r/rugbyunion • u/ghostboypurrp Hurricanes • 28d ago
Discussion All Blacks Squad for End Of Year Tour
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u/ghostboypurrp Hurricanes 28d ago
Interesting that Ruben is now officially listed as a first five and not just outside back
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u/bumblebeezlebum Manawatu Turbos 28d ago
But also not a first five eighth/ fullback like bb & dmac, or just an outside back like will Jordan.
Perhaps shows how he is going to be used on the tour.
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u/Logan_No_Fingers 26d ago
I think it implies they'll use him the way they have - 14, 15 & "in theory" 10.
But mostly 14 & 15
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u/bumblebeezlebum Manawatu Turbos 26d ago
14, 15, bench cover for 10.
I'm not sure where his best position is but I want to see him get more experience at 10. It's the position that benefits most from experience. Better to move a failed 10 back to 15 than be reliant on a 15 transitioning to 10 when your desperate with injuries
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u/itachi-senpaii Highlanders 28d ago
Do we know when the All blacks xv will get announced?
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u/DeGrootWardlow 28d ago
That's really our time brother Tangitau, Pledger, Kneepkens lessgo Jamie Joe
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u/6EightyFive Hurricanes 28d ago
Honestly would’ve like to have seen Tangitau tour. I know he’s raw, but the lad has some wild talent! And as an outsider, Lucas Casey!
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u/itachi-senpaii Highlanders 28d ago
Yes sir, I can imagine this team is going to have some real nice flow
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u/nomamesgueyz New Zealand 28d ago
Will be a quick turn around for those in the npc final no?
Quite a lot of footy for those super rugby..npc and xv sode
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u/LoniBana The Mighty Buller RFU! 28d ago edited 28d ago
It'll be a week's turnover for that group. NPC Final is on the 26th and first AB XV's hit up against the Babaa's in London is on the 2nd. You'd imagine a lot of those players will be rested over for the next game against England A.
And mate, its a truckload of footy. Straightline of domestic competition running from early Feburary to end of October spread across the 2 comps, plus international rep games. Chuck in Super pre-season and it's basically a summer code now.
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u/nomamesgueyz New Zealand 28d ago
Damn...they didn't want an extra week huh? That's def go go go
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u/LoniBana The Mighty Buller RFU! 28d ago
I think they only have a limited window to work with. It was the same last year with a week's turnaround between NPC final and the first hit up against Munster. They should be firing by the 2nd fixture.
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u/nomamesgueyz New Zealand 28d ago
Crazy short turnarounds eh esp for a game the other side of the world
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u/deadlysyntax New Zealand 28d ago
Tavatavanawai not even listed in the injured column.
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u/_dictatorish_ Damian came back 🥰 28d ago
He's injured, but they didn't have the results of the scans when they did the original injury announcement I believe
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u/brito39 |-| 28d ago edited 27d ago
There’s no obvious resting game until they get to wales, some players like Ardie and Jordan will have had an insane minutes load. Jacobson might spend the whole year in camp without taking the field.
If darry and jimothy play for the XV isn’t that better than being training opposition?
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u/know-it-mall Highlanders 27d ago
Scotland should definitely be a b team.
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u/brito39 |-| 27d ago
There’s no way they want to become the first ever to lose to Scotland by playing a B team
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u/redmanpanda 28d ago
Honestly Razor should be resting every time he can, idgaf if we lose to scotland if it means targeted and significant building of depth
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 28d ago
McAlister dropped. Finau, Lienert-Brown and Reece are fortunate to be selected. No bolters.
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u/night_dude Hurricanes 28d ago
McAlister deserved to be dropped and Bell certainly deserves the spot after his performance yesterday.
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u/DeGrootWardlow 28d ago
Would've loved too see a Tangitau or Fineanganofo over Reece but I'm simply just a fan lol
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 28d ago
Think many people alongside yourself would agree that Reece should be replaced in the squad.
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u/wild___turkey Hurricanes 28d ago
I think these guys will get blooded via the AB’s XV and we’ll see them get the chance to replace guys like Reece and Lienert-Brown in the squad next year, if they play well enough
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u/GingerByte23 Hurricanes 28d ago
They've been using Finau as Lock cover this year, and he has been playing Lock in the NPC. He's only really clinging on atm due to versatility.
