All Blacks XV 2024

Munster Rugby are pleased to confirm that the province will take on the All Blacks XV on Saturday November 2nd at Thomond Park (5.30pm).
Since the redevelopment of Thomond Park in 2008, Munster Rugby have hosted international opposition in the form of the All Blacks, Australia and the Māori All Blacks at the Limerick venue.

Commenting on today’s announcement Munster Rugby CEO Ian Flanagan said: “We will be delighted to welcome the All Blacks XV to Thomond Park in November as part of their Northern Hemisphere tour.

“We have a long and rich history of hosting international sides and I’m sure November’s match will add another exciting chapter to this tradition.”

So the Maori All Blacks currently have two games against Japan on the agenda and now there's this for the All Blacks XV, plus a game the following weekend against Georgia.

Maybe one or two more matches to be added for the XV in Europe?

Oh shit!! Me and Mrs Dan are intending to have a holiday in Britain at end of year, I suggesting we try and join up with a week or so of AB supporters tour while there, what's a good way I have found something else to try and follow?? lol

It will be interesting to see how big the AB squad for the EOYT is, as that will impact who gets selected for the AB XV. On one hand this provides an opportunity to players pushing for higher honours, but could also test the depth in some positions. Some non-playing ABs might be used as previously.

So with the players not selected who makes this squad?

My starting team would be the following:

1. Numia
2. Riccitelli
3. Dyer
4. Darry
5. Walker-Leawere
6. Grace
7. Lakai
8. Sotutu
9. Hotham
10. Plummer
11. Nareki
12. Lam
13. Poihipi
14. Stevenson
15. Love

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV 2024:

So with the players not selected who makes this squad?

My starting team would be the following:

1. Numia
2. Riccitelli
3. Dyer
4. Darry
5. Walker-Leawere
6. Grace
7. Lakai
8. Sotutu
9. Hotham
10. Plummer
11. Nareki
12. Lam
13. Poihipi
14. Stevenson
15. Love

The wingers look a bit weak.

I guess that’s what happens when 50,000 of them get named in the ABs.

@Canes4life Tavatavanawai on the wing, and this is a "non capture" side if I remember correctly so maybe Holland would be eligible

From a Highlanders perspective I'd like to see Dunshea, Haig, Holland, Fakatava and a couple of membefs of our back three make it. Probably JRK as a winger.

I’m sure they are all in the frame. That was just off the top of my head.

I'd like to see ETS in the squad. Personally thought he was near even to Narawa as the Chiefs best back three player come end of season

The XV aren't playing until November, the MABs are competing in July.

They are going to have one helluva side if Robertson and his chums keep turning their noses up at the best players in New Zealand.

Its a tough one Sparky.
There are a few positions with a lot of competition (Front row and wing for eg) and a few with virtually none (lock and 10) and lots of young guys with real potential but all have little bits of game to grow into. I would think its just a matter of which young fulla is stronger in the balance of their weaknesses to what the coaches want and in the guys playing around them on the field for the game plan they want.

Yeah swap Poihipi and Lam, get ENS in there somewhere. I

f Holland and Tavatavnawai are allowed get them in there too.

What's Tele'a's injury status? Chuck Lam back to 12 and him at 13, Poihipi to the bench.

Funaki definitely deserves a shot. I guess Hotham wears the right shirt though.

They're not playing until Nov so plenty of time to get over injuries

I'd like to see an AJ Lam - Tanielu Telea combination for the All Blacks XV, with Tavatavanawai on the right wing. This could be fun to watch.

@cgrant said in All Blacks XV 2024:

I'd like to see an AJ Lam - Tanielu Telea combination for the All Blacks XV, with Tavatavanawai on the right wing. This could be fun to watch.

That would be fun to watch. I’m sure Poihipi and Tupaea might push for the midfield aswell.

What would the rest of the backline look like? Love at 15, Plummer at 10, Nanai-Seturo at 11…

Shaun Stevenson maybe in the back line? Fakatava at 9

It's unlikely Hotham will be involved with the ABs on the EOYT (and it's entirely possible one of the original three selected for July also makes way for Roigard if he's back playing), so the XV certainly won't be short of options at halfback.

