All Blacks XV 2024

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:

I didn't think so either, I thought I remembered it being the Maori and thinking that was a bit odd given the eligibility criteria - but now I'm 2nd-guessing myself.

The ever-reliable allblacks.com says "The All Blacks XV was launched as NZR’s next senior national representative team after the All Blacks, as a critical high-performance pathway to the All Blacks. As the next senior national representative side, the All Blacks XV will have the same high expectations as the other Teams in Black."

But that doesn't answer if it is registered with WR as a capture team tho, that's just PR talk

Then we should refer to: https://www.world.rugby/organisation/governance/next-senior
Which has PDFs helpfully listing all the nations' 2nd teams!
For New Zealand, our 2nd team in 2024 is: N/A. And it's been N/A since 2020 when it was the Junior All Blacks.
What it is it with rugby admin and incompetence?

@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:

I didn't think so either, I thought I remembered it being the Maori and thinking that was a bit odd given the eligibility criteria - but now I'm 2nd-guessing myself.

The ever-reliable allblacks.com says "The All Blacks XV was launched as NZR’s next senior national representative team after the All Blacks, as a critical high-performance pathway to the All Blacks. As the next senior national representative side, the All Blacks XV will have the same high expectations as the other Teams in Black."

But that doesn't answer if it is registered with WR as a capture team tho, that's just PR talk

Then we should refer to: https://www.world.rugby/organisation/governance/next-senior
Which has PDFs helpfully listing all the nations' 2nd teams!
For New Zealand, our 2nd team in 2024 is: N/A. And it's been N/A since 2020 when it was the Junior All Blacks.
What it is it with rugby admin and incompetence?

That's not incompetence, you do not have to declare a second team. NZR obviously decided not to*, so Sotutu can play for XV with no risk to possible England rep, however if he is part of the extras that go to Japan - a different thing. However we have such a bloated number of loosies, that have hardly played, in the main squad probably won't happen

• there has been a bt of backlash against 2nd teams and capturing players, like those that could rep PI or other smaller nations stuck for 3 years, was permanently

@Machpants so the speculation on him turning it down for that reason has no basis then?

Yep, but he may turn down cos of possible main squad cap. Or he's too fucked off with how he's been treated? Or he doesn't get selected?

We might find out a bit soon

All Blacks XV leaked an hour early
Josh Bartlett
Xavier Numia
Saula Mau
George Bower
Ben Lopas
Ricci Ricitelli
Kurt Eklund
Soane Vikena
Fabian Holland
Josh Lord
Shneil Singh
Peter Lakai
Brayden Iose
Nikora Broughton
Hoskins Sotutu
Tom Christie
Noah Hotham
Finlay Christie
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Harry Plummer
Josh Jacomb
Dan Hawkins
Riley Higgins
AJ Lam
Kini Naholo
Emoni Narawa
Drew Wild
Chay Fihaki
Timoci Tavatavanawai

I hope that ENS is fit to tour and is selected. Wing/fullback with a handy left boot.

@Landers92 said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Landers92 said in All Blacks XV 2024:

ot.

Good list.

The only one I would question is Kini Naholo. I think there are others like Narawa or Stevenson who offer more.

Taylor has an excellent workrate but he lacks a bit of impact to his game.

My thought with Naholo were is he’s got the talent and we know the All Blacks love their power left wingers. Naholo fits the mold.

Jack Taylor is still only 21. Those little extras will come into his game with time.

I don't think Naholo will be far away.

The other thing that should be pointed out with this NZ XV squad, is the further down the levels you go, the more players of equal ability you get, so naturally there are going to be many players who could have easily been in this squad that won't be... and I don't think that means they are out of the frame for the ABs either.

If someone like JRK (who I expect to miss out) rips it up in an improving Highlanders team next year, then he could easily jump the queue. Same goes in the loose forwards. Tight five, halfbacks and midfielders does feel quite settled for the foreseeable though.

