All Blacks 2025

[Steven Harris]

@KiwiMurph being at the game last night and watching from a very elevated position Sotutu Always attracts a lot of defenders
Has a great ability to throw a a late pass before contact or just take contact and get gainline

I watched both the 2 number 8s closely last night Gleeson got through a ton of work with many carries without getting gainline
Looked busy but far less impactful
Hoskins showed some great touches last night
Stats imo dont always tell a full story but i would be curious to compare both as reference point

[nostrildamus]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

Nobody here picking Beauden? Or more accurately, picking the coaches to pick BB?

You obviously haven't read any Marc Hinton article.

I didn't realize Hinton was a poster here!

[nostrildamus]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

David Havili and Reiko Ioane have these last few games to show what they can do.

Somebody in Blue seems to be reading your posts.

[African Monkey]

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

@chchfanatic said in All Blacks 2025:

Jacobsen are certainties.

I'm sure he will be picked but there's no way Jacobson should be a certainty

I really can see him being the starting 6 and stated the reasons earlier in this thread.

What reasons? He's probably the 4th best 6 at the Chiefs behind Finau, Sititi and Parker

Razor and co like a guy that will tackle heaps, clean a lot, and carry close to the ruck, like the previous crew which included Ryan and how they always had North Island fern favourite Shannon Frizzell.

Luke Jacobsen fills that role best I feel (not saying I agree with it, but it's they way I think they'll go).

[Frank]

When's the team named?

[African Monkey]

@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph being at the game last night and watching from a very elevated position Sotutu Always attracts a lot of defenders
Has a great ability to throw a a late pass before contact or just take contact and get gainline

I watched both the 2 number 8s closely last night Gleeson got through a ton of work with many carries without getting gainline
Looked busy but far less impactful
Hoskins showed some great touches last night
Stats imo dont always tell a full story but i would be curious to compare both as reference point

Sotutu has had a great 2nd half of the season after a stop start 1st half of it (mainly due to suspension).

Obviously he's not in the frame, but despite the critics from Chch death riding him at every opportunity, he's shown his class for us in what's been a mediocre season for us.

[KiwiMurph]

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

@chchfanatic said in All Blacks 2025:

Jacobsen are certainties.

I'm sure he will be picked but there's no way Jacobson should be a certainty

I really can see him being the starting 6 and stated the reasons earlier in this thread.

What reasons? He's probably the 4th best 6 at the Chiefs behind Finau, Sititi and Parker

Razor and co like a guy that will tackle heaps, clean a lot, and carry close to the ruck, like the previous crew which included Ryan and how they always had North Island fern favourite Shannon Frizzell.

Luke Jacobsen fills that role best I feel (not saying I agree with it, but it's they way I think they'll go).

Thanks.

My disagreement would come from Razor and Ryan (Ryan having time as ABs forwards coach before Razor) trying a lot of different players at 6 other than Jacobson

Frizell
Akira
Finau
Blackadder
Sititi

I'd be surprised if suddenly Jacobson is seen as the guy at 6.

[brodean]

If Blackadder is fit I believe the coaches will prefer a trio of:

6. Blackadder
7. Savea
8. Sititi

[canefan]

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

If Blackadder is fit I believe the coaches will prefer a trio of:

6. Blackadder
7. Savea
8. Sititi

EB even if picked will last about 5 minutes and be gone for the season. Then we can pick someone who will play hard and be durable

[brodean]

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

If Blackadder is fit I believe the coaches will prefer a trio of:

6. Blackadder
7. Savea
8. Sititi

EB even if picked will last about 5 minutes and be gone for the season. Then we can pick someone who will play hard and be durable

Well thats kind of obvious to everyone but Razor and Ryan.

[nzzp]

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph being at the game last night and watching from a very elevated position Sotutu Always attracts a lot of defenders
Has a great ability to throw a a late pass before contact or just take contact and get gainline

I watched both the 2 number 8s closely last night Gleeson got through a ton of work with many carries without getting gainline
Looked busy but far less impactful
Hoskins showed some great touches last night
Stats imo dont always tell a full story but i would be curious to compare both as reference point

Sotutu has had a great 2nd half of the season after a stop start 1st half of it (mainly due to suspension).

Obviously he's not in the frame, but despite the critics from Chch death riding him at every opportunity, he's shown his class for us in what's been a mediocre season for us.

So much of the Blues attack went through him last year. He was so good at distributing, carrying and had good footwork. Not valued by these selectors, but if you want to have some threats in close then he's your man.

Suspect he'll pick up an English contract shortly - if his heart is in it

[ACT Crusader]

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph being at the game last night and watching from a very elevated position Sotutu Always attracts a lot of defenders
Has a great ability to throw a a late pass before contact or just take contact and get gainline

I watched both the 2 number 8s closely last night Gleeson got through a ton of work with many carries without getting gainline
Looked busy but far less impactful
Hoskins showed some great touches last night
Stats imo dont always tell a full story but i would be curious to compare both as reference point

Sotutu has had a great 2nd half of the season after a stop start 1st half of it (mainly due to suspension).

