All Blacks 2024
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Hopefully we shouldn't read too much into Razor allegedly talking with the Crusaders about Havili at 10. His body of work in that position is minimal and it's not unreasonable for Razor to want a look given our resources. FWIW, I' d hate to see Havili at 10 for the ABs unless there are exceptional circumstances. Jeez I don't even like him there for the Saders, but I am softening to that idea this season.
TBH I think he'd be better suited to playing 10 than 12. I think most of his career appears to be a case of playing him where they can simply because in other positions there's a better option.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Christie wasn't dropped last round, he was rested.
I don't rate him that highly myself but maybe Ryan does, as he was a replacement player for the NZ XV last year.
REPLACEMENT player for AB XV... meaning he didn't make the initial AB XV squad which had the following loosies:
Billy Harmon (28, Highlanders, Canterbury)
Akira Ioane (28, Blues, Auckland)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Christian Lio-Willie (24, Crusaders, Otago)
Pita Gus Sowakula (28, Chiefs, Taranaki)
Cameron Suafoa (27, Blues, North Harbour) -
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not really, we have five players available who have been capped and play first five, including three of the top four from recent AB squads.
One of those should be nowhere near an AB team, but the others are all reasonable choices. Dmac should be easily the first choice. We are fine.
Add in Plummer, Love, and even Burke (if available for this year) and we aren’t in bad shape.
I can't say I share your optimisim.
It was to be Perofeta's year to cement himself as an AB 10 and he's let it slip through his fingers, the Hurricane's own fans don't even rate Cameron, Love has spent the entire season at fullback, Ioane is a disaster. Plummer is the only one in decent form (at 1st 5) and he's more of a utility than a straight up first 5.
BB's best years at 1st 5 are well behind him, we're kinda left with the option of praying that DMac doesn't get injured.
I was really hoping that someone would come through but TBH the contenders appear to be getting worse not getting better.
Yawn.
And I suppose everything would be ok if Mo’unga came back?
I’m not enthusiastic, this is just the reality of a World Cup cycle.
We’ve had plenty of years when incumbents weren’t playing that well. If Perofeta is losing out to Plummer and Razor wants form, then fine that’s how selection works, pick him.
If he wants experience with test rugby, he has three options and since he’s surf fucking Jesus, he can fucking coach them.
You can not coach trash it stays as trash you have to have some talent to coach and you have mentioned fuck all talent..
So it is what I think it is - people getting in to trash the available players because they are worried that the All Blacks might lose a few games, and therefore Razor might not look like he has a golden asshole.
No just someone who dislikes a coach and has to talk some trash not looking at you off course.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not really, we have five players available who have been capped and play first five, including three of the top four from recent AB squads.
One of those should be nowhere near an AB team, but the others are all reasonable choices. Dmac should be easily the first choice. We are fine.
Add in Plummer, Love, and even Burke (if available for this year) and we aren’t in bad shape.
I can't say I share your optimisim.
It was to be Perofeta's year to cement himself as an AB 10 and he's let it slip through his fingers, the Hurricane's own fans don't even rate Cameron, Love has spent the entire season at fullback, Ioane is a disaster. Plummer is the only one in decent form (at 1st 5) and he's more of a utility than a straight up first 5.
BB's best years at 1st 5 are well behind him, we're kinda left with the option of praying that DMac doesn't get injured.
I was really hoping that someone would come through but TBH the contenders appear to be getting worse not getting better.
Yawn.
And I suppose everything would be ok if Mo’unga came back?
I’m not enthusiastic, this is just the reality of a World Cup cycle.
We’ve had plenty of years when incumbents weren’t playing that well. If Perofeta is losing out to Plummer and Razor wants form, then fine that’s how selection works, pick him.
If he wants experience with test rugby, he has three options and since he’s surf fucking Jesus, he can fucking coach them.
You can not coach trash it stays as trash you have to have some talent to coach and you have mentioned fuck all talent..
