All Blacks 2025

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:

There might be some cheap used Ford Rangers on the market soon. Ford is ending their sponsorship.

Ford confirmed the end of its New Zealand rugby sponsorship, stating, "We are incredibly proud to have been a sponsor of the All Blacks and NZ Rugby for over 30 years. However, the decision has been made to conclude our partnership in 2025." They expressed disappointment at the separation but reflected positively on their experience, acknowledging the strong relationships forged with athletes and fans alike. In their farewell, Ford assured support for players during the transition period.

So, this extra revenue from Silverlake is probably just consultants telling the NZRU to shake down sponsors. If it works, they could land some really big names; let's hope they don't chase away the firms that had a commitment to the team (brand).

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

I not huge fan of Razor or otherwise, he's got the job (like Foster before) so has my complete support. The one thing I will say about his so called sticking with old players, I would of picked both Cane and TJ myself, this crap about just building for WCs, I personally disagree with.

but it wasn't just that for WC-building, but beyond this year! And Cane came back from Japan so really got a special gold card entry into the team! Were the Cane and TJP picks the best for this year, looking back? Sounds like the beginning of a hotly contested Fern thread. But they certainly are not helping 2025 All Blacks..

Agree they not helping 2025 ABs, except to perhaps help with bringing young fellas through. But not their job, their job was to do what they could to help the 2024 team win tests. See what concerns me is the idea if a player is retiring at end of this or next year we decide not to pick him, that is not how it should ever be.

There's is now way we needed cane and TJ versus Italy. That is indefensible apart from sentiment

@gt12 so Ford & Steinlager moving on, or Silverlake moving them on?

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

I not huge fan of Razor or otherwise, he's got the job (like Foster before) so has my complete support. The one thing I will say about his so called sticking with old players, I would of picked both Cane and TJ myself, this crap about just building for WCs, I personally disagree with.

but it wasn't just that for WC-building, but beyond this year! And Cane came back from Japan so really got a special gold card entry into the team! Were the Cane and TJP picks the best for this year, looking back? Sounds like the beginning of a hotly contested Fern thread. But they certainly are not helping 2025 All Blacks..

Agree they not helping 2025 ABs, except to perhaps help with bringing young fellas through. But not their job, their job was to do what they could to help the 2024 team win tests. See what concerns me is the idea if a player is retiring at end of this or next year we decide not to pick him, that is not how it should ever be.

There's is now way we needed cane and TJ versus Italy. That is indefensible apart from sentiment

It's bonkers, and we wonder why players continue to leave NZ rugby.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:

@gt12 so Ford & Steinlager moving on, or Silverlake moving them on?

Better not be replace by Chevrolet and miller lite!

@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:

@gt12 so Ford & Steinlager moving on, or Silverlake moving them on?

Better not be replace by Chevrolet and miller lite!

Ugh

@DaGrubster Cadillac and Budweiser!

Bud Light

@booboo

I actually heard Razor is pushing for the ABs to be sponsored by Canterbury Drought and Canterbury Clothing, hence Steinlager pulling the pin because they are feeling they are not getting a decent opportunity to show what they can do. Adidas are getting the jitters because Ryan feels fat in their clothes and is more comfortable wearing CCC. And Hansen hates Rangers and loves motorbikes, so the ABs will be riding around on Britten's soon.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

I not huge fan of Razor or otherwise, he's got the job (like Foster before) so has my complete support. The one thing I will say about his so called sticking with old players, I would of picked both Cane and TJ myself, this crap about just building for WCs, I personally disagree with.

but it wasn't just that for WC-building, but beyond this year! And Cane came back from Japan so really got a special gold card entry into the team! Were the Cane and TJP picks the best for this year, looking back? Sounds like the beginning of a hotly contested Fern thread. But they certainly are not helping 2025 All Blacks..

I think Cane especially was like Henry bringing the Suitcase back into the team as much for his value off the field. But, Cane actually did a fairly decent job on the field this year if anti-Cane blinkers are removed.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:

There might be some cheap used Ford Rangers on the market soon. Ford is ending their sponsorship.

Ford confirmed the end of its New Zealand rugby sponsorship, stating, "We are incredibly proud to have been a sponsor of the All Blacks and NZ Rugby for over 30 years. However, the decision has been made to conclude our partnership in 2025." They expressed disappointment at the separation but reflected positively on their experience, acknowledging the strong relationships forged with athletes and fans alike. In their farewell, Ford assured support for players during the transition period.

Plummer, Sotutu, Stevenson, Ford. What wont Razor chase away?

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

I not huge fan of Razor or otherwise, he's got the job (like Foster before) so has my complete support. The one thing I will say about his so called sticking with old players, I would of picked both Cane and TJ myself, this crap about just building for WCs, I personally disagree with.

but it wasn't just that for WC-building, but beyond this year! And Cane came back from Japan so really got a special gold card entry into the team! Were the Cane and TJP picks the best for this year, looking back? Sounds like the beginning of a hotly contested Fern thread. But they certainly are not helping 2025 All Blacks..

I think Cane especially was like Henry bringing the Suitcase back into the team as much for his value off the field. But, Cane actually did a fairly decent job on the field this year if anti-Cane blinkers are removed.

yeah, happy to admit cane played well, my argument this year it seemed really shirt sited though, just wanting to win (not sure he was even the different between winning and losing)..you know?...could these have been games where someone else got the much vaulted experience

I am curious to see what changes are going to take place in the midfield. I hope AJ Lam will keep on developing and be a real contender for the starting XV. The presence of of big munter (à la TUJ or T. Telea) could add something different.

@cgrant do you think Razor will drop a Barrett?

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:

@cgrant do you think Razor will drop a Barrett?

No, but he'd drop an Ioane

@nzzp No, but there is a world, where Jordie Barrett ends back up at fullback I reckon. We have uncertainty at 15, naturally Higgins and Proctor will probably rip it up in the midfield for the Canes etc. etc.

@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:

@nzzp No, but there is a world, where Jordie Barrett ends back up at fullback I reckon. We have uncertainty at 15, naturally Higgins and Proctor will probably rip it up in the midfield for the Canes etc. etc.

I'm picking Higgins to be the big mover in 2025, not many centres in NZ have the ability to use footwork and the offload like he does to open up opposition defence structures. A big work on for him though is his defence, Super will be a good test to see where he's at.

@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:

@nzzp No, but there is a world, where Jordie Barrett ends back up at fullback I reckon. We have uncertainty at 15, naturally Higgins and Proctor will probably rip it up in the midfield for the Canes etc. etc.

I think New Zealand need to end their fixation with the Barretts. On form this year Jordie was pretty rubbish both for the Canes and ABs, Barrett was mediocre and S Barrett was the same. We won't get back to our best until we start picking players on form, not past reputation which B Barrett has been dining out on for years now.

@Canes4life hopefully JB can rediscover something in Ireland, because I agree he's regressed over the last year or so. Or does Razor's pattern have something to do with it?