Obviously he's not in the frame, but despite the critics from Chch death riding him at every opportunity, he's shown his class for us in what's been a mediocre season for us.

So much of the Blues attack went through him last year. He was so good at distributing, carrying and had good footwork. Not valued by these selectors, but if you want to have some threats in close then he's your man.

Suspect he'll pick up an English contract shortly - if his heart is in it

You don’t think Ardie provides those skills? Plus he’s the most likely to play 80

[nostrildamus]

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:

You don’t think Ardie provides those skills? Plus he’s the most likely to play 80

I don't see the last game but R10-14 Hoskins apparently played the full 80:
https://all.rugby/player/hoskins-sotutu

and Ardie played most of this season at 7:
https://all.rugby/player/ardie-savea

[brodean]

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph being at the game last night and watching from a very elevated position Sotutu Always attracts a lot of defenders
Has a great ability to throw a a late pass before contact or just take contact and get gainline

I watched both the 2 number 8s closely last night Gleeson got through a ton of work with many carries without getting gainline
Looked busy but far less impactful
Hoskins showed some great touches last night
Stats imo dont always tell a full story but i would be curious to compare both as reference point

Sotutu has had a great 2nd half of the season after a stop start 1st half of it (mainly due to suspension).

Obviously he's not in the frame, but despite the critics from Chch death riding him at every opportunity, he's shown his class for us in what's been a mediocre season for us.

So much of the Blues attack went through him last year. He was so good at distributing, carrying and had good footwork. Not valued by these selectors, but if you want to have some threats in close then he's your man.

Suspect he'll pick up an English contract shortly - if his heart is in it

You don’t think Ardie provides those skills? Plus he’s the most likely to play 80

Ardies distribution isn't really the same. He has a good short passing game granted.

[antipodean]

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph being at the game last night and watching from a very elevated position Sotutu Always attracts a lot of defenders
Has a great ability to throw a a late pass before contact or just take contact and get gainline

I watched both the 2 number 8s closely last night Gleeson got through a ton of work with many carries without getting gainline
Looked busy but far less impactful
Hoskins showed some great touches last night
Stats imo dont always tell a full story but i would be curious to compare both as reference point

Sotutu has had a great 2nd half of the season after a stop start 1st half of it (mainly due to suspension).

Obviously he's not in the frame, but despite the critics from Chch death riding him at every opportunity, he's shown his class for us in what's been a mediocre season for us.

So much of the Blues attack went through him last year. He was so good at distributing, carrying and had good footwork. Not valued by these selectors, but if you want to have some threats in close then he's your man.

Suspect he'll pick up an English contract shortly - if his heart is in it

You don’t think Ardie provides those skills? Plus he’s the most likely to play 80

Hos has a better passing game and carries harder thanks to his bigger frame.

Ardie's form playing at openside for MP suggests he's best at being a jackler and providing a running threat. So combined with Hos all we are after is a bruising defender and lineout option.

That means our bench needs to cater to those skills.

[cgrant]

Bolters XV

Norris
Moananu
Dyer
Holland
Beehre
Howden
Ķirifi
Parker
Roe
Reihana
Carter
Tavatavanawai
Tele'a
Tangitau
Kneepkens

[booboo]

@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:

When's the team named?

Monday after the Suoer Rugby final

[kiwiinmelb]

While we are all assuming Wallace will play 8 , I thought he was easily our best 6 last year as well.

Maybe it’s not as clear cut as we think .

[Mr Fish]

@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:

Bolters XV

Norris
Moananu
Dyer
Holland
Beehre
Howden
Ķirifi
Parker
Roe
Reihana
Carter
Tavatavanawai
Tele'a
Tangitau
Kneepkens

More of an uncapped XV but still a good list.

[reprobate]

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiMurph being at the game last night and watching from a very elevated position Sotutu Always attracts a lot of defenders
Has a great ability to throw a a late pass before contact or just take contact and get gainline

I watched both the 2 number 8s closely last night Gleeson got through a ton of work with many carries without getting gainline
Looked busy but far less impactful
Hoskins showed some great touches last night
Stats imo dont always tell a full story but i would be curious to compare both as reference point

Sotutu has had a great 2nd half of the season after a stop start 1st half of it (mainly due to suspension).

Obviously he's not in the frame, but despite the critics from Chch death riding him at every opportunity, he's shown his class for us in what's been a mediocre season for us.

So much of the Blues attack went through him last year. He was so good at distributing, carrying and had good footwork. Not valued by these selectors, but if you want to have some threats in close then he's your man.

Suspect he'll pick up an English contract shortly - if his heart is in it

You don’t think Ardie provides those skills? Plus he’s the most likely to play 80

Ardies distribution isn't really the same. He has a good short passing game granted.

What they both have, and what is still somewhat unusual for loosies, is genuine vision for space. It's often hoskins who you'll see throw wide passes or flick turnover ball out quick to where it needs to be. Just another thing which doesnt readily show up in stats.
Our point of difference used to be forwards with fitness who could run and pass, but everyone does that now (or for fitness doesnt need to because of the bench these days).
Teams where everyone understands space, and makes good fast decisions about where the ball needs to be might be our way forward.