All Blacks 2024
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:
I don't know what the dynamics in an AB camp are like, but there must be a feeling in private from some of the guys that Blackadder is the boss's pet. Ethan is going to have to be a machine to reinforce his credentials
I think Ethan is generally pretty well-liked by both players and coaches and certainly highly regarded for his work ethic. See Ryan's and Codie Taylor's comments in the first article - and then for the stats lovers the Crusaders' broncos times from a few years ago.
There's a podcast somewhere where he says he's done 4.32, but was disappointed not to have done 4.29, presumably to break Richie's record.
Blockbusting Ethan Blackadder making all the right moves
Young All Blacks flanker Ethan Blackadder is very quickly making a name for himself.
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@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:
The fact Love was running at 10 during that camp might tell you how big the gap is between those named and the next tier below that werenât.
The next tier among those teams that didn't make the final
Haha yeah mate, hence why I said the gap between those named(Dmac and Perofeta were in the final).
Interesting they didnât take a look at any other 10s that werenât playing in the final is my point. Eg Someone they are eyeing up for ABâs XV.
I wouldnât read too much into that given thereâs the Maori games that are imminent and the AB XV options will largely depend on whoâs available / not injured much later in the year.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:
@Bones Taylor added. âI have so much respect for that. I love him as a bloke. He is a bloody top lad and I know everyone else in the team feels the same.â
Sounds like full support of the BoardâŚ.
If Foster was still coach Blackadder would be there. Donât see too much controversy there. The Sititi call is the one.
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@Canes4life
Really really good!!! -
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:
@Bones Taylor added. âI have so much respect for that. I love him as a bloke. He is a bloody top lad and I know everyone else in the team feels the same.â
I believe they call that "hearsay"....
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@Bones You'll have to ask Codie how he knows.
I think he's a pretty relatable guy. Didn't come through the usual rugby channels.
Didn't play rugby at High School until the 7th form - and then I think only for the third XV and because all his mates were playing.
Then Senior B in Nelson first year out of school - which is a pretty social grade.
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Sorutu has birthright eligibility for England through his mother, so the stand down period needs to be 3 years if you want to play for another country.
Sotutuâs last game for the ABs was 19/11/2022.
So he is eligible on 20/11/2025.
He is contracted to the NZR until 2026 and England only select players from within England. So he would have to get early release and sign for an English club for later this year or start of the next season which would be August 2025
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While we can speculate on which loosie is better than the other what we do know is that they are all slightly different but all very very good.
We also know that we are no longer in the Mitchel days of coaching and I am sure the players missing out have been told what they need to do to get in .... in a position that has lots of injurys and with an ABs XV and MÄori's and 14 tests this year. I'm pretty sure there will be room for Hoskins to show what he can do sometime this year.When you interview for jobs and have three outstanding candidates the final reason for picking one over the other can be quite frankly a coin toss. I dont think they actually tossed a coin but decided they had seen something they wanted just a tiny bit more in one player over the other.
And there's only one way to find out. -
Lock, 10 and 12 are still the biggest holes to fill.
We've gone with three locks, two of which are slightly broken/injured, Two 15s who play 10 (well but are actually both best at 15) but no up and comers, and 1 specialist 12.
Will they trt to convert Proctor to 12? -
Could we have some positivism about Sotutu, please? The man's got a skill set which is unique in New Zealand rugby. TWM ought to be focussed on how to get him to reach his potential, which if they succeed should have him remembered as a great All Black.
After all, at the end of the day, we're all in this together. -
@pakman said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:
Could we have some positivism about Sotutu, please? The man's got a skill set which is unique in New Zealand rugby. TWM ought to be focussed on how to get him to reach his potential, which if they succeed should have him remembered as a great All Black.
After all, at the end of the day, we're all in this together.To be fair, Sititi so far has shades of Lauaki/Vunipola with a high work rate. So can't fault that selection.
It's just puzzling that a centre that can play 8 has no versatility and Josh Blackie reincarnated is preferred.
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@Darren said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:
We all know Blackadder is going to break, and then it will be interesting who they call in.
Will it be Grace or Sotutu?
Will the fern meltdown escalate?I have a feeling it would be Grace. If Savea broke I think it would be Sotutu.
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:
Ethan's games as AB
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced
2021
3 Jul vs Tonga at Auckland 102-0 (+)
10 Jul vs Fiji at Dunedin 57-23
5 Sep vs Australia at Perth 38-21 (+)
12 Sep vs Argentina at Robina 39-0 (+)
18 Sep vs Argentina at Brisbane 36-13
25 Sep vs South Africa at Townsville 19-17
2 Oct vs South Africa at Robina 29-31 (+)
30 Oct vs Wales at Cardiff 54-16
13 Nov vs Ireland at Dublin 20-29 (-)2023
5 Oct vs Uruguay at Lyon 73-0 (+)This is pretty damning.
Permanently injured player who doesn't appear to have the frame or game to play 6 just strolls back in - when he effectively hasn't played test rugby for 3 years (and wasn't even established 3 years ago).
Instead of making a call on Jacobson vs Blackadder they've effectively just picked the same player twice.
