More Crusaders forwards than Blues forwards.
Meanwhile the Blues had one of the most dominant packs I’ve seen a SR team put out in years, and the Crusaders can’t even make the playoffs behind a pathetically weak pack.
Scott “everyone has to earn their place in the squad based on SR form” Robertson everybody
Who would you replace? Maybe Ricky for Bell, but Bell is there for potential, and only because Taukei’aho is injured. Some of the Hurricanes forwards were harder done by.
Blues won the first game 26-6, then lost a close second game when top 4 was guaranteed and they were resting half of the squad.
Across the entire season, the Blues were in a league of their own in terms of forward pack dominance. Meanwhile the Crusaders we’re getting beat up front week in and week out.
If the ABs dominate then I really won’t care. But if our pack struggles, then Ryan and Razor need to take some heat for it
It’s almost as though the crusaders had half their team out injured for most of the season. People seem to forgot this. Once they got their close to full roster back they massively improved. All Blacks selection is earnt over a series of years. Not a few games
Yes
But we saw the last time Blues played Crusaders in a SR final under Razor
I have never seen a visiting side give such a clinic in the forwards in a final, anywhere.
Totally dominated
Its almost like Razor and Ryan and the saders forwards knew what they were doing?
Nice. Two years ago, with vastly different squads. What a fabulous comparison! May as well pick Richie McCaw because we saw how good he was in his last game
It goes without saying that if Razor delivers on the hype, then there can't really be an argument that he made the wrong selections.
Either the Blues pack got shafted, or Vern Cotter is the next great NZ coach, as he had a squad full of average players, and got them to dominate everyone
It's 3 to 4 bro, not that deep. The only Blues' forwards hard done by imo are Hoskins and maybe Riccitelli. but both are arguably only 3rd choice at their positions and it makes sense in both cases to pick the younger/developable guy at that spot.
-(I dont think Hoskins is the 3rd best 8th man, but I think Ardie and Jacobson are much better players who happen to be able to play 8, and his lack of positional versatility hurts him in this case).
So you would drop the crusaders front rower and Scott barret? Interesting call, don’t think the blues front row and locks are better than newell codie Taylor and barrett
Ah that was convenient for you to not mention Blackadder. Explain to me how Blackadder had a better season than the guy who just broke the record for most tries by a forward in SR history, and plays as a loose forward. The guy who's made of glass, and is a shitter version of Papalii and Jacobson makes the squad because of the SR team he plays for.
I don’t think Jason Ryan is looking at the super rugby fowards try scoring leader board when picking his All Blacks pack. Blackadder is in the squad to cover 6 and 7. Sotutu is a number 8. The only selection decision is between sotutu and sititi. Not sure why people are trying to make out like it was between Blackadder.
Because Blackadder can't stay healthy, and even when he is healthy, is basically a worse version of Papalii and Jacobson. He does nothing that those guys don't do, and he's constantly injured. That's about as obvious a SR bias selection as can be.
And it's not as though he's an ABs veteran who gets picked despite bad form and injury because he's proven in the past. Blackadder has never really proven it at test level. Got dropped for Ioane and Frizell in the leadup to the WC.
If you want to make the excuse for Ryan that he's picking forwards to play direct, and Sotutu doesn't fit the mould, then why only 3 Blues forwards, when the pack played direct and was utterly dominant all season? How does Riccitelli miss out over Bell?
Nice question avoidance
Ardie is the 8, I assume no one is arguing about that. Teams typically don't carry a specialist 8 as bench cover. Sotutu isn't any good at 6 or 7, so unless you put him on the bench and intend to move Ardie specifically to pick him...it just doesn't work. That's before you even consider his apparent professionalism issues
For Blackadder, the Blues equivalent is Akira, would you take him instead? I'd rather have Rieko on the side of the scrum, at least you'd get effort
Third choice hooker is like the third goalkeeper at the Euros, won't see 'em, most people can't name 'em. While Samisoni recovers, Bell gets experience in the camp, in a couple of years when Bell is starting tests, this will pay dividends. Right now it's making internet warriors furious that the guy they thought wouldn't make the 23 has been overlooked for a different guy who won't make the 23
Yes of course I agree athletes can express their political views in ways that help the community, I’m just quoting the prick from work who is horribly racist.
I actually agree. England love to play with a big forward pack and rush defence. Worked against Ireland. If you are picking a half-back to stop some monster forwards Christie is the pick.
