@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:
-
Wallace Sititi
-
Ardie Savea
-
Anton Segner
Metres per carry:
-
Ardie Savea
-
Peter Lakai
-
Anton Segner
Tackles per minute:
-
Ardie Savea
-
Luke Jacobson/ Anton Segner
-
Wallace Sititi
Passes per minute:
-
Wallace Sititi
-
Peter Lakai
-
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.
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:
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.
@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.
@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...