so I don't see 9 as the weakness I thought it would be after Smith departed.
In what world is Christie looking good?
He's been rightfully passed by Funaki now that Funaki is fit finally.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@kidcalder said in All Blacks 2025:
Christie, Preston and Hastie looking good so I don't see 9 as the weakness I thought it would be after Smith departed.
In what world is Christie looking good?
He's been rightfully passed by Funaki now that Funaki is fit finally.
In Fozzieworld he's still good. Still shake my head that Roigard could have been RWC23s Nehe Milne Skudder (new kid who tears it up) and he went for the ginger instead
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@kidcalder said in All Blacks 2025:
Christie, Preston and Hastie looking good so I don't see 9 as the weakness I thought it would be after Smith departed.
In what world is Christie looking good?
He's been rightfully passed by Funaki now that Funaki is fit finally.
In Fozzieworld he's still good. Still shake my head that Roigard could have been RWC23s Nehe Milne Skudder (new kid who tears it up) and he went for the ginger instead
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
@kidcalder and I would put Taufa Funaki, in the mix, his return has seen a different dimension in the Blues.
plays for the wrong club. No chance.
Unfortunately correct, the HBs will be locked in as:
Roigard - incumbent and will start
Ratima - bench and pushing Roigard hard for a start
Hotham - Crusaders Project Player@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
@kidcalder and I would put Taufa Funaki, in the mix, his return has seen a different dimension in the Blues.
plays for the wrong club. No chance.
Unfortunately correct, the HBs will be locked in as:
Roigard - incumbent and will start
Ratima - bench and pushing Roigard hard for a start
Hotham - Crusaders Project PlayerHalfback is a comparatively strong position right now. Whilst none of them are Nuggy, and some aren't in career best form, they're all (except Christie) playing well.
Funaki as mentioned previously has transformed the Blues into looking like a finals contender again.
I like Hotham's play - he's got a good pass on him and everything else he does is above average in execution.
Even Fakatava is playing with more maturity and taking better options, in a team without a plethora of talent in the backline. Probably the best sniper in NZ.
Roigard is playing like a shadow of his former self pre-injury. Hopefully he'll get better with more minutes under his belt. The better players play themselves into form as the season progresses anyway.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
@kidcalder and I would put Taufa Funaki, in the mix, his return has seen a different dimension in the Blues.
plays for the wrong club. No chance.
Unfortunately correct, the HBs will be locked in as:
Roigard - incumbent and will start
Ratima - bench and pushing Roigard hard for a start
Hotham - Crusaders Project PlayerHalfback is a comparatively strong position right now. Whilst none of them are Nuggy, and some aren't in career best form, they're all (except Christie) playing well.
Funaki as mentioned previously has transformed the Blues into looking like a finals contender again.
I like Hotham's play - he's got a good pass on him and everything else he does is above average in execution.
Even Fakatava is playing with more maturity and taking better options, in a team without a plethora of talent in the backline. Probably the best sniper in NZ.
Roigard is playing like a shadow of his former self pre-injury. Hopefully he'll get better with more minutes under his belt. The better players play themselves into form as the season progresses anyway.
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
@kidcalder and I would put Taufa Funaki, in the mix, his return has seen a different dimension in the Blues.
plays for the wrong club. No chance.
Unfortunately correct, the HBs will be locked in as:
Roigard - incumbent and will start
Ratima - bench and pushing Roigard hard for a start
Hotham - Crusaders Project PlayerHalfback is a comparatively strong position right now. Whilst none of them are Nuggy, and some aren't in career best form, they're all (except Christie) playing well.
Funaki as mentioned previously has transformed the Blues into looking like a finals contender again.
I like Hotham's play - he's got a good pass on him and everything else he does is above average in execution.
Even Fakatava is playing with more maturity and taking better options, in a team without a plethora of talent in the backline. Probably the best sniper in NZ.
Roigard is playing like a shadow of his former self pre-injury. Hopefully he'll get better with more minutes under his belt. The better players play themselves into form as the season progresses anyway.
Roigard isn’t playing like last year but he’s still playing well. He was pivotal in that win against the Brumbies and was good in the win against the Chiefs. Here’s hoping he gets a spring in his step after the bye / this week against the Landers.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
@kidcalder and I would put Taufa Funaki, in the mix, his return has seen a different dimension in the Blues.
plays for the wrong club. No chance.
Unfortunately correct, the HBs will be locked in as:
Roigard - incumbent and will start
Ratima - bench and pushing Roigard hard for a start
Hotham - Crusaders Project PlayerHalfback is a comparatively strong position right now. Whilst none of them are Nuggy, and some aren't in career best form, they're all (except Christie) playing well.