So it is what I think it is - people getting in to trash the available players because they are worried that the All Blacks might lose a few games, and therefore Razor might not look like he has a golden asshole.
No just someone who dislikes a coach and has to talk some trash not looking at you off course.
The distinction you are missing is that I don’t dislike Razor - he’s a question mark at international level as he should be. I 100% support the ABs and he’s our coach - I hope he’s great.
However, those who have his cock so far down their throats they can’t make rational comments about players, well that’s a bit different, not looking at you of course.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not really, we have five players available who have been capped and play first five, including three of the top four from recent AB squads.
One of those should be nowhere near an AB team, but the others are all reasonable choices. Dmac should be easily the first choice. We are fine.
Add in Plummer, Love, and even Burke (if available for this year) and we aren’t in bad shape.
I can't say I share your optimisim.
It was to be Perofeta's year to cement himself as an AB 10 and he's let it slip through his fingers, the Hurricane's own fans don't even rate Cameron, Love has spent the entire season at fullback, Ioane is a disaster. Plummer is the only one in decent form (at 1st 5) and he's more of a utility than a straight up first 5.
BB's best years at 1st 5 are well behind him, we're kinda left with the option of praying that DMac doesn't get injured.
I was really hoping that someone would come through but TBH the contenders appear to be getting worse not getting better.
Yawn.
And I suppose everything would be ok if Mo’unga came back?
I’m not enthusiastic, this is just the reality of a World Cup cycle.
We’ve had plenty of years when incumbents weren’t playing that well. If Perofeta is losing out to Plummer and Razor wants form, then fine that’s how selection works, pick him.
If he wants experience with test rugby, he has three options and since he’s surf fucking Jesus, he can fucking coach them.
You can not coach trash it stays as trash you have to have some talent to coach and you have mentioned fuck all talent..
So it is what I think it is - people getting in to trash the available players because they are worried that the All Blacks might lose a few games, and therefore Razor might not look like he has a golden asshole.
No just someone who dislikes a coach and has to talk some trash not looking at you off course.
The distinction you are missing is that I don’t dislike Razor - he’s a question mark at international level as he should be. I 100% support the ABs and he’s our coach - I hope he’s great.
However, those who have his cock so far down their throats they can’t make rational comments about players, well that’s a bit different, not looking at you of course.
Just as well,It shows you dislike him it is obvious.
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Someone like Perofeta has stacks of talent, you'd hope a good coach could help get the top two inches right and get him playing well more consistently. Which is basically the head coaches role. Razor has done well at Super level in this regard, so it'll be interesting to see if he can translate that to test level.
Overall, looking at the possible squads people have been naming, we are not lacking for talent so that just cannot be an excuse. A lot of other international coaches would love to have the quality of players Razor will have at his disposal.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not really, we have five players available who have been capped and play first five, including three of the top four from recent AB squads.
One of those should be nowhere near an AB team, but the others are all reasonable choices. Dmac should be easily the first choice. We are fine.
Add in Plummer, Love, and even Burke (if available for this year) and we aren’t in bad shape.
I can't say I share your optimisim.
It was to be Perofeta's year to cement himself as an AB 10 and he's let it slip through his fingers, the Hurricane's own fans don't even rate Cameron, Love has spent the entire season at fullback, Ioane is a disaster. Plummer is the only one in decent form (at 1st 5) and he's more of a utility than a straight up first 5.
BB's best years at 1st 5 are well behind him, we're kinda left with the option of praying that DMac doesn't get injured.
I was really hoping that someone would come through but TBH the contenders appear to be getting worse not getting better.
Yawn.
And I suppose everything would be ok if Mo’unga came back?
I’m not enthusiastic, this is just the reality of a World Cup cycle.
We’ve had plenty of years when incumbents weren’t playing that well. If Perofeta is losing out to Plummer and Razor wants form, then fine that’s how selection works, pick him.
