NPR

Guy Smiley wrote: Thu Apr 17, 2025 1:05 am Playing him on the wing would be great craic

My thinking exactly

Thought I'd have a stupidly early crack at a test 23 for the France series. My preferences, not who I think they'll actually pick.

15 Jordan
14 Narawa
13 Proctor
12 Jordie
11 Rieko
10 Beauden
9 Roigard
8 Sititi
7 Savea
6 Finau
5 Vaa'i
4 Scooter (c)
3 Lomax
2 Taylor
1 Williams

16 Taukei'aho/Aumua (not fussed), 17 de Groot, 18 Newell, 19 Holland, 20 Lakai, 21 Ratima, 22 AJ Lam, 23 DMac


They'll probably opt for Tuipulotu as the third lock again, and I doubt Razor will ever drop his beloved Blackadder, Havili and Reece...

Your thoughts?

Gumboot wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 4:57 am Thought I'd have a stupidly early crack at a test 23 for the France series. My preferences, not who I think they'll actually pick.

15 Jordan
14 Narawa
13 Proctor
12 Jordie
11 Rieko
10 Beauden
9 Roigard
8 Sititi
7 Savea
6 Finau
5 Vaa'i
4 Scooter (c)
3 Lomax
2 Taylor
1 Williams

16 Taukei'aho/Aumua (not fussed), 17 de Groot, 18 Newell, 19 Holland, 20 Lakai, 21 Ratima, 22 AJ Lam, 23 DMac


They'll probably opt for Tuipulotu as the third lock again, and I doubt Razor will ever drop his beloved Blackadder, Havili and Reece...

Your thoughts?

Dmac as an off the bench impact player? Is that your thinking there?

Hugo wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 5:00 amDmac as an off the bench impact player? Is that your thinking there?

Yep, although I won't be disappointed if he starts at 10 with Beaudie at 23.

Gumboot wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 5:04 am

Hugo wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 5:00 amDmac as an off the bench impact player? Is that your thinking there?

Yep, although I won't be disappointed if he starts at 10 with Beaudie at 23.

Yeah, it could go either way on that call, neither is a bad option. The one player who I hope makes the ABs right now is Kirifi - two years out from a world cup I hope he is given a chance to impress.

Hugo wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 5:10 amThe one player who I hope makes the ABs right now is Kirifi - two years out from a world cup I hope he is given a chance to impress.

He's in great form and a call-up would certainly be deserved. But I just think a Finau, Savea, Sititi combo is better balanced than a Sititi, Kirifi, Savea one... and I'm a Finau fan - reckon he's shown enough to indicate he could be a keeper with more time at 6.

Hugo wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 5:10 am

Gumboot wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 5:04 am

Hugo wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 5:00 amDmac as an off the bench impact player? Is that your thinking there?

Yep, although I won't be disappointed if he starts at 10 with Beaudie at 23.

Yeah, it could go either way on that call, neither is a bad option. The one player who I hope makes the ABs right now is Kirifi - two years out from a world cup I hope he is given a chance to impress.

In that context I want either DMac or BB out of the picture for this series. We are two years out from the RWC and apparently relying on those two as our options for running the game. For my money, we'd have DMac starting and Love on the bench...

or starting at FB with Jordan on the wing.

As for locks, I'd want to see Scooter fighting hard to keep his spot partnering Vaa'i with Lord coming into the picture before Fat Paddy.

Wouldn't mind Love and Lord at all, but I doubt Razor would risk an early stumble against France by shelving both of our most experienced playmakers. At least, I bloody hope not.

BB...33 yrs old


DMac.... 30 yrs old.


RWC... 2 yrs

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 5:54 am BB...33 yrs old


DMac.... 30 yrs old.


RWC... 2 yrs

Good points - I just looked up, Carter was 33 in 2015, so Beaudy would be the oldest AB FH ever at a RWC if he goes to Australia. DMac is similarly older than Fox was in 91 and Mehrts in 1999. It speaks to your point about their advanced years.

