All Blacks 2025
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@Canes4life I'd say we're about 85% in agreement - and the differences are on the fringes.
You'vegot quite a few brackets that Razor doesn't have the luxury of, so I reckon we also should try to pick 35!
As an aside - I don't think either of your "can cover" options are really options except for in-game emergencies.
Jordie will play second-five and Rieko will play centre.
I reckon DMac, Beaudy and Love are all more likely to pay fullback than Jordie who is clearly our best option at 2nd five.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life I'd say we're about 85% in agreement - and the differences are on the fringes.
You'vegot quite a few brackets that Razor doesn't have the luxury of, so I reckon we also should try to pick 35!
As an aside - I don't think either of your "can cover" options are really options except for in-game emergencies.
Jordie will play second-five and Rieko will play centre.
I reckon DMac, Beaudy and Love are all more likely to pay fullback than Jordie who is clearly our best option at 2nd five.
Some of those brackets are because I don’t know the injury status of a few of those players. If Darry’s fit I think they will select him, I think they’ll go Leinert-Brown over Tupaea and if I had to pick Hotham or Preston, I think they’ll go with Hotham.
That last loosie position, I think they’ll go Blackadder if he’s fit.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
You're welcome to pick your own team.
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
@Canes4life said - Most of the ABs atm aren’t automatic selections
I reckon at least 75% are - and Razor said this week that they're about 90% there (or something similar).
So let's mark me when they pick their team.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
Coz Japan is a top league and all.....
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@Canes4life Agree on your second point.
On your first point - if everyone is fit:
Williams, Taylor, Lomax, Barrett, Vaaí, Not sure about 6, Savea, Sititi, Roigard, McKenzie (but maybe Beaudy for reasons I don't really understand), Clarke, Jordie, Rieko, Reece, Jordan.
de Groot, Taukei'aho, Tosi, Tuipolotu, Blackadder, Ratima, Tupaea, Barrett/Love
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life Agree on your second point.
On your first point - if everyone is fit:
Williams, Taylor, Lomax, Barrett, Vaaí,
Not sure about 6, Savea, Sititi, Roigard, McKenzie (but maybe Beaudy for reasons I don't really understand), Clarke, Jordie, Rieko, Reece, Jordan.de Groot, Taukei'aho, Tosi, Tuipolotu,
Blackadder, Ratima, Tupaea, Barrett/LoveFinau, Kirifi
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
Coz Japan is a top league and all.....
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
Coz Japan is a top league and all.....
Exactly, so hard to gauge form really.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
Is he eligible? Bloody Pom
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
You're welcome to pick your own team.
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
@Canes4life said - Most of the ABs atm aren’t automatic selections
I reckon at least 75% are - and Razor said this week that they're about 90% there (or something similar).
So let's mark me when they pick their team.
I think if the ABs were selected tomorrow this would be pretty close to what they select IMO. Note, I’ve picked 34 players.
Props:
- Williams
- Lomax
- Tosi
- Newell
- De Groot
- Bower
Hookers:
- Taylor
- Taukei’aho
- Aumua
Locks:
- Darry/Holland
- Barrett
- Tuipolotu
- Va’ai
Loose forwards:
- Sititi
- Savea
- Finau
- Jacobsen
- Lakai
- Blackadder/Papali’i/Kirifi - take your pick.
Halfbacks:
- Roigard
- Ratima
- Hotham/Preston
First fives:
- Barrett
- McKenzie
Centres:
- Barrett - can cover fullback
- Proctor
- Havili
- Ioane - can cover wing
- Leinert-Brown / Tupaea
Outside backs:
- Clarke
- Jordan
- Love
- Narawa
- Reece
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
You're welcome to pick your own team.
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
@Canes4life said - Most of the ABs atm aren’t automatic selections
I reckon at least 75% are - and Razor said this week that they're about 90% there (or something similar).
So let's mark me when they pick their team.
I think if the ABs were selected tomorrow this would be pretty close to what they select IMO. Note, I’ve picked 34 players.
Props:
- Williams
- Lomax
- Tosi
- Newell
- De Groot
- Bower
Hookers:
- Taylor
- Taukei’aho
- Aumua
Locks:
- Darry/Holland
- Barrett
- Tuipolotu
- Va’ai
Loose forwards:
- Sititi
- Savea
- Finau
- Jacobsen
- Lakai
- Blackadder/Papali’i/Kirifi - take your pick.
Halfbacks:
- Roigard
- Ratima
- Hotham/Preston
First fives:
- Barrett
- McKenzie
Centres:
- Barrett - can cover fullback
- Proctor
- Havili
- Ioane - can cover wing
- Leinert-Brown / Tupaea
Outside backs:
- Clarke
- Jordan
- Love
- Narawa
- Reece
Reckon you're pretty close.
Think Kirifi makes it, and would like more grunt from the Jacobsen/Blackadder/Papalii option.
Probably Tupaea over ALB despite my faboi-ism
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@Canes4life I'd say we're about 85% in agreement - and the differences are on the fringes.
You'vegot quite a few brackets that Razor doesn't have the luxury of, so I reckon we also should try to pick 35!