@fruggerby said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Dan Hawkins

33 yr old Dan Hawkins or have I got the wrong guy?

@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:

I didn't think so either, I thought I remembered it being the Maori and thinking that was a bit odd given the eligibility criteria - but now I'm 2nd-guessing myself.

The ever-reliable allblacks.com says "The All Blacks XV was launched as NZR’s next senior national representative team after the All Blacks, as a critical high-performance pathway to the All Blacks. As the next senior national representative side, the All Blacks XV will have the same high expectations as the other Teams in Black."

But that doesn't answer if it is registered with WR as a capture team tho, that's just PR talk

Then we should refer to: https://www.world.rugby/organisation/governance/next-senior
Which has PDFs helpfully listing all the nations' 2nd teams!
For New Zealand, our 2nd team in 2024 is: N/A. And it's been N/A since 2020 when it was the Junior All Blacks.
What it is it with rugby admin and incompetence?

Incompetence or is there method that we don't know about.

I seem to recall a deliberate decision not to nominate a second team. Dunno why.

@Machpants #booboo

@frugby

Love got a lot of hype but going by stats JRK had the most impact per 80 minutes of any fullback.

@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@frugby

Love got a lot of hype but going by stats JRK had the most impact per 80 minutes of any fullback.

I also think JRK is more of an option than Love on the wing. Traditional ABs back three includes a power wing (currently Clarke on the left), a fullback, and a speedster who is effectively a second fullback (was Smith then Jordan)...

I do think that having two out and out wingers is something being slept on as a potential reason for the ABs issues.

From a rugby nerds perspective I almost find these squads more exciting than the top squads, which tend to be quite predictable. As @frugby says there are a lot of guys at the same level and this shows preferences of the selection panel

@SouthernMann yeah it's pretty interesting. Especially when the main squad is boring - either for good reason when we're successful, or for shit reason when we're just overly conservative.
It has been mentioned before, but it is fucking ridiculous that they're only playing 2 games.

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@brodean said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Chris

I don't think anyone is expecting Sotutu to be there.

FIhaki will be in too even though Hutchinson has already surpassed him at 15.

Millar, Haig and Holland will also be new guys but they have talent worth investigating after being fairly consistent form wise and players who get regularly mentioned.

Sotutu will be selected wether he takes up the spot is anyones guess if he has a shift overseas in mind, if he goes it will re set his 3 year stand down.

Not if he only plays for the XV it doesn't

I think those rules have changed.

Have NZR decalred the XV as second team? I haven't seen anything anywhere that says anything has changed, from either NZR or WR

I thought it had but I am not 100% certain you maybe correct.

@fruggerby said in All Blacks XV 2024:

All Blacks XV leaked an hour early
Josh Bartlett
Xavier Numia
Saula Mau
George Bower
Ben Lopas
Ricci Ricitelli
Kurt Eklund
Soane Vikena
Fabian Holland
Josh Lord
Shneil Singh
Peter Lakai
Brayden Iose
Nikora Broughton
Hoskins Sotutu
Tom Christie
Noah Hotham
Finlay Christie
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Harry Plummer
Josh Jacomb
Dan Hawkins
Riley Higgins
AJ Lam
Kini Naholo
Emoni Narawa
Drew Wild
Chay Fihaki
Timoci Tavatavanawai

Got to be a piss take? Few in here that don’t even start for NPC sides.

Few rumours that were floating around on the fern far from accurate. Interesting names in the squad and I’m will create some talking points.

Age is definitely not an issue.

Not too bad.

Good to see some form players rewarded.

Riccitelli looks unlucky (unless he is injured)? - not in the top 6 hookers in the country (top 7 if you include Samisoni)

For those who prefer the old school way.