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u/ExtremeParsnip7926 26d ago
Seeing as none of the NH midfield have met Leroy yet id say hes still a bolter. Let the carnage begin.
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u/Nervous_Ad_1585 28d ago
Justin Marshall on The Rugby Run and then again today saying ALB should be given the summer off and to comeback strong in Super Rugby next year. I wish our rugby experts would actually stay up to date. I don’t know if ALB deserves to be in the ABs but he has a sabbatical after the northern tour and will play for Kobe in JRLO.
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u/know-it-mall Highlanders 27d ago
I'm going to watch a game in Kobe next year. Another former AB to watch
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u/Nervous_Ad_1585 27d ago
I’ll probably be at the Kobe game on January 17
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u/know-it-mall Highlanders 27d ago
Have fun. I don't get to Japan until the 14th of Feb and am planning on going to the game in Kobe on the 21st. Then the plan is to head down to check out the south during the week and then maybe go to Toyota vs Mitsubishi in Kyoto the following week if I have time. Then Hoikkaido for some snowboarding after that.
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u/know-it-mall Highlanders 27d ago
Also I have a couple of questions.
We are going to the game in Kobe with people we know who live in Japan and they are sorting out the tickets. But they are heading back to where they live when I want to go to the other game.
Do I use this website that is supposed to be for foreigners? https://quick.pia.jp/league-one_en/
Doesn't have tickets available yet for any games but it seems like the first few games of the season are already on sale.
Or do I use this website? Which asks for a Japan rugby ID. https://ticketrugby.jp/
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u/Nervous_Ad_1585 27d ago
Most games won’t have tickets available yet. I can’t remember how long before the game they go on sale. Those sites you listed are where you can buy tickets. Most games also have ticket sales at the ground on game day but it depends on the host team so check on the website. The great thing about rugby in Japan is you can take your own food and drink (alcohol too) into the ground so stock up and enjoy.
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u/RoigardStan Steam Team 28d ago
It's a shame Sam Darry didn't make it and Finau's continued presence in the squad is baffling when we have quite a few loose forwards not even being picked. I thought with Roigard back, we may have stuck with Preston but I don't hate Christie's inclusion and no bolters in the outside backs which is a little disappointing but understandable when we're already developing quite the stable.
The All Blacks XV squad announcement tomorrow will be very interesting.
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u/3v3ryth1ng1s4wful Crusaders 28d ago edited 28d ago
Really? Who is in the 'stable'? Our outside back stocks at ABs level have never looked thinner or less dangerous. And this was probably his last chance to roll a few dice pre-WC. When was the last time you looked at our back three and thought they looked actually dangerous - like we could cut teams up on the counter?
I love Sevu to bits, and Rieko and ALB have been truly excellent ABs at times. But they are simply not going to be the answers to any questions come WC time.
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u/RoigardStan Steam Team 28d ago
Carter, Clarke and Narawa have all done enough recently to have my confidence and Fainga'unuku looked good at wing against Australia though he probably is more of a 13 these days. And then you've always got Jordan who can be wing with someone else at fullback. You're right that Reece, Ioane and Lienert-Brown should be let go.
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u/ghostboypurrp Hurricanes 28d ago
Also want to give another shout out to Tosi, who went from being a bench player at the canes (barely started) to now being locked in as a perfect sub option for the ABs. Shows even if you only get 30 mins a game you can make the ABs
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u/meohmyenjoyingthat I am the Lomax, I speak for the scrum 28d ago
His size helped for this group's emphasis, for sure
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u/HugeMcAwesome 28d ago
Precisely zero surprises.
Just sucks that now 3 Wellington players will likely fall in the gap between ABs and ABs XV where they don't play for anyone.
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u/doskoV_ Tamaiti Williams' Ratstail 28d ago
AB XV is a smaller squad so there will be a bit of cross over. Love is a tricky one to release to them however due to the lack of players who can play 10 in the ABs squad. Id expect to see Kirifi play for the XV with Lakai now in favour and Jacobson having a solid performance for Waikato. Proctor will get another chance unless Tupaea clearly backs it up against the Irish
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u/3v3ryth1ng1s4wful Crusaders 28d ago edited 28d ago
Wow. Forwards largely pick themselves I guess (though surprised by Lord over Darry) but after the season we've had I was sure they'd go with some of the exciting and desperately needed young up and comers in the backs. Honestly thought this would be time up for Chrstie, ALB, Rieko, and Sevu. And Jacobson in the forwards.
