All Blacks 2026

@brodean said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

Some interesting points of discussion....

Tupaea hasn't put his hand up at centre.... and yet was crucially involved in at least a couple of tries Vs France and this is only after one bloody game.

Also Ratima getting a hard time because his clearance apparently isn't as fast as Roigard's - which seems bizarre when you note the amount of times the breakdown is being cleared by someone other than Roigard.

Good point. Why is Darry clearing the deck? I think there were a few times when Roigard was clearing rucks. Are our loosies doing enough there?

It was really noticeable in this game eh, especially in the first 20-30...half the time when someone else is clearing I can't even figure out where Roigard is (possibly still getting up from being tackled as he likes to take it to the line)? I think there was one where it went like 3-4 breakdowns being cleared quickly by someone other than Roigard, a couple of those Roigard was ready behind the clearing player.

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

@No-Quarter interesting that Tupaea/Proctor have significant defensive issues after one start each, yet the only issue Ioane has is offering a little bit less on attack.

Ioane's issues on attack weren't just down to being used as a battering ram - hence they were evident at super level also. He refused to scan, used next to no footwork, tucked and ducked.

I think there's a bit of revisionism going on about just how good his defence is too.

I would be hugely surprised if a guy seen as too limited in the midfield gets brought into the squad as injury cover for the outside backs and leapfrogs the actual midfield selected.

I am talking about what I would like to see, not what I think Rennie will do who will surely continue with his current centres in the squad.

I think an issue for Rieko is that people always compare him to Conrad Smith when he has never been and will never be anything like the same player. Primarily what Rieko brings to the table is very strong defense and a strong running game. Our current backline has playmakers at 9, 10, 12, 15 and to a lesser degree 14. So to my mind a player with Rieko's attributes fits into that well where they can work to give him space to run on the outside, or use him as a decoy to attract defense in.

And yes I do think Tupaea and Proctor have significant issues on defense at test level as 13 is a very tricky position to defend from. Tupaea struggled there against France, and Proctor again was unable to match up against Italy.

For what it's worth I hope Tupaea can go well there, as he offers the most on attack with a strong running game, vision for his outsides and quick hands to set them away. His problem right now is he's a 12 playing 13 that is about to play the best centres in the world, who will be ruthless with any defensive deficiencies we have in that channel.

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

@No-Quarter interesting that Tupaea/Proctor have significant defensive issues after one start each, yet the only issue Ioane has is offering a little bit less on attack.

Ioane's issues on attack weren't just down to being used as a battering ram - hence they were evident at super level also. He refused to scan, used next to no footwork, tucked and ducked.

I think there's a bit of revisionism going on about just how good his defence is too.

I would be hugely surprised if a guy seen as too limited in the midfield gets brought into the squad as injury cover for the outside backs and leapfrogs the actual midfield selected.

I am talking about what I would like to see, not what I think Rennie will do who will surely continue with his current centres in the squad.

I think an issue for Rieko is that people always compare him to Conrad Smith when he has never been and will never be anything like the same player. Primarily what Rieko brings to the table is very strong defense and a strong running game. Our current backline has playmakers at 9, 10, 12, 15 and to a lesser degree 14. So to my mind a player with Rieko's attributes fits into that well where they can work to give him space to run on the outside, or use him as a decoy to attract defense in.

And yes I do think Tupaea and Proctor have significant issues on defense at test level as 13 is a very tricky position to defend from. Tupaea struggled there against France, and Proctor again was unable to match up against Italy.

For what it's worth I hope Tupaea can go well there, as he offers the most on attack with a strong running game, vision for his outsides and quick hands to set them away. His problem right now is he's a 12 playing 13 that is about to play the best centres in the world, who will be ruthless with any defensive deficiencies we have in that channel.

If Proctor had made a better fist of 13 Tupaea could concentrate on playing 12 ( there's obviously a Jordie sized obstacle there though ) as it is he's being tried in a spot he's not totally comfortable in.

It would be nice if the ABs could have JB and QT as a one two punch at 12 given the former is pretty much in career best form.

Regarding Reikos defence I think a lot of that is down to tremendous pace rather than amazing tactical nous.