Funaki as mentioned previously has transformed the Blues into looking like a finals contender again.
I like Hotham's play - he's got a good pass on him and everything else he does is above average in execution.
Even Fakatava is playing with more maturity and taking better options, in a team without a plethora of talent in the backline. Probably the best sniper in NZ.
Roigard is playing like a shadow of his former self pre-injury. Hopefully he'll get better with more minutes under his belt. The better players play themselves into form as the season progresses anyway.
Roigard isn’t playing like last year but he’s still playing well. He was pivotal in that win against the Brumbies and was good in the win against the Chiefs. Here’s hoping he gets a spring in his step after the bye / this week against the Landers.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
@kidcalder and I would put Taufa Funaki, in the mix, his return has seen a different dimension in the Blues.
plays for the wrong club. No chance.
Unfortunately correct, the HBs will be locked in as:
Roigard - incumbent and will start
Ratima - bench and pushing Roigard hard for a start
Hotham - Crusaders Project PlayerHalfback is a comparatively strong position right now. Whilst none of them are Nuggy, and some aren't in career best form, they're all (except Christie) playing well.
Funaki as mentioned previously has transformed the Blues into looking like a finals contender again.
I like Hotham's play - he's got a good pass on him and everything else he does is above average in execution.
Even Fakatava is playing with more maturity and taking better options, in a team without a plethora of talent in the backline. Probably the best sniper in NZ.
Roigard is playing like a shadow of his former self pre-injury. Hopefully he'll get better with more minutes under his belt. The better players play themselves into form as the season progresses anyway.
Roigard isn’t playing like last year but he’s still playing well. He was pivotal in that win against the Brumbies and was good in the win against the Chiefs. Here’s hoping he gets a spring in his step after the bye / this week against the Landers.
He doesn't need to peak now. Cam seems to be building slowly
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@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
@kidcalder and I would put Taufa Funaki, in the mix, his return has seen a different dimension in the Blues.
plays for the wrong club. No chance.
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2025:
@kidcalder and I would put Taufa Funaki, in the mix, his return has seen a different dimension in the Blues.
plays for the wrong club. No chance.
… of Marshall picking him.
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@reprobate
Yeah I have Roigard and Ratima 1 & 2 a horses for courses type selection for them.
Fakatava though is probably who I would want coming off the bench for impact.
So they are my top 3 atm
Holtham bubbling under just needs more time to learn his trade no need to rush him.
Under that we are well served for back ups: Christie, Preston and Hastie looking good so I don't see 9 as the weakness I thought it would be after Smith departed.@kidcalder said in All Blacks 2025:
I don't see 9 as the weakness I thought it would be after Smith departed.
Yeah. Things looking much better.
I'd have Ratima as first pick right now. Roigard seems to be on a bit of a dip right now. And go for Hotham or Funaki over Christie.
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@kidcalder said in All Blacks 2025:
Christie, Preston and Hastie looking good so I don't see 9 as the weakness I thought it would be after Smith departed.
In what world is Christie looking good?
He's been rightfully passed by Funaki now that Funaki is fit finally.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
In what world is Christie looking good?
The world when every other 9 was either injured or playing like shit.
That world existed for a few months a couple of years ago and has, thankfully, vanished,
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Did the breakdown really mention Christie? lol
I have not really watched it at all, I think I watched the first or second episode when they talked about all the super teams but the Canes, and it just bothered me. And the program is just a joke anyway. They all try to hard and its super cringe to me.
I'd still have cam at 9, he is playing as good as anyone, and we know his ceiling is super high if he can get back to last years form.
Ratima looks just as good though. Hotham is not far behind.I think we should be stronger in 25 than 24
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Wings:
Tangitau - injured
Naholo - injured/leavingJordan - currently injured, should be available?
Telea - leaving
Reece - has been
This leaves:
Clarke
Narawa
IoaneAJ Lam is available.
Are Love or Stevenson possibilities? Leroy Carter?
Injuries to other players might prove fortunate for Telea and Reece.
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@kidcalder said in All Blacks 2025:
I don't see 9 as the weakness I thought it would be after Smith departed.
Yeah. Things looking much better.
I'd have Ratima as first pick right now. Roigard seems to be on a bit of a dip right now. And go for Hotham or Funaki over Christie.
@Victor-Meldrew to be fair, Christie was playing well for a period, his best rugby was super rugby the season after he made the ABs, but regressed since.then.
