@Rugbyman said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Extra 10 players: Norris, Bell, Mafileo, Holland, Ah Koi, Lio willie, Kirifi, Hotham, Ioane, Harkin.
Ah Khoi a good call. Lio Wille too small for RSA.
@pakman said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@Rugbyman said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Extra 10 players: Norris, Bell, Mafileo, Holland, Ah Koi, Lio willie, Kirifi, Hotham, Ioane, Harkin.
Ah Khoi a good call. Lio Wille too small for RSA.
TBH I think Ardie has stepped up to do the work CLW does, just with a bit more oomph.
@Bones said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Preston also didn't appear to be in tip top shape in SR.
Preston is such a weird selection. Converted to 80 minute games:
Super 2025 - 5.5
NPC 2025 - 3.5
Super 2026 3.
12 games over 2 years.
On the loosies, if they want a smaller Ardie then that's Kirifi. If they want a Jacobson ruck and tackle guy it might be Blackadder. They don't know themselves what they want at 6, but Casey and Barnes fit the work rate plus love of contact.
I wouldn't pick Harkin. We already have Love, McKenzie, Jordan, Moorby, Beauden, Jordie who can play fullback - admittedly too many of them might be in the top side, but Proctor has played there too as emergency cover. I'd rather they picked a 10 in Kemara and had BB play 15 midweek - that gives a more similar feel to what they are trying to achieve with the top side to me, and the midweek team needs to play the same style if we want players to step up smoothly.
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@Bones said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Preston also didn't appear to be in tip top shape in SR.
Preston is such a weird selection. Converted to 80 minute games:
Super 2025 - 5.5
NPC 2025 - 3.5
Super 2026 3.12 games over 2 years.
They might have seen something useful, brought him into camp and found out he wasn’t quite what they were looking for.
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
On the loosies, if they want a smaller Ardie then that's Kirifi. If they want a Jacobson ruck and tackle guy it might be Blackadder. They don't know themselves what they want at 6, but Casey and Barnes fit the work rate plus love of contact.
I wouldn't pick Harkin. We already have Love, McKenzie, Jordan, Moorby, Beauden, Jordie who can play fullback - admittedly too many of them might be in the top side, but Proctor has played there too as emergency cover. I'd rather they picked a 10 in Kemara and had BB play 15 midweek - that gives a more similar feel to what they are trying to achieve with the top side to me, and the midweek team needs to play the same style if we want players to step up smoothly.
I'd have Harkin. His preferred position is 1st 5 and he seems to have the mental attributes to go to the next level.
To me he has more potential upside over the the next 12 months than Kemara.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@Bones said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Preston also didn't appear to be in tip top shape in SR.
Preston is such a weird selection. Converted to 80 minute games:
Super 2025 - 5.5
NPC 2025 - 3.5
Super 2026 3.12 games over 2 years.
They might have seen something useful, brought him into camp and found out he wasn’t quite what they were looking for.
Yeah being a (part-time) Crusader they would have had him in camp the weeks before the squad announcement too though eh? Guess the cupboard just is a bit bare.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@Bones said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Preston also didn't appear to be in tip top shape in SR.
Preston is such a weird selection. Converted to 80 minute games:
Super 2025 - 5.5
NPC 2025 - 3.5
Super 2026 3.12 games over 2 years.
They might have seen something useful, brought him into camp and found out he wasn’t quite what they were looking for.
He was originally brought in as injury cover because the Canes preferred Enari and Viljoen.
He was always behind Hotham (arguably so) and that explains a lot of it.
@Jnr said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
On the loosies, if they want a smaller Ardie then that's Kirifi. If they want a Jacobson ruck and tackle guy it might be Blackadder. They don't know themselves what they want at 6, but Casey and Barnes fit the work rate plus love of contact.
I wouldn't pick Harkin. We already have Love, McKenzie, Jordan, Moorby, Beauden, Jordie who can play fullback - admittedly too many of them might be in the top side, but Proctor has played there too as emergency cover. I'd rather they picked a 10 in Kemara and had BB play 15 midweek - that gives a more similar feel to what they are trying to achieve with the top side to me, and the midweek team needs to play the same style if we want players to step up smoothly.
I'd have Harkin. His preferred position is 1st 5 and he seems to have the mental attributes to go to the next level.
To me he has more potential upside over the the next 12 months than Kemara.
How many games did he start there this year, other than the Drua debacle?
