@ARHS said in European Club Rugby:
It is making inroads in the Pacific islands
How many people does it represent ?
I am talking of nations like France (66 millions people), Italy (59 millions), South Africa (63 millions), Japan (124 millions), UK (68 millions), Argentina (45 millions) ... That makes a lot of potential viewers. Rugby is making inroads in Brazil (211 millions), Spain (48 millions) and Portugal (11 millions).
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
There was no dominance of any kind from the Crusaders scrum when the Blues had the full quota of forwards and props on the field.
The Blues had two yellow cards in the forwards and had two hookers in the frontrow at one stage if you didn't notice. That was the only time the Crusaders looked like they were getting any ascendancy but mostly the scrum just went sideways in those passages of play.
No, the Blues scrum was monstered twice when Ta'avao and Lay were propping together with Tuipolutu and Beehre behind them.
RL is nearly non existent in most countries (South Africa, France, Ireland, Argentina, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Georgia, Japan, aso ...). There are only two serious opponents (Australia and Great Britain) for the Kiwis. On long and possibly mid term, this could weary the under 30s.
@WoodysRFC said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
@cgrant said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:
Attisogbe is a gun. Better than Penaud IMO. Best winger in France behind LBB.
I agree. I think he's fantastic. I wish we had someone like him.
I'm sure he is immensely talented, but that highlights video didn't exactly make me think he's something we don't already have. One of the highlights was him head-highing someone.
This is not a good video. He has been outstanding during the Top 14 and and the few games he played in blue. He is class and has speed to burn, more speed than the 2024 AB wingers.
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:
If only the 2025 SR's performances are taken into account, then certainties like Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipolutu shouldn't be in the squad. The only Blues players deserving a selection are AJ Lam and Dalton Papali'i.
Who would you pick over Tuipulotu at Lock? His form during the last 3 weeks has been very good - when it counts.
Blues have 100% success rate in scrum and restarts in the last 3 games. They comfortably won the most lineouts in the first 2 games and won 100% of lineouts off their own ball against the Crusaders compared to the Crusaders 75%.
On what basis do you think Tuipolotu shouldn't be in the squad?
He will be in the squad, that's for sure. His efforts in the last games were far better but the Blues scrum was back pedalling against the Crusaders during the semi final. That may be Ta'avao's and Lay's fault but not exclusively. Tuipolutu's LO work has been consistently efficient though.
Concerning Beehre, I think he had a better overall season than Tuipolutu. His future looks bright but I think he won't be selected before the EOYT or next year.
As far as locks are concerned, Scott Barrett did not have a great season so far. He has been very anonymous in the first two thirds of the SR. On pure form, Shalfoon should be selected and not him. Of course, this won't happen. My post was just a thought about selection criterias and these will probably not take the SR performances into account but will rely essentially on experience and possibly Crusaders favoritism.
It's gonna be very hot in Italy, with temperatures above 30°C for the games played in the afternoon. Big and heavy forwards will suffer from the heat.
No Abraham Papali'i (Castres Olympique) is a surprise to me. He is a huge Nr.8 (194 cm, 126 kg) and has been used all year long as a human bulldozer in the Top 14.
@sparky said in European Club Rugby:
Twickenham was an 80,000 sell out for the Premiership Final yesterday, whereas Wembley was only 3/4 full for the Rugby League Challenge Cup last weekend.
League may be the dominant code in Australia and is rapidly overtaking Rugby in New Zealand, but Rugby is the code bringing in the punters in much greater numbers in England.
The Kiwis will never beat the All Blacks in terms of glory and reputation.
If only the 2025 SR's performances are taken into account, then certainties like Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipolutu shouldn't be in the squad. The only Blues players deserving a selection are AJ Lam and Dalton Papali'i.
Antonio Shalfoon has a good chance to be selected : he was best Crusaders' lock this year. and his inclusion could add more cohesion to the front five, next to his Crusaders teammates.
Attisogbe is a gun. Better than Penaud IMO. Best winger in France behind LBB.
One of the Best wingers of all time. He will be missed.
Chiefs - Crusaders - Brumbies
Chiefs - Crusaders - Hurricanes
Hurricanes will have to face 27 men. I reckon it is too much for them.
Bolters XV
Norris
Moananu
Dyer
Holland
Beehre
Howden
Ķirifi
Parker
Roe
Reihana
Carter
Tavatavanawai
Tele'a
Tangitau
Kneepkens
Schwalger instead of Goodes and Billy Cavubati instead of Tialata. Big Billy Cavubati was fun to watch.
I regret the times when the AB forwards did not have to achieve parity to allow the backs to win the games. With minimal possession, the likes of Carter, Nonu, Conrad and Ben Smith, J. Savea were talented enough to score tries at will. Good times.
Yes, you may be right but instead of Roigard, the All Blacks had F. Christie who is/was not exactly a game changer.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2025:
@Grooter He's not far away - made the AB's XV last year.
But, it's a tough row to hoe in the loose forwards.
I've picked six - Savea, Sititi, Blackadder, Frizell, Finau, Papalií
But, the you've got, Jacobson, Lakai, Sotutu, Lio-Willie, Haig, Parker, Kirifi, Grace and whomever else you want to throw in that's been mentioned in the thread that I've forgotten. Frizz might not be back.
Since when has he achieved such levels of Richie Mounganess ?
One excellent test against the Boks and some inconsistency apart from that doesn't really justify it.
You're welcome to pick your own team.
I reckon if Frizz is back he'll be close.
@Canes4life said - Most of the ABs atm aren’t automatic selections
I reckon at least 75% are - and Razor said this week that they're about 90% there (or something similar).
So let's mark me when they pick their team.
I think if the ABs were selected tomorrow this would be pretty close to what they select IMO. Note, I’ve picked 34 players.
Props:
- Williams
- Lomax
- Tosi
- Newell
- De Groot
- Bower
Hookers:
- Taylor
- Taukei’aho
- Aumua
Locks:
- Darry/Holland
- Barrett
- Tuipolotu
- Va’ai
Loose forwards:
- Sititi
- Savea
- Finau
- Jacobsen
- Lakai
- Blackadder/Papali’i/Kirifi - take your pick.
Halfbacks:
- Roigard
- Ratima
- Hotham/Preston
First fives:
- Barrett
- McKenzie
Centres:
- Barrett - can cover fullback
- Proctor
- Havili
- Ioane - can cover wing
- Leinert-Brown / Tupaea
Outside backs:
- Clarke
- Jordan
- Love
- Narawa
- Reece
You are very conservative. I think there will be one or two bolters.
Ah Kuoi could be useful. My loose forwards would be :
Ah Kuoi - Savea - Sititi - Lakai - Jacobson - Sotutu.
