All Blacks 2024
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@ploughboy said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
would it be fair to say AS is only l;oose forward guaranteed get in squad?
Can't see how Sotutu and Finau aren't guaranteed.
Oh and Barrett...
Feel like Sotutu has been given quite a few chances and not stepped up. He's in great form but is he showing any of the assets this year that have been missing in the past? I think he's largely been doing the stuff he's always been good at but just taking it to the next level.
Obviously a new coaching group though, so can definitely see him getting picked - but don't think he's guaranteed.
He seems to me better at getting back off ground and reloading. Also fitter so playing whole 80.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
ETS is another who could be in with a chance if he carries on his strong form in two positions. Probably a better winger than Stevenson.
Better attacking, but feel his defensive judgement at wing is lacking.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It's worth noting there's under 2 weeks from Razor's first squad naming until the first test
That may hint towards a more conservative squad selection initially.
It could also be an excuse to pick players he's familiar with
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Can't see the point of selecting a player who won't play Super Rugby in 2024 or 2025. You are effectively selecting a player from overseas. May as well get Mo'unga and Retallick in that case.
I'd select Cane. He's a 95 test AB and AB captain who was playing excellent rugby at the World Cup.
Get a young loosie (I.e. Lakai or whoever) around the squad for the year to soak up knowledge from Cane then transition in 2025.
Presuming the coaching staff are conservative for the England series:
I think the additions to the front rowers club may be solely Numia for Laulala and Aumua for Coles. Locks will be Barrett, Tuipulotu and two others (hopefully McWhannell). Cane, Sotutu, Papali'i, Finau, Savea, Ioane as backrowers (Lakai to come in after England are dispatched). Halves are TJP, Christie and Funaki. First fives are DMac and Beaudy with Havili in the team covering positions in midfield too. Midfielders are Jordie, Rieko, Havili and Proctor. Back three will be Reece, Clarke, Love, Tele'a and ..?
Sorry but did you just saw Hopefully McWhannell?! Plenty better talent than him around. Akira will be very lucky to be selected by Razor in my opinion, it’s 2 of him, Finau and Sotutu and I think it’s the latter 2. Funaki is an argument but I think they will go with Fakatava or Ratima. Should see Narawa selected in the back 3 with Reece, Clark, Love, Telea, with possibly Stevenson solely on merit. No will Jordan gives someone a real shot here for that 15 jersey assuming Beaudy isn’t playing there.
Either way, I think it will be a team with very few surprises as Razor will want to just get a feel for a few players and go with the players he is familiar with for now due to a squad being selected so soon. Looking forward to the series.
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It's worth noting there's under 2 weeks from Razor's first squad naming until the first test
That may hint towards a more conservative squad selection initially.
It could also be an excuse to pick players he's familiar with
It looks like Grace, Drummond, Havili etc will be well rested, so there's that as well.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It's worth noting there's under 2 weeks from Razor's first squad naming until the first test
That may hint towards a more conservative squad selection initially.
It could also be an excuse to pick players he's familiar with
It looks like Grace, Drummond, Havili etc will be well rested, so there's that as well.
If Grace somehow manages to sneak into this squad he has something on Razor.
Appreciate the laugh with the Drummond part.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Duluth Bower, Taylor, Newell, Williams, Strange, Grace, Hotham, Havili, Reece, McLeod?
Those are the options I could see realisticly making the squad.
Christ on a bike I fucking hope not.
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@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Sorry but did you just saw Hopefully McWhannell?! Plenty better talent than him around.
Name two eligible locks consistently playing better than he has been this SR.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Sorry but did you just saw Hopefully McWhannell?! Plenty better talent than him around.
Name two eligible locks consistently playing better than he has been this SR.
Sure thing, here’s a few imo. His team mate Darry is better(granted injury concerns for him I know), Tupou Vaa’i, Caleb Delany being used as a lock at the Canes and has been brilliant. I’d even go as far as saying Dunshea since his return has played through the roof… shit id even say Hannah down here in Christchurch has a bright future and would consider him over McWhannell.
Respect your opinion mate, just in my opinion we could do better. Let’s just hope Quinton Strange isn’t picked.
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@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It's worth noting there's under 2 weeks from Razor's first squad naming until the first test
That may hint towards a more conservative squad selection initially.
It could also be an excuse to pick players he's familiar with
It looks like Grace, Drummond, Havili etc will be well rested, so there's that as well.
If Grace somehow manages to sneak into this squad he has something on Razor.
Appreciate the laugh with the Drummond part.
I forgot Strange.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris I have a feeling that Akira will be in squad
Can't see it mate
Razor coached Akira at U20s so he's known him for a long time.
It's now or never for Akira - he's certainly giving the selectors something to think about with his form - Stern Vern has him humming and a bit of a blueprint for how Akira can be effective at test level. There's not an abundance of 6s around.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@george33 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris I have a feeling that Akira will be in squad
Can't see it mate
Razor coached Akira at U20s so he's known him for a long time.
It's now or never for Akira - he's certainly giving the selectors something to think about with his form - Stern Vern has him humming and a bit of a blueprint for how Akira can be effective at test level. There's not an abundance of 6s around.
We will see I don't expect him to be there, Jacobsen probably has more chance as he is seen by some to have a high work rate.
Razor has stated he likes Loosies that get off the ground quickly and keep working and are always in the game and don't drift.That is why he mentioned Lilo-Willie although I don't expect he will be in the squad. -
I am a little surprised at a squad of only 32 TBH
This is a bloke coming in and trying to put a new system in place. Surely he needs a few more to start to understand what he is trying to do early on? Even if they don't play, there is a fair amount of education required.
It's not like they have anything else to do. -
@mariner4life In the previous set ups they often had other players not technically in the squad but named as training cover. Could be the case again.
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Re: selection
I honestly don't give a shit who he picks as long as it is for a reason. If it's because he knows them, or they are a sympathetic voice in the locker room (emotional support journeymen) then that is fucked.But if it is because he has clarity around exactly how he wants to play, and is picking the best pieces to carry that out, then i don't give a shit what names are read out.
I know i am asking far too much from rugby, but it would be great to hear him explain it too.