Rieko was more than solid in the business end of URC. He was pretty dominant against all the SA URC teams at 13. He was preferred over Ringrose at 13 in the games that mattered. His size was useful against the smaller SA backs and he made breaks, scored tries, passed well and had some really good covering tackles when he tracked back to tackle someone whop was destined to score. I am happy he is in the squad, not saying he should be picked over Tupaea or Proctor yet but having him in the squad is very useful and he has some recent experience playing in SA and against SA URC teams too.

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2026:

I would like to see

I would also like to see this defensive genius you speak, alas reality interferes and @mn5 has summed up Rieko's defence "skills" (as well as Reiko's).

The counter argument being the demigods SA have in the midfield will absolutely swallow up a centre who only has one option on attack and the well will run dry.

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

@george33 said in All Blacks 2026:

Scott Barrett v Ardie no return.

To the captaincy, the squad, or to rugby?

They're versing it seems.

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

@george33 said in All Blacks 2026:

Scott Barrett v Ardie no return.

To the captaincy, the squad, or to rugby?

They're versing it seems.

NZR missing a trick by not having them joust - put it on PPV!

I don't get the Rieko hate. I reckon he was one of the most underutilised players in the last few AB seasons. A direct recipient of slow ball into BB shovelling, putting JB into zero space meaning Rieko got trite double shovelled ball or maybe at best a pop pass in a tackle if Jordie freed his arms.. I don't recall him being given any ball in space then failing to put an outside away when he had the chance

As for his defense, he was one of our best - both one on one and certainly when scrambling. The "he's not a defensive genius, he's just fast * is the dumbest analysis I've seen on this site, and that's saying a lot.. Who fucking cares WHY he's good at it. Denigrating him is like saying of someone "he's a great defender but only because he has a really strong shoulder and always tries hard, he's really not that clever"

Fucking idiotic

@voodoo said in All Blacks 2026:

I don't get the Rieko hate. I reckon he was one of the most underutilised players in the last few AB seasons. A direct recipient of slow ball into BB shovelling, putting JB into zero space meaning Rieko got trite double shovelled ball or maybe at best a pop pass in a tackle if Jordie freed his arms.. I don't recall him being given any ball in space then failing to put an outside away when he had the chance

As for his defense, he was one of our best - both one on one and certainly when scrambling. The "he's not a defensive genius, he's just fast * is the dumbest analysis I've seen on this site, and that's saying a lot.. Who fucking cares WHY he's good at it. Denigrating him is like saying of someone "he's a great defender but only because he has a really strong shoulder and always tries hard, he's really not that clever"

Fucking idiotic

Playing in the current setup he would certainly have more room to move than he's ever had in an AB team

@canefan 100%

@voodoo said in All Blacks 2026:

@canefan 100%

I don't think he's good enough to play wing anymore. Doesn't have the gas. It's midfield or busy for me

@voodoo said in All Blacks 2026:

the dumbest analysis I've seen on this site

You say that whenever you disagree with an opinion.

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

@voodoo said in All Blacks 2026:

the dumbest analysis I've seen on this site

You say that whenever you disagree with an opinion.

The dumbnestness continues to exceed expectations

@voodoo said in All Blacks 2026:

I don't get the Rieko hate. I reckon he was one of the most underutilised players in the last few AB seasons. A direct recipient of slow ball into BB shovelling, putting JB into zero space meaning Rieko got trite double shovelled ball or maybe at best a pop pass in a tackle if Jordie freed his arms.. I don't recall him being given any ball in space then failing to put an outside away when he had the chance

As for his defense, he was one of our best - both one on one and certainly when scrambling. The "he's not a defensive genius, he's just fast * is the dumbest analysis I've seen on this site, and that's saying a lot.. Who fucking cares WHY he's good at it. Denigrating him is like saying of someone "he's a great defender but only because he has a really strong shoulder and always tries hard, he's really not that clever"

Fucking idiotic

As I think @duluth said (may have been @kirwan ... they both look the same to me) Ioane got the short end of the stick by being engaged to run into contact no matter what.

So all of us pointed and said "oh look at that, all he does is run into contact, how useless his he?".

Poor coaching by the previous regime.

But if we were capable of taking the blinkers off, in his most recent games, particularly against Wales, you'd see the speed was back.