Another bona fide test level FH has to come into the setup ASAP & frankly will need some caps under their belt.

With sabbaticals and monitored workloads, today's senior players are much better looked after than their predecessors, and more likely to enjoy longer careers. I've always preferred form and fitness to take care of player attrition, tbh. Of course, it's always great to have young contenders like Love and Kemara in the environment keeping the incumbents honest while learning from the best.

Kiwias wrote: Thu Apr 17, 2025 12:09 am Do we think Leinster will use Ioane at 13 or 11?

or even 23 looking how they used Jordie

(it's not clear if Leinster were sat on by the IRFU to play more Irish players, and for these purposes we'll count Lowe and JGP as Irish, which might explain Jordie on the bench in their biggest game of the season)

Love to see Love given a chance... there is something about him at 10 that is conjuring up early DC vibes... a shame there aren't more All Black games where he can get a chance...

Grandpa wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:23 am Love to see Love given a chance... there is something about him at 10 that is conjuring up early DC vibes... a shame there aren't more All Black games where he can get a chance...

There's a young 10 from Canterbury who caught my eye a couple of years ago, but he seems to have dropped off the radar. Alex Harford. Gave off serious DC vibes imho... no idea what's happened to him since, though.

Agree re Love and Kirifi. Don't make the mistake of having too many Chiefs loosies - they are VERY loose and the ABs don't play like that.

I would love to see Savea, Kirifi and Sititi together.

Didn't Fozzie pick Kirifi for a squad to Aus at some stage, but he got hurt before they played? Or he was on standby...can't remember tbh.

Gumboot wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 7:33 pm

Grandpa wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:23 am Love to see Love given a chance... there is something about him at 10 that is conjuring up early DC vibes... a shame there aren't more All Black games where he can get a chance...

There's a young 10 from Canterbury who caught my eye a couple of years ago, but he seems to have dropped off the radar. Alex Harford. Gave off serious DC vibes imho... no idea what's happened to him since, though.

I'm not sure whether or not we had a chat about him in here a while back... he's still around but fell out of favour after a handful of impressive games. I think he's part of the Blues development squad but he's no longer a young guy, he's had a few years and not made it.

One I had eyes for and seems to have missed out is McClutchie, playing for Hawkes Bay.

We have a few young guys showing promise at 10 but we need players like Love who have proven enough of their potential at Supe level to persevere with in the national squad. Love strikes me as a no brainer while pre injury Kemara was looking like a decent outside chance. I'd like to see 5 serious candidates myself including the incumbents... I'm genuinely worried that we don't have depth at 10 and it'll hurt us.

You're quite right Guy, we did discuss Harford a while back. Shame if he's a bust - thought he showed heaps of potential.

I'm pretty chill about our depth at 10, though. Love, Kemara, Jacomb... it just takes one injury to suddenly open up the field for an up-and-comer. Remember Cruden's injury in 2016, and how BB stepped up and completely changed the look of our attack. His first couple of years in the saddle were fun to watch.

Until the Lions tour, when the wheels started to come off Shag's tenure imho. Really wish Cruden had still been around then. But that's another story...

Speaking of loosies, I thought Papali'i played well last night, but it seems like James Parsons is the only pundit still talking about him as an option at opnside. It'll be interesting to see how much Razor still rates him, after ending up going back to Cane last year.

Watching Rieko Ioane this season is painful, as with every match he proves he is just not a centre. Two questions remain.

Why do the Blues persist with him there?

Will Razor accept this reality about Ioane?

Kiwias wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 3:34 am Watching Rieko Ioane this season is painful, as with every match he proves he is just not a centre. Two questions remain.

Why do the Blues persist with him there?

Will Razor accept this reality about Ioane?

Despite the way he looks, Parsons was saying he still has the best stats of any centre playing in NZ... which is a problem. Hopefully Proctor keeps playing and gets a chance...

Gumboot wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 11:31 pm Speaking of loosies, I thought Papali'i played well last night, but it seems like James Parsons is the only pundit still talking about him as an option at opnside. It'll be interesting to see how much Razor still rates him, after ending up going back to Cane last year.