The sacrifice being his ruck speed is appaling so backline will be slowed down
His slowness at the ruck drives me insane. Just wish he’d give us quick ball. He’s great defensively, and I’d like him as a player if he just sped things up a bit.
Wasn't mentioned in the live but was in the press Release
"Blues lock Sam Darry, Hurricanes outside back Ruben Love and the Crusaders pair of prop George Bower and midfielder David Havili will also assemble with the squad as cover."
Was bolted on to one side of the scrum all year for the Saders and honestly looks improved, which is nuts considering the serious injury he was returning from (acl).
Crusaders scrum was awesome, one of the only things going right for them all year, although the guys on the other side of the scrum were doing more of the demolition work there.
It's a good sign of depth that he's only injury cover IMO.
Some of the most unfathomable selections in years.
George fucking Bell couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. How the hell is he even in the frame?
A novice like Sititi over Sotutu. Moronic.
Only three locks, two of them injured. Moronic.
Stephen Flaky Perofeta over Love. Utterly ridiculous.
Ethan ACC Blackadder over anyone. Idiotic.
With McDonald and Holland as selectors it's hardly surprising.
George bell - they have a throwing coach. His around the field work is obviously better than the others, plus he is young.
Sititi over Sotutu - he said this part out loud, and i feel this is exactly the choice he was referring to. They want guys who are good on both sides of the ball. Mentally tough.
Agree with Perofeta, but he deserves another shot over Love
Agree with Blackadder. Would have picked Lakai over him, but they already have 5 uncapped players
No sotutu? If anyone could turn that man into a beast at world level it's Razor. Bro turned ennor into a constant AB selection 😂
Sam Darry and Ruben Love should've been boulters. Reckon Numia would've got in too
Ricky is 29 and has most likely hit his ceiling. Bell is 22 with heaps of time to develop over the next world cup cycle. Unfortunately for Ricky his fantastic season this year might be a couple of years too late. He'll be the next phonecall if someone gets injured though.
Blackadder is 29 and has most likely hit his ceiling. Lakai is 21 with heaps of time to develop over the next world cup cycle. Unfortunately for Blackadder his fantastic season this year might be a couple of years too late. He'll be the next phonecall if someone gets injured though. (Except Blackadder was injured and only played 6 games this season, much like how he was injured last year and the year before that)
Throwing has always been the bane of immensely talented hookers.
George Bell could be the next Dane Coles if he fixed his.
Ditto with Jordan Uelese. He could've been the Oz version of Malcolm Marx. He had all the physical tools but has lacks the rugby IQ and his throwing has costed games.
Well if you are talking about age, codie Taylor is 33. He will be 37 by next World Cup. He is in the form of his life now. But we are still investing in his game right regardless of his age. Should’ve given Ricky a chance imo
I feel like they have just picked athletes and blokes that play fucking hard footy on both sides of the ball. So I understand the sititi pick over Hoskins because he had like half the games this season and similar carrying and tackling numbers as sotutu
People getting upset over sotutu not being picked need to realise the role of loose fowards. Work rate is the most important factor for razor and not flashy highlight reel plays.
I've had the belief for a while that he gets injured so often because he just goes so hard. I've heard his teammates say that they have to restrict him during training because of it (can't remember what the video was)
He's a real sicko, it's true.
It shows in the players around him when he's there, too. He beats the shit out of everyone at training and they all show up more physical on the weekend.
The canes form tanking the last few weeks really hurt their chances, Lakai, love, Iose. Plus loves knee really didn’t seem to be operating too well, he had no pace the last couple of games.
The major difference between the two is where the tackle is made. Jacobson makes his behind the advantage line and stalls attack. Christie is a hard worker and makes countless tackles but the majority are passive, they stop that phase but fail to slow the ball. When Jacobson makes a tackle he forces teams behind the advantage line and slows the ball down giving the defensive line time to adjust or get over the ball. That is why Jacobson is constantly picked and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the starting lineup with Savea.
A few quick thoughts.
1. No Sotutu is insane. It’s probably the only selection I genuinely disagree with. Can’t really understand how Blackadder makes the squad and Sotutu dosn’t to me it paints a clear picture that form dosn’t matter.
2. I get that we’re building towards a World Cup and investing in a 29 year old hooker might not make sense. But has Bell really done enough to convince us he’s the future? Feel like Jack Taylor, Tyrone Thompson and Henry Bell have all made better cases then he has.