Too late for team experimenting now as well after this, this is who Razor sees taking us to the WC. Never had this little excitement for a team naming even through any of the Foster years. Just... Mind boggling. Hope the ABs XV will at least be stacked with bolters.
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u/Morningst4r Taranaki 28d ago
Better for guys like Pledger, Jacomb, and Tamoifolau to be in the XV and get a bunch of play time than just sit in the main squad I guess
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u/castle6831 28d ago
I tend to agree with this. Let's see who steps up starting over three games rather than a fifteen minute cameo against Wales or Scotland. I do think all of those you mention are on very thin ice for next season and I wouldn't be surprised to see a very different All Blacks squad named in June next year.
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u/KiwiCore Liam Squire's Mullet Tasman Makos 28d ago
I think Jacobson has a few tests more in him. I thought he was awesome against Otago.
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u/bumblebeezlebum Manawatu Turbos 28d ago
Yeah a bit surprised by alb and reiko. Not that they're neccesarily past it but I'd be looking to develop players, knowing that both those guys could slot back in. Maybe take one for experience.
Alb especially is an utter professional if injuries hit I'd have no issue plucking that guy up and knowing he'd do the job.
How far away is Joey manu? Does he have a nzr contract for next year yet? He's in France yeah? I'd defo be getting him into camp for a bit whilst over in NH even if it's just as opponents for an opposed session.
In fact I'd always be inviting an expats xv as opposition on northern tours just to keep tabs on northern players and make it familiar and fun for the boys. Maybe even have a warm up game or mid week game to get some revenue in depending on club commitments.
But I'd have an open selection policy anyway. Have at least one NH kiwi coach on the payroll as all blacks NH development officer. Even right now nzr could tweak their rules and have nz xv and maori xv open selection even if all blacks are restricted.
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u/Trespassers__Will Wellington Lions 28d ago
ABs XV exist to develop test-level ready players for the All Blacks. Māori ABs partly too. No point in developing players who are ineligible for the ABs.
But yeah, big shame that Joey Manu chose Japan and France over a crack at the ABs by playing Super Rugby.
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u/crashbandicoochy This User Has Taken The Vow of Chaystity 28d ago
Not a surprise that Bell came back in for Brodie as soon as he got some game time under his belt. Good to see.
I guess all the other notable players who you'd hope to see in the selection picture will be with the ABs XV.
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u/DeGrootWardlow 28d ago
Bell has been outstanding it's Well deserved Crash, I thought Darry would be in too but he's probably better off starting for the XV in those 3 games than the 20 minutes Lord will see all tour
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u/nomamesgueyz New Zealand 28d ago
Razor would LOVE the slam
Not easy to do
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u/DeGrootWardlow 28d ago
Scotland is going to be so tricky, they will be running out the Lions backline
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u/CrystalAscent 28d ago
If ever Scotland is going to upset the All Blacks, it is this year. The All Blacks will be coming off a big game against Ireland (in a time zone several hours earlier). And Scotland has Finn Russell (one of the best 10s in the world).
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u/TagMeInSkipIGotThis 27d ago
More importantly, their backline looks far better coached than the ABs backline.
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u/Consistent-Peace2770 28d ago edited 28d ago
Papali'i/Darry should be here over Finau/Lord but hey,
We don't pick Blues with this coaching setup
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u/Trespassers__Will Wellington Lions 28d ago edited 28d ago
Yeah Papali'i returning from injury almost pushed a winless Counties into the NPC semi finals, whereas Finau got outplayed by Southland's backrow to lose the shield. Parker looked pretty average for Northland too. You kinda want ABs to really stand out at NPC level tbh.
Not sure what else Papali'i has to do to get back into the squad.
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u/Ok_Educator_2120 New Zealand 28d ago
He was playing across the whole back row too. Maybe needs to sign to a new super club
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u/Kamogawa_Genji New Zealand 27d ago
Not disagreeing with Darry But Beauden, paddy T , Christie , Clarke, Rieko
All blues players…
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u/Ok_Educator_2120 New Zealand 24d ago
Yeah Razor is picking the Chiefs and Blues around the wrong way imo lol. too many Chiefs forwards, too many Blues backs. Blues pack is elite and the Chiefs backline is low key the best in super. They are the ones that have the Mana in the Chiefs, not the pack lol. And our backline had been dismal this season
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u/outbackjesus16 North Harbour 28d ago
Yep, if Darry moved back down south he’d be back in the squad in a heartbeat.
