All Blacks 2025

[Gumboot]

Only trouble with Norris is, he is only contracted to end of super season, from then on he contracted to Aus.

What? Those thieving bloody crims have pulled a reverse poach??

My balls up, think it's Ross who is contracted to Reds. I got him and Norris mixed up.

Phew! Ross is a good player, but it's probably fair to say his ABs days are behind him.

NZ Hurled hack Liam Napier reckons the Blues' player of the year Josh Fusitu'a is also in the running. Hmmm... not sure if it's just the Hurled's Auckland bias. Can't say I've noticed Fusitu'a standing out tbh, but that could be down to the Blues pack struggling this year. Or me not having a clue about front row play. Or both...

[Gumboot]

I'd be happy if Dalton never wore the black jersey again. I just don't think he does enough of the down and dirty hard work. It's great to be a big fast carrier but come in off the wing ya seagull and give the honest blokes a hand in the rucks.

I've never been entirely convinced by Papali'i at test level, but gotta admit he's in career best Supe form right now. Reckon he's on Razor's short list, and his odds of making the cut will only improve if the Blues make the play-offs. It's a crowded field though, and I can't see him starting the year at 7 like last year tbh. He's up against the likes of Jacobson, Lakai and Blackadder, who can also cover other positions.

Great to have so many quality contenders in good nick. Apart from Blackadder of course... but like Havili, he already has one of Razor's golden tickets, so will continue getting picked till he's on his death bed.

[Hugo]

I think Havili was in red hot form early in the season - perhaps the best player versus the Blues at Eden Park - but I think his form has tapered off since. Not that he has played poorly, he's just done nothing to stand out from the crowd imo.

It's so bloody hard to make an accurate prediction of the backline as other than DMac and Will Jordan (who seem to me to be clear cut favourites to start at 10 and 15) an argument could be made for at least 2 candidates for all the other positions. All depending on whether Razor goes with seasoned campaigners or chances his arm with some more inexperienced players.

Case in point - Leroy Carter who had a hat trick this past weekend and who scored a brilliant try in Christchurch.

[Guy Smiley]

I'd be happy if Dalton never wore the black jersey again. I just don't think he does enough of the down and dirty hard work. It's great to be a big fast carrier but come in off the wing ya seagull and give the honest blokes a hand in the rucks.

I've never been entirely convinced by Papali'i at test level, but gotta admit he's in career best Supe form right now. Reckon he's on Razor's short list, and his odds of making the cut will only improve if the Blues make the play-offs. It's a crowded field though, and I can't see him starting the year at 7 like last year tbh. He's up against the likes of Jacobson, Lakai and Blackadder, who can also cover other positions.

Great to have so many quality contenders in good nick. Apart from Blackadder of course... but like Havili, he already has one of Razor's golden tickets, so will continue getting picked till he's on his death bed.

How many Tests was Havili selected for in 2024? I thought Jordie was Razor’s pet 12. As for Blackadder… I know you like the way Tom Christie goes at 7 but have you noticed the way the Saders get bossed off the ball when Blackadder’s not playing? I’m not sure he’s a cert for the ABs at all but I can understand the value of his bruising style of play and his willingness to get down and dirty in the middle. That’s the reason I had for pumping Lakai’s tyres a few posts back too.

[Gumboot]

How many Tests was Havili selected for in 2024? I thought Jordie was Razor’s pet 12. As for Blackadder… I know you like the way Tom Christie goes at 7 but have you noticed the way the Saders get bossed off the ball when Blackadder’s not playing? I’m not sure he’s a cert for the ABs at all but I can understand the value of his bruising style of play and his willingness to get down and dirty in the middle. That’s the reason I had for pumping Lakai’s tyres a few posts back too.

Havili only played 3 tests last year, which is hopefully 3 more than he plays this year.

I'm not that fussed about Christie, but he's been going well for the Saders so credit where it's due. Blackadder's problem is he's always feckin' injured.. and there are other loosie contenders currently doing well in the dark spaces (including Papali'i imho) who aren't made of glass. Razor should cut his losses, but does he have the fortitude required to drop Saders royalty?

Edit: Just checked, and Blackadder's only featured in 14 of the 55 ABs tests played since he debuted in 2021.

[Kiwias]

I genuinely do not think Razor will be including Christie in his thinking at 7 for the ABs, despite his outstanding form in SR and how much I enjoy seeing him play. He is basically the Matt Todd of this team, great at SR level but more than likely not to be able to play at the same level in tests.

Savea is the form 7 in SR to my jaundiced eye.

[Firewater]

NZ need younger options at first

There's Barrett (his best years well behind him but still easily better than Plummer) and DMac (miles better than the limited Jacomb) and now Love and then no one

So, what does Laidlaw do. Move him to FB. FFS. And replacing him with Cameron who is an adequate NPC 1st.

[Hugo]

NZ need younger options at first

There's Barrett (his best years well behind him but still easily better than Plummer) and DMac (miles better than the limited Jacomb) and now Love and then no one

So, what does Laidlaw do. Move him to FB. FFS. And replacing him with Cameron who is an adequate NPC 1st.

At this stage Barrett has to be glued to the bench imo and be an emergency option in a tight spot. Any minutes he would have got need to go to a younger player, whoever that is. It's not like the Blues backline has been firing this season.

[Dan54]

NZ need younger options at first

There's Barrett (his best years well behind him but still easily better than Plummer) and DMac (miles better than the limited Jacomb) and now Love and then no one

So, what does Laidlaw do. Move him to FB. FFS. And replacing him with Cameron who is an adequate NPC 1st.

