All Blacks 2025

[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.

[SBW1]

Dolphins cult hero Valynce Te Whare leaves the NRL for new opportunity

Valynce Te Whare has left the NRL and returned to rugby union after a three-year stay with the Dolphins.

We could very well have more than one ex NRL player gunning for an All Black spot before the next World Cup.

[Jet]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:

@Canes4life It would be good to have him as injury cover at 11 for Caleb Clarke. He might do a job ahead of ALB as a midfield impact off the bench, but Billy Proctor and Quinn Tupaea are likely to be in the mix too.

I have had one eye on Tupea since he game back from that horrific injury and I like what I see.

Has a bit of mongrel in him and carries with real spite.

[Jet]

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

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.

Yep. There has to be consequences for abandoning the ship.

[SBW1]

@Jet He was responsible for a late turnover against the Boks which was one of our last victories against the old foe. I can remember reminding Fozzie of this when he signed my hat when the All Blacks visited the Sunshine Coast.

[DaGrubster]

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:

@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.

Can’t see much uptime for either party so LF can train with the ABs.