if there's a human brain behind your thoughts I think It's the opposite to what you have said really, the Chay Fihaki's & Blackadders of this world have the easy pathway, it's the Emoni Narawa's, Sotutu & Tavatavanawai's with the point to prove to Razor@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
All Blacks Domestic Schedule
July Series
v France, Saturday 5 July, 7.05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, DUNEDIN
v France, Saturday 12 July, 7.05pm, Sky Stadium, WELLINGTON
v France, Saturday 19 July, 7.05pm, FMG Stadium Waikato, HAMILTONLipovitan-D Rugby Championship
v South Africa, Saturday 6 September, 7.05pm, Eden Park, AUCKLAND *Freedom Cup
v South Africa, Saturday 13 September, 7.05pm, Sky Stadium, WELLINGTON *Freedom Cup
v Australia, Saturday 27 September, 5.05pm, Eden Park, AUCKLAND *Bledisloe Cup
And we might even get semi decent beer at the stadium, fuck yes please!
We will see what that means in practice. There is a French expression "On dit une chose en faire une autre." Basically, say one thing but do another.
Let's hope that's the case.
Several months to go and it wouldn't surprise me if the French bring some (or indeed most) of their top players to NZ.
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Hoping France bring a decent squad to NZ in July.
I hope they do send an under strength team and we pummel them.
But it's going to be embarrassing if we do lose.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2025:
So Scotland is going to play the NZ Maori in Whangarei but no Test match? Scotland hasn't played a Test in NZ since 2000
I wonder if that means it will not be a full strength Scottish side
It won't be as the BIL tour is on at the same time. They play NSW on the same day.
Normally Scotland get a couple of consolation players in the Lions so the MÄoris may face a pretty strong line up!
Although, the make up of the Lions next year suddenly doesnāt look so green. Maybe Ireland, Scots and England will have a fair share between them?
@Donsteppa said in All Blacks 2025:
So the Eden Park record will stand for 31 years.
Well the record is going to fall one day.
The Boks will see it like a World Cup final.
Time for Razor and his team to become a win at all costs All Blacks side and protect the proud record.
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Donsteppa said in All Blacks 2025:
So the Eden Park record will stand for 31 years.
Well the record is going to fall one day.
The Boks will see it like a World Cup final.
Time for Razor and his team to become a win at all costs All Blacks side and protect the proud record.
I actually think the fear of losing is a decent part of the reason for Robertson's overly conservative selections, and Foster before him. It's holding us back.
@reprobate and somewhat ironically for Razor, the emergence of Sititi is a counter point to his conservatism.
Can't recall if anyone under Fozzies tenure had such an impact in thier debut season, probably Samisoni?
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Does anyone think Razor will change his coaching staff before 2027?
We would be relying on coaches getting injured, so, unlikely.
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Several months to go and it wouldn't surprise me if the French bring some (or indeed most) of their top players to NZ.
...just over 2 months
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Donsteppa said in All Blacks 2025:
So the Eden Park record will stand for 31 years.
Well the record is going to fall one day.
The Boks will see it like a World Cup final.
Time for Razor and his team to become a win at all costs All Blacks side and protect the proud record.
I actually think the fear of losing is a decent part of the reason for Robertson's overly conservative selections, and Foster before him. It's holding us back.
AB players of the past talk about a fear of losing and upholding the AB legacy.
Itās striking a balance isnāt it? Fear of losing but going out and playing with no fearā¦
Defending Eden park record against the Boks is exactly the type of match for players and coaches to have for them to improve.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Donsteppa said in All Blacks 2025:
So the Eden Park record will stand for 31 years.
Well the record is going to fall one day.
The Boks will see it like a World Cup final.
Time for Razor and his team to become a win at all costs All Blacks side and protect the proud record.
I actually think the fear of losing is a decent part of the reason for Robertson's overly conservative selections, and Foster before him. It's holding us back.
Foster had no trouble surrendering longstanding records to opposition teams....
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Donsteppa said in All Blacks 2025:
So the Eden Park record will stand for 31 years.
Well the record is going to fall one day.
The Boks will see it like a World Cup final.
Time for Razor and his team to become a win at all costs All Blacks side and protect the proud record.
I actually think the fear of losing is a decent part of the reason for Robertson's overly conservative selections, and Foster before him. It's holding us back.
AB players of the past talk about a fear of losing and upholding the AB legacy.
Itās striking a balance isnāt it? Fear of losing but going out and playing with no fearā¦
Defending Eden park record against the Boks is exactly the type of match for players and coaches to have for them to improve.
Where's Gilbert when you need him
@DaGrubster im sure they all know about the eden park run but we saw after the home loses to Ireland, when ardie came out and said he didn;t know we'd never load at home to them, i think the current generation of players are less about history and honour and more just about personal excellence (or when im feeling harsh, its just a job to them)....it works until you need a team to lift above themselves...i think previous generations often played better at international level where as the current one dont seem too as often
It's just depressing seeing the AB's play test after test at the graveyard of dreams/competency that is Wellington 
https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/taranaki-daily-news/20241211/281891598860091 David Kirk tipped to be new Chairman of NZRU.