All Blacks 2025
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@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for me -
@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for me@upthelanders said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for meDarry is a better player than Holland, and I’m a die hard highlanders supporter. He’s far more abrasive. Offers exactly the same on defence and is significantly better with ball in hand
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@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for me@upthelanders said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for meLonger term I would prefer to have two 2+m locks like we had with Retallick and Whitelock. Patty has been great these last couple of years but he is in the twilight of his career while Sam Darry is only 25 and just about to come into his prime.
I'm not convinced Tupou's long term upside is higher than Darry's against the Boks and France. I suspect Darry has more potential against those kind of teams.
The reality is our locks get injuries and Darry is bound to get some chances.
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@upthelanders said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for meLonger term I would prefer to have two 2+m locks like we had with Retallick and Whitelock. Patty has been great these last couple of years but he is in the twilight of his career while Sam Darry is only 25 and just about to come into his prime.
I'm not convinced Tupou's long term upside is higher than Darry's against the Boks and France. I suspect Darry has more potential against those kind of teams.
The reality is our locks get injuries and Darry is bound to get some chances.
@brodean I think we're in a good spot at lock - or maybe we will be shortly.
Scooter, Vaa'i, Tuipolotou, Holland, Darry, Lord - likes of Beehre and Shalfoon behind them.
The younger three guys all Retallick, Whitlock dimensions, which I agree - I want locks who are plus two metres - and come with the mobility of BR and SW, who I think are our best ever.
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@upthelanders said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for meDarry is a better player than Holland, and I’m a die hard highlanders supporter. He’s far more abrasive. Offers exactly the same on defence and is significantly better with ball in hand
@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2025:
@upthelanders said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for meDarry is a better player than Holland, and I’m a die hard highlanders supporter. He’s far more abrasive. Offers exactly the same on defence and is significantly better with ball in hand
People forget how good he was on debut. Holland before Holland
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@brodean I think we're in a good spot at lock - or maybe we will be shortly.
Scooter, Vaa'i, Tuipolotou, Holland, Darry, Lord - likes of Beehre and Shalfoon behind them.
The younger three guys all Retallick, Whitlock dimensions, which I agree - I want locks who are plus two metres - and come with the mobility of BR and SW, who I think are our best ever.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean I think we're in a good spot at lock - or maybe we will be shortly.
Scooter, Vaa'i, Tuipolotou, Holland, Darry, Lord - likes of Beehre and Shalfoon behind them.
The younger three guys all Retallick, Whitlock dimensions, which I agree - I want locks who are plus two metres - and come with the mobility of BR and SW, who I think are our best ever.
Yup I would agree that its a good spot with lock. Also with props. The issue is we don't have strong options/depth in any of the positions. We have Roigard at halfback but then its daylight. Jordan can be world class but he can be flakey too - especially against South Africa.
JB came from Leinster and was in career best form but he's gone off the boil.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean I think we're in a good spot at lock - or maybe we will be shortly.
Scooter, Vaa'i, Tuipolotou, Holland, Darry, Lord - likes of Beehre and Shalfoon behind them.
The younger three guys all Retallick, Whitlock dimensions, which I agree - I want locks who are plus two metres - and come with the mobility of BR and SW, who I think are our best ever.
Yup I would agree that its a good spot with lock. Also with props. The issue is we don't have strong options/depth in any of the positions. We have Roigard at halfback but then its daylight. Jordan can be world class but he can be flakey too - especially against South Africa.
JB came from Leinster and was in career best form but he's gone off the boil.
@brodean Without re-typing my depth charts, there's not many positions we're struggling in.
Despite what happened vs the Jaapies, we''re good at prop.
With Taylor, Sami and Aumua, we're good at hooker and a shoutout to Razor (and a needle to you and others)
we have George Bell in the wings! Maybe McAllister, but he had a shocker last test.Lock is promising and close to good.
