@Steven-Harris said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Basketball is one of the faster growing sports in NZ taking many tall athletes off in a different direction ,also Rugby League with the popular NRL right on our doorstep
I've been hearing that for about 30 years...
Reading Foster's book on @His-Bobness recommendation. Deserves a thread of its' own, but it's an indictment of NZR and it's lack of competence, in-fighting and putting commercial interests above the game.
@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Steven-Harris said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Basketball is one of the faster growing sports in NZ taking many tall athletes off in a different direction ,also Rugby League with the popular NRL right on our doorstep
I've been hearing that for about 30 years...
Luckily there is a really good system bringing absolute units in from old Zealand
Btw, the weird thing about the French approach to this series is how do you explain to the players who acquited themselves well in Dunedin why they were left out for the second test. Dropping 10 players from the first test makes absolutely no sense from a team building point of view.
Players want to play and they want to win, I'm just not sure how you sell players on being part of a project that is pretty incoherent.
@nonpartizan devil's advocate being you're selecting a lot of young players and they all know they're going to get a taste (as well as giving them a wage boost and locking them in).
@Steven-Harris said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Money also trumps anything we see down here in NZ
It's true but one thing NZ has that no other country can match is heritage, tradition and pride in the jersey.
To me the respective approaches to this series speak to how New Zealand have something that the French will never be able to buy or throw money at.
The word I would use is integrity.
@Victor-Meldrew said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@canefan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
And it allows them to develop depth while devaluing test rugby. It doesn't help that we then can't pump them the way they deserve
But doesn't it speak volumes about the levels of NZ & French Rugby that we struggle to put away a French development team?
Thats the point I was trying to make, poorly in hindsight
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Vaa'i did well for his try. He's probably deceptively fast but he definitely runs like a lock and not a loose forward.
Thought he did a pretty decent job of mimicking PSDT tonight.
@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Vaa'i did well for his try. He's probably deceptively fast but he definitely runs like a lock and not a loose forward.
Thought he did a pretty decent job of mimicking PSDT tonight.
That's high praise. He's coming along nicely. Need to see how he goes against a top 3 A team. He should get a chance soon against the Saffas.
Hoping it isn’t mass changes next week, as I’d like to see guys fill some roles…
When bigger tests roll around, I still think Tuipulotu would be best used as your impact man - Scott Barrett will rise to the challenge. Finau gets one last chance, and possibly edging to that territory for Kirifi so I’d start him to get a proper read.
@taniwharugby said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean hopefully another good run next week and good leadership from Ardie and the heat will be on Scott.
Who is more of a certain pick at the moment? I know who I favour.
I'm not a Crusader supporter but I'm not sure how SB is a better pick at Captain than Ardie apart from his history and clearly close relationship with the coaches. But that is a good reason.
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
PT runs a better lineout than Barrett and is a better lineout jumper.
PT better on the carry and Barrett better at the breakdown.
PT must be pretty bloody good then.