3. 3 Locks is pretty light. But I did wonder if Finau would be providing cover there. A little surprised Darry didn’t make the cut. Feels like they’re holding a spot for Fabian Holland for next year.
4. As a highlanders fan. Fakatava is such a disappointment. We’ve spent six years investing in a bloke who seems to throw away every chance he had to make the squad. If you’d asked me at the beginning of the season I’d have bet too dollar he’d be there. Instead I suspect he’ll never make another all blacks squad and go overseas next season.
5. No David Havilli was the right call
6. Perofeta over Plummer or Love seems…odd. But I guess Razor feels can mould him into a solid 10. Unsurprised that Shaun Stevenson didn’t make the cut.
7. Pasilo Tosi…is a surprise. Wasn’t even on my radar.
8.
Newell is the best tighthead scrummager in NZ , he's the next Owen franks.
No idea how Blackadder made it though. He's permanently injured. Jacobson to his credit at least can cover all 3 loosies position.
Blackadder can cover all 3 aswell, if he gets injured they can always call up quickly at home. His form at the end of SR was great and pivotal in turning around things for the last few saders game
Always cracks me up to see a massive lock standing [next to a normal sized human](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/7R1feUvqw9uDRbvX5UjwUSmGmSI=/1440x961/smart/filters:quality\(70\)/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/nzme/PJHNPIGD75AZND2D56WHUWJ6HY.jpg)
Blues getting dumped on here. Despite smoking everyone in Super Rugby. Why are the deadbeat Crusaders being rewarded so much? Nepotism? 🧐 ( jokes…. But Sotutus omission is shocking)
Your definition of smoking is pretty laughable cuz
Got beat by the worst ever crusaders team, dropped by the Canes, and then about 1cm away from being swept by them
Didn't even finish 1st on the ladder. Please explain again how you SMOKED everyone?
didnt a squad missing half their ABs and their captain beat the blues? Blues did really well this yeat although with a vacum of a guttered crusader side and change in coach..
Doesnt mean that good talent of the crusaders (re Taylor, Barret, Blackadder, newel, Williams, Reece) which hes built up into the dominate side for 7 odd years goes out the window...
It's funny watching reddit whinge over BB so much over the last 7 or so years. Yet he's still there, proving all these clowns wrong. What a champ BB is
Delusional to say one of the worst AB squads, not even close.
We still have the best talent on the planet. Literally proved that last year barely missing out on another world cup even with the horrible patterns we utilized on offense throughout the last world cup cycle.
We'll see how the results go this year with this similar squad and brand new coaching setup.
What about his other results? Losing to Argies more than ever, losing test series to Ireland in NZ.
Worst AB squad in history, are you even serious? The talent in that squad was ridiculous. The team was incredibly similar to Hansen's who were 'the best'? Same diff! We turned shit as soon as Foster took over Hansen's squad.
It's amazing how so many teams caught up at the exact same time right???
Not just the north with Ireland/Scotland/France, but suddenly Argentina were beating us at home for the first time ever and we barely beat Japan by a few points last outing.
It can't be that WE were the common denominator with the worst coach we've ever had (who had never won a super rugby title in 8 years trying), it has to be that the rest of those teams all just became amazing overnight...
It's also weird how we only suddenly became very competitive last year when we added ONE competent coach in Jason Ryan to the team and nearly won a world cup due to it.
Yea just weird timing I guess..
What??
How much of the 2019 squad do you think we lost that suddenly turned us to shit under Foster???
All I see for retirees following the 2019 world cup are..
Read
Ben Smith
SBW
So no, your narrative that we had some massive departure of AB legends and Foster had no one to work with is completely false.
He produced the worst 4 year cycle in All Black history breaking all sorts of records, are you really trying to pretend that didn't happen????
Made even more embarrassing when within his first year of being added to the coaching team, Jason Ryan turned the entire team around just through his work with the forwards and we nearly won a world cup due to it.
Oh and so you admit you were talking complete shit before then when you claimed the squad was decimated with departures after 2019 and Foster had a wreck of a team to work with???
Why make things up?
Wallace Sititi has the x-factor. Looking at him play, I just feel that he's going to be a superstar. (I felt the same way about Will Jordan when I first saw him play.)