Loose forwards still requires a bit of patience, but we've taken 10 years to replace Kaino and they seem to be on the right paths - even in Parker and Vaa'i haven't nailed things yet. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Lakai - he's got a bit of the young Michael Jones about him.
Halfback - maybe it's going to be Roigard and Hotham. Ratima and Preston. Louie Chapman can play, but sadly he's pretty small.
First five is a bit limited until Jesus comes.
Midfield - lots of options - only Jordie delivering at present.
Ditto wings - bizarre we're struggling there.
Fullback - just stick with Will!
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@canefan Revert to St. Beauden the Baptist?
But, Richie's been the two-time MVP in the Japan Leagues, and Rassie's selected plenty of his guns from there - so I'm optimistic Richie will come back in decent shape.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan Revert to St. Beauden the Baptist?
But, Richie's been the two-time MVP in the Japan Leagues, and Rassie's selected plenty of his guns from there - so I'm optimistic Richie will come back in decent shape.
Japanese MVP
https://media.tenor.com/AA4BivSr9EcAAAA1/poker-all-in.webp
Fuck me that's some high stakes shit right there. Beauden went up there and came back a superior player though, oh wait
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan Revert to St. Beauden the Baptist?
But, Richie's been the two-time MVP in the Japan Leagues, and Rassie's selected plenty of his guns from there - so I'm optimistic Richie will come back in decent shape.
Japanese MVP
https://media.tenor.com/AA4BivSr9EcAAAA1/poker-all-in.webp
Fuck me that's some high stakes shit right there. Beauden went up there and came back a superior player though, oh wait
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@canefan You're living in the past.
Richie won ahead of e.g. Big Pieter-Steph - but, a host of others.
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@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2025:
@upthelanders said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for meDarry is a better player than Holland, and I’m a die hard highlanders supporter. He’s far more abrasive. Offers exactly the same on defence and is significantly better with ball in hand
People forget how good he was on debut. Holland before Holland
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2025:
@upthelanders said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for meDarry is a better player than Holland, and I’m a die hard highlanders supporter. He’s far more abrasive. Offers exactly the same on defence and is significantly better with ball in hand
People forget how good he was on debut. Holland before Holland
Holland without the PR team
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan You're living in the past.
Richie won ahead of e.g. Big Pieter-Steph - but, a host of others.
Let's see. I hope for all our sakes you are right.
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan You're living in the past.
Richie won ahead of e.g. Big Pieter-Steph - but, a host of others.
Let's see. I hope for all our sakes you are right.
Let's hope he comes back good.
How much better Richie was than Beaudy and DMac when he departed is one of the more underappreciated things I've ever seen on the Fern!
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan You're living in the past.
Richie won ahead of e.g. Big Pieter-Steph - but, a host of others.
Let's see. I hope for all our sakes you are right.
Let's hope he comes back good.
How much better Richie was than Beaudy and DMac when he departed is one of the more underappreciated things I've ever seen on the Fern!
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan You're living in the past.
Richie won ahead of e.g. Big Pieter-Steph - but, a host of others.
Let's see. I hope for all our sakes you are right.
Let's hope he comes back good.
How much better Richie was than Beaudy and DMac when he departed is one of the more underappreciated things I've ever seen on the Fern!
How different the narrative could have been if he or JB nailed one of those kicks in Paris
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan You're living in the past.
Richie won ahead of e.g. Big Pieter-Steph - but, a host of others.
Let's see. I hope for all our sakes you are right.
Let's hope he comes back good.
How much better Richie was than Beaudy and DMac when he departed is one of the more underappreciated things I've ever seen on the Fern!
How different the narrative could have been if he or JB nailed one of those kicks in Paris
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@canefan For sure.
And, unfortunately, if Sammy had dipped a bit.
Shit happens.
I would have made neither of those kicks and been brushed aside in the tackle on Kriel(?)
You need some luck to win World Cups. The Irish would say the same.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan For sure.
