@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
It was obviously very disappointing, and not at the level needed, but fuck me, it could have been way worse.
It could've been worse... had France sent their A side instead of C team we would've most likely lost the June series 2-1.
@booboo said in Wales v All Blacks:
@sparky said in Wales v All Blacks:
@Number-10 said in Wales v All Blacks:
Worst ever All Blacks test team.
I've seen worse
In the context of the tour and 2025 season, players we needed to develop/cut, it's pretty bad.
@KiwiMurph said in Wales v All Blacks:
A missed opportunity if you dont include Tangitau (which I dont expect them to). A perfect chance to debut him.
yes - it's a pretty dick move by Razor to not give him a debut considering he missed the final All Black XV game against Uruguay to train with them, I mean we've really got nothing left to lose - the England test was all that mattered and Wales are essentially a tier 2 nation at this point...
@taniwharugby said in Wales Vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in Wales Vs All Blacks:
I reckon if you go back over Razors tenure, how many games have we bricked it in the 2nd half?
Come to think of it most of them - even the games we have won!
It's quite unbelievable for a professional coach to not have remedied this issue (and have made it worse) with 26 tests played under Razor now.
@brodean said in England Vs All Blacks:
@restofit said in England Vs All Blacks:
@DaGrubster said in England Vs All Blacks:
CLW, Josh Beehre and Caleb Tangitau added to the squad as training cover.
Finau and Jacobsen are heading home
Clarke, Jordan, Tangitau - the back 3 for 2027 World Cup?
It sounds exciting but I honestly don't see us winning an RWC with Jordan at 15.
We need someone at fullback with a better aerial game, a better boot, and a better play making ability.
Lol, the WC isn't going to be won or lost depending on whether Jordan plays 15 or 14 for god's sake.
@DaGrubster said in England Vs All Blacks:
CLW, Josh Beehre and Caleb Tangitau added to the squad as training cover.
Finau and Jacobsen are heading home
Clarke, Jordan, Tangitau - the back 3 for 2027 World Cup?
New Zealand dominating a game, putting it to bed, totally losing their heads and throwing it all away and then squeaking it out at the end with some AB magic. The quintessential NZ rugby experience.
I predicted last week the Scotland test would be harder than vastly overrated Ireland and nobody on here agreed with me.
the midfield depth for 2026 is suddenly lacking - where are Gideon Wrampling and Rameka Poihipi off to?
@cgrant said in Ireland v All Blacks - Chicago2:
This win is a huge boost for the confidence for the rest of the tour. The scottish forwards won't match the ABs during the last 20 minutes.
Us beating Ireland wasn't unexpected, they haven't been strong since 2023/22.
I agree with other posters with a feeling Scotland have more potential to give us a scare this week & England have a lot more individual talent right now compared to Ireland, who don't have any strong ball carriers or speed in the backline nor impactful players - as shown by the bench discrepancies last week.
@Bones Josh Beehre being too small at 198cm & 118kg at 23 years is news to me, he's already quite a bit heavier than Darry & Lord who are both older, being over 198cm isn't so important (Maro Itoje is 197cm) it's more about arm reach and jumping height isn't it?
@Trig said in Blues 2026:
@Tim said in Blues 2026:
@Daffy-Jaffy I wonder if James Cameron will be on an NDC contract. Maybe the prop is in WTG?
James Cameron was confirmed by Blues as Full Squad 2026
well, that's a blockbuster signing for them.
@brodean said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@nostrildamus said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@brodean said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
I know people have bagged Jacobson but I thought he was the Chiefs best forward this year and he is a better loose forward than all of the others in the squad apart from Savea. Of the current squad the ABs would do a lot better with Jacobson at 7 and Savea back to 8. I'd put Finau at 6 and continue with him.
Probably Lakai on the bench.
Sititi and Paps are lower-ranked for you than Savea LJ Lakai and Finau? or just don't fit as well?
Paps is not in the squad. I do think he should be in the squad and the starting 7.
Sititi I think has been hugely inconsistent and is massively overrated. He needs to mature quite a bit. I m not convinced hes suited to test rugby. Hes another Savea like player who is too small for 8 but doesnt have the requisite skills for 7.
Strange comment? Sititi is only 23 but already 10kg heavier than Savea.
Wallace Sititi - Chiefs
North Harbour loose forward Wallace Sititi is the son of Semo Sititi, the former Manu Samoa captain who also played for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. Sititi was deputy head […]
Eddie Jones' unsparing verdict on Andy Farrell's Ireland
Japan head coach Eddie Jones believes Ireland are on the downward slope of their recent golden era, suggesting they're “coming off their peak
I agree entirely with Eddie's verdict here... and think England will pose a much bigger threat to the Grand Slam.
@canefan said in Poll: Best AB coach - professional era:
@African-Monkey said in Poll: Best AB coach - professional era:
@mariner4life said in Poll: Best AB coach - professional era:
He'll get no love because he's a weird fluffybunny
But Mitch in successive weekends put 50 past South Africa and Aussie at their houses, and then won back the Bledisloe. Brought through some great ABs.
Yeah it's funny with Mitchell, because even though he lost the public, we did some insane things in 2003, and he wasn't afraid to make big calls.
Putting McDonald into midfield at RWC2003 wasn't his smartest move
Deans selected the backline, you can't blame Mitchell for that.
@African-Monkey 1-5 Ryan, 6-8 Razor, 9-10 Hansen, 12-13 Holland, 11,14,15 Rangi
don't ya remember?
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris Scott Hansen is in charge of defence......
Tamati Ellison's role is the contact area in defence.
No - that was their original roles... before Leon up and left after 5 tests...
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
It will not be Ryan he is a great mate of Razors and Jason is pretty easy going he wouldn’t step on Razors toes.
That speculation is way off the mark.
Hey mate, any info regarding whether Holland will have a replacement or does Ellison becomes the midfield coach?
Our current defensive structure is still my main concern - why not employ the highly regarded Cory Jane to oversee our defence (who is already on NZR's payroll as D-coach for both Hurricanes and ABs XV) and move Ellison back to his original role of breakdown & contact skills coach?
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:
So I wonder if all the assistants were kn shorter contracts than Razor.
yes it was surprising to hear Holland was on a 2 year contract.