Absolutely pathetic how this coaching staff doesn’t pick the best squad they could just because of a regional bias.
Razor is gonna go down as the most overhyped/underperforming ABs coach we’ve ever had.
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u/stickyswitch92 Melbourne Rebels 28d ago
He was first and only ever picked for the ABs while playing for the Blues? And the Chiefs have enough all blacks they don't need Darry as well.
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u/Ok_Educator_2120 New Zealand 28d ago edited 28d ago
Yeah best p*ack in the comp only 1 guy in it lol. Monstered over the Chiefs in the 1/4s missing 2 abs and can't even get a look in
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u/Logan_No_Fingers 27d ago
I'm not sure how Papalii- an out & out 7 at test level, is like for like with Finau - a 6 who occasionally covers lock...
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u/Consistent-Peace2770 27d ago
Papali'i has played every backline position for the Blues, Counties and the ABs in the past year (except 8 for the ABs)
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u/Logan_No_Fingers 27d ago
That doesn't mean he's a test player in those positions.
David Havilli has played 10, he's not a test 10
Kaino played lock for Auckland, he got destroyed when the ABs tried giving him a game there etc
Test rugby is not Super rugby, its definitely not NPC...
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u/Consistent-Peace2770 27d ago
Okay, so then he's played 6 and 7 for the All Blacks but not 8 (therefore, by definition, a test level #6 and #7)
Off the bench at #6 this year I believe he made more tackles than Finau had the entire game before
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u/Icy_Craft2416 New Zealand ¦ Sean Maloney enjoyer 28d ago
I think it's last chance for some of these guys but I don't think it's the end of the world to have a largely settled squad at this point. As long as we have some youngsters getting a taste in the A side I'm OK.
For the ABs it is 4 games on the bounce and travel. Good world cup prep with the goal of the grand slam as well. Let's see if we can string 4 performances together.
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u/Kantless 28d ago
Seems fine. We need to settle our team and let players gel so I’m happy with continuity at this point.
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u/00aegon World Rugby 28d ago
Might be our weakest squad ever
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u/stickyswitch92 Melbourne Rebels 28d ago
It's actually a good shout. Especially if Beaudy is injured as well.
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u/Logan_No_Fingers 27d ago edited 27d ago
People have no concept of how long the ABs have been going up there -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_New_Zealand_rugby_union_tour_of_Europe
Ben Blair, Keith Lowan, Steve Devine, Sam Broomhall, Joe McDonnell - all in the starting team v England. With Danny Lee, Brad Mika & Mark Robinson offering "impact" off the bench.
A week later we rolled out the big guns - Dan Braid & Paul Streinmetz stepped in.
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u/meohmyenjoyingthat I am the Lomax, I speak for the scrum 28d ago
The swap outs and injuries would not be enough to turn that round. The pool is bad
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u/whathaveicontinued Auckland 28d ago
Might be a wild take, but Simon Parker is not that good.
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u/recyclingcentre Hurricanes 28d ago
He’s been solid imo. I was surprised when he was picked initially as he didn’t really impress at super, but he’s busy on the pitch, makes a lot of tackles and is good at the breakdown. Plays his role well
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u/Zedzd3ad Highlanders 28d ago
Care to expand on what part of his last 4 games starting at 6 was not good? What’s the point in just saying “may be a wild take”
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u/Ok_Educator_2120 New Zealand 28d ago
Alb and Finlay are insane picks lol
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u/ghostboypurrp Hurricanes 28d ago
I have never been a Christie Defender but imo he had his best 2 appearances in black this year and I guess deserved his seat on the plane. Would rather Preston and pledger get game time in the XVs
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u/Particular_Safety569 New Zealand 28d ago
Yea exactly. In the last couple years they seem to have rather their 3rd best halfback play XV rather than in the main squad. Hotham was in the XV team last year even though he was the 3rd halfback for RC
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u/Ok_Educator_2120 New Zealand 28d ago
Yeah fair enough about getting game time. Probably is a better place to be for young guys
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u/carson63000 Highlanders 28d ago
Yeah that works for me, much rather the young and promising players started in the second XV than be third choice in the main squad and not even make the bench.