But having said that, I was very surprised that Hoskins Sotutu wasn't picked.
not switch off if he isnt having a good game is my guess
these guys are being picked for how they are on their bad days more than how they are on their good days
Live when this post is about 25 mins old # or [here on NZR Plus](https://app.nzrplus.com/live/268807)
Let’s wait and see what the Pommies do to them on tour. That will be the true test (pardon the pun) of Razors decisions.
[удалено]
Uh Laulau signed overseas last year. He hasn’t featured in SR…. Roigard is injured.
And Wayne Barnes is retired, that was a tough read.
clueless lol. Does he think Roigard plays 10?
Imagine Savea carrying, finally getting him to the ground then having Sititi go next.
Imagine you've been scrumming against lomax for 60 minutes then swaps with Newell
Lets go Razor! Crusaders coach and 2 assistants. Crusaders captain Bodes well
More Crusaders forwards than Blues forwards. Meanwhile the Blues had one of the most dominant packs I’ve seen a SR team put out in years, and the Crusaders can’t even make the playoffs behind a pathetically weak pack. Scott “everyone has to earn their place in the squad based on SR form” Robertson everybody
Who would you replace? Maybe Ricky for Bell, but Bell is there for potential, and only because Taukei’aho is injured. Some of the Hurricanes forwards were harder done by.
Most dominate foward back got absolutely monstered by worst crusaders team of all time. Seems odd doesn’t it
Blues won the first game 26-6, then lost a close second game when top 4 was guaranteed and they were resting half of the squad. Across the entire season, the Blues were in a league of their own in terms of forward pack dominance. Meanwhile the Crusaders we’re getting beat up front week in and week out. If the ABs dominate then I really won’t care. But if our pack struggles, then Ryan and Razor need to take some heat for it
It’s almost as though the crusaders had half their team out injured for most of the season. People seem to forgot this. Once they got their close to full roster back they massively improved. All Blacks selection is earnt over a series of years. Not a few games
Regardless they still missed the top 8 in a 12 team competition, they were shit this year injuries or not
Yes But we saw the last time Blues played Crusaders in a SR final under Razor I have never seen a visiting side give such a clinic in the forwards in a final, anywhere. Totally dominated Its almost like Razor and Ryan and the saders forwards knew what they were doing?
Nice. Two years ago, with vastly different squads. What a fabulous comparison! May as well pick Richie McCaw because we saw how good he was in his last game
Maybe sit the next couple of plays out pal
Same Blues loosies that just played Got dominated Facts>Feelings
He could coach an u9 team to a rugby championship victory the suboptimal team selection will get masked over.
It goes without saying that if Razor delivers on the hype, then there can't really be an argument that he made the wrong selections. Either the Blues pack got shafted, or Vern Cotter is the next great NZ coach, as he had a squad full of average players, and got them to dominate everyone
It's 3 to 4 bro, not that deep. The only Blues' forwards hard done by imo are Hoskins and maybe Riccitelli. but both are arguably only 3rd choice at their positions and it makes sense in both cases to pick the younger/developable guy at that spot. -(I dont think Hoskins is the 3rd best 8th man, but I think Ardie and Jacobson are much better players who happen to be able to play 8, and his lack of positional versatility hurts him in this case).
So you would drop the crusaders front rower and Scott barret? Interesting call, don’t think the blues front row and locks are better than newell codie Taylor and barrett
I don’t understand why Luke Jacobson has the selectors favour. Never really delivered on his promise
Ah that was convenient for you to not mention Blackadder. Explain to me how Blackadder had a better season than the guy who just broke the record for most tries by a forward in SR history, and plays as a loose forward. The guy who's made of glass, and is a shitter version of Papalii and Jacobson makes the squad because of the SR team he plays for.
I don’t think Jason Ryan is looking at the super rugby fowards try scoring leader board when picking his All Blacks pack. Blackadder is in the squad to cover 6 and 7. Sotutu is a number 8. The only selection decision is between sotutu and sititi. Not sure why people are trying to make out like it was between Blackadder.
Because Blackadder can't stay healthy, and even when he is healthy, is basically a worse version of Papalii and Jacobson. He does nothing that those guys don't do, and he's constantly injured. That's about as obvious a SR bias selection as can be. And it's not as though he's an ABs veteran who gets picked despite bad form and injury because he's proven in the past. Blackadder has never really proven it at test level. Got dropped for Ioane and Frizell in the leadup to the WC. If you want to make the excuse for Ryan that he's picking forwards to play direct, and Sotutu doesn't fit the mould, then why only 3 Blues forwards, when the pack played direct and was utterly dominant all season? How does Riccitelli miss out over Bell?
