All Blacks 2024
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@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Why are some getting all surprised, or even upset at what Ardie has said or done.
Ardie should maybe just focus on the game itself. When he's asked questions about, for example, picking overseas players he should maybe just not answer (likewise Razor). Because there's always a self-interest aspect. Thats what his answer comes across like to me. I would like to play overseas (it's so wonderful) and earn big money but still be picked for the AB's. My view is if he wants to go overseas just go.
And he shouldn't criticise super rugby (as he does). My view is it's a big plus that just NZ, Aust and PI Island teams are involved. The issue is the uneven teams. Esp Aust teams being weaker still. Hopefully the Rebels get the boot but even with 4 teams ... . And MP are still a joke.
Who are you to say what anyone 'should' say?
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@booboo yeah fair enough, just struck me as a lot of responses to what looks like a not over the top answer.
Mind you I haven't heard the interview , and so perhaps he was pushing for it?
See I didn't even think Razor was over the top suggesting keeping an open mind, and hell I against the idea of it being allowed. -
@Winger im surprised, i thought you would have been all for some individual thinking and not having to tow the company line
@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Ardie should maybe just focus on the game itself. When he's asked questions about, for example, picking overseas players he should maybe just not answer (likewise Razor). Because there's always a self-interest aspect. Thats what his answer comes across like to me. I would like to play overseas (it's so wonderful) and earn big money but still be picked for the AB's. My view is if he wants to go overseas just go.
i dont actually see whats wrong with a player saying that, he's been in the system and so his opinion is probably more valid (at very least just as valid) as anyone elses
id say almost all players would say they'd love to earn more money and still get picked for the AB's
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
The policy is not about short sightedly picking some potentially marginally better players for a quick fix of a couple of results at All Black level, it's about trying to maintain the highest level of footy in NZ for the greater good of the game.
I can see more players getting sabbaticals in the next few years. It may be a good compromise between NZ-only selection and picking from overseas players. That way NZR maintains control and focus on developing players in NZ.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Funaki. Nice options. Will keep an eye on him.
Hard to judge fully behind a dominant pack, but I thought the same - fast pass too.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Funaki. Nice options. Will keep an eye on him.
Hard to judge fully behind a dominant pack, but I thought the same - fast pass too.
I'm easily impressed Vic
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Funaki. Nice options. Will keep an eye on him.
Hard to judge fully behind a dominant pack, but I thought the same - fast pass too.
I'm easily impressed Vic
Makes you wonder if Christie being an incumbent AB prevents the selectors having a good, long look at him in SR
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Funaki. Nice options. Will keep an eye on him.
Hard to judge fully behind a dominant pack, but I thought the same - fast pass too.
One aspect which I was impressed with was the way h didn't fuck around at the breakdown - got in there and went after the ball and did his best to make sure it was safe if it was under threat. But yeah, aggressive, quick, good options.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Funaki. Nice options. Will keep an eye on him.
Hard to judge fully behind a dominant pack, but I thought the same - fast pass too.
One aspect which I was impressed with was the way h didn't fuck around at the breakdown - got in there and went after the ball and did his best to make sure it was safe if it was under threat. But yeah, aggressive, quick, good options.
I'm not a Christie-basher and think he's an OK option closing out a game, but at times you can almost hear the cogs turning in his head at the base of the ruck.
Caleb Clarke impressed tonight as well. Some nice off-loads and actually ran fast and hard when he had the ball.
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@Victor-Meldrew was that Clarke with the run that set up Funaki? Wish I'd seen shitloads more of that guy. Fingers crossed he keeps it up.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Fakatava has done nothing this year to justify his name being in the selection frame. For every good thing he does, he makes two or three bad decisions or passes. I'm not saying he won't get there with time, we all saw how good he was a few years back, but he's currently a shadow of that player and what he really needs now is consistent minutes on the park, not spending all his time on the training field.
I think we'll likely see Christie, Perenara and Ratima selected for the July Tests, with Roigard potentially returning to the mix for the EOYT. Fakatava should spend a full season playing for the Highlanders and Hawke's Bay.
Throughout the squad there shouldn't be too many changes...
Gone are Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell, Aaron Smith, Cam Roigard, Richie Mo'unga, Leicester Fainga'anuku and Will Jordan (injury).
Given the above turnover, it's unlikely that someone experienced like Ofa Tu'ungafasi (and still young, in propping terms) will miss out. Ardie Savea, Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett will all likely still be selected too.
Coles - Aumua
Laulala - Ma'u, Numia, Dyer
Whitelock/Retallick - Lord and Tuipulotu, Strange, Walker-Leawere, McWhannell
Frizell - Ioane or Sotutu, Grace
Smith/Roigard - Perenara and Ratima
Mo'unga - Love or Perofeta
Fainga'anuku - Narawa, Proctor
Jordan - StevensonBower to replace Laulala rated highly by Ryan, even though he is a LH
he can cover TH so can Willliams.Please not Tamaiti at TH.
Neither Bower.
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Possible New Caps based on the first half of the season: Numia, Walker-Leawere, McWhannell, Lakai, Iose, Proctor, Nanai-Seturo, Love, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose might be a bit little to play Test Rugby in the Backrow but they've been outstanding so far this season.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose might be a bit little to play Test Rugby in the Backrow but they've been outstanding so far this season.
They aren't locks or front row forwards
Lakai 21 1.86 110kg
Iose 25 1.88 105kg
Savea 1.88/1.90 105kg
McCaw 1.87 107kg
Cane 32 1.89 108kg
Kirifi 27 1.81 102kg (maybe too small)Lakai in particular is easily big enough for a test 7. For me that's where his future lies. I expect him to be an AB this year if his current form continues.
Iose is playing great rugby but might be considered too small for an ideal 8. But he is about the same size as Savea. And can also play 7. But I doubt if he will make it this year. Unless there are injuries.