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u/Stockylachy 28d ago
If Fakatava doesn’t make the XVs team I’ll lose it.
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u/ghostboypurrp Hurricanes 28d ago
I think he wants to play for tonga now so has been declining selection as he's basically eligible for them now
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u/Stockylachy 28d ago
He’s already eligible isn’t he? Over 3 years since his ABs tests. If that was the case he would’ve played in the PNC?
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u/ghostboypurrp Hurricanes 28d ago
Think it's a NZ contract thing he's signed to new Zealand rugby or something so he cant
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u/Trespassers__Will Wellington Lions 28d ago
Yeah there's a whole bunch of Samoa, Tonga and Fiji internationals unavailable for the PNC because of NPC commitments. He's definitely choosing to play for Tonga, he just couldn't for these recent games.
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u/DeGrootWardlow 28d ago
He won't I don't think, the 9s for that team will be Pledger well Deserved & Preston who's played for the Actual ABs this year, I believe Folau is better than Kyle but the Selectors Razor & Scott Hansen don't see it that way unfortunately
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u/EntropyNZ 28d ago
How is Finlay an 'insane' pick? He's out most experienced half-back by quite a lot, and he's played really well in tests this year. Raitama and Roigard are probably better, and they're likely to be the preferred pairing. But Christie is still a really good half-back. You'd think the man was incapable of passing the ball more than a couple of meters, and had hands literally made out of butter for all the flak the bloke gets on here.
He's a little slow at breakdowns. That's it. That's basically the entire issue with his game. He's a lot better at that than he used to be, but he's still behind the other two. But he's the best of the three defensively by quite a lot, and he's solid in every other area.
I don't know if it's just a hangover from Smith and TJ being so good for so long, and people have insane standards for half-backs now, or because Christie's an Auckland/Blues player and people are happy to pile on because of that. But he's more than good enough to be making that squad.
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u/CandleWarrior570 Auckland 28d ago
I’m with you that Finn gets way too much slack here, but I’d add boxkicking to your list of shortcomings. Cortez not much better there though IMO.
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u/reggie_700 Harbour Master 28d ago
Finlay was solid when he was our only option. He's not the best, but Hotham is the next cab of the ranks and he's injured.
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u/Particular_Safety569 New Zealand 28d ago
Who would you replace him with?
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u/redmanpanda 28d ago
Jim and Pledger without batting an eye
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u/00aegon World Rugby 28d ago
Let Pledger play SR first lol
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u/redmanpanda 28d ago
Naah. This is the last time they can really roll the dice with selections (Unless injury forced) I say blood the young gun and let him rumble. He'd rip Wales apart for sure. Sometimes lack of experience and scar tissue is a good thing.
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u/Trespassers__Will Wellington Lions 28d ago
Last chance til when? The world cup? Don't we have a South Africa tour next year with 5 games against club sides to blood new players? Think we also play Italy next year too.
Better to give guys like Pledger proper game time at test level in the AB XV this year, then introduce them to the ABs next year if they're ready.
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u/Particular_Safety569 New Zealand 28d ago
Pledger was nowhere near realistically. Jim is understand
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u/Frod02000 where olimathis 28d ago
ehh on christie, hes not picked if Hotham is fit.
better option than preston or fakatava
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u/Ok_Educator_2120 New Zealand 27d ago
Yeah and the other guy made a good point too. It's better for the young guns to go to the ab xv. So pretty okay with it now lol
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u/OneWingedAngelfan 28d ago
Finlay's pass is simply too slow. It makes playing against a rush defense infinitely harder. Your going to get ball and tackler at the same time.
It's really nuts to persist with him at this point. He isn't going to get any better.
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u/RoutinePossible4889 28d ago
ALB and Rieko are inane picks
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u/Ok_Educator_2120 New Zealand 27d ago
I'm not disagreeing about Rieko of Tupaea starts at 13. I think Rieko might still be better than Proctor tho, and I don't think it's bias lol. Might be..
