All Blacks 2025
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Ok. I'm wrong. Again. Just felt he is indicative of a level of player we should try and retain. And at that time was on a level with Perofeta.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
Ok. I'm wrong. Again. Just felt he is indicative of a level of player we should try and retain. And at that time was on a level with Perofeta.
Just struggling to see what you could be referencing, off 4 games over 2 years? Any level of player we should probably try and retain, but wouldn't he be close to eligible for Japan by now if he was any good?
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
Hot take. Caleb Tangitau bolts into the All Blacks next year.
Happy to take Highlanders bias on this, but in a world where there seem to be few impressive u25 wingers in this country, I can see him bolting in.
How old is Leroy Carter ?
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
How old is Leroy Carter ?
Older than you think. Now 25, the same age as Naholo.
As to others, Macca Springer is halfway there right?
Springer is the other young one who springs to mind.
I guess what I am getting at, is throughout history, the ABs have had wingers just burst through, and generally they are u25...
Age of Recent Debut ABs Outsides:
Love - 23
Stevenson - 26 (Player 1 Test)
Narawa - 24
Tele'a - 25
Fainga'anuku - 22
Jordan - 22
Clarke - 21
Reece - 22
Bridge - 23
Duffie - 27 (Played 2 Games)
Ioane - 19
Milner-Skudder - 24
Naholo - 24
Halai - 25 (Played 1 Test)
Piatau - 22
Savea - 21There is the odd exception, namely Tele'a who was a month off 26, but looking at the current guys seen as the next cabs, and it is an intriguing list:
NZ XV Squad:
Kini Naholo - 25
Emoni Narawa - 25
Chay Fihaki - 23
Shaun Stevenson - 27Three guys there, who are getting to the point where they are too old to have a career as an ABs outside, and someone who to this point looks nowhere near ABs quality.
Those spoken about past this group:
Etene Nanai-Seturo - 25
Timoci Tavatavanawai - 26
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens - 23Looking at this landscape, and factoring in historic trends, I kind of expect a winger to bolt into the ABs next year, and to me Tangitau is the obvious one, though Springer not far behind. Kade Banks is the other one I look at. Other possibility would be someone like Xavi Taele getting an extended run on the wing in a strong Blues side...
But the current ABs squad is short of a winger (Reece), and looking at age profiles and trends, I would expect Tele'a to fall off a cliff by the end of the year. New young winger needed, because outside of JRK and Fihaki, all of the other players on the fringe will theoretically be past their best by the 2027 RWC.
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I think Tangitau needs to worry about getting into the Landers 23 first before we even mention him as a contender. Julian Savea was a school boy / under 20 super star and he only made his AB debut at 21, Tangitau is no way near that and he hasn't even played Super yet.
With so many other contenders in the outsides, he's going to have to play one of the best seasons we've ever seen from a rookie to even get a look in. Just can't see it happening, especially because he didn't set the NPC a light either.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
I think Tangitau needs to worry about getting into the Landers 23 first before we even mention him as a contender. Julian Savea was a school boy / under 20 super star and he only made his AB debut at 21, Tangitau is no way near that and he hasn't even played Super yet.
With so many other contenders in the outsides, he's going to have to play one of the best seasons we've ever seen from a rookie to even get a look in. Just can't see it happening, especially because he didn't set the NPC a light either.
Think you are forgetting Tangitau was equally a hyped school boy and U20 Star... his progress his been slightly stunted by going to 7s for a year, and the sheer talent ahead of him in the pecking order.
Wasn't perfect in shit Auckland team, but lets see. As I mention, I'm tipping him as a bolter, so obviously he is going to need to have a great season, but I think it is eminently possible then your making it out to be.
We aren't talking about a Mosese Dawai or a Ngane Punivai. He could turn out to be the next Tevita Li, but playing the law of averages, NZR is due a winger flying through from nowhere.
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I've heard Michael Manson has been promised a spot on the bench
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
Tele'a
but it is generally speed the wingers lose, right? And he doesn't have that much speed to lose..
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
Tele'a
but it is generally speed the wingers lose, right? And he doesn't have that much speed to lose..
Like NMS...
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@Kiwidom Vaenuku is still eligible for the U20s next year. He did get a few games for BOP.
Another couple of young wingers from the same cohort are Waisake Salabiau and Maloni Kunawave. They have yet to establish themselves in the NPC though.
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@SouthernMann said in All Blacks 2025:
I've heard Michael Manson has been promised a spot on the bench
i see what you did there
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We should look at the 2023 NZS squad first. The starters were Kiseki Fifita and Tevita Naufahu. Fifita won't be seen for a couple of years (LDS mission). Frank Vaenuku was a reserve but made the NZ U20s ahead of the other two. It appears that Naufahu has gone to the Dolphins.
Other players I saw were Nathan Salmon, Dan Maisiri and Luca Fuller. Not forgetting Kyan Rangitutia. Most of these are young enough to still be involved in the SR U20s next year, which should indicate which players have made the next step.
From the 2024 cohort. Both starting wingers for NZS (Siale Pahulu and Ollie Guerin) are centres for their schools and only Y12. Some other outside backs who played for either the NZS, NZ Barbarian U18s or Māori U18s are Peni Havea, Wiremu Brailey and David Lewai.
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@Kiwidom said in All Blacks 2025:
Stanley Solomon
Not sure if he'll ever make Super, he's far too small. His game would be better suited to Sevens.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
I think Tangitau needs to worry about getting into the Landers 23 first before we even mention him as a contender. Julian Savea was a school boy / under 20 super star and he only made his AB debut at 21, Tangitau is no way near that and he hasn't even played Super yet.
With so many other contenders in the outsides, he's going to have to play one of the best seasons we've ever seen from a rookie to even get a look in. Just can't see it happening, especially because he didn't set the NPC a light either.
Think you are forgetting Tangitau was equally a hyped school boy and U20 Star... his progress his been slightly stunted by going to 7s for a year, and the sheer talent ahead of him in the pecking order.
Wasn't perfect in shit Auckland team, but lets see. As I mention, I'm tipping him as a bolter, so obviously he is going to need to have a great season, but I think it is eminently possible then your making it out to be.
We aren't talking about a Mosese Dawai or a Ngane Punivai. He could turn out to be the next Tevita Li, but playing the law of averages, NZR is due a winger flying through from nowhere.
Equally as hyped as Julian Savea? You’re kidding yourself. Savea was destroying people at age grade level and was touted as the biggest thing since Jonah. There was huge anticipation for him to make his Super debut but like @KiwiMurph he probably didn’t settle into that level of rugby until about 2012.