If he wants experience with test rugby, he has three options and since he’s surf fucking Jesus, he can fucking coach them.
You can not coach trash it stays as trash you have to have some talent to coach and you have mentioned fuck all talent..
So it is what I think it is - people getting in to trash the available players because they are worried that the All Blacks might lose a few games, and therefore Razor might not look like he has a golden asshole.
No just someone who dislikes a coach and has to talk some trash not looking at you off course.
The distinction you are missing is that I don’t dislike Razor - he’s a question mark at international level as he should be. I 100% support the ABs and he’s our coach - I hope he’s great.
However, those who have his cock so far down their throats they can’t make rational comments about players, well that’s a bit different, not looking at you of course.
Just as well,It shows you dislike him it is obvious.
Again, I think you mistake me not wanting to fellate him at any opportunity with a personal opinion on his coaching capability at international level.
Now, if he wins us a WC, all that will change.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not really, we have five players available who have been capped and play first five, including three of the top four from recent AB squads.
One of those should be nowhere near an AB team, but the others are all reasonable choices. Dmac should be easily the first choice. We are fine.
Add in Plummer, Love, and even Burke (if available for this year) and we aren’t in bad shape.
I can't say I share your optimisim.
It was to be Perofeta's year to cement himself as an AB 10 and he's let it slip through his fingers, the Hurricane's own fans don't even rate Cameron, Love has spent the entire season at fullback, Ioane is a disaster. Plummer is the only one in decent form (at 1st 5) and he's more of a utility than a straight up first 5.
BB's best years at 1st 5 are well behind him, we're kinda left with the option of praying that DMac doesn't get injured.
I was really hoping that someone would come through but TBH the contenders appear to be getting worse not getting better.
Yawn.
And I suppose everything would be ok if Mo’unga came back?
I’m not enthusiastic, this is just the reality of a World Cup cycle.
We’ve had plenty of years when incumbents weren’t playing that well. If Perofeta is losing out to Plummer and Razor wants form, then fine that’s how selection works, pick him.
If he wants experience with test rugby, he has three options and since he’s surf fucking Jesus, he can fucking coach them.
You can not coach trash it stays as trash you have to have some talent to coach and you have mentioned fuck all talent..
So it is what I think it is - people getting in to trash the available players because they are worried that the All Blacks might lose a few games, and therefore Razor might not look like he has a golden asshole.
No just someone who dislikes a coach and has to talk some trash not looking at you off course.
The distinction you are missing is that I don’t dislike Razor - he’s a question mark at international level as he should be. I 100% support the ABs and he’s our coach - I hope he’s great.
However, those who have his cock so far down their throats they can’t make rational comments about players, well that’s a bit different, not looking at you of course.
Just as well,It shows you dislike him it is obvious.
Again, I think you mistake me not wanting to fellate him at any opportunity with a personal opinion on his coaching capability at international level.
Now, if he wins us a WC, all that will change.
Your dislike shines out in your posts like the sun coming up in the morning.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Someone like Perofeta has stacks of talent, you'd hope a good coach could help get the top two inches right and get him playing well more consistently. Which is basically the head coaches role. Razor has done well at Super level in this regard, so it'll be interesting to see if he can translate that to test level.
Overall, looking at the possible squads people have been naming, we are not lacking for talent so that just cannot be an excuse. A lot of other international coaches would love to have the quality of players Razor will have at his disposal.
Absolutely this.
With super rugby being isolated from Sth Africa and us unsure how good the Aussies are, I understand everyone is a bit on edge about how good we will be this year.
But if we are worried about how bad it will be if our third best available 10 needs to play, I want to turn it around and argue that we are still looking fine in the first year of a WC cycle. Especially as our best option at third choice - likely Perofeta - is already capped, and has been in the environment.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not really, we have five players available who have been capped and play first five, including three of the top four from recent AB squads.
One of those should be nowhere near an AB team, but the others are all reasonable choices. Dmac should be easily the first choice. We are fine.