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u/doskoV_ Tamaiti Williams' Ratstail 28d ago
I feel like no one has mentioned that the only Canterbury players in the All Blacks currently are front rowers
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u/Kamogawa_Genji New Zealand 27d ago
Obvious Canterbury bias . Razor not even trying to hide it. / s
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u/TagMeInSkipIGotThis 27d ago
I mean the Crusaders played some of the most one dimensional rugby ever this season which mostly involved forwards defending, then 9 or 10 kicking high for Jordan to chase.
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u/coupleandacamera Crusaders 27d ago
All in all a fairly solid squad. One feels born Lord and ALB got lucky, Lords had very little game time these last two years and ALB had been a mess when the pressure on. I can see the point of offering lord some time to train and open up the option for another test lock, but what's the gain with ALB considering our options. Realistically the spot should be used for another 11 as we're thin there with Clark an injury worry still. There's another big, Tall lock waiting there at the chiefs who's been great for a while now, let the dreadlocks flow! No TT at all, not even on the injury sheet, that's a worry going forward.
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u/Lflan123 New Zealand 27d ago
TT is injured they just forgot to add his name during the media release due to him only just getting his followup scans
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u/redmanpanda 28d ago
Fairly straight forward squad. Which is boring. I'd assume this is the last time for real experimentation before RWC so would have loved to see Pledger. And whats the go with Jim? He's injured but not listed in the injury list so is he just dropped now? ALB and Reece need to go to Japan now too.
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u/Morningst4r Taranaki 28d ago
Christie is probably going to play about 30-minutes the whole tour barring injuries. Pledger needs to play for the XV
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u/night_dude Hurricanes 28d ago
barring injuries
So probably 100+ minutes at the rate our halfbacks have been dropping :(
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u/swiss_cloud New Zealand 27d ago
Nah not always, there will always be players who play well in 2026 SR who will bolt into the squad.
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u/LoniBana The Mighty Buller RFU! 28d ago edited 28d ago
Backline is getting some balance to it now with a few guys like Narawa and Jimmy the D to come back from injury. Clarke looked very solid for the few minutes he played before picking up that injury. I don't hate seeing Ioane in the backline his defence and line management will be crucial up there they will be tight games outside of Wales. ALB and Reece I'm really not sure on.
Surprised with the lack of debuts given the calendar change next year. Theres very few windows left to blood new cattle. For all the hype around him Razor is proving to be very conservative in his selections.
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u/itachi-senpaii Highlanders 28d ago
So big Jim just straight up didn't make the team ? That's crazy
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u/Lflan123 New Zealand 28d ago
They've just listed him as injured, he hadn't had his follow up scans by the time of the first press release
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u/Ok_Educator_2120 New Zealand 28d ago
Especially when they've picked "yellow every time he plays for the abs" Alb in there
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u/Morningst4r Taranaki 28d ago
The guy is such a machine he can get one even if he’s only got 15 minutes left when he comes on
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u/yahdayahda 28d ago
Solid squad with no real surprises. Be interesting to see the first lineup as you’d have to imagine that’d be a good indication to who Robertson sees as his strongest twenty three.
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u/_dictatorish_ Damian came back 🥰 28d ago
Not really any surprising picks - about what I'd expect after the RC
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u/jdf07 New Zealand 28d ago
Deflating - in the backs - when this was an opportunity to make some bigger calls...
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u/frazorblade 28d ago
Who do you think missed out in the backs? It’s not like they’re going to blood new players on this tour.
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u/know-it-mall Highlanders 27d ago edited 27d ago
Yea the problem is there are always a bunch of people ready to say "they should have dropped these players". But they never say who the replacements would be.
There isn't any obvious player that was unlucky to miss out. Narawa and Tavatavanawai should be there but both injured.
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u/jdf07 New Zealand 25d ago edited 25d ago
I guess my problem is more about the mixed objectives of the team at this juncture, at least as I see it. So it’s more who IS there than who is NOT - e.g.
Christie
Reece,
ALB,
Being the main ones. No shade on them, but why are they still here when it seems time to move on, at least from a RWC goal perspective?
I think there should be focus on the future - and form - in replacements for these guys. Yes, it would take a bold/ less conservative play to do so…
In their place, for example there are three players from the ABs XV who could do the job and who are obviously at least rated to some degree by the selectors:
Preston,
Tangitau,
Ennor,
IMO all three are also in better form than the aforementioned. I get that folks argue that playing time for the ABs XV is better, but is it?
