All Blacks 2024
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@1kiwi said in All Blacks 2024:
What does Fihaki's call up mean for someone like Stevenson?
That you have to make an effort on both sides of the ball?
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@1kiwi said in All Blacks 2024:
What does Fihaki's call up mean for someone like Stevenson?
because he's got similar dimensions to Jordie (102kg over 192cm) and plays 12 unlike Stevenson?
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@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2024:
@1kiwi said in All Blacks 2024:
What does Fihaki's call up mean for someone like Stevenson?
because he's got similar dimensions to Jordie (102kg over 192cm) and plays 12 unlike Stevenson?
What? Fihaki plays 12? Have I missed something? (Genuine question)
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I’m as big a Crusader and Razor fan as they come. But what the hell are they thinking.
Definitely a lot better players out there than him. -
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2024:
@1kiwi said in All Blacks 2024:
What does Fihaki's call up mean for someone like Stevenson?
and plays 12 unlike Stevenson?
No he doesn’t.
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Fihaki is a bizarre selection, but then also not that outrageous on the basis he is there to cover Love as a fullback...
B Barrett has been ill, Perofeta and Love already injured, Stevenson (meh) and off to league supposedly. Who has he edged out? Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and Sullivan?
I mean I'd have those two over him, but also not a huge deal. People just don't like what it represents (another Crusaders player) which is fair. If Fihaki didn't play for the Crusaders, I'm not sure his selection would be seen as a huge deal.
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@Landers92 yes, for Canterbury he has lots, and at the end of games for Crusaders he's finished there.
Razor in his Crusaders days said he had potential to be a great 12.
I don't rate him that highly.. but he's got a point of difference due to his physical dimensions, similar to a young Jordie - he's filled out a bit more now... also massive boot on the kid - and very long levers providing good offloading platform from 12.
It's not like he's not going to play but he's a good squad pick since he covers 11-15.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024:
Fihaki is a bizarre selection, but then also not that outrageous on the basis he is there to cover Love as a fullback...
B Barrett has been ill, Perofeta and Love already injured, Stevenson (meh) and off to league supposedly. Who has he edged out? Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and Sullivan?
I mean I'd have those two over him, but also not a huge deal. People just don't like what it represents (another Crusaders player) which is fair. If Fihaki didn't play for the Crusaders, I'm not sure his selection would be seen as a huge deal.
I think it would.
I'm quite a fan, but he has been terrible at times and rightfully shouldn't start in the Crusaders top team. How that gets him to the ABs ahead of, well, any other FB/wing from another Super side is a bit astounding.
The coaches clearly don't care about their Crusaders bias, but it will be self-fulfilling if they scare off talent from every other team.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024:
f Fihaki didn't play for the Crusaders, I'm not sure his selection would be seen as a huge deal.
Would he be selected if he didn't play for the Crusaders? I don't think so, I think he's a known quantity to the Crusaders dominated coaching group.
I don't care who he plays for, he's never screamed select me for the ABs. But, maybe he'll be one of those guys who rises to the occasion for the ABs?
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2024:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2024:
f Fihaki didn't play for the Crusaders, I'm not sure his selection would be seen as a huge deal.
Would he be selected if he didn't play for the Crusaders? I don't think so, I think he's a known quantity to the Crusaders dominated coaching group.
I don't care who he plays for, he's never screamed select me for the ABs. But, maybe he'll be one of those guys who rises to the occasion for the ABs?
I like his size, speed, and capability to kick goals, so he has future wing/FB talent. However, he feels quite some time away from that and this is why we should have the AB15 playing right now, as selected by the AB selectors. We could then see where others were in the talent line - of course, when everyone sees that is straight the Crusaders academy, we might see that the emperor has no clothes.
I don't know where, but this bugs me - from a past interview with Razor, he was going on about taking guys from club/academy to the ABs. It seemed a strange thing for the incoming AB coach to be saying, but it jumps out now as it seems like he is still bringing that idea of continuing to give opportunities to those he knows.
