All Blacks 2024
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@Frank I like both Akira and Anton Segner. If they play well in the knockouts, both could make the ABs.
Both need to use their power more and show they have more hunger and a higher ceiling than the other options available at 6. I do worry about Akira's mentality when the going gets tough.
There really are an embarrassment of riches for the AB in the backrow at the moment.
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@sparky I understand that the AB coaches don't like Akira as well as a lot of non Blues fans, but he's very important to how this Blues side plays. We're a worse side without him out there, as we've see when he hasn't played. Cotter has gotten the best out of him playing in close quarters, where as previous coaches used him exclusively in the wider channels, to the point where he didn't look comfortable in his role in the ABs side once Ryan and Schmidt took over in 2022. If he got picked now to play the role they want him to play, he'd be far more comfortable in playing it.
Segner hasn't played much of late. He's a good player who does the core roles in every loose forward position very well, but isn't as strong in contact as the other Blues players yet, and I think he'd struggle at the next level currently. Lakai is better as someone who can play in all 3 positions in the loose.
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@African-Monkey I agree with all that.
It will be interesting to see if Anton Segner stay in NZ or heads back to Europe.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
Though to be fair mate, Hotham has been on NZR's radar as an up and comer for a few years now. Have heard him name checked etc by Steve Lancaster a year or 2 back when discussing players they have got on radar.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@African-Monkey I agree with all that.
It will be interesting to see if Anton Segner stay in NZ or heads back to Europe.
He can only play for ABs and Germany at a higher level, he'd be crazy to leave without giving it a few more years here first. He had ambition, not just want to make money, and is still young
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I like Sititi, but I think he needs more experience before being put in the All Blacks squad. Some more time in the NPC and with the All Blacks XV won't do him any harm.
IIRC Sititi has played mainly at 7 for NH as Suafoa was the preferred no.8. NH might be better to move Suafoa to 6.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky I understand that the AB coaches don't like Akira as well as a lot of non Blues fans, but he's very important to how this Blues side plays. We're a worse side without him out there, as we've see when he hasn't played. Cotter has gotten the best out of him playing in close quarters, where as previous coaches used him exclusively in the wider channels, to the point where he didn't look comfortable in his role in the ABs side once Ryan and Schmidt took over in 2022. If he got picked now to play the role they want him to play, he'd be far more comfortable in playing it.
Segner hasn't played much of late. He's a good player who does the core roles in every loose forward position very well, but isn't as strong in contact as the other Blues players yet, and I think he'd struggle at the next level currently. Lakai is better as someone who can play in all 3 positions in the loose.
I wouldn't be surprised if Ioane makes the All Blacks ahead of Sotutu, to be perfectly honest.
If the selectors plump for Savea, Papali'i, Finau, Lakai and Blackadder then I think all the positions are fairly well covered so there's no desperate need to go for any specific specialists, in which case either Sotutu or Ioane fits the bill, and I think Ioane is better suited to Test rugby.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
Though to be fair mate, Hotham has been on NZR's radar as an up and comer for a few years now. Have heard him name checked etc by Steve Lancaster a year or 2 back when discussing players they have got on radar.
You can talk about this imaginary radar all you like, but I don't think it really means anything.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
Though to be fair mate, Hotham has been on NZR's radar as an up and comer for a few years now. Have heard him name checked etc by Steve Lancaster a year or 2 back when discussing players they have got on radar.
You can talk about this imaginary radar all you like, but I don't think it really means anything.
If you need a radar to spot them I have to assume they can’t be very good players.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
Though to be fair mate, Hotham has been on NZR's radar as an up and comer for a few years now. Have heard him name checked etc by Steve Lancaster a year or 2 back when discussing players they have got on radar.
You can talk about this imaginary radar all you like, but I don't think it really means anything.
If you need a radar to spot them I have to assume they can’t be very good players.
Draw us up a quick sketch of the player radar, you know you wanna.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
Though to be fair mate, Hotham has been on NZR's radar as an up and comer for a few years now. Have heard him name checked etc by Steve Lancaster a year or 2 back when discussing players they have got on radar.
You can talk about this imaginary
radarAura all you like, but I don't think it really means anything.Now you could be a northern hemisphere scribe talking about the mythical All Black 'Aura' haha.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
Though to be fair mate, Hotham has been on NZR's radar as an up and comer for a few years now. Have heard him name checked etc by Steve Lancaster a year or 2 back when discussing players they have got on radar.
You can talk about this imaginary radar all you like, but I don't think it really means anything.
Well it just means they see them as players with a future at a high level. Doesn't mean they will get there, just they will be mentored etc.
I think they usually fairly good at picking players they see with a big future.