Would love to see him back and properly utilised.

@booboo see if that's the case, you've got to call into question how bad a coach Vern and team are. Rieko still did his tuck and duck at SR level.

I'd love it if his time at Leinster has led to him holding the ball in two hands, using his feet and a lot more guile... but I'm skeptical.

@voodoo said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

@voodoo said in All Blacks 2026:

the dumbest analysis I've seen on this site

You say that whenever you disagree with an opinion.

The dumbnestness continues to exceed expectations

You say that too

With Codie Taylor being a part of the leadership group, does that indicate he's likely to remain in the 23?

Also interesting that Jacobson is in there - shows how well regarded he is. No Ethan de Groot, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i etc.

@booboo I’m not sure if that is what happened though. Jordie essentially became the ‘hit it up’ player. Allowing Ioane to get second or third phase ball more often to create from.

I wish the coaches would’ve kept him on the wing. Not saying he was terrible at centre, and he certainly filled the role admirably at the 23RWC, but for me that wasn’t his best footy. His best was on the left wing and even the few occasions he filled in on the right. One thing was pretty evident to me too, him and Clarke defending in tandem on the left side did not work.

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2026:

With Codie Taylor being a part of the leadership group, does that indicate he's likely to remain in the 23?

Also interesting that Jacobson is in there - shows how well regarded he is. No Ethan de Groot, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i etc.

Not necessarily just because he’s in the leadership group. However I think as part of the planning it’s unlikely that Taylor will play in any of the lead up games to the first Boks test, so he will get his rest then. This Ireland test is the one they would’ve been targeting for the NC and will want all their experience etc.

No surprise with Jacobson either. His leadership was highly rated by the previous coaches. It’s just that he’s more fit (touchwood) now.

@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2026:

Ioane is a better centre than Proctor, and faster than both him and QT. His distribution is not as bad as is made out here, and he deserves a shot with the Rennie gameplan to play wide. Remember Robertson used him as the crash options (bizarrely)

The issue is we are building a midfield around JB. Understandable as he's such a solid reliable presence, but I'd like to see how QT goes at 12 rather than shoe-horning him in at 13.

I can't make my mind up about Reiko. He was growing steadily but def. went backwards under Robertson, so agree with you there.

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

Also Ratima getting a hard time because his clearance apparently isn't as fast as Roigard's - which seems bizarre when you note the amount of times the breakdown is being cleared by someone other than Roigard

Delegation is an underrated ability,

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo I’m not sure if that is what happened though. Jordie essentially became the ‘hit it up’ player. Allowing Ioane to get second or third phase ball more often to create from.

I wish the coaches would’ve kept him on the wing. Not saying he was terrible at centre, and he certainly filled the role admirably at the 23RWC, but for me that wasn’t his best footy. His best was on the left wing and even the few occasions he filled in on the right. One thing was pretty evident to me too, him and Clarke defending in tandem on the left side did not work.

There was a reason Ioane was dropped for George Bridge in 2019... His best days were behind him even at that point.

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

Also Ratima getting a hard time because his clearance apparently isn't as fast as Roigard's - which seems bizarre when you note the amount of times the breakdown is being cleared by someone other than Roigard

Delegation is an underrated ability,

I'd say getting to the ruck is an underrated ability.

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo see if that's the case, you've got to call into question how bad a coach Vern and team are. Rieko still did his tuck and duck at SR level.

I'd love it if his time at Leinster has led to him holding the ball in two hands, using his feet and a lot more guile... but I'm skeptical.

He's been playing centre at the Blues for ages, so there's Leon too . It's like the BB only chip kicks because Robertson told him to argument.

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2026:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo I’m not sure if that is what happened though. Jordie essentially became the ‘hit it up’ player. Allowing Ioane to get second or third phase ball more often to create from.

I wish the coaches would’ve kept him on the wing. Not saying he was terrible at centre, and he certainly filled the role admirably at the 23RWC, but for me that wasn’t his best footy. His best was on the left wing and even the few occasions he filled in on the right. One thing was pretty evident to me too, him and Clarke defending in tandem on the left side did not work.

There was a reason Ioane was dropped for George Bridge in 2019... His best days were behind him even at that point.

