I’m a minority in that I very much support the selection of Sititi over Sotutu. How many times have we seen x-factor type players selected that just can’t transfer their form to the test arena. Sititi already has the size for an international number 8 and he hasn’t even finished filling out yet. He’s direct, abrasive and a great defender. Hoskins looks great in a dominant pack where he has freedom to use his flair but forward play in the international arena is very rarely about how much flair they have. It’s an arm wrestle and whoever can grind it out the longest usually comes out on top. His flair will be of little use when he has time and space drastically cut and he is up against forward packs who do not take a backward step.
@@Wildkard disagree. Hoskins has literally never been known for his physicality lol it’s the reason he was dropped in the first place. He’s always been known for his loose play in the wide channels, chip and chase, flick pass offloads etc all the flashy stuff. He was always criticised for his lack of mongrel on defence and inefficiency at the breakdown. Sititi on the other hand is all power, nothing too flashy about his play. Hard, direct running , pace and power off the back of the scrum, nice footwork late at the line, simple and direct running lines etc.. yes Hoskins has had a good season in amongst a dominant pack, but coaches have obviously concluded that his skills are ill equipped to transfer to the test arena. This is the second snub from 2 different head coaches, they’ve obviously noticed inefficiencies in either his game or his attitude that say he’s not ready to be a test player.
100% agree. Satiti is a more solid choice over Sotutu, plus Sotutu won't be in the picture in 4 years time given the display of younger talent coming through.
Both Williams and Tosi are 300kg combined. I like Razors intention of size and power to go toe to toe up front. Fozzy and Hansen focused on trim mobile packs to play at speed. The line out is a concern with a shorter lineout. Exciting times though. Sotutu and Riccitelli unlucky uce
@@mikescudder4621 I agree, first time I've seen him this year. Tosi and Williams same physical dimensions but Tosi is more aggressive with bad intentions. 140kg fit powerful props are the future. France 150kg prop Kiwi born Antonio set the blue print. Passive 120kg props won't cut it at international level now.
I really like this squad and with Jordan, Taukei’aho and Roigard still to come back, there's good things ahead. The front row stocks are exciting, can't wait to see how our set piece and phase play develops with these guys over the next couple of years. Yeah Sotutu is unlucky but I can see the thinking with the loose forwards they've picked, he'll get his chance I'm sure as injuries are always a factor. Sititi looks like a generational talent though and bringing in young energy like this is important, Razor has always been good at this. Looking forward to a challenging 15 Test year for the ABs, bound to be some bumps along the way but I reckon there could be some sensational rugby to come from this team in 24.
Keep in mind, Razor said this is the team to play against England. England are going to try and bully the AB's in the forwards, good luck with that. He also said that selection was determined on how people play on both sides of the ball. That's where Hoskins Sotutu doesn't quite cut it, its on defense and clearing rucks. This squad has a lot of raw power and mongrel attitude. This potential AB's forward pack is going to be brutal and is going to just smash into those England forwards all day! Here's the starting AB's forward pack in my opinion. Ethan de Groot Codie Taylor Tyrell Lomax Scott Barrett Patrick Tuipolutu Samipeni Finau Dalton Papali'i Ardie Savea Asafo Aumua Fletcher Newell Tamaiti Williams Tupou Vaa'i Either Ethan Blackadder, Wallace Sititi or Luke Jacobson (All three of those players can cover, 6, 7 and 8).
Hey Wildkard 🎸🎸🖤🖤 give the new look All Blacks a lot of good wishes and luck...they deserve a chance and lets see how they gel as a team... Cheers buddy love your opinions and breakdown of these selections 🍻🍻
I think Marshall said it on the Breakdown that NZ must figure a way around the Rush defence pioneered by the Springboks ofcource. NZ has tried cross kicks, chip kicks and still has not yet figured a way to unlock that kind of defence.
I am in agreement with you. It has always been my area of concern. The rush defence by SA, always places NZ under pressure defence wise. However, ABs always find a way out because they play smart rugby.
Height in the lineouts will be an issue, hopefully they'll be able to mitigate it, there's some great coaches on board, and I'm not overly worried. It's a really strong line up, feel bad for the guys that missed out, but it's just the start of very long year, and I don't doubt there'll be injuries, and cover required. Now the real work can start, it's going to be a great test season, pretty excited to see how Razor gets on, mildly confident tbh, cheers mate, another great analysis
You do realise the reason Barrett was moved to fullback was because his tactical kicking was rubbish otherwise great summary and i would sooner have Sam Darry in there than a extra prop......
Dont think that was the reason. his kicking game was bad under foster, but he was absolutely brilliant for the blues completely different player. He also runs the ball better than dmac thats the main thing.