Not suggesting Hotham will go near ABs this year or anything. Mind you I still say I be very surprised if Christie isn't in AB squad as a 9. -
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
Though to be fair mate, Hotham has been on NZR's radar as an up and comer for a few years now. Have heard him name checked etc by Steve Lancaster a year or 2 back when discussing players they have got on radar.
You can talk about this imaginary radar all you like, but I don't think it really means anything.
Well it just means they see them as players with a future at a high level. Doesn't mean they will get there, just they will be mentored etc.
I think they usually fairly good at picking players they see with a big future.
Not suggesting Hotham will go near ABs this year or anything. Mind you I still say I be very surprised if Christie isn't in AB squad as a 9.Good to hear they don't deem any other players have a future.
Go radar you good thing.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky I understand that the AB coaches don't like Akira as well as a lot of non Blues fans, but he's very important to how this Blues side plays. We're a worse side without him out there, as we've see when he hasn't played. Cotter has gotten the best out of him playing in close quarters, where as previous coaches used him exclusively in the wider channels, to the point where he didn't look comfortable in his role in the ABs side once Ryan and Schmidt took over in 2022. If he got picked now to play the role they want him to play, he'd be far more comfortable in playing it.
Segner hasn't played much of late. He's a good player who does the core roles in every loose forward position very well, but isn't as strong in contact as the other Blues players yet, and I think he'd struggle at the next level currently. Lakai is better as someone who can play in all 3 positions in the loose.
I wouldn't be surprised if Ioane makes the All Blacks ahead of Sotutu, to be perfectly honest.
If the selectors plump for Savea, Papali'i, Finau, Lakai and Blackadder then I think all the positions are fairly well covered so there's no desperate need to go for any specific specialists, in which case either Sotutu or Ioane fits the bill, and I think Ioane is better suited to Test rugby.
To some degree it depends on what TWM are looking for. If they want specialist 7s and 8s, then Paps, Lakai, RD and Hoskins ought to be selected. Finau will be the hitman 6, which would leave Blackadder, Akira and Jacobson fighting for last place. The former has disadvantage of only having two games on which to be judged.
Tough area to pick from
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Canes4life why Ratima over Funaki?
But yeah interesting that Hotham has all of a sudden become a favourite for some after running the ball well in a couple of games (and looking awful earlier), yet others have been performing all season and now aren't as good...
What team does Hotham play for again?
Though to be fair mate, Hotham has been on NZR's radar as an up and comer for a few years now. Have heard him name checked etc by Steve Lancaster a year or 2 back when discussing players they have got on radar.
You can talk about this imaginary radar all you like, but I don't think it really means anything.
Well it just means they see them as players with a future at a high level. Doesn't mean they will get there, just they will be mentored etc.
I think they usually fairly good at picking players they see with a big future.
Not suggesting Hotham will go near ABs this year or anything. Mind you I still say I be very surprised if Christie isn't in AB squad as a 9.Good to hear they don't deem any other players have a future.
Go radar you good thing.
I know you being sarcastic (or hope so for your sake), but if anyone doesnt think players are on radar at every level of game they haven't been involved in the game very long. It's why some players get picked for academies etc, and others aren't . Doesn't ignore any other player in anyway.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky I understand that the AB coaches don't like Akira as well as a lot of non Blues fans, but he's very important to how this Blues side plays. We're a worse side without him out there, as we've see when he hasn't played. Cotter has gotten the best out of him playing in close quarters, where as previous coaches used him exclusively in the wider channels, to the point where he didn't look comfortable in his role in the ABs side once Ryan and Schmidt took over in 2022. If he got picked now to play the role they want him to play, he'd be far more comfortable in playing it.
Segner hasn't played much of late. He's a good player who does the core roles in every loose forward position very well, but isn't as strong in contact as the other Blues players yet, and I think he'd struggle at the next level currently. Lakai is better as someone who can play in all 3 positions in the loose.
I wouldn't be surprised if Ioane makes the All Blacks ahead of Sotutu, to be perfectly honest.
If the selectors plump for Savea, Papali'i, Finau, Lakai and Blackadder then I think all the positions are fairly well covered so there's no desperate need to go for any specific specialists, in which case either Sotutu or Ioane fits the bill, and I think Ioane is better suited to Test rugby.
To some degree it depends on what TWM are looking for. If they want specialist 7s and 8s, then Paps, Lakai, RD and Hoskins ought to be selected. Finau will be the hitman 6, which would leave Blackadder, Akira and Jacobson fighting for last place. The former has disadvantage of only having two games on which to be judged.
Tough area to pick from
Who the heck is RD?
