All Blacks 2026

@His-Bobness said in All Blacks 2026:

@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

Agree with this. Suspect Rieko was the victim of a combination of the tall poppy syndrome in New Zealand (not fake playing the 'aw shucks I'm just happy to be a caretaker of the black jersey' schtick) and the absence of any attacking strategy in the Razor regime with the contact-shy BB just either shovelling the ball on or kicking it aimlessly away. I certainly think he offers more at centre than a journeyman like ALB. And I don't agree he's 'past it'.

I think under the new attack strategy he might do well. Some highlights from his recent URC stint....

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He was also not very well-used during the late-Foster years when Schmidt brought in a much simplified attack when both he and Jordie were used far too often as crash ball merchants, something neither were especially good at.

While being a massive Stan, I agree that he far too often tucked and ducked even if he did far too often get the ball too flat to the defensive line actually to make a pass. I am interested to see how he would go in the new attacking shape where it seems we are coming onto the ball with a lot more pace and depth. To me, that was always the way he should have been used given his erstwhile almost unmatched pace.

@Mr-Fish he came good at the business end of the URC and was picked ahead of Ringrose at 13 in the big games. He was good in those 3 knockout games against Saffer teams in URC.

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2026:

I don't mind Ioane in the midfield at all - just think he's behind Proctor and potentially Tupaea and Lienert-Brown

Look, I'm a huge fan of ALB. He's been fucked about by the last 2-3 coaches but still gave his all. Had he been handled properly he could have been a true AB great and if any player deserves 100 caps it's him.

But his time has passed. Take him for the mid-week games in SA possibly, but he shouldn't be blocking others in Tests

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

@game_film said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bones Give me an inch to diminish 6N rugby and I’ll take it.

Mate even Llanelli beat the ABs.

As did scratch teams of English amateurs - twice

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

He seems to have lost a fair bit of pace. A Reiko of 2-3 years ago would have pinned his ears back and burned the opposition. Maybe that's a Leinster coaching thing though.

It was clear last year in NZ he had lost a fair bit of pace. It's not unique to Leinster.

@Rugbyman said in All Blacks 2026:

@Mr-Fish he came good at the business end of the URC and was picked ahead of Ringrose at 13 in the big games. He was good in those 3 knockout games against Saffer teams in URC.

Yeah I'm more talking about that specific highlights package.

It's a limited data set given we're only two games in the new regime, but what's standing out is when you rank the loose forwards;

• Lakai is average at practically everything.

• Jacobson is basically tackling, but

• Savea is tackling more, and

• Sititi carries heaps, but without much gain (although that could be a result of his handling).

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

Lakai is average at practically everything.

We all know he isn't a 6. He's clearly our most skillful loose forward so let's get him back to 8 where he belongs and where he can make his biggest influence. Based on the performance against Italy, Sititi should be dropped.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

Lakai is average at practically everything.

We all know he isn't a 6. He's clearly our most skillful loose forward so let's get him back to 8 where he belongs and where he can make his biggest influence. Based on the performance against Italy, Sititi should be dropped.

What do you think will change with him having an 8 on his jersey, when I we are basically playing positionless loose forward footy?

Where he places ot the scrum won’t change much in terms of what he does around d the park.

Unfortunately the official data they're releasing as part of the Nations Championship doesn't have extensive data sets available. Nothing interesting for rivet counters like "rucks attended", let alone "first to ruck", "effective cleans" etc.

Something other professional sports (looking at the USA mainly) has in abundance. Probably because there's no market for it here.

Either they counted Savea and Lakai together or Lakai was MIA at ruck time against the French.

@antipodean yeah they like to keep it all.secret.

I mean the data is there, why not make.it available?

a lot of rugby metrics are talking about would be based on judgement as well. American sports have huge benefit there in the very nature of their games. Imagine looking at a ruck and deciding who was doing something and who was leaning? Or if it was even really contested?

I do agree that rugby treats far too much information like state secrets though

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean yeah they like to keep it all.secret.

I mean the data is there, why not make.it available?

More amateurism from WR

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2026:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

Lakai is average at practically everything.

We all know he isn't a 6. He's clearly our most skillful loose forward so let's get him back to 8 where he belongs and where he can make his biggest influence. Based on the performance against Italy, Sititi should be dropped.

What do you think will change with him having an 8 on his jersey, when I we are basically playing positionless loose forward footy?

Where he places ot the scrum won’t change much in terms of what he does around d the park.

He will be able to attack and carry from the back of the scrum, he has a proven combination at 8 with Roigard so automatically that scenerio becomes more of a threat.

Lakai is a very reliable player and goes about his work with no fuss, he gets us on the front foot, and he won't make anywhere near the amount of mistakes that Sititi did on Saturday being the main carrier.

6 is also still a different spot positionally no matter what way you spin it, and it takes time for players to get used to playing there, especially at international level.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2026:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

Lakai is average at practically everything.

We all know he isn't a 6. He's clearly our most skillful loose forward so let's get him back to 8 where he belongs and where he can make his biggest influence. Based on the performance against Italy, Sititi should be dropped.

What do you think will change with him having an 8 on his jersey, when I we are basically playing positionless loose forward footy?

Where he places ot the scrum won’t change much in terms of what he does around d the park.

He will be able to attack and carry from the back of the scrum, he has a proven combination at 8 with Roigard so automatically that scenerio becomes more of a threat.