As an aside - I don't think either of your "can cover" options are really options except for in-game emergencies.
Jordie will play second-five and Rieko will play centre.
I reckon DMac, Beaudy and Love are all more likely to pay fullback than Jordie who is clearly our best option at 2nd five.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
As an aside - I don't think either of your "can cover" options are really options except for in-game emergencies.
Off the bench only
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
Is he eligible? Bloody Pom
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
Is he eligible? Bloody Pom
Tits for hands too
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
Is he eligible? Bloody Pom
Tits for hands too
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
Is he eligible? Bloody Pom
Tits for hands too
Ther fern term is ‘toasters’
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
Is he eligible? Bloody Pom
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
Is he eligible? Bloody Pom
He’s actually a very valued member of the Eastbourne community now.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
Is he eligible? Bloody Pom
He’s actually a very valued member of the Eastbourne community now.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
Is he eligible? Bloody Pom
He’s actually a very valued member of the Eastbourne community now.
I’ll let @Bones be the judge of that
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
Is he eligible? Bloody Pom
He’s actually a very valued member of the Eastbourne community now.
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@Canes4life he's on my list for beersies next time I'm back.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life he's on my list for beersies next time I'm back.
You better carry the drinks
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
He recently scored five tries across two games.
We let Beaudy straight back in last year after playing for an also-ran Japan team.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
He recently scored five tries across two games.
We let Beaudy straight back in last year after playing for an also-ran Japan team.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
He recently scored five tries across two games.
We let Beaudy straight back in last year after playing for an also-ran Japan team.
And he wasn't great. When you say "we" I guess you mean "Razor"
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
He recently scored five tries across two games.
We let Beaudy straight back in last year after playing for an also-ran Japan team.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
What's that off the back of? Is he absolutely killing it in....fuck does anyone even know where he is?
He’s in the same team as Mo’unga in Japan. Both making shit look piss easy over there from what I’ve seen.
He recently scored five tries across two games.
We let Beaudy straight back in last year after playing for an also-ran Japan team.
Wasn't BB on a sabbatical and away less than a year?
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
You're welcome to pick your own team.
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
@Canes4life said - Most of the ABs atm aren’t automatic selections
I reckon at least 75% are - and Razor said this week that they're about 90% there (or something similar).
So let's mark me when they pick their team.
I think if the ABs were selected tomorrow this would be pretty close to what they select IMO. Note, I’ve picked 34 players.
Props:
- Williams
- Lomax
- Tosi
- Newell
- De Groot
- Bower
Hookers:
- Taylor
- Taukei’aho
- Aumua
Locks:
- Darry/Holland
- Barrett
- Tuipolotu
- Va’ai
Loose forwards:
- Sititi
- Savea
- Finau
- Jacobsen
- Lakai
- Blackadder/Papali’i/Kirifi - take your pick.
Halfbacks:
- Roigard
- Ratima
- Hotham/Preston
First fives:
- Barrett
- McKenzie
Centres:
- Barrett - can cover fullback
- Proctor
- Havili
- Ioane - can cover wing
- Leinert-Brown / Tupaea
Outside backs:
- Clarke
- Jordan
- Love
- Narawa
- Reece
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
You're welcome to pick your own team.
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
@Canes4life said - Most of the ABs atm aren’t automatic selections
I reckon at least 75% are - and Razor said this week that they're about 90% there (or something similar).
So let's mark me when they pick their team.
I think if the ABs were selected tomorrow this would be pretty close to what they select IMO. Note, I’ve picked 34 players.
Props:
- Williams
- Lomax
- Tosi
- Newell
- De Groot
- Bower
Hookers:
- Taylor
- Taukei’aho
- Aumua
Locks:
- Darry/Holland
- Barrett
- Tuipolotu
- Va’ai
Loose forwards:
- Sititi
- Savea
- Finau
- Jacobsen
- Lakai
- Blackadder/Papali’i/Kirifi - take your pick.
Halfbacks:
- Roigard
- Ratima
- Hotham/Preston
First fives:
- Barrett
- McKenzie
Centres:
- Barrett - can cover fullback
- Proctor
- Havili
- Ioane - can cover wing
- Leinert-Brown / Tupaea
Outside backs:
- Clarke
- Jordan
- Love
- Narawa
- Reece
You are very conservative. I think there will be one or two bolters.
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i find NZ rugby to be hyper insular and conservative.
We're overly focused on reducing risk over exploiting opportunity (see nearly every player chat being focused on errors rather than anything else), and we select everywhere as cover for disaster rather than a chance to add a positive.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2025:
i find NZ rugby to be hyper insular and conservative.
We're overly focused on reducing risk over exploiting opportunity (see nearly every player chat being focused on errors rather than anything else), and we select everywhere as cover for disaster rather than a chance to add a positive.
See Cam Roigard's omission in RWC final.
He had the hot hand ala Milner Skudder in 2015, and had skinned 6 or 7 Springboks from a standing start from 55m out only a month earlier.
His selection would have left their players second guessing themselves and watching their inside shoulders on D.
A massive mistake from Foster.