I don't mind him, and you may well be right over the next 12 months - but he's 27, and when we have Love, McKenzie, Barrett, Mo'unga... I think we have the luxury of the next guy selected being younger i.e. looking beyond the next 12 months.
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@Jnr said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
On the loosies, if they want a smaller Ardie then that's Kirifi. If they want a Jacobson ruck and tackle guy it might be Blackadder. They don't know themselves what they want at 6, but Casey and Barnes fit the work rate plus love of contact.
I wouldn't pick Harkin. We already have Love, McKenzie, Jordan, Moorby, Beauden, Jordie who can play fullback - admittedly too many of them might be in the top side, but Proctor has played there too as emergency cover. I'd rather they picked a 10 in Kemara and had BB play 15 midweek - that gives a more similar feel to what they are trying to achieve with the top side to me, and the midweek team needs to play the same style if we want players to step up smoothly.
I'd have Harkin. His preferred position is 1st 5 and he seems to have the mental attributes to go to the next level.
To me he has more potential upside over the the next 12 months than Kemara.
How many games did he start there this year, other than the Drua debacle?
I don't mind him, and you may well be right over the next 12 months - but he's 27, and when we have Love, McKenzie, Barrett, Mo'unga... I think we have the luxury of the next guy selected being younger i.e. looking beyond the next 12 months.
27 is not old. I would pick him if he's not going overseas.
@akan004 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@Jnr said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
On the loosies, if they want a smaller Ardie then that's Kirifi. If they want a Jacobson ruck and tackle guy it might be Blackadder. They don't know themselves what they want at 6, but Casey and Barnes fit the work rate plus love of contact.
I wouldn't pick Harkin. We already have Love, McKenzie, Jordan, Moorby, Beauden, Jordie who can play fullback - admittedly too many of them might be in the top side, but Proctor has played there too as emergency cover. I'd rather they picked a 10 in Kemara and had BB play 15 midweek - that gives a more similar feel to what they are trying to achieve with the top side to me, and the midweek team needs to play the same style if we want players to step up smoothly.
I'd have Harkin. His preferred position is 1st 5 and he seems to have the mental attributes to go to the next level.
To me he has more potential upside over the the next 12 months than Kemara.
How many games did he start there this year, other than the Drua debacle?
I don't mind him, and you may well be right over the next 12 months - but he's 27, and when we have Love, McKenzie, Barrett, Mo'unga... I think we have the luxury of the next guy selected being younger i.e. looking beyond the next 12 months.27 is not old. I would pick him if he's not going overseas.
No, it's not. But it is old for a debut when there are 4 test experienced guys ahead of you in the squad.
It would be like having Taylor, Aumua, Taukeiaho, Bell - then choosing Brad Slater instead of a Jack Taylor or Oudenryn as your 5th hooker.
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@akan004 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@Jnr said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
On the loosies, if they want a smaller Ardie then that's Kirifi. If they want a Jacobson ruck and tackle guy it might be Blackadder. They don't know themselves what they want at 6, but Casey and Barnes fit the work rate plus love of contact.
I wouldn't pick Harkin. We already have Love, McKenzie, Jordan, Moorby, Beauden, Jordie who can play fullback - admittedly too many of them might be in the top side, but Proctor has played there too as emergency cover. I'd rather they picked a 10 in Kemara and had BB play 15 midweek - that gives a more similar feel to what they are trying to achieve with the top side to me, and the midweek team needs to play the same style if we want players to step up smoothly.
I'd have Harkin. His preferred position is 1st 5 and he seems to have the mental attributes to go to the next level.
To me he has more potential upside over the the next 12 months than Kemara.
How many games did he start there this year, other than the Drua debacle?
I don't mind him, and you may well be right over the next 12 months - but he's 27, and when we have Love, McKenzie, Barrett, Mo'unga... I think we have the luxury of the next guy selected being younger i.e. looking beyond the next 12 months.27 is not old. I would pick him if he's not going overseas.
No, it's not. But it is old for a debut when there are 4 test experienced guys ahead of you in the squad.
It would be like having Taylor, Aumua, Taukeiaho, Bell - then choosing Brad Slater instead of a Jack Taylor or Oudenryn as your 5th hooker.
I disagree. I think you need to select the guy with the cooler head and who you think will be a better fit at test level right now. It's not like Harkin is in his 30s either, he's young enough to make the 2031 RWC.
Not doubting Kemara's talent, but he's not ready yet imo. Would hate to lose someone like Harkin to an overseas club just because we want to develop a younger player. If I had my way, I would leave Beauden at home and take both these guys to SA, along with Love and Mounga.