Add in Plummer, Love, and even Burke (if available for this year) and we aren’t in bad shape.
I can't say I share your optimisim.
It was to be Perofeta's year to cement himself as an AB 10 and he's let it slip through his fingers, the Hurricane's own fans don't even rate Cameron, Love has spent the entire season at fullback, Ioane is a disaster. Plummer is the only one in decent form (at 1st 5) and he's more of a utility than a straight up first 5.
BB's best years at 1st 5 are well behind him, we're kinda left with the option of praying that DMac doesn't get injured.
I was really hoping that someone would come through but TBH the contenders appear to be getting worse not getting better.
Yawn.
And I suppose everything would be ok if Mo’unga came back?
I’m not enthusiastic, this is just the reality of a World Cup cycle.
We’ve had plenty of years when incumbents weren’t playing that well. If Perofeta is losing out to Plummer and Razor wants form, then fine that’s how selection works, pick him.
If he wants experience with test rugby, he has three options and since he’s surf fucking Jesus, he can fucking coach them.
You can not coach trash it stays as trash you have to have some talent to coach and you have mentioned fuck all talent..
So it is what I think it is - people getting in to trash the available players because they are worried that the All Blacks might lose a few games, and therefore Razor might not look like he has a golden asshole.
No just someone who dislikes a coach and has to talk some trash not looking at you off course.
The distinction you are missing is that I don’t dislike Razor - he’s a question mark at international level as he should be. I 100% support the ABs and he’s our coach - I hope he’s great.
However, those who have his cock so far down their throats they can’t make rational comments about players, well that’s a bit different, not looking at you of course.
Just as well,It shows you dislike him it is obvious.
Again, I think you mistake me not wanting to fellate him at any opportunity with a personal opinion on his coaching capability at international level.
Now, if he wins us a WC, all that will change.
Your dislike shines out in your posts like the sun coming up in the morning.
That's a weird take man. Of all the people anti Razor, gt has never occurred to me as one of them.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not really, we have five players available who have been capped and play first five, including three of the top four from recent AB squads.
One of those should be nowhere near an AB team, but the others are all reasonable choices. Dmac should be easily the first choice. We are fine.
Add in Plummer, Love, and even Burke (if available for this year) and we aren’t in bad shape.
I can't say I share your optimisim.
It was to be Perofeta's year to cement himself as an AB 10 and he's let it slip through his fingers, the Hurricane's own fans don't even rate Cameron, Love has spent the entire season at fullback, Ioane is a disaster. Plummer is the only one in decent form (at 1st 5) and he's more of a utility than a straight up first 5.
BB's best years at 1st 5 are well behind him, we're kinda left with the option of praying that DMac doesn't get injured.
I was really hoping that someone would come through but TBH the contenders appear to be getting worse not getting better.
Yawn.
And I suppose everything would be ok if Mo’unga came back?
I’m not enthusiastic, this is just the reality of a World Cup cycle.
We’ve had plenty of years when incumbents weren’t playing that well. If Perofeta is losing out to Plummer and Razor wants form, then fine that’s how selection works, pick him.
If he wants experience with test rugby, he has three options and since he’s surf fucking Jesus, he can fucking coach them.
You can not coach trash it stays as trash you have to have some talent to coach and you have mentioned fuck all talent..
So it is what I think it is - people getting in to trash the available players because they are worried that the All Blacks might lose a few games, and therefore Razor might not look like he has a golden asshole.
No just someone who dislikes a coach and has to talk some trash not looking at you off course.
The distinction you are missing is that I don’t dislike Razor - he’s a question mark at international level as he should be. I 100% support the ABs and he’s our coach - I hope he’s great.
However, those who have his cock so far down their throats they can’t make rational comments about players, well that’s a bit different, not looking at you of course.
Just as well,It shows you dislike him it is obvious.
Again, I think you mistake me not wanting to fellate him at any opportunity with a personal opinion on his coaching capability at international level.
