The Silver Fern

To be thrown a lifeline by NZR and the Crusaders and to then do that and throw it back in their face is something else. Keep in mind Razor was the coach that wanted to give him a chance back then too. Really hope we never see him in the AB jersey again, embarrassing he was even an AB this year with it hanging over his head. You can’t tell me management didn’t know about it…

I saw him at the Christchurch cup day(the night this happened) and he was absolutely munted, not a care in the world for how he was carrying on. Just a bad look all round. Should 100% be charged, everyone else would.

@mikey07 said in Hurricanes 2025:

@Canes4life what I find intriguing is the likes of Love and Kirifi who were in the ABs but never played does that make their rest period the same as the ABs that played. They don’t play at all for the last couple of weeks.

To my understanding Ruben Love was returning to NZ to have ankle surgery. Told it’s likely to just be a tidy up and shouldn’t miss the start of Super.

Jordan Petaia(Reds and Wallaby) is off to the states to join the NFL International Player Pathway in 2025. Big loss for the Reds and Aussie rugby, especially at the age of 24. Writing was on the wall when he wasn’t named in the squad but now there’s confirmation of his departure.

@Canes4life Nic Souchon. Played for Otago, Southland and BOP and has most recently been over in the states in the MLR. Plays hooker.

@WoodysRFC said in Highlanders 2025:

@Landers92 what image is that?

Hopefully that link works mate.

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:

Josh Tengbald is an absolute unit. I reckon the Highlanders have quite possibly planned for him being contracted in 2026, which is possibly part of the reason we only have two locks for 2025

Clearly head and shoulders taller than everyone else. Although, can't quite work out who he is standing beside.

That’s Sean Withy in the middle and looks like Kyan Rangitutia beside him who also seems to be a tall set up, especially for an outside back.

Looks like there is a new jersey for this season. Not a lot of change but slight design change and collar change. Posted highlanders shop link below if you want to check it out.

159 NZD

Highlanders Mens Replica Jersey 2025 Home

Highlanders sublimated replica jersey with rib collar and cover stitch seams for comfort and performance. Bound hem and sleeves with embroidered chest logos, printed sponsors and Anti-Microbial and Wickable finish. STAY COOL Tech fabric.

Found out tonight that Taine Robinson has been signed on a 2 year deal. Thought that was an interesting bit of info and also good to know it’s not just a 1 year prove it deal.

Saw this online and thought it was interesting. All relative of course but worth a share so typed it out below. Hope it’s easy enough to comprehend. One thing we can all agree on for 2024 is that there is plenty of room for improvement.

ALL BLACKS HEAD COACHES - 1ST 14 TESTS IN CHARGE

SCOTT ROBERTSON - Played 14, Won 10, Lost 4, Win percent 71%, Vs top 5 sides 2/6

IAN FOSTER - Played 14, Won 11, Draw 1, Lost 2, Win Percent 78%, Vs Top 5 Sides 3/3

SIR STEVE HANSEN - Played 14, Won 12, Draw 1, Lost 1, Win percent 85%, Vs Top Sides 4/6

SIR GRAHAM HENRY - Played 14, Won 12, Lost 2, Win percent 85%, Vs Top 5 sides 5/7

JOHN MITCHELL - Played 14, Won 11, Drew 1, Lost 2, Win percent 78%, Vs Top 5 sides 3/6

@Mattasaurus said in All Blacks 2024:

knee jerk reaction for the 2025 season - fowards generally not too bad this year..... backs.... hard to pencil anyone in outside of 9

1. Ethan de Groot / Williams ----- pen them in.
2. Codie Taylor / Aumua ------ pen them in
3. Tyrel Lomax / Fletcher Newell --------------- pen them in
4. Scott Barrett --- Shadow of the player he was last two years - captaincy not suiting him?
5. Patrick Tuipulotu - probably his best season in black - Pen him in
   (LOCKING pleasingly we have good competition in the locking department so pick on form)
6. Wallace Sititi - PEN HIM IN probably 8 --- ridiculous we needed an injury to see him selected
7. Sam Cane - warrior -- thanks for the service -- position available ffs please pick on form. (Lakai possibly leading contender)
8. Ardie Savea - passed his use by date - needs to earn selection
9. Cam Roigard -- I'd pen him in but Ratima and Hotham are not bad so would select on form.
10. Beauden Barrett at least 3 years passed his used by date
    10 Damian McKenzie -- a better option than BB but like BBs dinky kicks.. Dmac can go sideways headless chicken a bit too much - POSITION OPEN - we need to be brave and select on form
11. Caleb Clarke - his best season and only outside back Id keep on form
12. Anton Lienert-Brown . Jordie / good D zero creativity - position open
13. Rieko Ioane -- Good D zero creativity - position open
14. Mark Tele’a / Reece -- see yas we need youth and speed
15. Will Jordan -- try scoring machine but I am not convinced -- select position on form and ffs choose a specialist 15 please

Unfortunately we have some how got to the point that players retain the jersey far too easily - selections should be ruthlessly earned.

rant over -- see you all in 2025

Pretty bang on but I’d swap Tosi in for Newell and Vaa’i in for Tuipolotu. Tuipolotu has proven he’s better suited to coming off the bench and Vaa’i has been one of the top players for the ABs this year.

