All Blacks 2025
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Devan Flanders could be in the conversation by the end of Super. Hopefully he comes back from his long-term injury with the same form he showed in 2024. He's the reason Howden went down to the Landers, he has the size for a test 6, and has the mobility, skillset and speed required at the next level. Would like to see more physicality in his game though, hopefully he can show that when he comes back.
Do you ever get sick of pumping Canes players?
Nope not when I think they deserve to be in the equation. Funny the guys that I talked up last year all played for the ABs (Love, Proctor and Lakai) so I’m not just talking out my arse.
I’m not saying Flanders will be an AB, I’m just pointing out that he could be another option to look at, if you read my comments I also said he needs to work on his physicality etc on defence and would need to first stay on the field for a good stretch of time to show what he’s made of.
Steady, all three of these guys are far from automatic selections.
In saying that I do love your enthusiasm so don't ever change
Most of the ABs atm aren’t automatic selections but they are all in the frame for squad selection until they don’t get picked. 😁
Going back to that Tosi selection last year, even I didn’t see that coming. I still personally think he’s got a lot to work on but the upside is quite obvious to see as he’s a large human and is fairly mobile for his size.
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@Canes4life Agree on your second point.
On your first point - if everyone is fit:
Williams, Taylor, Lomax, Barrett, Vaaí, Not sure about 6, Savea, Sititi, Roigard, McKenzie (but maybe Beaudy for reasons I don't really understand), Clarke, Jordie, Rieko, Reece, Jordan.
de Groot, Taukei'aho, Tosi, Tuipolotu, Blackadder, Ratima, Tupaea, Barrett/Love
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Canes4life Agree on your second point.
On your first point - if everyone is fit:
Williams, Taylor, Lomax, Barrett, Vaaí, Not sure about 6, Savea, Sititi, Roigard, McKenzie (but maybe Beaudy for reasons I don't really understand), Clarke, Jordie, Rieko, Reece, Jordan.
de Groot, Taukei'aho, Tosi, Tuipolotu, Blackadder, Ratima, Tupaea, Barrett/Love
Reiko and Blackadder. nah. Been there, done that. Let’s stop flogging a dead horse.
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@Canes4life Rieko has been our first choice centre for the past 4 years. ALB has been second choice and is broken. I'll be amazed if they don't pick Rieko even though he's not played particularly well in Super.
Coaches love Ethan.
Edit: All coaches love Ethan - not just the current ones.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
And apparently it's a 35 man squad, so (and I reserve the right to change all this after the play-offs):
Norris, Aumua, Newell, Lord, Holland, Frizell (if available), Finau, Papali'i, Hotham, Proctor, Lam, Tangitau
Bell, Bower, Strange, CLW, McLeod and Fihaki want you to wash your mouth out.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Reiko and Blackadder. nah. Been there, done that. Let’s stop flogging an injured
a deadhorse.FIFY
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@Chris-B Chris I find it interesting Crusaders fans never really pump Christian Lio-Willie tires, he's been your most consistent player over the last few seasons in my opinion. I will never forget the Moana game he was rested, Moana absolutely ambushed the Crusaders that night
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@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Frank
Kirifi, Lakai, Iose, Flanders on the bench, Ardie makes the squad with Howden ...How dare you miss out Shields.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
You're welcome to pick your own team.
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
@Canes4life said - Most of the ABs atm aren’t automatic selections
I reckon at least 75% are - and Razor said this week that they're about 90% there (or something similar).
So let's mark me when they pick their team.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
Everyone has forgotten about him so it probably shows how much he has been missed
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
You're welcome to pick your own team.
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
@Canes4life said - Most of the ABs atm aren’t automatic selections
I reckon at least 75% are - and Razor said this week that they're about 90% there (or something similar).
So let's mark me when they pick their team.
I read the fern so I don't need to
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
You're welcome to pick your own team.
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
@Canes4life said - Most of the ABs atm aren’t automatic selections
I reckon at least 75% are - and Razor said this week that they're about 90% there (or something similar).
So let's mark me when they pick their team.
I think if the ABs were selected tomorrow this would be pretty close to what they select IMO. Note, I’ve picked 34 players.
Props:
- Williams
- Lomax
- Tosi
- Newell
- De Groot
- Bower
Hookers:
- Taylor
- Taukei’aho
- Aumua
Locks:
- Darry/Holland
- Barrett
- Tuipolotu
- Va’ai
Loose forwards:
- Sititi
- Savea
- Finau
- Jacobsen
- Lakai
- Blackadder/Papali’i/Kirifi - take your pick.
Halfbacks:
- Roigard
- Ratima
- Hotham/Preston
First fives:
- Barrett
- McKenzie
Centres:
- Barrett - can cover fullback
- Proctor
- Havili
- Ioane - can cover wing
- Leinert-Brown / Tupaea
Outside backs:
- Clarke
- Jordan
- Love
- Narawa
- Reece
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@Canes4life I'd say we're about 85% in agreement - and the differences are on the fringes.
You'vegot quite a few brackets that Razor doesn't have the luxury of, so I reckon we also should try to pick 35!
As an aside - I don't think either of your "can cover" options are really options except for in-game emergencies.
Jordie will play second-five and Rieko will play centre.
I reckon DMac, Beaudy and Love are all more likely to pay fullback than Jordie who is clearly our best option at 2nd five.
