All Blacks 2024
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It’s the same at this stage - a speculative article in a newspaper about an ex - all black
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
They can do this whilst also bringing back Mo'unga. It's not mutually exclusive.
Keeping RM in NZ would've made sense, having BB around makes some sense - even trying Havili at 10 has a kinda logic. But the sense in bringing back an 32 year-old 10, two years into a coaching stint eludes me.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
so is this different to Razor chasing Whitelock a month or so back?
This seems a bit more definite. From the horse's (Lendrum's) mouth: “Plan A is to get him back on a fulltime contract as soon as we can. That involves working with his agent.”
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@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
This is where NZR needs (much) higher quality people running things in NZ. Robertson should have had a phone call by now to tell him to cut this crap
We don't know if Robertson's driving this. Just as likely NZR are screwing things up and going off-piste. Not as if they don't have form.
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New Zealand Rugby: Early homecoming for Richie Mo'unga still on the cards
The national union's general manager of professional rugby, Chris Lendrum, provided some clarity on where the situation currently sits.
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‘It’s no secret’ – NZ Rugby confirm talks for Richie Mo’unga’s early return to All Blacks jersey
New Zealand Rugby have confirmed that they are in talks to lure All Blacks playmaker Richie Mo'unga back from Japan.
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I read that as a ‘this is what we want in an ideal scenario’ as opposed to we are working with him and his agent on a deal to bring him home.
There was nothing concrete at all in that article
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Barrett and Whitelock mark two...
Sweet! That's probably at least our 4th best pairing in the last decade. Hashtag highaspirations
We can only dream of finding a locking combo that will reach peak Rettalick/Whitelock in the next 10-20 years and probably even longer.
I really think Holland and Lord could get close to that level. Fabian Holland is a freak of an athlete. If he was playing for the Blues or Crusaders, the media would be all over it.
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I read that as a ‘this is what we want in an ideal scenario’ as opposed to we are working with him and his agent on a deal to bring him home.
There was nothing concrete at all in that article
There's even less in the interview.
Do we keep in contact with ex-ABs who could return? Yes
Would we want Mo'unga back? Yes
Does he want to come back? Ask him
None of it about Mo'unga was brought up by him, he spent ages explaining why he thinks the current 'must play in NZ' system suits us.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Barrett and Whitelock mark two...
Sweet! That's probably at least our 4th best pairing in the last decade. Hashtag highaspirations
We can only dream of finding a locking combo that will reach peak Rettalick/Whitelock in the next 10-20 years and probably even longer.
I really think Holland and Lord could get close to that level. Fabian Holland is a freak of an athlete. If he was playing for the Blues or Crusaders, the media would be all over it.
He might get to Barrett levels yet.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
They can do this whilst also bringing back Mo'unga. It's not mutually exclusive.
Keeping RM in NZ would've made sense, having BB around makes some sense - even trying Havili at 10 has a kinda logic. But the sense in bringing back an 32 year-old 10, two years into a coaching stint eludes me.
the way I see it unfolding, Mo'unga & Dmac to bring down curtains on AB careers at 2027 World Cup featuring as our experienced pivots, post-2027 for likes of Jacomb, Godfrey, Cashmore etc.. to establish in starting role.
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That would be nice, but my feeling is that if Mo'unga returns and gets the no. 1 spot, Dmac will go back overseas and cash in. Maybe we could keep him with a sabbatical.
My point is that I don't think we get to bring back guys like Mo'unga without potentially giving up others in return, and that's fine if Mo'unga is substantially better.
However, I doubt we will get to have our cake and eat it.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Barrett and Whitelock mark two...
Sweet! That's probably at least our 4th best pairing in the last decade. Hashtag highaspirations
We can only dream of finding a locking combo that will reach peak Rettalick/Whitelock in the next 10-20 years and probably even longer.
I really think Holland and Lord could get close to that level. Fabian Holland is a freak of an athlete. If he was playing for the Blues or Crusaders, the media would be all over it.
How so ?
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Barrett and Whitelock mark two...
Sweet! That's probably at least our 4th best pairing in the last decade. Hashtag highaspirations
We can only dream of finding a locking combo that will reach peak Rettalick/Whitelock in the next 10-20 years and probably even longer.
I really think Holland and Lord could get close to that level. Fabian Holland is a freak of an athlete. If he was playing for the Blues or Crusaders, the media would be all over it.
How so ?
The way he moves at his size is not something you often see in rugby. Watching Whitelock, Retallick, Lord etc. - most locks, particularly those over 2m and it looks somewhat awkward and lumbery.
Holland however moves and runs like someone a good few inches shorter though, which makes him a very dynamic.
He is already good enough to play for the All Blacks, and I think it is bizarre that often when people say we have no locks, that they don't mention the fact Holland is there, and will pretty much walk straight into the All Blacks matchday 23 once available.
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There was a try he (Holland) scored against Manawatu as a 19 or 20 year old; where he took a low pass, threw one out to Haig, backed up, carried the ball in two hands, fed a supporting player, then took the off-load to score. Add that skillset to what he does in his core responsibilities, he is a freak of a lock. Razor was pretty clear from the Breakdown preview show that he is keen. Wilson nominated him as the Highlander to watch and Robertson jumped in there saying he isn't eligible until next year. Unless hebis injured, he is in that post Super Rugby 2025 AB squad
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I was not a big fan of Tupou Vaa'i last year and have been a bit disappointed how he's come on since his debut back in 2020 but I think he's actually been very impressive for the Chiefs this year. His link play, in particular, has been very strong and I think he'd operate very well under the systems Scott Robertson employed at the Crusaders. His lineout work has always been a strength but question marks probably still remain around his physicality and his ability to clean rucks, especially at Test level - but that's the case for Patrick Tuipulotu (and frankly every lock left in the country that isn't Scott Barrett) too.
I don't yet think Vaa'i will be the next Brodie Retallick/Sam Whitelock, but I'm more optimistic about his prospects now than I was this time last year.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Barrett and Whitelock mark two...
Sweet! That's probably at least our 4th best pairing in the last decade. Hashtag highaspirations
We can only dream of finding a locking combo that will reach peak Rettalick/Whitelock in the next 10-20 years and probably even longer.
I really think Holland and Lord could get close to that level. Fabian Holland is a freak of an athlete. If he was playing for the Blues or Crusaders, the media would be all over it.
How so ?
The way he moves at his size is not something you often see in rugby. Watching Whitelock, Retallick, Lord etc. - most locks, particularly those over 2m and it looks somewhat awkward and lumbery.
Holland however moves and runs like someone a good few inches shorter though, which makes him a very dynamic.
He is already good enough to play for the All Blacks, and I think it is bizarre that often when people say we have no locks, that they don't mention the fact Holland is there, and will pretty much walk straight into the All Blacks matchday 23 once available.
Ok, keen to see more of him then.
I always found it frustrating other freak athletic locks like Flavell and Boric didn’t kick on as much as they should have.
The ABs got some good milage out of Ali Williams though.
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Did you weigh him recently?
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I think he'd operate very well under the systems Scott Robertson employed at the Crusaders
I guess he's a tiny level up on Strange. Still think his best position would be as a wide ranging blindside.