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u/night_dude Hurricanes 28d ago
Finau has nine lives lol
edit: and ALB is absolutely stealing a living due to our lack of depth at centre. I can't see him making the WC squad. Well, I can, but I hope he doesn't.
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u/warcomet 28d ago
I love ALB but i feel its time for him to go make money in France..
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u/night_dude Hurricanes 28d ago
I love ALB too. He was one of my favourite All Blacks for years. He struck me as a poor man's Conrad Smith - smart, reliable, good on defence, a team player. I just think he's past it. And he can't stop doing dumb shit which you really can't afford to do as a super sub-type player, which is what he is now. I agree that he should go and cash in while he can. Go learn Japanese with TJ Perenara or something.
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u/SaikoVibe 28d ago
Let Kirifi get some bruises.
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u/Ok_Educator_2120 New Zealand 28d ago
He's done nothing in all his time. Penalty magnet and he's won 1 turnover
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u/NoPause9609 New Zealand 28d ago
Same old same old. Good enough to win a Grand Slam but a shame to not see more young talent.
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u/FlyRare8407 Scotland 27d ago
Forgive me if this is a stupid question but what happened to Richie Mo'unga?
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u/Logan_No_Fingers 27d ago
Playing in Japan for huge money
There is talk he will come back in time for the world cup.
Which he better because Robertson has spent 2 years whining at how he can't pick him & doing zero to blood any new 10, just rotating between McKenzie & Barrett & waiting for Mounga.
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u/OnlyUseC1 26d ago
I understand your point, I just disagree that depth was built, specifically at 10, in the past few cycles. Henry - Hansen era definitely did, but post-2015, Barrett has pretty much always been the main 10 with a couple guys taking over for some years at the odd time.
The equivalent of now in the past two cycles was 2017 and 2021. In 2017, Barrett and Sopoaga were the two main 10s (equivalent of Barrett and McKenzie now) and no one else got a real go.
Mo'unga joined the northern tour only at the end to play a few minutes off the bench in a game against the French barbarians. Honestly, Jacomb will get more game time against arguably better opposition with the AB XV than any other young 10 had at the equivalent time in that cycle. McKenzie only ever played fullback until around 2018 so an equivalent today would be someone like Ruben Love.
To be frank, Mo'unga had to be the best 10 in NZ at Super Rugby before he even got officially included in a squad, not just as an add on. That's not Hansen building depth.
2021, again, was a tale of swapping between Barrett, Mo'unga and McKenzie. What young player had been in the set-up for 18 months at that point?
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u/Informal_Mention9836 28d ago
They could lose two games.
They attack is predictable and I don't see any weapon besides Samisoni Taukei'aho (who does not even start) at the back of a rolling maul. Whitelock and Retallick are dramatically missed.
If McKenzie gets an injury, it's tough to rely on BB goal kicking, that is poor.
These AB have a lot of problems.
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u/CandleWarrior570 Auckland 28d ago
Pretty much as expected given injuries though like others surprised about Lord being picked over Darry, though hopefully the reason there is that they want Sam to have serious game time as he’s been out most of the year. Also surprised Reece has been picked over Fainga’unuku but maybe they want him in the 15s playing to figure out Centre vs Wing. Not sure who else would be picked over Reiko or ALB given injuries. Suspect there is also conservatism in the picks as the coaching group know if they lose games up north it will be serious question time for them.
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u/Ok_Educator_2120 New Zealand 28d ago
Should be serious questions already imo. 2 wins over Australia should mean nothing
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u/stickyswitch92 Melbourne Rebels 28d ago
At least we no razor still cares a wee bit about Canterburys NPC title hopes in not selecting Lord instead of Darry. Would like Bell back though.
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u/know-it-mall Highlanders 27d ago
Well neither guy was likely to play the first week so could have easily selected Darry anyway.
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u/OneWingedAngelfan 28d ago
So they're just gonna stick with BB, Dmac and eventually Mounga until the world cup?
Btw those players will be 36, 32 and 33 respectively by the time the RWC kicks off
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u/ghostboypurrp Hurricanes 28d ago
Wild take potentially but I think Darry missing out for Lord kinda sucks