NPR

From the Fern source that always seems to be correct.... backline for Saturday...

9. T.J.Perenara
10. B.Barrett
11. C.Clarke
12. ALB
13. R.Ioane
14. S.Reece
15. W.Jordan

21. C.Ratima
22. D.Mckenzie
23. D.Havili

Can't really see the point of starting Beauden at 10, unless they think DMac needs a rark up.

Wouldn't have Havili anywhere near the match day squad, tbh. Shirley the superior Plummer deserves a proper go?

Plummer is your man. Surely someone who can be calm...

Guy Smiley wrote: Sun Sep 22, 2024 8:00 pm

I'd laugh like merry hell if Havili got a call up

BB

I'd like to see Plummer given a go. Solid and reliable. Pollard like... and can play 10 or 12 well.

But Havili... meh...

Interesting conundrum - with Cane going so well, and with his win loss record under pressure, does Razor take Cane on the Northern H tour in November?

Enzedder wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:18 am Interesting conundrum - with Cane going so well, and with his win loss record under pressure, does Razor take Cane on the Northern H tour in November?

Apparently Cane's and TJ's Japan gig starts with pre-season in Nov and matches in December... or so I have been told...

Though TJ at least says he wants to keep playing till the end of the year.... so who knows...

Grandpa wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 8:19 am

Enzedder wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:18 am Interesting conundrum - with Cane going so well, and with his win loss record under pressure, does Razor take Cane on the Northern H tour in November?

Apparently Cane's and TJ's Japan gig starts with pre-season in Nov and matches in December... or so I have been told...

Though TJ at least says he wants to keep playing till the end of the year.... so who knows...

All the Japan Springboks do play EYT. Pretty sure they have the same contracts.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 8:52 am

Grandpa wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 8:19 am

Enzedder wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:18 am Interesting conundrum - with Cane going so well, and with his win loss record under pressure, does Razor take Cane on the Northern H tour in November?

Apparently Cane's and TJ's Japan gig starts with pre-season in Nov and matches in December... or so I have been told...

Though TJ at least says he wants to keep playing till the end of the year.... so who knows...

All the Japan Springboks do play EYT. Pretty sure they have the same contracts.

ie. Released for international windows?

Grandpa wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 11:35 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 8:52 am

Grandpa wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 8:19 am

Apparently Cane's and TJ's Japan gig starts with pre-season in Nov and matches in December... or so I have been told...

Though TJ at least says he wants to keep playing till the end of the year.... so who knows...

All the Japan Springboks do play EYT. Pretty sure they have the same contracts.

ie. Released for international windows?

Yes.

More good chat with Bryn Hall present in the studio this week...

skip to 30 minutes if you want to home in on a discussion around retirements and replacements. Good stuff.

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2024 4:33 am More good chat with Bryn Hall present in the studio this week...

skip to 30 minutes if you want to home in on a discussion around retirements and replacements. Good stuff.

Thought it was quite telling that Parsons was the only one to advocate for Papali'i as our next openside post Cane. Yeah, nah...

I don't know if Razor's seriously considering Lakai for the EOYT, or if he'll go with the B side instead. If so, I wouldn't mind Blackadder getting a decent crack at 7, alongside the incumbents at 6 and 8, even if Cane also tours.

Northern tour sides (incl ABs XV) named around 1pm today.

Will Kane and Perenara travel? - I think Cane will and Roigard will replace Perenara.

Personally, I would go without both as we have to build up a side asap.

The EOYT squad has just been named:

Cane and Perenara both included.

Roigard in for Hotham, who will probably make the 29-man B Squad to be named tomorrow.

No idea what Havili's done to deserve a spot, apart from playing for the "right" Supe franchise. Oh yeah, "versatility" yada yada... yawn.

I wonder if Sotutu will make the B Squad. He was overlooked for the team that played 2 games in Japan last year, but don't recall if he was injured then.

Quite a conservative selected squad I think. Hoped to see maybe a one or 2 little surprise picks, but maybe just leaving the rest for A XV tomorrow.

It really does look as if Sotutu is on the out now. I would have taken Lord over Tuipulotu and Hotham over TJ. Lakai could well have made the squad over Cane too. Hopefully this will be the swansong for PT, Cane, and TJ.

Kiwias wrote: Mon Oct 07, 2024 1:46 am It really does look as if Sotutu is on the out now. I would have taken Lord over Tuipulotu and Hotham over TJ. Lakai could well have made the squad over Cane too. Hopefully this will be the swansong for PT, Cane, and TJ.