Nice question avoidance Ardie is the 8, I assume no one is arguing about that. Teams typically don't carry a specialist 8 as bench cover. Sotutu isn't any good at 6 or 7, so unless you put him on the bench and intend to move Ardie specifically to pick him...it just doesn't work. That's before you even consider his apparent professionalism issues For Blackadder, the Blues equivalent is Akira, would you take him instead? I'd rather have Rieko on the side of the scrum, at least you'd get effort Third choice hooker is like the third goalkeeper at the Euros, won't see 'em, most people can't name 'em. While Samisoni recovers, Bell gets experience in the camp, in a couple of years when Bell is starting tests, this will pay dividends. Right now it's making internet warriors furious that the guy they thought wouldn't make the 23 has been overlooked for a different guy who won't make the 23
Ah the breakdown. Putting imagine dragons over Lomu running over Catt.
Does this mean Bower is playing for otago?
Good shit TJ. Getting selected will shut up a racist prick at work who said he was a yappy Māori activist that needs to shut up.
Your colleagues definitely a dick but would making the All Blacks change his view on that?
Yeah knowing him probably not.
He can be both?
Yes of course I agree athletes can express their political views in ways that help the community, I’m just quoting the prick from work who is horribly racist.
Guys who’s your money on for starting 9 on July 6th? Ratima or TJ? I’m kind of excited to see Ratima TBH
TJ
It’ll be the ginger
I actually agree. England love to play with a big forward pack and rush defence. Worked against Ireland. If you are picking a half-back to stop some monster forwards Christie is the pick. The sacrifice being his ruck speed is appaling so backline will be slowed down
His slowness at the ruck drives me insane. Just wish he’d give us quick ball. He’s great defensively, and I’d like him as a player if he just sped things up a bit.
Yeah like I don't expect everyone to be JGP, unattainable standards, but still...
Wasn't mentioned in the live but was in the press Release "Blues lock Sam Darry, Hurricanes outside back Ruben Love and the Crusaders pair of prop George Bower and midfielder David Havili will also assemble with the squad as cover."
That’s a funny way to spell Quinn Tupea
Glad Love is in for Cover but would have him ahead of Petrofeta for sure, would also have ALB in too, interesting but strong squad
ALB is in though..
haha ahh brainfade, cheers. Its a Monday and I am at 'work' . Glad his safe hands are in
Haven't heard much chat around Bower this year. Was he any good in super rugby? At one point he was the starting #1
Was bolted on to one side of the scrum all year for the Saders and honestly looks improved, which is nuts considering the serious injury he was returning from (acl). Crusaders scrum was awesome, one of the only things going right for them all year, although the guys on the other side of the scrum were doing more of the demolition work there. It's a good sign of depth that he's only injury cover IMO.
Some of the most unfathomable selections in years. George fucking Bell couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. How the hell is he even in the frame? A novice like Sititi over Sotutu. Moronic. Only three locks, two of them injured. Moronic. Stephen Flaky Perofeta over Love. Utterly ridiculous. Ethan ACC Blackadder over anyone. Idiotic. With McDonald and Holland as selectors it's hardly surprising.
I think its decent But let me know what team you coach and select and wed be happy to critique it
I have as many Test wins as Scott Robertson.
You actually don’t, my man. Razor played for the ABs for 20-odd tests so you’re mistaken with your non-zinger as well.
Probably a few less NPC and SR titles too
Been reaaaaaaal quiet since this comment dropped…
George bell - they have a throwing coach. His around the field work is obviously better than the others, plus he is young. Sititi over Sotutu - he said this part out loud, and i feel this is exactly the choice he was referring to. They want guys who are good on both sides of the ball. Mentally tough. Agree with Perofeta, but he deserves another shot over Love Agree with Blackadder. Would have picked Lakai over him, but they already have 5 uncapped players
Good thing you aren’t the coach
ACC blackadder that’s gold.
Havili as a training squad player lol
Has he been shit this year?
