All Blacks 2024
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@Boston-Boy said in All Blacks 2024:
A bit left field but I think there’s an opportunity to really bolster the ABs pack by considering a grab at Nelson Asofa Solomona. He is a school boy rugby union star, would absolutely be able to handle the SA and any other big men in international rugby with ease, has amazing go forward, would just need to keep him under control. I would also seriously consider making a play for Kalyn Ponga. These two players are currently unsettled and would be superstars in the game both having played Union. Just a left wing suggestion but well worth consideration.
As a storm and an allblacks supporter I’ve often thought of Nelson as one that got away , but I suspect it’s a bit late now.
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@kiwiinmelb he’s 28 and apparently the Storm want to move on his contract. I would definitely back him for 4 more years. A lot to gain, the Bomb squad would struggle to control him. He would provide a power upgrade the ABs would not have seen for years. Then there’s Ponga who would revolutionise the backline & both have had dreams of playing for the ABs.
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Maybe this year 2024 will be a repeat of 2004, 1st season of new coaching regime, SA win the RC/Tri Nations, All Blacks eventually pull it together and go through the northern tour dominant and undefeated.
Could very well happen except NH teams aren't rubbish like they were in the mid-2000's and Razor's assistant group of S.Hansen, Ryan, Holland, Ellison, doesn't hold a candle to Henry's with Hansen, Cron and Smith - the GOAT.
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@Boston-Boy said in All Blacks 2024:
@kiwiinmelb he’s 28 and apparently the Storm want to move on his contract. I would definitely back him for 4 more years. A lot to gain, the Bomb squad would struggle to control him. He would provide a power upgrade the ABs would not have seen for years. Then there’s Ponga who would revolutionise the backline & both have had dreams of playing for the ABs.
Usually storm move on forwards if it looks like they won’t be able to match offers and back their youngsters instead , so I guess it would depend on what his motives are , there will be big money offers. On the table from rival nrl clubs you would suspect .
If he wanted to try his hand at super rugby I wouldn’t be opposed to it .
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@kiwiinmelb he’s not value for money for them. He’s often an impact player off the bench and while he’s effective the money he’s being paid and game storm play they need more. I think Union would be a great and refreshing change for him and is his first love. Imagine him in the scrum? A bit heavy to lift at lineout 🫣.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
Has c4l been struck with dementia and created a new login?
Who are you talking to old man?
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
Has c4l been struck with dementia and created a new login?
Who are you talking to old man?
It's the return of NAS.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
Has c4l been struck with dementia and created a new login?
Who are you talking to old man?
It's the return of NAS.
Oh yeah, not a fan of him anymore. That guy had all the potential in the world when he left school but he’s probably also one of the dumbest players to grace a footy field. Wouldn’t want him anywhere near the ABs now.
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@Boston-Boy said in All Blacks 2024:
@kiwiinmelb he’s 28 and apparently the Storm want to move on his contract. I would definitely back him for 4 more years. A lot to gain, the Bomb squad would struggle to control him. He would provide a power upgrade the ABs would not have seen for years. Then there’s Ponga who would revolutionise the backline & both have had dreams of playing for the ABs.
Ponga, a poor man’s Benji Marshall.
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@Boston-Boy said in All Blacks 2024:
A bit left field but I think there’s an opportunity to really bolster the ABs pack by considering a grab at Nelson Asofa Solomona.
It's a very small list of League internationals who became successful International forwards in Union.
Brad Thorn
That's it.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024:
@Boston-Boy said in All Blacks 2024:
A bit left field but I think there’s an opportunity to really bolster the ABs pack by considering a grab at Nelson Asofa Solomona.
It's a very small list of League internationals who became successful International forwards in Union.
Brad Thorn
That's it.
Was pretty much going to say this but then the girl told me I had to cook dinner so put it on hold…..
For every Brad Thorn there’s countless Sam Burgess’s, Willie Masons, Peter Ryans and whoever else.
Also the Bomb squad look physically capable of handling anyone.
He’s Bob Hope and no Hope of being an AB.
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@Boston-Boy said in All Blacks 2024:
@kiwiinmelb he’s 28 and apparently the Storm want to move on his contract. I would definitely back him for 4 more years. A lot to gain, the Bomb squad would struggle to control him. He would provide a power upgrade the ABs would not have seen for years. Then there’s Ponga who would revolutionise the backline & both have had dreams of playing for the ABs.
Yeah, nah.
I know this is just a random/not possible scenario and a little bit of fun but I’d say he would have little to no chance. By the time he’s changed his body, learned the game etc(it’s changed a lot since he last played) , he would also be 30/31, rather see a young guy coming through that we have a good 5-8 years with.
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It funny how the Hurricanes topped the SR standings, the attacking metrics, all the key stats except defense (Blues) with their loose forwards being a standout area, yet the only Canes player who gets brought into the AB squad is the guy who was noticeably absent (and definitely not missed) as the Canes backrow look better and more balanced than it had in eons. How did Flanders, Lakai, Iose not get a look in based on form? Meanwhile Ardie was seagulling about in a mickey mouse league and Razor rolls out the red carpet.....
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@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2024:
It funny how the Hurricanes topped the SR standings and their loose forwards were standout area yet the only guy who gets brought into the AB squad is the guy who was noticeably absent (and definitely not missed) as the Canes backrow look better and more balanced than it had eons. How did Flanders, Lakai, Iose not get a look in based on form? Meanwhile Ardie was seagulling about in a mickey mouse league and Razor rolls out the red carpet.....
Mate, the two best packs of the comp (aside from the Chiefs playing out of their skin and the Canes playing poorly in the SF) were the Canes and Blues, both in personnel and style of play. Clearly Razor doesn't think their smash mouth style of play translates to test level...
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I found this dramatisation of Razor explaining his ABs philosophy to Rassie
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/b2551dab-4562-4405-bf93-a9dd376eedfe
Obviously the guy on the left is Razor...
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IMHO if we had won RWC23 it would have been extraordinary, and would have papered over the cracks of the shortcomings of the team in the Foster era. I don't know whether it feels like Razor is on the right track or not especially in terms of personnel, but it is very early in his tenure and if you agree with the first statement, he will need some time to sort everything out. That first 60 in Joburg felt like there was something there to build on. If he can split the SA series in Capetown on the weekend (or at least run them close, playing well), and retain the Bled with some convincing displays against Aussie, I will be cautiously optimistic. But like other ABs coaches before him, he will need to pick his players well. If he hitches his wagon to the wrong ones at the expense of trying others, as Foster did, we will be in for a bumpy ride
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@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2024:
Maybe this year 2024 will be a repeat of 2004, 1st season of new coaching regime, SA win the RC/Tri Nations, All Blacks eventually pull it together and go through the northern tour dominant and undefeated.
And having developed a squad of unprecedented strength Razor goes on to lose in a RWC quarter final because of a work experience ref?
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@canefan My biggest criticism of Razor's coaching of the ABs at this early stage has been his selection, firstly choosing Rangi as Assistant Coach when they clearly didn't agree on the game plan, then leaving out of his squad completely the form NZ Number 8.
His strengths seem to be his man management skills, his energy and his confidence.
A long way to go, but I'd give him 6 out of 10 so far.
