NPR

Something Tony Johnson said speaking with Marty Devlin in that clip I posted was the significance of combinations and playing guys together who know each other.

It wouldn't surprise me to see a DMac / Tupaea combo named and perhaps that could also include Reece / Jordan at the back. I do like the idea of home town boys getting a run though but I'm not sure Razor and the ABs would bend to sentiment over pragmatism. If they did want to play Tavatavanawai off the bench then I don't think Tupaea gets the start.

Nothing is off the cards though.

For whatever reason I feel like the All Blacks are going to set up in the first test to be very physical with a physically intimidating XV. It's not something I can support it's just a feeling I'm getting that the coaching team are going to want to set down a marker.

Hugo wrote: Wed Jul 02, 2025 12:39 am For whatever reason I feel like the All Blacks are going to set up in the first test to be very physical with a physically intimidating XV. It's not something I can support it's just a feeling I'm getting that the coaching team are going to want to set down a marker.

Yes, please!

Vaa'i starting at 6 with Finau on the bench. Did not see that coming.

Also Rieko at 14 instead of 11 is interesting.

Unavailable due to injury:

Tamaiti Williams (knee); Tyrel Lomax (calf); Wallace Sititi (ankle); Luke Jacobson (concussion); Anton Lienert-Brown (collarbone)

He is rolling the dice here and I really like it, except for not having Love on the bench instead of DMac.

Kiwias wrote: Wed Jul 02, 2025 11:55 pm He is rolling the dice here and I really like it, except for not having Love on the bench instead of DMac.

Wild cards, wild cards everywhere.

Both wings playing on their less preferred side. I'm guessing that's to counter what they see as opposing threats. Billy Proctor at 13 is awesome. BB meh. fucking meh.

Holland and Vaa'i together should be tasty. Great to see Ardie at 7 at last and Lio Willie starting is great recognition for a strong season.

I reckon that bench will add value for the last 20/30. Looking forward to this game

Apparently, Rieko's actually on the left wing and Reece is on the right.

Gumboot wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 12:14 am Apparently, Rieko's actually on the left wing and Reece is on the right.

Ah, sneaky. The old South African and French ploy with 6s and 7s. Throw a number on a bloke's back and have him run around everywhere regardless.

It might just work, Chief...


Thinking about Vaa'i at 6... I'm guessing the thinking is the bench and having Finau come on for impact and moving Vaa'i in for Holland.

Quick check of the ABs website and ... yeah. Someone fucked up.

https://www.allblacks.com/news/all-blac ... in-dunedin

1. Ethan de Groot (29)
2. Codie Taylor (96)
3. Fletcher Newell (22
4. Scott Barrett (80) (Captain)
5. Fabian Holland
6. Tupou Vaa’i (38)
7. Ardie Savea (94) (Vice-Captain)
8. Christian Lio-Willie *
9. Cam Roigard (10)
10. Beauden Barrett (134)
11. Rieko Ioane (81)
12. Jordie Barrett (68) (Vice-Captain)
13. Billy Proctor (2)
14. Sevu Reece (32)
15. Will Jordan (41)

Guy Smiley wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 12:00 am

Kiwias wrote: Wed Jul 02, 2025 11:55 pm He is rolling the dice here and I really like it, except for not having Love on the bench instead of DMac.

Wild cards, wild cards everywhere.

Both wings playing on their less preferred side. I'm guessing that's to counter what they see as opposing threats. Billy Proctor at 13 is awesome. BB meh. fucking meh.

Holland and Vaa'i together should be tasty. Great to see Ardie at 7 at last and Lio Willie starting is great recognition for a strong season.

Clearly a printing error as this has now been corrected. My biggest 'meh' is having both BB and DMac in the 23 and no Love. That forward pack has serious potential.

I love the look of that pack. Did not expect Holland to be starting. Very happy for him and hope he goes well, growing up in the Netherlands and dreaming of being an All Black, he achieved that goal, hopefully he pushes on and this is the first cap of many.

Hugo wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:32 am I love the look of that pack. Did not expect Holland to be starting. Very happy for him and hope he goes well, growing up in the Netherlands and dreaming of being an All Black, he achieved that goal, hopefully he pushes on and this is the first cap of many.

Yep, it's a great story. This is a huge vote of confidence in him, and hopefully the start of a long ABs career.

And man this pack's got some size. Expecting big things from our set piece - especially the lineouts with our 4, 5 and 6 all adept at pinching opposition ball.

Only trouble with the bench is not enough Chiefs.

Hugo wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:32 am I love the look of that pack. Did not expect Holland to be starting. Very happy for him and hope he goes well, growing up in the Netherlands and dreaming of being an All Black, he achieved that goal, hopefully he pushes on and this is the first cap of many.

And the best thing is that he is still very young.

Guy Smiley wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 12:25 am ...Thinking about Vaa'i at 6... I'm guessing the thinking is the bench and having Finau come on for impact and moving Vaa'i in for Holland.

Some weeks ago Murray Mexted was prompting Vaa'i for 6 and Holland to start.
Holland has a huge engine and has had a month of rest, so barring injuries and if Fabian is going ok it could be Scott Barrett and Lio Willie to come off early.

France:
15 Theo Attissogbe, 14 Tom Spring, 13 Emilien Gailleton, 12 Gael Fickou (c), 11 Gabin Villière, 10 Joris Segonds, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Mickael Guillard, 7 Killian Tixeront, 6 Alexandre Fischer, 5 Tyler Duguid, 4 Hugo Auradou, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gaetan Barlot, 1 Giorgi Beria
16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Jacobus van Tonder, 22 Baptiste Jauneau, 23 Antoine Hastoy

Recognise 3 or 4 of those names...

convoluted wrote: Mon Jun 30, 2025 5:57 pm So, ... the vexed matter of jersey colour ... ...

Have just noticed a newspaper photo from last year's Autumn Tour.
Playing France in Paris, we were in white while the French hosts were in (dark) blue. Whatever happened to the old etiquette?

Is it all now decided on a coin toss, or what?

convoluted wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 10:22 pm

convoluted wrote: Mon Jun 30, 2025 5:57 pm So, ... the vexed matter of jersey colour ... ...

Have just noticed a newspaper photo from last year's Autumn Tour.
Playing France in Paris, we were in white while the French hosts were in (dark) blue. Whatever happened to the old etiquette?

Is it all now decided on a coin toss, or what?

It might be one of those things adidas want since it forces the white jersey to be worn and makes it more desirable to buy?

I know in football teams will wear their change or third kit even when there is no clash as it just gives an excuse to promote the jerseys.

Perhaps, without me noticing, international rugby now does the 'away' jersey thing.
Whatever, I'll be hacked off if we are not in black.

Gumboot wrote: Wed Jul 02, 2025 11:53 pm Vaa'i starting at 6 with Finau on the bench. Did not see that coming.

Also Rieko at 14 instead of 11 is interesting.

Rieko isn't a center and never will be. He should stay at wing

this is a better selected side than last year. Although the coaches are lost and confused at first. I think Robertson and his team haven't a clue here and just had luck at the Crusaders with Richie. Neither Barrett or DMAC is the answer and they need to start trying other option. Like esp love or Reihana. So, what do they do. Instead of giving Love time to find his feet at FB (or maybe even wing) before moving to first they select someone on the wing who is no even close to AB std (Reece). Team really need a much better backs coach. Robertson needs to look outside his Canterbury mates and find someone who isn't clueless.


But forwards look OK. THEY ARE TRYING Vaai at 6 to see how it goes. Also Holland to see if he can step up. And Savea finally at 7. Lio-Willie I don't expect much from but at least the back row looks more balanced