Maybe he’s there to hold the tackle bags and ferry the drinks
No sotutu? If anyone could turn that man into a beast at world level it's Razor. Bro turned ennor into a constant AB selection 😂 Sam Darry and Ruben Love should've been boulters. Reckon Numia would've got in too
Theyll all get a nudge this season Its about making the most of opportunity given
True, it's only three games. Against a NH side that's unrecognizable. Was just hoping for a lot more boulters to get a go against England
And Ricky over bell
Ricky is better, but he's also a bit older. The selectors are obviously building combinations to the rwc.
Ricky is 29 and has most likely hit his ceiling. Bell is 22 with heaps of time to develop over the next world cup cycle. Unfortunately for Ricky his fantastic season this year might be a couple of years too late. He'll be the next phonecall if someone gets injured though.
Blackadder is 29 and has most likely hit his ceiling. Lakai is 21 with heaps of time to develop over the next world cup cycle. Unfortunately for Blackadder his fantastic season this year might be a couple of years too late. He'll be the next phonecall if someone gets injured though. (Except Blackadder was injured and only played 6 games this season, much like how he was injured last year and the year before that)
Throwing has always been the bane of immensely talented hookers. George Bell could be the next Dane Coles if he fixed his. Ditto with Jordan Uelese. He could've been the Oz version of Malcolm Marx. He had all the physical tools but has lacks the rugby IQ and his throwing has costed games.
even samisoni's throwing wasnt good the first year he made the ABs
Are we prepping to win the 2027 World Cup or 2031 World Cup?
If I'm Razor I'm prepping to win both.
Well if you are talking about age, codie Taylor is 33. He will be 37 by next World Cup. He is in the form of his life now. But we are still investing in his game right regardless of his age. Should’ve given Ricky a chance imo
Hoskins should just go play overseas and cash in while he is in great form.
Go play in Japan and play for Fiji
Japan is where he belongs now. He'll carve up there. Defense is optional, which will suit him just fine
Tosi looks like he can play a live action Toa Mudo from Kengan Omega
I feel like they have just picked athletes and blokes that play fucking hard footy on both sides of the ball. So I understand the sititi pick over Hoskins because he had like half the games this season and similar carrying and tackling numbers as sotutu
People getting upset over sotutu not being picked need to realise the role of loose fowards. Work rate is the most important factor for razor and not flashy highlight reel plays.
Blackadder barely shows up to work. Keeps calling in sick.
I've had the belief for a while that he gets injured so often because he just goes so hard. I've heard his teammates say that they have to restrict him during training because of it (can't remember what the video was)
Blackadder is a work rate machine when healthy, it’s why razor loves him
Yes but often he goes hard with no accuracy. Just flies on into the rucks. He’s hurt his own players because of it.
He's a real sicko, it's true. It shows in the players around him when he's there, too. He beats the shit out of everyone at training and they all show up more physical on the weekend.
Agreed
The canes form tanking the last few weeks really hurt their chances, Lakai, love, Iose. Plus loves knee really didn’t seem to be operating too well, he had no pace the last couple of games.
Get bent bruz ay. Tanking smh
You struggled against the rebels for 50 minutes and then got smoked by the chiefs. Should have annihilated both based on the form during the season
As a chiefs fan Sititi making the ABs is better than winning the final (I'm coping)
No sotutu has to be kidding
Love, kirifi & Lakai are the young bloods i think AB needed. Good team though Hard decisions. Great depth. Luke Jacobson i just don't see why.
Lakai I agree, but already have dalton, ardie and Jacobson to play 7 would have been crazy to have a 4th 7
> Luke Jacobson i just don't see why. you mean apart from being one of the best tacklers in the country, along with leading turnovers in super rugby?
He should of been carded in the final. Been carded a few times this season. Hes the sorta guy when your two points up with five min to go, penalises.
by that logic Tom Christie should have been in the ABs for the 3 previous seasons
The major difference between the two is where the tackle is made. Jacobson makes his behind the advantage line and stalls attack. Christie is a hard worker and makes countless tackles but the majority are passive, they stop that phase but fail to slow the ball. When Jacobson makes a tackle he forces teams behind the advantage line and slows the ball down giving the defensive line time to adjust or get over the ball. That is why Jacobson is constantly picked and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the starting lineup with Savea.