And, unfortunately, if Sammy had dipped a bit.
Shit happens.
I would have made neither of those kicks and been brushed aside in the tackle on Kriel(?)
You need some luck to win World Cup knockout games The Irish would say the same.
Fixed
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@brodean Without re-typing my depth charts, there's not many positions we're struggling in.
Despite what happened vs the Jaapies, we''re good at prop.
With Taylor, Sami and Aumua, we're good at hooker and a shoutout to Razor (and a needle to you and others)
we have George Bell in the wings! Maybe McAllister, but he had a shocker last test.Lock is promising and close to good.
Loose forwards still requires a bit of patience, but we've taken 10 years to replace Kaino and they seem to be on the right paths - even in Parker and Vaa'i haven't nailed things yet. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Lakai - he's got a bit of the young Michael Jones about him.
Halfback - maybe it's going to be Roigard and Hotham. Ratima and Preston. Louie Chapman can play, but sadly he's pretty small.
First five is a bit limited until Jesus comes.
Midfield - lots of options - only Jordie delivering at present.
Ditto wings - bizarre we're struggling there.
Fullback - just stick with Will!
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean Without re-typing my depth charts, there's not many positions we're struggling in.
Despite what happened vs the Jaapies, we''re good at prop.
With Taylor, Sami and Aumua, we're good at hooker and a shoutout to Razor (and a needle to you and others)
we have George Bell in the wings! Maybe McAllister, but he had a shocker last test.Lock is promising and close to good.
Loose forwards still requires a bit of patience, but we've taken 10 years to replace Kaino and they seem to be on the right paths - even in Parker and Vaa'i haven't nailed things yet. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Lakai - he's got a bit of the young Michael Jones about him.
Halfback - maybe it's going to be Roigard and Hotham. Ratima and Preston. Louie Chapman can play, but sadly he's pretty small.
First five is a bit limited until Jesus comes.
Midfield - lots of options - only Jordie delivering at present.
Ditto wings - bizarre we're struggling there.
Fullback - just stick with Will!
Add Pledger into the mix at 9 in the next 12-24 months.
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@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2025:
@upthelanders said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for meDarry is a better player than Holland, and I’m a die hard highlanders supporter. He’s far more abrasive. Offers exactly the same on defence and is significantly better with ball in hand
People forget how good he was on debut. Holland before Holland
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2025:
@upthelanders said in All Blacks 2025:
@george33 Darry is great, but instead of who?
Not getting past Fabian, Tupou or Patty for meDarry is a better player than Holland, and I’m a die hard highlanders supporter. He’s far more abrasive. Offers exactly the same on defence and is significantly better with ball in hand
People forget how good he was on debut. Holland before Holland
Darry was fine on debut, just like Holland. Both had their tires pumped up immensely just for being fine.
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@brodean Without re-typing my depth charts, there's not many positions we're struggling in.
Despite what happened vs the Jaapies, we''re good at prop.
With Taylor, Sami and Aumua, we're good at hooker and a shoutout to Razor (and a needle to you and others)
we have George Bell in the wings! Maybe McAllister, but he had a shocker last test.Lock is promising and close to good.
Loose forwards still requires a bit of patience, but we've taken 10 years to replace Kaino and they seem to be on the right paths - even in Parker and Vaa'i haven't nailed things yet. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Lakai - he's got a bit of the young Michael Jones about him.
Halfback - maybe it's going to be Roigard and Hotham. Ratima and Preston. Louie Chapman can play, but sadly he's pretty small.
First five is a bit limited until Jesus comes.
Midfield - lots of options - only Jordie delivering at present.
Ditto wings - bizarre we're struggling there.
Fullback - just stick with Will!
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
Halfback - maybe it's going to be Roigard and Hotham. Ratima and Preston. Louie Chapman can play, but sadly he's pretty small.
early bandwagon supporters party on the Pledger mobile!
