The Silver Fern

@restofit Hard to say, there were some tough years while he was in fully charge, but hard to blame squarely on Holland as we were fielding some absolute battlers through those years, which could be put down to poor squad management and losing a tonne of guys through 2019-20-21

In a way, the guys that have hit their straps in the last few years (Love, Proctor, Lakai, Kirifi, Flanders, etc) probably started their time and development under Holland, so some credit due there potentially.

I rate Laidlaw, he seems like hes a bit of a hard ass and thats likely what a lot of these guys need sometimes, and as a sevens man probably drills them hard for conditioning etc, while being slightly removed from the All Blacks/NZR silo. If Holland can influence some more progressive selections in the backline that would be a good outcome. Overall i think its surely likely to be a net benefit to have him helping manage a large squad, but hard to say it will be the deciding factor in any success we have (or not)

@Steven-Harris said in Exodus:

@hikastags @Bovidae ..Was chatting to Pouri’s dad a few weeks ago, couldn't say too much but now that the cats out of the bag ,heads of to Newcastle Red Bulls post Super Rugby
Domiciled on around 95 x games for Hawkes Bay atm but I guess he can catch those when he returns to NZ
Also has an english mother and grandparents so also qualifies for england

great servant for the Magpies and the canes. Decieving turn of pace especially in earlier years and recall he sets some pretty high benchmarks in the power lifting department. Also rate how hes never gotten ready of the mop on his head.

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@DurryMexted said in Highlanders 2026:

The trend continues, multiple promising 10s end up at the same franchise at the same time! Jacomb/Mika/Miller (maybe) is unreal depth. By then, Blues may be back to square 1 & Chiefs with just Dmac. Wonder if these teams were in touch as well but not a strong enough offers, or Mika is loyal to the franchise.

thats a bit of a stretch, Millar is tried and passable at super level, a good option young and local so hopefully a long term servant, but dont think he's going to be a super start

I dont think mika will be 20 by 2027 so will be eased into things and Jacomb just as likely to do his stint and then head back north

i would say the landers would be pretty chuffed with themselves if they maintain those 3 on their books in 2027, but sure maybe a stretch

The trend continues, multiple promising 10s end up at the same franchise at the same time! Jacomb/Mika/Miller (maybe) is unreal depth. By then, Blues may be back to square 1 & Chiefs with just Dmac. Wonder if these teams were in touch as well but not a strong enough offers, or Mika is loyal to the franchise.

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@DurryMexted That's the thing. There are people saying 'international experience is crucial'. But do they mean:
Coaching an overseas club, or a national team? Does that team have to be successful?
If a national team, does it have to be tier 1? If a club team, which comps count?
Does it have to be as a head coach, or is being an assistant in those environments enough?
What about playing in those environments, does that count?

Yeah i see what you mean. Be interesting to know how these coaches themselves actually upskill themselves. No doubt theres endless research into high performance coaching and environments.

Thinking of it from that perspective, you would probably look at places like the french clubs as having the most resource and advanced systems. You wouldnt be looking at say the fijian coaching crew and think, these guys are clued up in the modern coaching practices, despite recent success. Point taken

@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate

I dont think being an international HC is an important requirement for being the AB HC.
But when the next AB HC is appointed; having experience with an overseas coaching system, should be an essential part of the resume.

But surely there is a bit of a change in focus for international vs club?
Club you get the guys for a full, uninterrupted season. Can train them exactly how you want, get them in camps early and build the team environment. Club pathways have fed you players familiar with the club style, you might pick up a signing or two but overall your tools are in front of you and you do the best with what you have. Your opponents are a fairly known quantity too so you can plan accordingly

Whereas international, you are not only identifying talent, you are basically starting with a blank canvas (obviously with some incumbents). You have them for a shorter time, guys might be in form (or not), you are trying to research other international teams that dont play week in week out. Build new relationships and timetables with these guys, drop vets and start rookies. Seems like a lot more to think about than a club side.

At least being familiar with this dynamic as a player or coach is surely a pretty valuable item on a resume

@Mauss Yes some clear patterns there. I think its a particular shame when a better 10 gives way to a lesser 10 just because he can also play 15.

In saying that though, I do believe that a young 10 is better off playing 15 than sitting in the stands. So limiting themselves as a specialist 10 is risking a bit of a handicap on their career opportunities, especially if they are in the development pathways of the same team as an incumbent AB 10.

I think they key to ensuring better pathways is allowing better inter-team transfers. Not sure if this looks something like limiting U23 contracts to 1 or 2 years so they can actually jump at opportunities with other super teams and have more agency over their own career? Re. Jacomb situation.

Just frustrates me how the 10 has very much been put on a pedestool the last 5 years in NZ, where a young 10 needs to do the equivalent of a Rugby PhD before hes deemed experienced enough to be given any sort of responsibility at international level.