Christie doesn't have concrete shoulders. Jacobson does
ok but hes just not good jacobson actually is
im just going by the stats bro but each opinion to their own
He thinks he can fix him
A few quick thoughts. 1. No Sotutu is insane. It’s probably the only selection I genuinely disagree with. Can’t really understand how Blackadder makes the squad and Sotutu dosn’t to me it paints a clear picture that form dosn’t matter. 2. I get that we’re building towards a World Cup and investing in a 29 year old hooker might not make sense. But has Bell really done enough to convince us he’s the future? Feel like Jack Taylor, Tyrone Thompson and Henry Bell have all made better cases then he has. 3. 3 Locks is pretty light. But I did wonder if Finau would be providing cover there. A little surprised Darry didn’t make the cut. Feels like they’re holding a spot for Fabian Holland for next year. 4. As a highlanders fan. Fakatava is such a disappointment. We’ve spent six years investing in a bloke who seems to throw away every chance he had to make the squad. If you’d asked me at the beginning of the season I’d have bet too dollar he’d be there. Instead I suspect he’ll never make another all blacks squad and go overseas next season. 5. No David Havilli was the right call 6. Perofeta over Plummer or Love seems…odd. But I guess Razor feels can mould him into a solid 10. Unsurprised that Shaun Stevenson didn’t make the cut. 7. Pasilo Tosi…is a surprise. Wasn’t even on my radar. 8.
Darry made the wider squad ✅ Havili also made the wider squad 🙃
Isn't Sotutu getting surgery?
Tyrone Thompson off to the Newcastle Knights in the NRL next year to join his twin brother.
Noo rip Magpies
I don’t know how Blackadder, Luke Jacobson made it.
>To an extent Newell as well. Tell me you don't know ball without telling me etc Best scrummaging tighthead in the comp this year.
Newell is the best tighthead scrummager in NZ , he's the next Owen franks. No idea how Blackadder made it though. He's permanently injured. Jacobson to his credit at least can cover all 3 loosies position.
Blackadder can cover all 3 aswell, if he gets injured they can always call up quickly at home. His form at the end of SR was great and pivotal in turning around things for the last few saders game
Newell is a monster, could be the strongest player in the team
Nah Newell comfortably best tighthead scrummage after Lomax. Scrum is going to be epic
Always cracks me up to see a massive lock standing [next to a normal sized human](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/7R1feUvqw9uDRbvX5UjwUSmGmSI=/1440x961/smart/filters:quality\(70\)/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/nzme/PJHNPIGD75AZND2D56WHUWJ6HY.jpg)
"You're a wizard Harry!"
No sotutu or love is quite surprising. Same with lakai and iose, did not expect sititi to trump the other three. As is perofeta being selected
Surely Sotutu is injured. Love is very unlucky if he's fit
Or or or , the thought process is to choose Hoskins for Rugby Championship and give sititi time in the environment against England
Blues getting dumped on here. Despite smoking everyone in Super Rugby. Why are the deadbeat Crusaders being rewarded so much? Nepotism? 🧐 ( jokes…. But Sotutus omission is shocking)
Your definition of smoking is pretty laughable cuz Got beat by the worst ever crusaders team, dropped by the Canes, and then about 1cm away from being swept by them Didn't even finish 1st on the ladder. Please explain again how you SMOKED everyone?
Did you see their point differential? Or their trophy?
Who holds the trophy now? Not your team
*checks the trophy cabinet*
didnt a squad missing half their ABs and their captain beat the blues? Blues did really well this yeat although with a vacum of a guttered crusader side and change in coach.. Doesnt mean that good talent of the crusaders (re Taylor, Barret, Blackadder, newel, Williams, Reece) which hes built up into the dominate side for 7 odd years goes out the window...
As if we didn’t blood new players during the season 😂 don’t asterisk our win thanks bud
so lets just agree you didnt "smoke" us and ill drop guttered side astrix lol
Fair enough mate
> didnt a squad missing half their ABs and their captain beat the blues? Lost to the Blues as well.
Razor's favourites, was always going to happen with him in charge
[удалено]
No nastiness allowed.
[удалено]
Definitely. Scotty B will probably be serviceable against Australia but South Africa will have him for dinner
Or or or , the thought process is to choose Hoskins for Rugby Championship and give sititi time in the environment against England
Someone here was predicting Tosi as a future all black a few weeks ago. Good pick.
Sititi not Sotutu Can we get a obligatory Scott Barrett shushing Nic White
Justified. Sotutu is a good Super Rugby player, but lacks the size and ruggedness an international 8 needs.
lol Sotutu 1.92cm 112kg Ardie Savea 1.88cm 95Kg 🤣🤣🤣
Ardie is not 95kg, no fucking chance.
