All Blacks 2025

[Nepia]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@Nepia He's only not eligible because NZR say so. I'm saying he should at least be allowed to train with the squad next year and maybe be considered for some of the Tests next year (e.g. the EOYT). There are precedents for this happening with returning players.

Yeah, and so what? It's up to NZR to determine who is eligible.

Why should NZR have to pay the costs of having an ineligible player train with the squad? And if he negotiates a deal with NZR to be eligible on the EOYT then good on him, but as it currently stands he isn't eligible because he chose to go to the NH on a permanent contract.

[antipodean]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@antipodean Nah, form in the top European club competitions counts for something as the quality of the rugby is vaguely similar to SR these days, but I'm more sceptical about the value of the Japanese domestic competition, as any sort of preparation for playing All Blacks rugby. It seems a lot less intense.

I agree that Japan is a shit proxy for SR, but you're arguing that overseas players should be able to walk into the All Blacks.

You're Razor and I claim my $10.

[Nepia]

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@antipodean Nah, form in the top European club competitions counts for something as the quality of the rugby is vaguely similar to SR these days, but I'm more sceptical about the value of the Japanese domestic competition, as any sort of preparation for playing All Blacks rugby. It seems a lot less intense.

I agree that Japan is a shit proxy for SR, but you're arguing that overseas players should be able to walk into the All Blacks.

You're Razor and I claim my $10.

With his flood of posts on multiple threads if he's not Razor I think he's LF's player manager.

[sparky]

@antipodean Nope. I don't surf and I don't hate Hoskins Sotutu (or Akira Ioane).

I just want to see the All Blacks leave no stone unturned in reclaiming the Number 1 spot and winning back the Webb Ellis trophy.

[canefan]

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@antipodean I am not arguing that Leicester F is one of the great players of all time, but he is playing well enough and has enough talent to a part of the All Blacks squad once eligible.

I'm not saying you're wrong in your judgement of his current form in comparison to the other options - I'm just saying he needs to prove it in the same competition.

A bit like how Ardie and Beaudy proved their form in Japan translated into test level oh wait...

[sparky]

@canefan See my comments above about the poor quality of e club rugby. The European competitions are much stronger and do better job of developing players for Test Rugby.

[KiwiMurph]

I have no problem with Leicester being in consideration once he is eligible for the ABs

However - I would have an issue with him leap frogging consistent domestic performers in the midfield who don't get an opportunity at test level.

[sparky]

@Nepia It's December and there is not much Rugby to talk about, but I find Leicester F and Jordie Barrett each giving man of the match performances in two high-profile European Cup games heartening.

[MN5]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@antipodean Nope. I don't surf and I don't hate Hoskins Sotutu (or Akira Ioane).

I just want to see the All Blacks leave no stone unturned in reclaiming the Number 1 spot and winning back the Webb Ellis trophy.

Quite the contrary

[Nepia]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@antipodean Nope. I don't surf and I don't hate Hoskins Sotutu (or Akira Ioane).

I just want to see the All Blacks leave no stone unturned in reclaiming the Number 1 spot and winning back the Webb Ellis trophy.

I think we're leaving that stone unturned, while turning over pebbles like Blackadder and if we bring back Frizell turning over whatever is worse than a pebble.

I'm with @KiwiMurph in that I'm happy for LF to come back when he's eilgible.