Respectfully Firewater, I think you are underestimating Jacomb, who I think has a bloody good all round game.

[Gumboot]

At this stage Barrett has to be glued to the bench imo and be an emergency option in a tight spot. Any minutes he would have got need to go to a younger player, whoever that is. It's not like the Blues backline has been firing this season.

Yeah, on form DMac's ahead of Barrett... but let's see how they go in the play-offs.

Not excusing Beauden, but a big part of the Blues' backline woes this year is their pack simply hasn't been as dominant as last year's model. In their loss to MP they conceded 19 turnovers, and 20 to the Saders. Hard to get on the front foot when that keeps happening. Also, they probably have the weakest pair of halfbacks of any Kiwi side.

[Gumboot]

No big surprise that Shaun Stevenson's decided to go off shore...

The Chiefs have confirmed New Zealand Rugby’s worst-kept secret that outside back Shaun Stevenson will join Japanese club Kubota at season’s end.

NZR turned down Stevenson’s request last December for an early release from his contract, instead granting him a brief sabbatical in Japan when Kubota came calling.

The one-test All Black told the Waikato Times in March his reasons for wanting out.

“Just the lack of feedback and just not knowing where I sat in the pecking order,” he said was the catalyst, after what he felt was some “disappointing” communication from All Blacks coach Scott Robertson and his assistants.

Would've thought his standing with the selectors was pretty obvious by now... along with the reasons why.

[Guy Smiley]

I think it's interesting the way these personal stories play out and we have to rely on what we're being fed along with a sort of wary eye out for misrepresentation... coaches always hold the cards close of course, so we'll never know just what Razor and the others do think. Read between the lines here though and maybe it's another case of a player wanting more than the overall worth they bring to a national set up.

I can't explain Caleb Clark though.

[Guy Smiley]

NZR have tied up a sponsorship deal with US based Insurance brokers Gallagher, who have their head office in Chicago...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360711480 ... exit-ineos

NZ Rugby had been seeking a fresh sponsor to add to its stable after the British petrochemical company Ineos quit its six-year sponsorship arrangement midway through its deal.

Gallagher, not to be confused with the principal partner of the Chiefs franchise in Super Rugby Pacific, has a high profile in rugby and markets itself as being "one of the world's largest'' insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firms.

Gallagher, which becomes the “official insurance broker of NZ Rugby, and the brand will appear on both the training and match day shorts of all NZ Rugby’s national teams, including the All Blacks, Black Ferns, Māori All Blacks, and Sevens teams.

Gallagher’s head quarters are in Chicago in the United States. The All Blacks will play Ireland in the city in November.

In 2023 World Rugby announced a multi-year global partnership with the company, which became the official partner of women's rugby through to the Rugby World Cup. The global event will be staged in England later this year.

Gallagher was also the official partner of WXV, the annual competition between women's national teams, in 2023 and 2024.

Gallagher is also the official title partner of Premiership Rugby in England.

“This is a partnership that reflects the scale, ambition and passion for rugby both our organisations have,” NZ Rugby chief executive officer Mark Robinson said in a statement.

“We couldn’t be more excited to align with Gallagher Insurance, who already have deep expertise in elite sport, along with a key business focus in New Zealand and globally. This partnership helps solidify where we’re heading, not just with our teams on field, but as a sporting brand off the field too.”

In early May NZ Rugby bolstered its stable of sponsors when it declared it had inked a three-year sponsorship agreement with Toyota as the "official mobility partner'' of the All Blacks, Black Ferns, Māori All Blacks, All Blacks Sevens, All Blacks XV and NZ under-20s.

[Hugo]

Guy, I think NZR also managed to secure Toyota as a sponsor a few months back so hopefully the money lost by INEOS backing out of their 6 year commitment has been covered.

[Guy Smiley]

The very last line of that quote I posted includes the info about the Toyota deal, Hugo. NZR look to have shored up any potential losses due to the Ineos deal falling over.

[Grandpa]

How many Tests was Havili selected for in 2024? I thought Jordie was Razor’s pet 12. As for Blackadder… I know you like the way Tom Christie goes at 7 but have you noticed the way the Saders get bossed off the ball when Blackadder’s not playing? I’m not sure he’s a cert for the ABs at all but I can understand the value of his bruising style of play and his willingness to get down and dirty in the middle. That’s the reason I had for pumping Lakai’s tyres a few posts back too.

Havili only played 3 tests last year, which is hopefully 3 more than he plays this year.

I'm not that fussed about Christie, but he's been going well for the Saders so credit where it's due. Blackadder's problem is he's always feckin' injured.. and there are other loosie contenders currently doing well in the dark spaces (including Papali'i imho) who aren't made of glass. Razor should cut his losses, but does he have the fortitude required to drop Saders royalty?

Edit: Just checked, and Blackadder's only featured in 14 of the 55 ABs tests played since he debuted in 2021.

Pakia Pakia posted some comprehensive stats on PR and Dalton both as a total and percentage wise has most ruck involvements (defence and attack) of any person playing. So much for being a seagull.. though I thought he played too tight and defensive last year at test level.. he's more than just a tackling machine... he carries well.

In saying that I'd probably like Ardie at 7, Sititi at 8 and Finau at 6... Was thinking of Parker, but apparently Finau is better at rucks. And Dalton never plays 6 so too much a risk to learn on the job.

Be interesting to see who Razor picks.. I just hope Proctor gets a decent chance this year at 13...