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@Victor-Meldrew to be fair, Christie was playing well for a period, his best rugby was super rugby the season after he made the ABs, but regressed since.then.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@Victor-Meldrew to be fair, Christie was playing well for a period, his best rugby was super rugby the season after he made the ABs, but regressed since.then.
Yeah, I agree. He def. deserved his slot in that period as he was the next best to Nugget. Loyal servant and all that, but we're in a better position now at 9.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Catching up with The Breakdown, Justin Marshall (Razor's mate) talking up Kyle Preston as an AB possibility. Not sure I see it.
The show seriously suffers when such personal opinion is allowed so much airtime.
@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Catching up with The Breakdown, Justin Marshall (Razor's mate) talking up Kyle Preston as an AB possibility. Not sure I see it.
The show seriously suffers when such personal opinion is allowed so much airtime.
That's the point of the show and having people on. They give their opinions, I disagree with plenty of them, but know why they do it. Exactly same as any rugby show I have seen, whether from NZ,Aus,SA,UK etc.
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There is a clear 1-2-3 for me at half back.
- Ratima
- Roigard
- Funaki
Hotham and Fakatava are okay, but don't offer as much as the other three.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
There is a clear 1-2-3 for me at half back.
- Ratima
- Roigard
- Funaki
Hotham and Fakatava are okay, but don't offer as much as the other three.
I would go
1 Roigard
2 Ratima
3 HothamI haven't (in my opinion only) ever got on the Funaki train, he's good, but would still have Fakatava ahead of him too. We actually reasonably well of for 9s that play differently to each other I think.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Catching up with The Breakdown, Justin Marshall (Razor's mate) talking up Kyle Preston as an AB possibility. Not sure I see it.
The show seriously suffers when such personal opinion is allowed so much airtime.
That's the point of the show and having people on. They give their opinions, I disagree with plenty of them, but know why they do it. Exactly same as any rugby show I have seen, whether from NZ,Aus,SA,UK etc.
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Catching up with The Breakdown, Justin Marshall (Razor's mate) talking up Kyle Preston as an AB possibility. Not sure I see it.
The show seriously suffers when such personal opinion is allowed so much airtime.
That's the point of the show and having people on. They give their opinions, I disagree with plenty of them, but know why they do it. Exactly same as any rugby show I have seen, whether from NZ,Aus,SA,UK etc.
I just don't bother with it any more. The level of analysis here is better than on there (looking at you @Mauss)
You seriously get people like JK who's analysis is 'the boys will really be up for it this week, I'm picking them'. Great that people like it, but it's an entertainment show, not a rugby show.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Catching up with The Breakdown, Justin Marshall (Razor's mate) talking up Kyle Preston as an AB possibility. Not sure I see it.
The show seriously suffers when such personal opinion is allowed so much airtime.
That's the point of the show and having people on. They give their opinions, I disagree with plenty of them, but know why they do it. Exactly same as any rugby show I have seen, whether from NZ,Aus,SA,UK etc.
I just don't bother with it any more. The level of analysis here is better than on there (looking at you @Mauss)
You seriously get people like JK who's analysis is 'the boys will really be up for it this week, I'm picking them'. Great that people like it, but it's an entertainment show, not a rugby show.
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
You seriously get people like JK who's analysis is 'the boys will really be up for it this week, I'm picking them'. Great that people like it, but it's an entertainment show, not a rugby show.
JK who famously said he had never heard of Rivez Reihana before his Super Rugby debut despite Reihana playing 3 seasons of NPC prior to that.
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
You seriously get people like JK who's analysis is 'the boys will really be up for it this week, I'm picking them'. Great that people like it, but it's an entertainment show, not a rugby show.
JK who famously said he had never heard of Rivez Reihana before his Super Rugby debut despite Reihana playing 3 seasons of NPC prior to that.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
You seriously get people like JK who's analysis is 'the boys will really be up for it this week, I'm picking them'. Great that people like it, but it's an entertainment show, not a rugby show.
JK who famously said he had never heard of Rivez Reihana before his Super Rugby debut despite Reihana playing 3 seasons of NPC prior to that.
Phenomenal human being, terrible analyst, mixed bag as a coach
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I am a bit of a nerd, and tend to watch rugby shows when I get chance, and genuinely don't see much difference with any of them. They all have ex players on, who I take it know a reasonable amount of what is required to play at high level etc, doesn't make then right or wrong, just another opinion. Funny they use ex players, because quite often, they quite often don't follow game real closely, just their own teams etc. I got same impression watching them in UK last year , or watching Aussie ones etc. I just take notice of what parts of show I find interesting. Had mate in Aus who followed both NRL and AFL, said they couldn't put up with their shows either.