Lakai is a very reliable player and goes about his work with no fuss, he gets us on the front foot, and he won't make anywhere near the amount of mistakes that Sititi did on Saturday being the main carrier.

6 is also still a different spot positionally no matter what way you spin it, and it takes time for players to get used to playing there, especially at international level.

I'm not arguing with you and I don't think Lakai is a blindside either but moving him to number eight means Savea moves to openside, assuming the captain will be starting. They're then back to the same problem: finding a blindside flanker that balances the trio. Jacobson in the same mix as the France test but shuffled around or one of the other four options in the squad? It continues to be the most unsure area of the team.

Comparison of loose forwards after two Tests

Carries per minute:

1. Wallace Sititi

2. Ardie Savea

3. Anton Segner

Metres per carry:

1. Ardie Savea

2. Peter Lakai

3. Anton Segner

Tackles per minute:

1. Ardie Savea

2. Luke Jacobson/ Anton Segner

3. Wallace Sititi

Passes per minute:

1. Wallace Sititi

2. Peter Lakai

3. Ardie Savea

Each loose forward has played at least 40 minutes so far.

@Canes4life As long as Savea is captain and starting he has the 8 jersey locked down. For Lakai that means he has to adapt to 6 and make it work. Look at Valentini for Wallabies I think they are very similar players.

No doubt he his a better 8 than 6 but I’m sure he would rather play 6 then not at all. We just have to trust this group know how to get the best form their loose forwards.

If Lakai is going to be our 6 going forward then so be it, but let’s give the kid some time in that position to get comfortable. Too many people on here are quick to stats pull just to prove a point.

If you want a player that has played 1% of his career at 6, then we need to be patient and let him find his feet in that jersey.

@Canes4life one thing that I expect Rennie likes, is Lakai's big motor. Watching the France game he seemed more effective than the numbers suggest

@toddy said in All Blacks 2026:

Either they counted Savea and Lakai together or Lakai was MIA at ruck time against the French.

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View image

Here's Lakai's ruck numbers

@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:

@Canes4life one thing that I expect Rennie likes, is Lakai's big motor. Watching the France game he seemed more effective than the numbers suggest

That’s my point, stats don’t paint a full picture and often they are very misleading. Lakai was solid, carried strong, scored a try and had more positive impacts on the game than his captain that night.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2026:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:

@Canes4life one thing that I expect Rennie likes, is Lakai's big motor. Watching the France game he seemed more effective than the numbers suggest

That’s my point, stats don’t paint a full picture and often they are very misleading. Lakai was solid, carried strong, scored a try and had more positive impacts on the game than his captain that night.

We are in agreement there

@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean yeah they like to keep it all.secret.

I mean the data is there, why not make.it available?

More amateurism from WR

Nothing to do with WR... Not even their tournament.

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2026:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean yeah they like to keep it all.secret.

I mean the data is there, why not make.it available?

More amateurism from WR

Nothing to do with WR... Not even their tournament.

WR as in global rugby as a sport. Or do the NH comps offer up this information?

Liam Napier's team:

Possible All Blacks team:

Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (c), Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie

Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Anton Segner/Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby

Can't see Darry not starting. I would like to see Moorby get a go at fullback. ALB on the bench is pointless.

@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:

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Liam Napier's team:

Possible All Blacks team:

Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (c), Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie

Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Anton Segner/Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby

Can't see Darry not starting. I would like to see Moorby get a go at fullback. ALB on the bench is pointless.

For a team that wants to play at pace, that forward pack looks like a bunch of slow pokes.

Seems like Napier might have lost his ABs source now that Rennie is coach.

@Canes4life Rubbish team by Napier. How can he leave Darry out? That team looks pretty cumbersome and lacking some carrying power. Glad he is not picking the team.

Out of curiosity does anyone listen to Sports Radio in New Zealand? Sport Nation, DSPN, ZB?

@Rugbyman said in All Blacks 2026:

@Canes4life Rubbish team by Napier. How can he leave Darry out? That team looks pretty cumbersome and lacking some carrying power. Glad he is not picking the team.

Lord has played well methinks but so far for me Darry has been the best lock...

I don’t want to sound too controversial but let’s try and pick a 6 and 6 rather than a lock or an 8? Va’ai before his injury was the form lock. Let’s give him a chance to get back into it. He has a point of difference that the rest of our locks don’t so why fuck around with him at 6?

What’s the point of having Parker in the squad if you don’t at least give him a chance in the first three matches?

@jimmyb agreed and Vaai has said he doesn't want to play 6 so why force the guy to play where he doesn't feel comfortable. He has been a very good lock over the last 3 years standing up to the mighty Boks and I want him there come later on in the year.

@bigguy56 listen to ZB quite a lot.

@nostrildamus Darry probably our best player over both games

@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:

I don’t want to sound too controversial but let’s try and pick a 6 and 6 rather than a lock or an 8? Va’ai before his injury was the form lock. Let’s give him a chance to get back into it. He has a point of difference that the rest of our locks don’t so why fuck around with him at 6?

What’s the point of having Parker in the squad if you don’t at least give him a chance in the first three matches?

I think the calls for Vaa'i at blindside are purely down to searching for the right loose forward combination, with the other options not quite solving the problem so far despite generally solid performances (Lakai, though probably not Sititi). There might have been reluctance to try other players if they're new to the environment, seen as better suited to other roles, or perhaps aren't yet meeting the standards Rennie wants. Giving Vaa'i a go is simply working through the options in the hope that something clicks.