The Silver Fern

The squad that will be named in a few hours time will be a squad of 36 apparently.

The BBC's player ratings for the tour which seem consistently too high for the Irish players.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cz71ezeny87o

@KiwiMurph I'd love to see Dalton Papali'i in there. IMHO he is at least our second best 7 and perhaps even our best, but let me put it this way, I don't think that opinion is shared by the All Blacks coaches.

All the rumours from TMM suggest we can expect Blackadder in there.

Higher up the thread is the squad I'd pick.

This is spot on IMHO.

@brodean They may go with only one of Lakai or Blackadder, but lots of sauces suggest they are part of the coaches' plans.

Henry Pollock's non-selection for any of the Tests, given his consistently excellent performances in the other games, was clearly the wrong call.

@Mr-Fish Isn't ALB injured?

SA picked 37, but I think the ABs will pick 35 or 36.

Okay, what I think the AB squad will be (not what I'd like to it be):

Props: Williams, De Groot, Norris, Newell, Tosi, Dyer
Hookers: Taylor, Taukei'aho, Aumua
Locks: S Barrett, Vaii, Holland, Tuipolutu, Darry
Back row: Finau, Kirifi, Blackadder, Sititi, Lakai, Savea, Lio-Willie
Half Backs: Ratima, Christie, Fakatava
First Fives: B Barrett, DMac
Midfield: Jodie Barrett, Tavatavanawai, Tupaea, Proctor
Back Three: R Ioane, Reece, Narawa, Jordan, Love

There was a pleasing level of Biff in this game.

Memo to World Rugby: more of that please.

Smoked.

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks 2025:

So we need halfbacks 4&5.

Highlanders: Fakatava, Lennox, Arscott and Hastie.

Only Fakatava is a viable option.

Crusaders: Drummond and Preston.

Would be a massive shout to bring Preston in there.

Hurricanes: Viljoen.

No show.

Chiefs: Roe.

Outside chance.

Blues: Funaki, Nock and Christie.

Christie the best option.

Out of that lot, Fakatava and Christie have to be favoured. With Roe and Preston as outside chances.

Fakatava and Roe.

With Christie, we've experienced his experience and it's a no from me.

Folly is a dog returning to its own vomit or the All Blacks coaching team continually picking players whose skills clearly aren't up to international standard.

Lewis Hamilton was a magnificent driver back in the day. But those times are long gone. Getting old is a bitch, but he's got to face the reality that he's not the driver he once was.

He should retire and enjoy the millions that he's earned.

What a result for BOP!

Christie is shit and should be nowhere near the All Blacks.

A series that ended 2-1. A series that turned, in the end, on one play and one missed tackle. Sell out crowds of nearly 250,000 people at iconic sporting venues. Millions of dollars made for the Aussie economy. Tens of thousands of British and Irish tourists going home after a trip of a life time. Much debate about referees and TMOs. Thousands of yarns told over jugs of beer. Friendships forged between good rugby folk.

Let's stop right now all talk of the British and Irish Lions not touring Australia again.

Roll on 2037!

Greatest ever Lions, my arse.

These Lions are such an unlikeable bunch.

Well done, the Wobs.

@NTA said in Wallabies vs Lions III:

Oh Farrell with a shoulder to the head.

He should have been given a lengthy ban a long time ago.