Props
Xavier Numia (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
George Dyer (24/ Chiefs / Waikato)
Saula Ma’u (24 / Highlanders / Otago)
Marcel Renata (30 / Blues / Auckland)
George Bower (32 / Crusaders / Otago)*

Hookers
Brodie McAlister (27 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Kurt Eklund (32 / Blues / Bay of Plenty)
Bradley Slater (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki)

Locks
Josh Lord (23 / Chiefs / Taranaki)*
Fabian Holland (21 / Highlanders / Otago)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (27 / Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (25 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)

Loose Forwards
Du’Plessis Kirifi (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
Peter Lakai (21/ Hurricanes / Wellington)
Hoskins Sotutu (26 / Blues / Counties Manukau)*
Oliver Haig (22 / Highlanders / Otago)
Christian Lio-Willie (26 / Crusaders / Otago)

Backs (12)

Halfbacks
Noah Hotham (21 / Crusaders / Ta$man)*
Finlay Christie (29 / Blues / Ta$man)*

First five-eighths
Harry Plummer (26 / Blues / Auckland)*
Josh Jacomb (23 / Chiefs / Taranaki)

Mid-fielders
Quinn Tupaea (25 / Chiefs / Waikato)*
Riley Higgins (22 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
AJ Lam (26 / Blues / Auckland)
Dallas McLeod (25 / Crusaders / Canterbury)*

Outside Backs
Kiniviliame Naholo (25 / Hurricanes / Taranaki)
Emoni Narawa (25 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)*
Chay Fihaki (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Shaun Stevenson (27 / Chiefs / North Harbour)*

Apologies, was fed some slightly dodgy info around a few of the Highlanders boys. I think it was perhaps what the coaches were expecting rather than who was actually in.

I'd like to see a list of who wasn't selected due to injury.

Considering the way they have selected the squad, Ross and Riccitelli are the only two who really spring to mind as notable omissions?

@frugby some good inside sources bud

@frugby said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Considering the way they have selected the squad, Ross and Riccitelli are the only two who really spring to mind as notable omissions?

And McLeod as the only really, why? But I guess he has ABs experience, and could be an easy person to bring into the main squad if required.

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@frugby said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Considering the way they have selected the squad, Ross and Riccitelli are the only two who really spring to mind as notable omissions?

And McLeod as the only really, why? But I guess he has ABs experience, and could be an easy person to bring into the main squad if required.

McLeod still a good archetype of player I guess... Ennor given the cold shoulder though.

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@frugby said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Considering the way they have selected the squad, Ross and Riccitelli are the only two who really spring to mind as notable omissions?

And McLeod as the only really, why? But I guess he has ABs experience, and could be an easy person to bring into the main squad if required.

Covers 2nd Five,Centre and wing could be a reason.

@frugby Kneepkens, Iose maybe

@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@frugby Kneepkens, Iose maybe

Yeah, I mean as I said above there are loads of players of equal ability. JRK pretty stiff I reckon, but not really surprising when we knew Fihaki was going to be in there.

Iose I would suspect is not rated highly by the coaches. Would be intrigued to know his defensive numbers.

Also haven't they forgotten to pick a centre and picked 4 x 12s?

@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Also haven't they forgotten to pick a centre and picked 4 x 12s?

TBF I think Lam is probably a 13 who has been playing 12 because of the options available in 13... ditto, Tupaea and McLeod flexible through both?

Narawa can also play 13

sure yeah there is versatility, but total number of super caps at 13 in the squad is what, fuck-all?

@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Also haven't they forgotten to pick a centre and picked 4 x 12s?

Lam seems more comfortable at 12 but he did have 5 starts for the Blues at 13 this year

These will be interesting, too

A small number of players from the All Blacks XV squad will travel early to Japan with the All Blacks to help with their preparation and gain additional experience in the All Blacks environment, before joining up with the All Blacks XV squad to play Munster and Georgia in November.

@reprobate said in All Blacks XV 2024:

sure yeah there is versatility, but total number of super caps at 13 in the squad is what, fuck-all?

According to all.rugby, Tupaea is 16 starts at 13 in his career. McLeod 24 so there is a few.... not sure what that breaks to in SR.

@frugby true, that's more than i thought.

Suafoa is an omission.