@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2024:

@canefan Would his departure likely coincide with Richie Mounga's return to New Zealand? What is actually happening, is he coming back late next year or in 2026?

His contract runs through the 2025/26 season which ends around May/June 2026. As it stands, he would be able to return to NZ in mid 2026.

I’m guessing NZR are wanting to negotiate something there to get him back earlier than that.

@gt12 Hoping to find out a lot when the team returns to New Zealand. I’ll add this to the list haha

@Crazy-Horse said in Italy v All Blacks:

@Landers92 said in Italy v All Blacks:

I just so happened to be up last night when the team was posted on instagram. There was a typo so that post was taken down but before they did I read the comments.

Thought it was quite interesting that TJ Perenaras wife commented with the emoji ‘😴’. Would love to know what’s been said to her from TJ. My guess is her and some players are feeling the same exact way the fern are regarding selections.

I don’t want to make it out to be more than it is but I did think it was interesting and thought I’d share for something to discuss.

I might be in the minority, but I find it very difficult to understand what people are trying to say when they use emojis. I have a friend that uses them all the time and I am always asking for clarification.

Yeah mate that’s fair enough. I just thought I’d share it anyway as I thought it was interesting. There must be something to it, in my opinion.

I just so happened to be up last night when the team was posted on instagram. There was a typo so that post was taken down but before they did I read the comments.

Thought it was quite interesting that TJ Perenaras wife commented with the emoji ‘😴’. Would love to know what’s been said to her from TJ. My guess is her and some players are feeling the same exact way the fern are regarding selections.

I don’t want to make it out to be more than it is but I did think it was interesting and thought I’d share for something to discuss.

@ACT-Crusader said in Italy v All Blacks:

@Landers92 said in Italy v All Blacks:

@frugby said in Italy v All Blacks:

I would have liked to have seen Bell, Holland etc. get a game, but other than it being nice for them and their families, I am not sure it proves anything, because of the level of opposition, and the fact the next test is 9 months after this

And playing your near full strength squad does?

ALL BLACKS: v ITALY 2004 EOYT
S. Taumoepeau
A. D. Oliver
C. J. Hayman
C. R. Jack
N. M. C. Maxwell
J. Collins
R. H. McCaw
M. M. Tuiali'i
B. T. Kelleher
D. W. Carter
J. T. Rokocoko
J. F. Umaga (C)
C. G. Smith
R. L. Gear
J. M. Muliaina

Ok, thanks, I guess?

@frugby said in Italy v All Blacks:

I would have liked to have seen Bell, Holland etc. get a game, but other than it being nice for them and their families, I am not sure it proves anything, because of the level of opposition, and the fact the next test is 9 months after this

And playing your near full strength squad does?

As you’ll see on one of my posts further up in this thread, I said I was told to not expect many changes, I didn’t want to believe it but it has rung true. Actually quite disappointing that there are guys on this tour who were with the team all along and they aren’t getting at least a bench spot against a weaker Italy side.

What are we achieving by having Havili on the bench? I can understand TJ and Cane getting their send offs but yeah, slightly disappointing when there are guys like Ruben Love and Josh Lord who should of at least been given some reward.

Team to play Italy.

All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot 2. Codie Taylor 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Scott Barrett (c) 5. Patrick Tuipulotu 6. Wallace Sititi 7. Sam Cane 8. Ardie Savea 9. Cam Roigard 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Anton Lienert-Brown 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Mark Tele'a 15. Will Jordan

Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi 18. Fletcher Newell 19. Tupou Vaa'i 20. Peter Lakai 21. TJ Perenara 22. David Havili 23. Damian McKenzie

My team prediction. Not what I’ve been told, just a guess based off info I posted above.

1. EDG
2. Aumua
3. Tosi
4. Tuipolotu
5. Barrett
6. Sititi
7. Cane
8. Savea
9. TJP
10. Dmac
11. Clarke
12. Havili
13. ALB
14. Reece
15. Perofeta

Bench
16. Bell
17. Ofa
18. Newell
19. Lord
20. Lakai
21. Roigard
22. BB
23. Ioane

I’ve named 3 players who haven’t played on tour yet(excluding Japan) in the starting side with 2 on the bench. Starting - EDG, TJP, Havili. Bench - Newell & Lord.

All players on tour including injury cover to have not played - Love, Lam, Holland, Lio-Willie, Fihaki. My bad if I’ve missed anyone.

Again, that’s what I think they will do. Not what I would do or not what I’ve been told the team is. Bring on team naming.

Players I can think of that haven’t played against England, Ireland or France below.

Lio-Willie
Lord
Newell
EDG
Love
Havili
TJP

Interesting to see who of the above doesn’t play if that’s true.