Now, if he wins us a WC, all that will change.
Your dislike shines out in your posts like the sun coming up in the morning.
It's even more bemusing when you consider Razor is from Chiefs region,
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not really, we have five players available who have been capped and play first five, including three of the top four from recent AB squads.
One of those should be nowhere near an AB team, but the others are all reasonable choices. Dmac should be easily the first choice. We are fine.
Add in Plummer, Love, and even Burke (if available for this year) and we aren’t in bad shape.
I can't say I share your optimisim.
It was to be Perofeta's year to cement himself as an AB 10 and he's let it slip through his fingers, the Hurricane's own fans don't even rate Cameron, Love has spent the entire season at fullback, Ioane is a disaster. Plummer is the only one in decent form (at 1st 5) and he's more of a utility than a straight up first 5.
BB's best years at 1st 5 are well behind him, we're kinda left with the option of praying that DMac doesn't get injured.
I was really hoping that someone would come through but TBH the contenders appear to be getting worse not getting better.
Yawn.
And I suppose everything would be ok if Mo’unga came back?
I’m not enthusiastic, this is just the reality of a World Cup cycle.
We’ve had plenty of years when incumbents weren’t playing that well. If Perofeta is losing out to Plummer and Razor wants form, then fine that’s how selection works, pick him.
If he wants experience with test rugby, he has three options and since he’s surf fucking Jesus, he can fucking coach them.
You can not coach trash it stays as trash you have to have some talent to coach and you have mentioned fuck all talent..
So it is what I think it is - people getting in to trash the available players because they are worried that the All Blacks might lose a few games, and therefore Razor might not look like he has a golden asshole.
No just someone who dislikes a coach and has to talk some trash not looking at you off course.
The distinction you are missing is that I don’t dislike Razor - he’s a question mark at international level as he should be. I 100% support the ABs and he’s our coach - I hope he’s great.
However, those who have his cock so far down their throats they can’t make rational comments about players, well that’s a bit different, not looking at you of course.
Just as well,It shows you dislike him it is obvious.
Again, I think you mistake me not wanting to fellate him at any opportunity with a personal opinion on his coaching capability at international level.
Now, if he wins us a WC, all that will change.
Your dislike shines out in your posts like the sun coming up in the morning.
That's a weird take man. Of all the people anti Razor, gt has never occurred to me as one of them.
Given Razor, like the great W.Smith, is a product of the Chiefs region, it would be pretty awfully suspicious if he weren't eh?
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
3rd spot is likely between Perofeta and Cameron
I've watched Cameron closely. He shouldn't even be in consideration. Morgan has been (much) better in his 2 starts
I would like to see J Barrett have a run at first with Higgins at 2nd. Just to see how he goes. It could be JBs best position maybe
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Someone like Perofeta has stacks of talent, you'd hope a good coach could help get the top two inches right and get him playing well more consistently. Which is basically the head coaches role. Razor has done well at Super level in this regard, so it'll be interesting to see if he can translate that to test level.
And Robertson needs to be given the time and space to do just that rather than having shit thrown at him if he doesn't turn out to be Coach Jesus in his first season.
Overall, looking at the possible squads people have been naming, we are not lacking for talent so that just cannot be an excuse. A lot of other international coaches would love to have the quality of players Razor will have at his disposal.
Agree up to a point, but I'm not sure other Tier 1 international coaches have much of an inferiority complex any more when looking at what the AB coach has available to him.
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@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
3rd spot is likely between Perofeta and Cameron
I've watched Cameron closely. He shouldn't even be in consideration. Morgan has been (much) better in his 2 starts
I would like to see J Barrett have a run at first with Higgins at 2nd. Just to see how he goes. It could be JBs best position maybe
WTF?
The guy runs hard and straight, a battering ram. He hasn't put a bloke into space since 2008.
