All Blacks 2024.. locked
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024:
@Victor-Meldrew @Nepia @taniwharugby I remember in the mid 1990s when Christian Cullen first burst on the Rugby scene my Grandad and his mates agreed over a beer that he was the sharpest runner with the ball in hand they had seen since Bert Cooke which I think gives an idea of how good BC was.
Yes I remember there was an article in the Evening Post ( after Cullen had carved up the poor, brave limited Scots ) that compared the paekak express to this old codger and that they should switch him to midfield straight away.
Unfortunately looks like John Hart read it and stored it in the memory banks for a few years later.
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024:
@akan004 said in All Blacks 2024:
Don't rate Darry at all from what I have seen, he came with a lot of hype but hasn't delivered. Hopefully he steps up next year.
Darry had a couple of strong games in the middle of last season then reverted to type. Too many errors and his contact work needs to get better
It'll be interesting to see how many opportunities he gets. Suafoa was far better than him last year and McWhannell is a good player who's had terrible luck with injuries. Hopefully the Blues have Beehre too. I would rate Darry last out of that group
Does Annandale make the squad?
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024:
Suafoa could be a player to look at as a bench 6/8 but he isn't tall enough to be a test lock. We don't have many big 2 m+ locks now.
Yeah I think Eben, RG, Peter Steph and the boys would laugh at some of the contenders.
Fuck me are we going to miss Whitelock and Retallick or what ?
Thank goodness the fattest Barrett ( relatively speaking ) became awesome. That’s something at least. He’s bloody good for a midget ( again, relatively speaking )
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Yep, we are in trouble at lock. A few young guys have the size for test level rugby i.e. Fabian Holland (2.04m, 118kg) and Josh Taula (2.03m, 124kg) but one isn't eligible until 2025, and the other seems short on a few brain cells.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
the other seems short on a few brain cells.
Seems perfect for a tight forward
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@Machpants he played two NPC games in 2023 and was red carded in one of them for being an absolute moron. If you can channel him in the right way though he could be a talent. He's only 21.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
@Machpants he played two NPC games in 2023 and was red carded in one of them for being an absolute moron. If you can channel him in the right way though he could be a talent. He's only 21.
One red card a game seems to be expected at AB level these days. Sigh.
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so Sam Cane has to appear before World Rugby. Poor bastard, think he's had enough bad news lately.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
the other seems short on a few brain cells.
Seems perfect for a tight forward
Exactly. As long as the forwards coach spins him round at half time and tells him to run in the opposite direction he’ll be fine.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2024:
so Sam Cane has to appear before World Rugby. Poor bastard, think he's had enough bad news lately.
All red cards go to the judiciary, not like he didn't know it was coming
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Some of the new backroom staff.
Stuff understands that long-serving manager Darren Shand, who was in the role between 2004-2023, will be replaced by two new arrivals.
Former Tall Fern Megan Compain has been appointed as the All Blacks’ commercial manager, reporting to Chris Lendrum, NZ Rugby’s general manager, professional rugby and performance.
Highlanders team manager Paul McLaughlan, who has also worked with the Wallabies in recent years, will be the next team manager. -
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024:
who has also worked with the Wallabies in recent years
not really a selling point, in recent years....
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024:
who has also worked with the Wallabies in recent years
not really a selling point, in recent years....
Perhaps the fantastic and unique management skills he's learnt during his time there really made him stand out from the pack?
Like being able to maintain morale in a 0 win environment and being able to talk down jumpers from hotel balcony's??
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024:
who has also worked with the Wallabies in recent years
not really a selling point, in recent years....
as a manager of a club team....and im sure its the same....as long as the jerseys were clean, water bottles full and a couple of bags of jelly snakes before and a couple of slabs after in the changing shed...he was doing a good job
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Fabian Holland will unpick the Boks line out calls with ease. It won’t be all Dutch to him. Even if it will be.
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New Zealand Rugby reveals veteran playmaker wants to come home after one season in Japan and chase a fourth Rugby World Cup appearance in 2027.