@Steven-Harris Its just a niggly injury. Within 3 weeks i was running around fine, but took me ages to get that spring back in my foot

@Mauss Yep i have commented on this dilemma elsewhere. Any potential or incumbent ABs 10 needs to be playing 80 minutes at super level most of the season to get selected. With 5 teams, that means at best 5 maybe 6 potential ABs 10s. With typically 2-3 incumbents starting across the 5 teams, that gives 2 maybe 3 guys a crack each year (the lucky ones not stuck behind an AB).
Couple this up with the fact that barely any young (<25) 10s get given the keys to a super team, its a hard slog to commit to for guys coming through these age grade sides.
Of all the positions to be as a young professional rugby player in NZ, 10 would have to have the worst pathway to the next level.

@Steven-Harris I have had Turf Toe, its bloody awful and had to basically learn how to re-strengthen my foot and use my foot again properly. Got the piss ripped out of me when i was getting my big toe strapped for a while

@Canes4life From the post looks like Zach Taulapapa is tagged. Wonder if hes a relation of Jack Taulapapa who played a fair bit of club footy in wellies and played for Samoa i believe

@Canes4life Riley Higgins looking fucking huge, meanwhile Will Cole looks like a teenage soccer player

@Darren said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@SecFid said in Hurricanes 2026:

Agree Laidlaw will probably be conservative. Losing Godfrey is a real shame. The successful spine of the Canes backline became Roigard, Love, Harkin but Laidlaw went away from that in what proved to be the last game of the season.

I'd be happy with Roigard, Love in the halves, Higgins and Proctor in the midfield and a back three of 11. Fineanganofo, Moorby and Barrett to start the season. Naholo out for the start of the campaign.

That's looks great, but we need to find room for Harkin, he seems to spark a lot of our attack.
I think both Harkin and Fineanganofo are very underrated.

Harkin will be an interesting one - i still cant tell where he stands at this level. Confidence was a definite issue last year you could see in his decision making. A season of swapping between fullback, wing and 12 for the lions has been a weird one.

Will come down to how much the noise about Love to 10 plays out, and the juggling of Barrett and Higgins in the midfield with proctor. With Laidlaws track record, i sort of expect the early rounds to look something like
Roigard, Cameron, Naholo/Fehi, JB, BP, Moorby, Love with Higgins and Punivai on the bench.

I would like to see Love at 10 & Cameron/Harkin to share the 23 jersey / Harkin at 15 if Jordies not there.

Wow must be one of the first years in a while without a scheduled match with the Wallabies?

@reprobate said in What new players would you like to see in all blacks next year:

@KiwiMurph said in What new players would you like to see in all blacks next year:

I really dont understand why they didnt try Leicester at 12 and keep Tupaea at 13 on this end of year tour. Instead they swapped them around.

I really like what I've seen from Higgins so hopefully he can stay fit and put himself in the frame - would be a good way to manage Jordie's minutes at the Canes too by giving Riley time at 12.

One of those Canes needs to move. Like Jacomb at the Chiefs. Proctor, Higgins, Barrett all need to be starting for the good of NZ rugby.

Trust me, all 3 will get injured and we will end up with Riley Hohepa and Ngane Punivai in the midfield somehow. And all 4 10s will be injured and Orbyn Leger will be brought back to play 10.

@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks 2025:

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@frugby What, exactly, would Razor be doing to turn it around in your scenario?

Let’s start from the back

Love, Jordan, Clarke

Can Jordan & Clarke defy the 27 club curse and be valid options at Wing for the next 2 years?

@antipodean said in All Blacks MOTM v Wales:

@Toddy said in All Blacks MOTM v Wales:

Rieko was poor. Was it two bad defensive reads leading to two tries

No. If he hadn't turned in when Holland was coming across the attacker likely wouldn't have passed and his momentum would've got him well over the line.

The other I'd have to recheck - I think that's the one he turned in because it was the "world's best fullback" next to him.

Yep it looked bad, but it was odd that he was left marking last man both times, one of them he shouldnt have jammed in but the other was a 50/50

Was a stark difference with Dmac and Love in the pivots. Front foot ball, defenders werent just sliding onto the next reciever, faster pace of play, variance in carrying and depth. Just seeing two guys keen to get their hands on the ball was extremely refreshing.

When christie came on we really tightened up in the centre of the park which I liked. Actually some good crash balls before backs ball

@Duluth backline shape looking nice there, still some of that shape with the tag off the back of a pod ball off 9. But there were a couple plays where a midfielder actually steps into that role, as opposed to (De Groot/Scott Barrett).
That try to ENS down the right is a real nice look at a stacked backline which i havent seen much of from ABs, that looked real good for the U20s - though was a bloody good offload from fihaki to actually make the try happen