Agree with the first sentence: I understood he was carrying a injury.

Second sentence: i disagree.

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo see if that's the case, you've got to call into question how bad a coach Vern and team are. Rieko still did his tuck and duck at SR level.

I'd love it if his time at Leinster has led to him holding the ball in two hands, using his feet and a lot more guile... but I'm skeptical.

He's been playing centre at the Blues for ages, so there's Leon too . It's like the BB only chip kicks because Robertson told him to argument.

I think they're both in the same category. They're either a busted flush or were used appallingly by previous coaches.

Get them both into the environment and let Rennie make a decision on whether they're good enough for his style.

He should have a definitive answer by the end of SA. I say "he" as regardless of how they go I doubt many on here will change their minds.

Rieko will get some sort of opportunity in South Africa given all the tour games but the odds are stacked against him given he doesn't seem a natural fit for the ABs new attack given he's not exactly known for a linking game, is not the athlete he once was, struggles under the high ball and doesnt have a kicking game whatsoever.

Ioane is obviously relying on injuries, loss of form, or a change in favour from the coaches to break into the 23. At centre, he’d probably need to surpass two players to earn a bench spot at least. It’s not unimaginable, given how many wings from the initial squad are injured at the same time. Ideally, though, there won’t be any injuries and the coaches pick either Tupaea or Proctor, stick with them and the defensive issues are fixed.

I assume LF would have been next on the plane before Rieko if not for injury...

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2026:

With Codie Taylor being a part of the leadership group, does that indicate he's likely to remain in the 23?

Also interesting that Jacobson is in there - shows how well regarded he is. No Ethan de Groot, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i etc.

Dane Coles was part of the leadership group in his last years but was more of a squady.

@Jnr said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo see if that's the case, you've got to call into question how bad a coach Vern and team are. Rieko still did his tuck and duck at SR level.

I'd love it if his time at Leinster has led to him holding the ball in two hands, using his feet and a lot more guile... but I'm skeptical.

He's been playing centre at the Blues for ages, so there's Leon too . It's like the BB only chip kicks because Robertson told him to argument.

I think they're both in the same category. They're either a busted flush or were used appallingly by previous coaches.

Get them both into the environment and let Rennie make a decision on whether they're good enough for his style.

He should have a definitive answer by the end of SA. I say "he" as regardless of how they go I doubt many on here will change their minds.

For me they're both in the category of good options to have should multiple injuries strike (at 15 but not 10 for BB) - and that's happened at wing already.

There would be very few on here who don't want players to succeed when they're playing for the ABs - that's quite a different thing to preferring someone else get a go when discussing selection. e.g. Jacobson's selection at 7 was mostly disliked, but he played well against France.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:

I assume LF would have been next on the plane before Rieko if not for injury...

Dear lord. After the meltdowns due to Proctor missing one tackle I can imagine LF at centre. His defence is easily the worst of the options.

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Jnr said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo see if that's the case, you've got to call into question how bad a coach Vern and team are. Rieko still did his tuck and duck at SR level.

I'd love it if his time at Leinster has led to him holding the ball in two hands, using his feet and a lot more guile... but I'm skeptical.

He's been playing centre at the Blues for ages, so there's Leon too . It's like the BB only chip kicks because Robertson told him to argument.

I think they're both in the same category. They're either a busted flush or were used appallingly by previous coaches.

Get them both into the environment and let Rennie make a decision on whether they're good enough for his style.

He should have a definitive answer by the end of SA. I say "he" as regardless of how they go I doubt many on here will change their minds.

For me they're both in the category of good options to have should multiple injuries strike (at 15 but not 10 for BB) - and that's happened at wing already.

There would be very few on here who don't want players to succeed when they're playing for the ABs - that's quite a different thing to preferring someone else get a go when discussing selection. e.g. Jacobson's selection at 7 was mostly disliked, but he played well against France.

I'd agree with you on the category they're in, including BB at 15 instead of 10.

But there's some pretty closed minded people on here that think he's stunk up the joint and not played well for 10 years and Rieko has never been a centre.