Yep, Lord was very good for Taranaki yesterday and I'd also prefer him over PT.

Don't really mind Cane and TJ taking this final lap, but... Havili? I just don't get it. Why not blood Higgins, or stick with Plummer?

Gumboot wrote: Mon Oct 07, 2024 2:03 am

Kiwias wrote: Mon Oct 07, 2024 1:46 am It really does look as if Sotutu is on the out now. I would have taken Lord over Tuipulotu and Hotham over TJ. Lakai could well have made the squad over Cane too. Hopefully this will be the swansong for PT, Cane, and TJ.

Yep, Lord was very good for Taranaki yesterday and I'd also prefer him over PT.

Don't really mind Cane and TJ taking this final lap, but... Havili? I just don't get it. Why not blood Higgins, or stick with Plummer?

Agree with Plummer over Havili, another one having his last dance with the ABs I am guessing. Higgins has really come on well through this season. Definitely one for the future.

Most of us fans seem to want to see some change in the player list. As Dan points out, this is a pretty conservative selection... there's really only one change from the RC squad with Roigard coming in.

I think Razor has been doggedly conservative from the get go with his selections and gave us something of a clue as to why before he'd actually coached a game. He talked about honouring the jersey a lot and gave more hints about tradition, doing right by the men who had gone before.

I reckon that tells you all you need to know about why we are seeing these players named over our own, more fancied candidates. Players like Plummer and Love have been named and included in the squad but not played any meaningful minutes. They have been exposed to the environment though, as everyone loves to say when talking about the AB team. Expect Justin Marshall to pick up on that and start including the word incessantly as he has with 'giving the ref good pictures'... another Razorism.

Personally, I'm frustrated with this as I want to see change, although I can empathise on a couple of fronts. One is that the ABs is not an experimental or development side and while new players have to come into it at times, that introduction should be phased and managed... and two, I think there's a shedload of weight being put on the need to start winning again after the shocking run of results thrown up under Foster. A surprise showing in the RWC final is still a surprise and can't wipe away the disappointments that preceded it.

So with those two factors in mind it shouldn't surprise us to see these selections... bearing in mind we are seeing some new faces (Sititi, anyone?) and there is an ongoing shift in the tactics being employed with that shift being a pretty intense learning curve for everyone involved.

All Blacks XV out and there are some outstanding youngsters there.

Hoskins not gooone!!

I really hope Fakatava doesn't take his skillz offshore, but couldn't blame him if he does.

Who's captain?

Do you reckon Fakatava has been better this year than Christie?

Question designed to test the most committed of rugby analysts.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 3:03 am Do you reckon Fakatava has been better this year than Christie?

Question designed to test the most committed of rugby analysts.

I just love watching the guy play!

Sure he over-reaches at times, but that just comes with all the outrageous natural talent and inventive stuff. Reminds me a bit of Super Sid.

Now he's seemingly well down the pecking order, and tbf there are a good number of talented young halfbacks and they can't pick everyone, but I'll miss him if he buggers off.

I'd rather have Fakatava in the mix than Christie but that's just my emotional preference. I can't justify it with any sort of analytical effort, I've hardly seen him play.

I've seen Christie though... sigh.

Thought Daniel Rona would get picked, he's versatile and been very good for the Naki. Only 12 backs, mind...

As far as the backs go, I'm really happy to see Jacomb join Plummer at 10. Jacomb looks to have the game to bring to the big stage and I want to see Plummer get a decent run.

Tupaea deserves a decent break for a change, that knee injury was a cruel blow. He's still an outstanding player that I'd like to see progress. Dallas McLeod is an interesting selection, he doesn't leap out at you as a star at all but he delivers smart rugby and plays across the backline. He's big too, although not all that quick. Bit of a Jordie type player... could be something of a sleeper. Can't comment on Higgins and Lam, while a really good player strikes me as a bit one dimensional, perhaps because he seems to be another who we move around from wing to inside. I'm happy with the outside backs and I'd like to see all of them play decent minutes.

Kiwias wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 1:21 am All Blacks XV out and there are some outstanding youngsters there.

That side looks more exciting than the top side.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 3:30 am

I'd rather have Fakatava in the mix than Christie but that's just my emotional preference. I can't justify it with any sort of analytical effort, I've hardly seen him play.

I've seen Christie though... sigh.

Showing immense foresight there Guy, naturally Fakatava needs to be there to keep the hairdresser in business during the tour

Enzedder wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 4:42 am

Kiwias wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 1:21 am All Blacks XV out and there are some outstanding youngsters there.