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV 2024:

It's unlikely Hotham will be involved with the ABs on the EOYT

It seems extremely likely to me. Why wouldn't he be?

@MN5 said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV 2024:

So with the players not selected who makes this squad?

My starting team would be the following:

1. Numia
2. Riccitelli
3. Dyer
4. Darry
5. Walker-Leawere
6. Grace
7. Lakai
8. Sotutu
9. Hotham
10. Plummer
11. Nareki
12. Lam
13. Poihipi
14. Stevenson
15. Love

The wingers look a bit weak.

I guess that’s what happens when 50,000 of them get named in the ABs.

you could have Ioane at 6?

@Bones said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV 2024:

It's unlikely Hotham will be involved with the ABs on the EOYT

It seems extremely likely to me. Why wouldn't he be?

Because Roigard will be back, so it'll be him, Ratima and one of TJ or Christie for experience I expect

@Bones said in All Blacks XV 2024:

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV 2024:

It's unlikely Hotham will be involved with the ABs on the EOYT

It seems extremely likely to me. Why wouldn't he be?

As @nzzp has said, assuming the pecking order at the start of the year was:
1/ Roigard
2/ Perenara
3/ Christie
4/ Ratima
5/ Hotham

Then Hotham would need to jump two places to be one of the three halfbacks on the EOYT. It's possible, but I think it's unlikely (unless Roigard is still injured, in which case he just needs to get ahead of either Perenara or Christie).

I think it's highly likely he'll jump them.

Best to discuss the potential squad in this thread. Hopefully @Duluth can merge with the other AB XV thread.

Given that Ryan had a say in the selections last year you can assume many of the forwards are still favoured.

A reminder of that squad:

Props
Jermaine Ainsley
George Dyer
Tevita Mafileo
Xavier Numia
Aidan Ross
Ollie Norris
Pouri Rakete-Stones

Hookers
Asafo Aumua
Ricky Riccitelli
Tyrone Thompson
George Bell

Locks
Naitoa Ah Kuoi
Quinten Strange
Isaia Walker-Leawere

Loose Forwards
Billy Harmon
Akira Ioane
Du’Plessis Kirifi
Christian Lio-Willie
Pita Gus Sowakula
Cameron Suafoa

Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava
Brad Weber

First-five-eighths
Brett Cameron
Stephen Perofeta

Midfielders
Jack Goodhue
Alex Nankivell
Billy Proctor
Bailyn Sullivan

Outside Backs
Sam Gilbert
AJ Lam
Ruben Love
Etene Nanai-Seturo
Jona Nareki

There will be other players in the mix now. Laghlan McWhannell must be a good chance to be one of the locks. Zach Gallagher too based on previous selections.

Is Haig a possibility?

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Is Haig a possibility?

I would say he got a chance

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Best to discuss the potential squad in this thread. Hopefully @Duluth can merge with the other AB XV thread.

Where is that?

I know @Mr-Fish posted a prediction of the AB XV in the EOYT thread. I'll quote that below:

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks EOYT:

All Blacks XV (28)
Hookers (2): Ricky Riccitelli, Kurt Eklund
Props (5): Xavier Numia, George Bower, Aidan Ross, Marcel Renata, Saula Ma'u
Locks (3): Josh Lord, Fabian Holland, Max Hicks
Loose forwards (6): Cullen Grace, Cameron Suafoa, Malachi Wrampling, Peter Lakai, Hugh Renton, Hoskins Sotutu
Halfbacks (2): Noah Hotham, Folau Fakatava
First fives (1): Josh Jacomb
Midfield (3): Rameka Poihipi, Quinn Tupaea, Dallas McLeod, AJ Lam
Wings (4): Gideon Wrampling, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Kini Naholo
Fullbacks (2): Ruben Love, Zarn Sullivan

@Duluth When I did a search I also saw this thread:

@Bovidae

Thanks

Merged now

Based on form I’d have Riley Higgins right in the mix for the AB XV side. He’s the form 12 in the NPC by a fairly long way.