But sure, lets throw him the keys to the bus.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Someone like Perofeta has stacks of talent, you'd hope a good coach could help get the top two inches right and get him playing well more consistently.
i dont think this can be overstated, i was/am kind of happy for almost everyone to be given a clean slate...all the younger guys anyway, we just dont know what razor can do (maybe nothing) with these guys, i was happy for him to experiment as much as he needed this year so he can truly build towards the next RWC
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Not really, we have five players available who have been capped and play first five, including three of the top four from recent AB squads.
One of those should be nowhere near an AB team, but the others are all reasonable choices. Dmac should be easily the first choice. We are fine.
Add in Plummer, Love, and even Burke (if available for this year) and we aren’t in bad shape.
I can't say I share your optimisim.
It was to be Perofeta's year to cement himself as an AB 10 and he's let it slip through his fingers, the Hurricane's own fans don't even rate Cameron, Love has spent the entire season at fullback, Ioane is a disaster. Plummer is the only one in decent form (at 1st 5) and he's more of a utility than a straight up first 5.
BB's best years at 1st 5 are well behind him, we're kinda left with the option of praying that DMac doesn't get injured.
I was really hoping that someone would come through but TBH the contenders appear to be getting worse not getting better.
Yawn.
And I suppose everything would be ok if Mo’unga came back?
I’m not enthusiastic, this is just the reality of a World Cup cycle.
We’ve had plenty of years when incumbents weren’t playing that well. If Perofeta is losing out to Plummer and Razor wants form, then fine that’s how selection works, pick him.
If he wants experience with test rugby, he has three options and since he’s surf fucking Jesus, he can fucking coach them.
I would be even more disappointed if Mo'unga came back...
My disappointment and concern is that in a year where it was set up perfectly for someone to put their hand up Dmac and Plumber are the only ones who have and Plumber is a long, unproven shot.
Perofeta and Ioane have gone backwards this year and no-one new has come through.
Razor is mutually exclusive to this conundrum.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Someone like Perofeta has stacks of talent, you'd hope a good coach could help get the top two inches right and get him playing well more consistently. Which is basically the head coaches role. Razor has done well at Super level in this regard, so it'll be interesting to see if he can translate that to test level.
Overall, looking at the possible squads people have been naming, we are not lacking for talent so that just cannot be an excuse. A lot of other international coaches would love to have the quality of players Razor will have at his disposal.
Yes and no to this
Maybe Perofeta isn’t that good? He was always a fringe player that was yet to prove himself and unfortunately this year he's done nothing to prove to anyone he's even good enough to be in the team let alone putting pressure on DMac for the starting spot.
It’s not like Cotter is a bad coach, or the Blues are performing badly that would be affecting Perofeta's performance. Many of the Blues senior players (Papps, Sotutu, Clarke) have really improved this year and are demanding a place in the team. Perofeta is not.
Yes, I totally agree that coaches need to get the best out of their players. But there is a very big difference between a player that plays with confidence but doesn't read the game well and/or makes poor decisions (who can be coached) and a guy that crumbles under pressure and unconfidently bungles his way around the field (that's a little bit of coaching and a lot of psychology).
Personally, this year I think he’s crumbled under the pressure and expectation of delivering in super rugby this year to cement his AB spot and if that is going to break him then getting exposed to the cauldron of test match footy is only going to make things worse for him, not better.
Maybe he’s just a bit mentally soft and maybe he’s just not a test match quality player?
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At this stage of the season, I am pretty happy with the potential squad that Razor can pick, especially the forward pack, with only a couple of areas that we really don’t want to lose anyone long term.
1st 5 is one of those and the locking depth the other. Scott Barrett is one of the first names written down and potential captain but who is next to him and on the pine is the big question. Patty T is playing well but feel we want a bit more height and a true lineout technician when playing SA,Oreland etc.
I think we can get through that this year and it should become less of a problem as players mature or become available.
Fingers crossed we don’t lose many players before the international season starts
