All Blacks 2024

[Bones]

@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

The thing with Blackadder is, he's 29 with zero test match pedigree behind him. Why are we wasting our time?

Serious work rate and edge apparently

I guess there's a bit of a resemblance

[Duluth]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Canes4life Surprised Tuipolotu is still in the conversation to be honest. How many chances at test rugby does one player get? Great Super player, ineffective at test level esp. if it becomes an arm wrestle. Wouldn't it be better to invest in the future?

The future includes trying to win games for me, plus he's at the very least serviceable at test level, unlike Vaai who plays like a boy amongst men.

I think he's become a far better player in recent seasons too. He wouldn't be the first tight forward to get better ~30 years old

He's barely played any Tests during that time either (two games as a sub in 2022, zero in 2023)

[Bones]

@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Canes4life Surprised Tuipolotu is still in the conversation to be honest. How many chances at test rugby does one player get? Great Super player, ineffective at test level esp. if it becomes an arm wrestle. Wouldn't it be better to invest in the future?

The future includes trying to win games for me, plus he's at the very least serviceable at test level, unlike Vaai who plays like a boy amongst men.

I think he's become a far better player in recent seasons too. He wouldn't be the first tight forward to get better ~30 years old

He's barely played any Tests during that time either (two games as a sub in 2022, zero in 2023)

Plus, it actually makes it a lot more comfortable for bringing along new talent. He might not have the impact we hoped a big lock would, but he does a job.

[MN5]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

The thing with Blackadder is, he's 29 with zero test match pedigree behind him. Why are we wasting our time?

Serious work rate and edge apparently

I guess there's a bit of a resemblance

Blackadder might end up with a decent enough test career but I fear his style might be a bit too Helter Skelter for international rugby.

[Bovidae]

@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

Scott Barrett as captain. Is he the best we've got.

Look who the coaches are. Savea would be the other option.

[ruggabee]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

Scott Barrett as captain. Is he the best we've got.

Look who the coaches are. Savea would be the other option.

Why not J.Barrett? he is our most valuable back and must be on the field for 80 minutes.

[mariner4life]

@ruggabee said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

Scott Barrett as captain. Is he the best we've got.

Look who the coaches are. Savea would be the other option.

Why not J.Barrett? he is our most valuable back and must be on the field for 80 minutes.

The world cup final disagrees

[sparky]

@Winger I'd go Ardie Savea as Captain and then Scott, Beauden and Jordie Barrett as the Vice Captains.

[Mr Fish]

It would be a massive shock if Sam Cane isn't in the squad/team...

[sparky]

@Mr-Fish What's going on with Sam Cane? He seems to have gone Missing In Action.

[sparky]

To answer my own question. Sam Cane did a meet and greet in Japan a few hours ago, but those photos look like he has lost a lot of weight.

1: I hope he is okay and in good health.
2. I'm not sure he'll play professional Rugby again, let alone captain the ABs.

[sparky]

@Bovidae Papalii at 7 ahead of Ethan Blackadder. This might be a season too early for Kini Naholo.

The rest about right.

[Bones]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Winger I'd go Ardie Savea as Captain and then Scott, Beauden and Jordie Barrett as the Vice Captains.

Surely Lomax, Aumua, TJ could be Vice captain too

[MN5]

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Winger I'd go Ardie Savea as Captain and then Scott, Beauden and Jordie Barrett as the Vice Captains.

Great call. I’ve never known any brothers who’ve disagreed over anything

[Victor Meldrew]

I think Harry Plummer's doing enough to challenge for the utility back slot.

[sparky]

@MN5 Honest disagreement and debate in private among any leadership team is IMHO a very good thing. It helps drive excellence.

[Bones]

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

I think Harry Plummer's doing enough to challenge for the utility back slot.

In terms of playing style, he seems somewhere between Cruden and Jordie, with a very low error rate. Runs a backline a heck of a lot better than I remember Beauds doing last year.

I'm on board.

[Mr Fish]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Winger I'd go Ardie Savea as Captain and then Scott, Beauden and Jordie Barrett as the Vice Captains.

Surely Lomax, Aumua, TJ could be Vice captain too

IWL and Billy Procotor too - and what about this Peter Lakai?

[Bones]

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Winger I'd go Ardie Savea as Captain and then Scott, Beauden and Jordie Barrett as the Vice Captains.

Surely Lomax, Aumua, TJ could be Vice captain too

IWL and Billy Procotor too - and what about this Peter Lakai?

Moorby can be the overseas based vice captain, surely need one.

[sparky]

If he stays fit, Laghlan McWhannell should be in the All Blacks squad when it's named.