Caleb Delany should definitely be in the mix over some of the players mentioned above aswell.

Kade Banks over Gideon-Wrampling aswell.

I’d go with the following:

Props
Xavier Numia
George Bower
George Dyer
Marcel Renata
Tevita Mafileo

Hookers
Ricky Riccitelli
Kurt Eklund
Brodie McCalister

Locks
Caleb Delany
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Fabian Holland
Zach Gallagher

Loose Forwards
Hoskins Sotutu
Peter Lakai (might be in the ABs)
Du’Plessis Kirifi
Brayden Iose
Oliver Haig
Cameron Suafoa

Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava
Finlay Christie

First-five
Stephen Perofeta
Josh Jacomb

Midfielders
Rameka Poihipi
Riley Higgins
AJ Lam
Bailyn Sullivan

Outside Backs
Kini Naholo
Zarn Sullivan
Etene Nanai-Seturo
Jona Nareki
Kade Banks

Tevita Mafileo doesn't even start ahead of his brother now. Delany has been average in the Wellington games I've seen. I expect some surprises and puzzling selections.

AFAIK they haven't even named the coach yet.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV 2024:

Tevita Mafileo doesn't even start ahead of his brother now. Delany has been average in the Wellington games I've seen. I expect some surprises and puzzling selections.

AFAIK they haven't even named the coach yet.

Delany hasn’t been playing that well lately because he’s fronted most of the load because of injuries including being forced to play three games in one week. He’s had a great year but probably needs a week or two to refresh which is unlikely.

Over the course of most of the year he’s been awesome.

It would be interesting to see who the coach is. Hopefully Vern Cotter and Clark Laidlaw are in the mix. Laidlaw was at AB training the other day.

I'm going to throw a couple of random names out for consideration ...
Jordi Viljoen
Xavier Roe
Rivez Reihana
JRK

I would like to say anton segnar must be in with a shout.
Playing consistently well
Also Leroy carter naybe

I think they will take three 10’s in this team this season due to the share fact the quality depth isn’t jumping out right now. The more the can get a closer look at, the better.

Ones to consider in my opinion.

• Josh Jacomb(should be no debate here)
• Plummer(Should be in AB’s, if not he’s the 10).
• Cam Millar(To get a closer look and better idea of him)
• Rives Reihana(There’s a player in there, might just take another couple years. Plus he wears red and black).
• Zarn Sullivan(Is his future at 10 or 15?)
• Kaleb Trask(Good player when fit, still only 25).

Plenty of there or there abouts talent. Be interesting to see which way they go.

@Landers92 said in All Blacks XV 2024:

I think they will take three 10’s in this team this season due to the share fact the quality depth isn’t jumping out right now. The more the can get a closer look at, the better.

Ones to consider in my opinion.

• Josh Jacomb(should be no debate here)
• Plummer(Should be in AB’s, if not he’s the 10).
• Cam Millar(To get a closer look and better idea of him)
• Rives Reihana(There’s a player in there, might just take another couple years. Plus he wears red and black).
• Zarn Sullivan(Is his future at 10 or 15?)
• Kaleb Trask(Good player when fit, still only 25).

Plenty of there or there abouts talent. Be interesting to see which way they go.

Zarn pretty much sealed his fate at 15 when he re-signed for the Blues. If he wants to be a 10 at the highest level he should have gone somewhere else as the Blues have Plummer, Barrett and Perofeta who would all likely play 10 before he got a shot.

If I was him I would have gone to the Canes. Your almost guaranteed the starting 10 spot and if you can form a good combo with Roigard that would put you right in the hunt to be in the AB mix.

Pretty bad career move staying at the Blues tbh if he wanted to play 10.

Zarn did not look comfortable at 10 for Auckland last year. Just didn't seem to suit him.

@KiwiMurph

I thought he looked pretty good near the end of the season.