Even if they put out a motm performance I doubt those people would accept they weren't kak.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo I’m not sure if that is what happened though. Jordie essentially became the ‘hit it up’ player. Allowing Ioane to get second or third phase ball more often to create from.

I wish the coaches would’ve kept him on the wing. Not saying he was terrible at centre, and he certainly filled the role admirably at the 23RWC, but for me that wasn’t his best footy. His best was on the left wing and even the few occasions he filled in on the right. One thing was pretty evident to me too, him and Clarke defending in tandem on the left side did not work.

Apart from this year the Blues have consistently been top 1 or 2 in defense for most of the 20's with Ioane and Clarke there.

People don't realise the tighter games get the less centre's pass. For example Jessie Kriel didn't pass once in the RWC 2023 final. Defense wins games in these showdowns and if its a choice between defense and passing game you're probably better off choosing defense.

RWC finals are historically not a game that produces champagne rugby where the Bruce Robertson style centre glides around players and puts their wing into space.

@brodean said in All Blacks 2026:

People don't realise the tighter games get the less centre's pass. For example Jessie Kriel didn't pass once in the RWC 2023 final. Defense wins games in these showdowns and if its a choice between defense and passing game you're probably better off choosing defense.

RWC finals are historically not a game that produces champagne rugby where the Bruce Robertson style centre glides around players and puts their wing into space.

I actually think this line of thinking is a bit overdone. Maybe if Kriel had passed a couple of times it wouldn't have been quite so squeaky bum against a worse team with 14 players.

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2026:

People don't realise the tighter games get the less centre's pass. For example Jessie Kriel didn't pass once in the RWC 2023 final. Defense wins games in these showdowns and if its a choice between defense and passing game you're probably better off choosing defense.

RWC finals are historically not a game that produces champagne rugby where the Bruce Robertson style centre glides around players and puts their wing into space.

I actually think this line of thinking is a bit overdone. Maybe if Kriel had passed a couple of times it wouldn't have been quite so squeaky bum against a worse team with 14 players.

Well you could say the same thing about Conrad Smith in 2011 or Jaque Fourie in 2007 when a strong South African team struggled against an extremely average England side.

@brodean said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@brodean said in All Blacks 2026:

People don't realise the tighter games get the less centre's pass. For example Jessie Kriel didn't pass once in the RWC 2023 final. Defense wins games in these showdowns and if its a choice between defense and passing game you're probably better off choosing defense.

RWC finals are historically not a game that produces champagne rugby where the Bruce Robertson style centre glides around players and puts their wing into space.

I actually think this line of thinking is a bit overdone. Maybe if Kriel had passed a couple of times it wouldn't have been quite so squeaky bum against a worse team with 14 players.

Well you could say the same thing about Conrad Smith in 2011 or Jaque Fourie in 2007 when a strong South African team struggled against an extremely average England side.

Or you could talk about '87, '95 (but for the sickness), '99, '15, '19.
All the semis and quarters are knockout footy too, and they're not all single figures dour shitfights. Games get closer at the pointy end, so sure, defence gets more important, but so do moments of brilliant attack.
I also think there's a bias in that when attack wins the day the result tends not to be so close, and then people go 'oh it just wasn't a very competitive game' and conclude defense wins tight games - when it's the attack that's turned a close game into a win by a couple of tries.

@Jnr said in All Blacks 2026:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:

I assume LF would have been next on the plane before Rieko if not for injury...

Dear lord. After the meltdowns due to Proctor missing one tackle I can imagine LF at centre. His defence is easily the worst of the options.

Not a fan myself (of him starting at 13, and seems slow on the wing at international level) but coaches seem to like him.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:

@Jnr said in All Blacks 2026:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:

I assume LF would have been next on the plane before Rieko if not for injury...

Dear lord. After the meltdowns due to Proctor missing one tackle I can imagine LF at centre. His defence is easily the worst of the options.

Not a fan myself (of him starting at 13, and seems slow on the wing at international level) but coaches seem to like him.

He definitely has an impact. I think people tend to overrate his positives vs negative impacts though.

Too slow for my mind for wing compared to the alternatives. Poor in defense and would get carved up at centre. And wouldn't get a look in as a pure loose forward.

I think we have enough cover, and impact, we don't need an average jack of all trades who isn't great at any one of them.