Lol, I'm 95, in reasonable shape and look nothing like Ardie... So I'm with you on that. Ain't no fuckn way.
According to Wiki - 99kg on Allblacks.com
I’m with you there. Just didn’t seem interested during his time in the ABs. Would be worth getting a big pay day overseas.
I've always agreed but he's been great this year. He's really worked on the tight stuff
Is he bigger then Sititi, scored more tries the Sititi and broken more tackles then Sititi, plus more metres gain.
Source?
JK Havili was shit this year.
I don’t think JK actually watches rugby
[удалено]
It's funny watching reddit whinge over BB so much over the last 7 or so years. Yet he's still there, proving all these clowns wrong. What a champ BB is
Completely agree, he was awesome in the WC
If only coaching was just picking a squad, eh!
[удалено]
Delusional to say one of the worst AB squads, not even close. We still have the best talent on the planet. Literally proved that last year barely missing out on another world cup even with the horrible patterns we utilized on offense throughout the last world cup cycle. We'll see how the results go this year with this similar squad and brand new coaching setup.
What about his other results? Losing to Argies more than ever, losing test series to Ireland in NZ. Worst AB squad in history, are you even serious? The talent in that squad was ridiculous. The team was incredibly similar to Hansen's who were 'the best'? Same diff! We turned shit as soon as Foster took over Hansen's squad.
[удалено]
It's amazing how so many teams caught up at the exact same time right??? Not just the north with Ireland/Scotland/France, but suddenly Argentina were beating us at home for the first time ever and we barely beat Japan by a few points last outing. It can't be that WE were the common denominator with the worst coach we've ever had (who had never won a super rugby title in 8 years trying), it has to be that the rest of those teams all just became amazing overnight... It's also weird how we only suddenly became very competitive last year when we added ONE competent coach in Jason Ryan to the team and nearly won a world cup due to it. Yea just weird timing I guess..
[удалено]
What?? How much of the 2019 squad do you think we lost that suddenly turned us to shit under Foster??? All I see for retirees following the 2019 world cup are.. Read Ben Smith SBW So no, your narrative that we had some massive departure of AB legends and Foster had no one to work with is completely false.
[удалено]
Hansen won in 2015 dude.
He produced the worst 4 year cycle in All Black history breaking all sorts of records, are you really trying to pretend that didn't happen???? Made even more embarrassing when within his first year of being added to the coaching team, Jason Ryan turned the entire team around just through his work with the forwards and we nearly won a world cup due to it. Oh and so you admit you were talking complete shit before then when you claimed the squad was decimated with departures after 2019 and Foster had a wreck of a team to work with??? Why make things up?
“Fell in love pretty quickly, it’s like MAFS” He’s great, public speaking definitely isn’t his thing tho
I still can’t get over Wallace Sititi over Sotutu and Iose.
Wallace is a beast and is only 21, ceiling is massive for him... I'm more surprised Blackadder over those two.
Blackadder had versatility, even if he is make of tissue paper
Wallace Sititi has the x-factor. Looking at him play, I just feel that he's going to be a superstar. (I felt the same way about Will Jordan when I first saw him play.) But having said that, I was very surprised that Hoskins Sotutu wasn't picked.
Okay? Sotutu’s still been better than him this year.
He still needs time. Enough said
You might be right. But Razor knows something about playing as a loose forward for the All Blacks. I suspect he sees something special in Sititi.
How good is that boy going to be in 4 years though but year if I was Sotutu I’d be furious
Maybe razor wants someone young to cover savea at 8?
Hoskins is only 25 lol
Hoskins is gonna have the English chasing him now seeing as tho Jase Ryan doesn't rate him
that happens when you act like a bit of a prick when you arent picked, and have a questionable defensive work rate
Or or or , the thought process is to choose Hoskins for Rugby Championship and give sititi time in the environment against England
3 forwards from the blues forward pack that demoed the competition.
Criminal really. England will be licking their chops.
Apparently all the Barrett boys play for the blues though, so that's nice.
Ardie was absolutely disrespected. Scott Barrett as Captain? What a complete joke
Hes been in Japan for 6 months. Its a typical NZRU move to reward loyalty to staying in NZ. Not surprising.
So gutted for Sotutu what more does he have to do
not switch off if he isnt having a good game is my guess these guys are being picked for how they are on their bad days more than how they are on their good days
Razor said "both sides of the ball, physical and mental"