All Blacks 2024
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An objective view from a neutral -
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Tana and the dysfunctional Blues outfit didn't help him, Hansen didn't even try to coach him. He is a genuinely wasted talent.
Hansen clearly had issues with him but I thought Foster tried hard with Akira, managed to get him to tone down his dickhead-ness and got some decent performances out of him. I expected him to kick-on but that never happened - whether that was due to Ryan or something else like the loose 3 balance, we'll never know.
Def. a wasted talent though.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Hurricanes openside Peter Lakai will train with the All Blacks as an emerging player but there was no room, either, for No 8 Brayden Iose to highlight the depth in Roberston’s specialist area.
“The toughest call,” Robertson said of the decision between Sititi and Sotutu.
“I thought hard and deep and challenged myself. I looked at all the reasons why I pick players and that’s where we fell. We believe Wallace is an incredible young talent. The harder the game the higher he rose in regards to his performance. He owned it. We’re really impressed but it’s a tough call.”
'The toughest call': Robertson explains Sititi v Sotutu selection decision
Why Razor chose his Crusaders man as All Blacks skipper.
Thanks. I appreciate the answer. Much more useful than The Breakdown with Kirwan suggesting Bower should convert to hooker.....
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@antipodean
Ardie is a total energizer bunny workhorse who stood out even when we played shit.Sure - all that energy saved from not putting a hard shoulder on, leaning on rucks catching his breath.
Someone is butt hurt their golden boy didn’t make the ABs. Jog on.
Not my golden boy.
You know the criticisms are true because your only response is to go herp derp WR PoTY. Not the selection of dominant tackles preventing a team making metres. Not hitting rucks slowing down their ball.
You even admit we need to pick players to do the work he isn't. That's telling.
Yes he is.
Try to not be a child. I've just told you your assertion is incorrect and as proof I've been complaining about this for years.
Show me the stats that show Ardie didn’t make dominant tackles etc. you’re full of shit.
You're asking for stats for something that doesn't exist? Do you realize how unhinged that sounds?
Ask Eben Etzebeth what it’s like getting chucked around by Ardie if he doesn’t do the hard work like you say he does.
That's like praising Dean Mumm because he once ragdolled Marcel Coetzee.
You’re just a sheep echoing what other people are saying. Ardie is the hardest working player in the ABs apart from maybe Whitelock.
Remember when you said that we need to have a Kaino to permit Ardie to do his thing? If you're honest with yourself you'll recall Read was smashing blokes too...
Read all my comments above. The proof is in the pudding. Everyone was praising Ardie last year because of his work ethic, he was at the top of the MOTM standings at the end of the year. (voted by people like you who always doubt him).
Ardie will always do his job, it's up to the ABs coaches to make sure our other loosies do theirs i.e. hitting rucks and making dominant tackles which Finau and Papali'i have the ability to do but need to show it at the next level. If they can there is nothing wrong with that balance so the whole argument about Ardie unbalancing things is just stupid.
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@ACT-Crusader Delighted for you - all us AB fans deserve to be happy and enjoy watching the team play. Even with contentious selections I wish them well.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Hurricanes openside Peter Lakai will train with the All Blacks as an emerging player but there was no room, either, for No 8 Brayden Iose to highlight the depth in Roberston’s specialist area.
“The toughest call,” Robertson said of the decision between Sititi and Sotutu.
“I thought hard and deep and challenged myself. I looked at all the reasons why I pick players and that’s where we fell. We believe Wallace is an incredible young talent. The harder the game the higher he rose in regards to his performance. He owned it. We’re really impressed but it’s a tough call.”
'The toughest call': Robertson explains Sititi v Sotutu selection decision
Why Razor chose his Crusaders man as All Blacks skipper.
Except for his performance in the final I guess
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@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@ACT-Crusader Delighted for you - all us AB fans deserve to be happy and enjoy watching the team play. Even with contentious selections I wish them well.
The Fern isn't a forum to be this polite. You're meant to debate the shit out of the squad and let out all your frustrations.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Hurricanes openside Peter Lakai will train with the All Blacks as an emerging player but there was no room, either, for No 8 Brayden Iose to highlight the depth in Roberston’s specialist area.
“The toughest call,” Robertson said of the decision between Sititi and Sotutu.
“I thought hard and deep and challenged myself. I looked at all the reasons why I pick players and that’s where we fell. We believe Wallace is an incredible young talent. The harder the game the higher he rose in regards to his performance. He owned it. We’re really impressed but it’s a tough call.”
'The toughest call': Robertson explains Sititi v Sotutu selection decision
Why Razor chose his Crusaders man as All Blacks skipper.
Except for his performance in the final I guess
We desperatly needed space for two foodbill's in blackadder and jacobsen and just couldn't fit in Sotutu and Sititi.
From the man who want's to be known as the coach who picks the best players.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Ardie will always do his job, it's up to the ABs coaches to make sure our other loosies do theirs i.e. hitting rucks and making dominant tackles which Finau and Papali'i have the ability to do but need to show it at the next level.
Finally you admit he doesn't hit rucks and make dominant tackles. You could've done that a number of posts ago.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Ardie will always do his job, it's up to the ABs coaches to make sure our other loosies do theirs i.e. hitting rucks and making dominant tackles which Finau and Papali'i have the ability to do but need to show it at the next level.
Finally you admit he doesn't hit rucks and make dominant tackles. You could've done that a number of posts ago.
Ffs, you really don't take anything in do you.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Sotutu would go bloody well in league imo
Ali Lauatiti mk 2
What, swanning out on the fringes doing the flashy stuff whilst Campion, Guttenbeil, Swann and Villasanti did all the hard stuff 😀
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
not get red carded when it matters most.
we talking about Scott or Sam now?
Yes we are
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Worth noting an All Blacks has debuted in the first test of a New World Cup cycle every year except for in 1988:
2020: Caleb Clarke, Hoskins Sotutu and Tupou Vaa'i
2016: Seta Tamanivalu and Ardie Savea
2012: Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith and Julian Savea
2008: Anthony Tuitavake and Adam Thomson
2004: Nick Evans and Sam Tuitupou
2000: Troy Flavell, Greg Sommerville, Doug Howlett and Filo Tiatia
1996: Christian Cullen and Scott McLeod
1992 (Game v World XV): Frank Bunce, Mark Cooksley, Richard Turner and Arran Pene... several of these + Joseph also played in the first test of the year
Looking at the uncapped in the squad, barring injury reckon you can scratch out Bell, Tosi and Sititi for definite, Ratima and Procter highly unlikely to, so this streak almost certain to be broken.
Weirdly, Sam Darry is just as likely as these, because an injury to one of the locks possibly sees him straight into the 23.
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Is anyone else worried about Jordie potentially being our captain if Scott and Ardie go down? Not sure how he'll handle the pressure. Seems to be a guy that's notorious for crumbling under pressure, rather than flourishing. Maybe a year playing for Leinster will help his development in that space.
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I really doubt Ioane was given 'the word' early for several reasons, firstly why deny yourself a backup option in a notoriously damaging position, secondly why would anyone feel like they owe him 'the word' when almost everyone else finds out a couple of days before, and finally even the Captain wasn't discussed with the player until 3 weeks ago. Sure Ioane doesn't want to go, but the money and time with the family is much better than when you are an AB - much more time away in SR and tests and much less money than Japan. It is a perfectly reasonable position not to want to go, but decide you have to put your feelings aside and do what is best for your young family's future