That side looks more exciting than the top side.

We need a Probables v Possibles match!

Kiwias wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 1:21 am All Blacks XV out and there are some outstanding youngsters there.

When did it become acceptable for forwards to wear white boots?

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 1:56 pm

Kiwias wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 1:21 am All Blacks XV out and there are some outstanding youngsters there.

When did it become acceptable for forwards to wear white boots?

sickening



just sickening

Just saw the ABs play England, Ireland and France in successive weekends next month. That’s a tough schedule

More good chat, interview with Jason Ryan is too good,




Razor's post selection press conference, always good value to hear it from the horse's mouth

EOYT update:

The All Blacks have made three injury-enforced changes to the squad for the northern tour.

Ethan Blackadder (calf), Luke Jacobson (fractured thumb) and Dalton Papali'i (upper hamstring) are not available to travel with the squad on Thursday due to injury.

Hurricanes and Wellington loose forward Peter Lakai and Chiefs and Taranaki lock Josh Lord come into the squad.

"This is hugely disappointing for Ethan, Luke and Dalton, but we know they will be working on recovering well with a view to making themselves available again as soon as possible,“ All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said.

"This opens up opportunities for some other players though. We are excited to be welcoming Josh back into the group and giving Peter Lakai his chance to wear the All Blacks jersey."

In addition, seven members of the All Blacks XV squad will be travelling to Japan with the All Blacks as training cover. They are: Bradley Slater, George Bower, Fabian Holland, Christian Lio-Willie, Oliver Haig, Harry Plummer and AJ Lam.

They will then join the All Blacks XV squad in Ireland, with the possible exception of one further call-up to cover the 36th spot in the All Blacks squad...

I mean, hard luck etc, but how fucking predictable is Blackadder's latest injury absence. Enough's enough Razor, time to move on.

And the prize for most pathetic headline evah goes to...



https://www.rugbypass.com/news/all-blac ... re-dashed/

I've never heard a single rugby player ever "hope" for the absence of an opposition player. Bloody insulting suggestion imho.

And not a single mention of anything like it in the accompanying article. Fuckwits.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 3:30 am

I'd rather have Fakatava in the mix than Christie but that's just my emotional preference. I can't justify it with any sort of analytical effort, I've hardly seen him play.

I've seen Christie though... sigh.

Christie doesn't have the X factor we need behind the scrum, simple as that, sticking with him is a real insight into how badly Razor is going at the moment, we need the new blood with an eye on the dastardly South Africans at the next World Cup.

Still not really seeing an improved AB team from what was tossed up by the last mistake of a coach.

Jethro wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 10:09 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 3:30 am

I'd rather have Fakatava in the mix than Christie but that's just my emotional preference. I can't justify it with any sort of analytical effort, I've hardly seen him play.

I've seen Christie though... sigh.

Christie doesn't have the X factor we need behind the scrum, simple as that, sticking with him is a real insight into how badly Razor is going at the moment, we need the new blood with an eye on the dastardly South Africans at the next World Cup.

Still not really seeing an improved AB team from what was tossed up by the last mistake of a coach.

It's been a mixed bag so far, that's for sure. Hopefully they'll come right on this tour, but if we get to the end of it and they're still serving up 30-plus minutes of clunky scoreless bullshit per game I might well start pining for the Foster era.

There are several new players in the team making a serious mark... Sititi, Ratima and the continued improvement of Tupou Vaa'i just for starters.

that's improvement. So is the way they're dealing with the rush defence. Tactically, there is massive improvement but it looks as if the learning curve has been quite steep and it's still taking time for the players to understand and gel to a new plan.

Our problem, and it's been years in the making, is game direction from 10. Mo'unga is a genuinely talented first five who creates play AND sets up his outsides. He is the outlier in the role since Carter and Cruden's day.

We've been flopping around a twisted garden path of scatter brained 10s who do not direct a game or set up their outsides as a matter of course. If they do manage that it's hailed as brilliance and the ongoing turgefest is ignored. You know who I mean but the sacred cows of NZ rugby can't be named and shamed in public, there is too much national ego riding on it.

I'm as impatient for change as the next man but I recognise that too much shaking of the apple cart will cause a revolution and I think Razor is being (perhaps too) conservative in how he treats this particular issue. I think we're kinda stuck for the short term but I'd expect next Super season to see more players getting game time at 10. Now we seem to have the makings of a serious pack with most positions relatively settled (Cane's farewell looms large) I think the next development in our playing stocks has to be around 10, 12 and 15. We need depth and we need skill.