The Silver Fern

@pukunui said in All Blacks 2026:

@ShaquilleOatmeal
It seems people have forgotten just how bad 2022 was.

• First home/series loss to Ireland
• First loss to Argentina (at home)
• Well beaten by Boks in the first game
• Saved by the ref calling time wasting against the Wallabies with time almost up.
• Close calls against Japan and Scotland
• Escaping with a draw v England

All of this coming off the back of the 2021 eoyt where we got smacked by ireland and france and had to sack multiple assistant coaches.

Also worth remembering this was all with multiple AB greats still in the team and a 10 who was a much better player than 2025 BB.

2025 was shit, but I would argue 2022 was rock bottom.

Disagree, 2022 schedule was harder.

2022 we played No1 ranked peak Farrell-era Ireland 3 times for June series compared to playing France C x3 in 2025.

Wallabies' overall player profile featured a lot more experience in 2022 (before Eddie blew everything up...) than 2024-25, they were slightly better than 2024-25 - remember Wobs beat South Africa 25-17 in Adelaide in 2022 RC.

Under Foster in 2022, we beat South Africa 36-22 in one of the most comprehensive performances in years against a top 3 ranked nation.

Also note that if France had brought their A team, we probably would've been looking at 4 or 5 losses in 2025 instead of 3...

@Bovidae said in Super Rugby 2026:

He could have chosen other players but has focused on young players. Hard to believe that Wrampling will still only be 21 when SR 2026 begins.

yes, was very surprised to read this will be his 3rd Super season.

So do Canes fans reckon Jason Holland coming back is a good move or not?

I'd be interested to know if he was actually rated by the players between 2016-2023 or if was just a middling coach but nice guy who players wouldn't have a bad word to say about, which like Foster is the overriding vibe I got from him.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-vacant-all-blacks-assistant-coach-role/

@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/2025-nz-rugby-awards-ardie-saveas-player-of-the-year-prize-caps-a-dominant-year/5AMBW2XMKJFX7APJUPN7TAVXHI/

LOL

oof,.. that's a low bar, i thought he should've got SR of the year tho.

@MacDazzler said in Hurricanes 2026:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360912423/ex-all-blacks-assistant-coach-jason-holland-returns-hurricanes

A former veteran (much older than Laidlaw) head coach becoming one of the 'assistants'? Hopefully this arrangement works out for the Hurricanes, it didn't work well for the Chiefs when Gatland was alongside McMillan in 2022, Chiefs finished 5th, then vastly improved the following season finishing 1st & losing a one-sided refereed final (2023) after Gatland left.

@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2026:

Have been told that Nick Evans is the new assistant.

Reliable source so don’t think they are pulling my leg. Unsure when to expect an announcement but that’s about the only oil I’ve been able to provide

a coaching team that's had 2 Jasons, 2 Scott's & now 2 Evans.

we just need a 3rd Taimaiti, we're down to only 1 Holland, but still at 3 Scott's including the captain.

@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:

All Blacks set to beef up coaching ranks to improve tactical kicking and high-ball work
60909917/all-blacks-set-beef-coaching-ranks-improve-tactical-kicking-and-high-ball-work

Is my prediction of Cory Jane as high ball coach going to materialize? He's already been with the All Black XV team for the last two season & made a big impact - surely he's the obvious candidate?

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:

@taniwharugby said in Wales v All Blacks:

@KiwiMurph thats the thing, Parsons has a very analytical eye when it comes to rugby, when he was playing they had him on the radio in a regular spot talking and he was always very insightful, similar to O'Halloran.

Having only listened to a couple of episodes recently, Parsons seems like he's trying to come up with excuses for how poorly the All Blacks are playing. He points to random statistics or moments in the game and tries to make out that's all that's wrong. 'They would've won if it hadn't been for that one little thing there.'

LMAO... this is so accurate, best post this month.

@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?