I don't know if Razor asked Dalton to play differently last year... but he played very tight with the All Blacks, very defensive and hardly carried... but he is fast and big... they should use him more as a carrier....

I wonder if they will move Ardie to 7 and Sititi to 8... and find a big six like Parker or Finau? That was the loose trio that started the last test against France last year... then Finau was injured early on and Lakai came on and played very very well...

Grandpa wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 10:47 pmI don't know if Razor asked Dalton to play differently last year... but he played very tight with the All Blacks, very defensive and hardly carried... but he is fast and big... they should use him more as a carrier....

I wonder if they will move Ardie to 7 and Sititi to 8... and find a big six like Parker or Finau? That was the loose trio that started the last test against France last year... then Finau was injured early on and Lakai came on and played very very well...

Yep, that's the way I hope they go. Maybe Dalton's in a straight shoot-out with Lakai for the utility loose forward cover? Tough on Kirifi if that happens, I guess...

Gumboot wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 10:59 pm

Grandpa wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 10:47 pmI don't know if Razor asked Dalton to play differently last year... but he played very tight with the All Blacks, very defensive and hardly carried... but he is fast and big... they should use him more as a carrier....

I wonder if they will move Ardie to 7 and Sititi to 8... and find a big six like Parker or Finau? That was the loose trio that started the last test against France last year... then Finau was injured early on and Lakai came on and played very very well...

Yep, that's the way I hope they go. Maybe Dalton's in a straight shoot-out with Lakai for the utility loose forward cover? Tough on Kirifi if that happens, I guess...

Unless they go to a 6/2 split

Rueben Love was a man
Yes, a big man!
With an eye like an eagle
And as tall as a mountain was he!
Rueben Love was a man
Yes, a big man!
He was brave, he was fearless
And as tough as a mighty oak tree!

Gumboot wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 10:59 pm

Grandpa wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 10:47 pmI don't know if Razor asked Dalton to play differently last year... but he played very tight with the All Blacks, very defensive and hardly carried... but he is fast and big... they should use him more as a carrier....

I wonder if they will move Ardie to 7 and Sititi to 8... and find a big six like Parker or Finau? That was the loose trio that started the last test against France last year... then Finau was injured early on and Lakai came on and played very very well...

Yep, that's the way I hope they go. Maybe Dalton's in a straight shoot-out with Lakai for the utility loose forward cover? Tough on Kirifi if that happens, I guess...

I would suggest that Jacobson will be in conversation somewhere too. Our problem seems to be who misses out.

Dan54 wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 8:21 pmI would suggest that Jacobson will be in conversation somewhere too. Our problem seems to be who misses out.

Yep, Jacobson's another top contender. Lio-Willie, too... Although I have to say, the Saders loosies were well and truly outplayed by their opposites on Saturday. Bit surprised by that, tbh.

As you say, who to leave out?

I don't think Cullen Grace did himself out of a place on Saturday. He was still hitting hard at the end but I guess he wasn't making yards which would count against him. Jacobsen would get 5+ every time.

I genuinely think the names that the selectors will be talking about are Blackadder (because they just seem to want him),maybe Lio-Willie, heading north both Lakai and Kirifi, next team north Jacobson and Sititi, and then Papali'i and Savea.
I know I forgot someone, but like NZer I forget things, only it's because of age and not drinking (I think)

Maaaate, the worst of it is that I forget to drink.

Enzedder wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 1:21 am Maaaate, the worst of it is that I forget to drink.

Great news!

A key All Blacks forward “entering the absolute prime of his career” has recommitted to the Chiefs and New Zealand Rugby until the end of the 2027 season.

Tupou Vaa’i’s new contract takes him through until the end of the next Rugby World Cup cycle and includes two more Super Rugby Pacific seasons with the Chiefs.

He's a good'un, and was an outstanding test performer last year.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ ... ead-coach/

Not breaking news. but I just stumbled across an article - Carlos Spencer is coaching in Ireland - or will be.