@@Wildkard you must have seen Dmac run the ball probably the best from flyhalf, Barrett is best off the bench or at fullback but i do respect your summary...
Jacobson is a dying breed in rugby, he is the kind of player who will lose tight games for you due to discipline. Troy Flavell is a similar player. Neither deserved a spot in top tier rugby.
You know bro, the AB has dominated world Rugby more often than not. You achieve this by dominating your opponent for a long time. Then it becomes Intimidating. Razor's choice of Captain is with this in mind. He chose hard heads with power and skills. It won't make a difference whose standing in front of them. It's about Mana.
The one thing about this squad that is concerning me is the lineout. We have NO height and no obvious defensive lineout players. The hooker will have to be spot on. Don't think we've had 2 sub 200cm locks since Robin Brooke and Ian Jones when Rugger went profeassional
@@EdgarJnrJnr they aren't lineout specialists ... and height helps ... 2.02-2.05 has been the std for AB lineout specialists pretty consistantly since around early noughties. Again, as the 2nd rowers we have aren't specialist jumpers like say Whitelock, Williams and to a lesser extent Retallick, the hookers will need to be spot on ... and no one's crying, I'm stating an opinion
Goeie dag Wildkard!! I honestly think they're making too much of this Razor guy. Sometimes new ideas are good but they don't always work out the way you've planned. International rugby and club rugby are completely 2 different levels but i guess we shall see.
Razor did say this AB selection was picked up to play England 🏴 so he's not looking beyond this game. What will be his game plan ? I can only fk'n Guess.
Line outs is the weakness.We don’t have world class line out jumper. All three locks are grunters not jumpers.Wallace Sititi is too short for international number eight. Sotutu is 6ft 4 ins and he is great line out jumper. Sam Darry absolutely hammered Vaai in the line outs.He is 6ft 8 ins and best jumper in NZ. Sotutu won 46 line outs during Super Rugby!! Both Sotutu and Darry absolutely destroyed the Chiefs.
@@Wildkard Hes ok, but when we have to rely on them "being in form" all the time especially when they are a little older, id like to see a new young gun somewhere in the mix. I dont rate reiko that highly. I dunno, just missing the nonu, umaga even sonny days and wish we hadnt lost laumape. I guess Clarke can fill the roll of a more punchy player, but with reiko not passing much.............In a fantasy rugby world where you could just play someone in a new position and they nailed it immediately , video game styles, Id rather have clarke or sotutu in at center lol. ALB and reiko are more dynamic than they are punchy. Another way to put it, I dont go into any game of late thinking the all blacks have the best centres in the world. Havent in a long time. Wings yes. Centres no and I value good centres over good wingers.
Weak Centers Jordie and Reiko" Center pairing is much more than crash and bang power play both can shift have varied skill sets that make them an asset to the game plan and more than a handful for opposition its those micro moments and Reiko has demod a ton when setting up for a try
good that sotutu didnt make it, but he also should have got rid of woke perenara and perofeta cheese is terribly overrated, seems jk has an influence, he was a decent rugby player but he couldnt coach for shit. and what? sititi? no should have been very fast number 8 IOSE from the horrorchokers in there. since we dont have the best halfback in the world at the moment(Cam Roigard) hes injured maybe go with Christie hes easily the next best. Light on locks? only 3 locks. and va'ai is really a 6 hes not a lock. so really we have 2 and half locks. we need retallick back badly. George Bell I hope he gets heaps of game time hes bit of a dane coles very fast. taylor meh hes ok.crap thrower tho. Ethan de Groot yip pretty good. Ethan Blackadder even better again hes excellent. Samipeni Finau um nope hes another lucky one.
i agree TJ is bit lucky to get there but they dont have anyone else really. 3 locks is a bit light but plenty of players can jump. Finau is yeah very risky selection
We may have another decade of nz powerhouse rugby just decimating everyone else in rugby. Or and this is a big or.... Was nz rugby better off when nz has a strong crusaders team feeding the national side?
Interesting comment; I don't think it's going to be a generational predicative moment because brilliance dictates otherwise. You don't need an indigenous mantra but sports mad-cap locals .......yeeeeha!!
They have the talents to do it, crusaders success was dude to players playing together a long time. That translated into the ABs, but blues canes chiefs are all top top teams too.
Sotutu is a super rugby player. He occupies the same channels and is the same lanes as Ardie. It's time we build to ardies strengths. We need to compliment the World Rugby Player of the year. Wallace is young but has the size and skill and doesn't shy away from the breakdown. Sotutu isn't a lineout threat. Also Samipeni Finau would slot in a 6. We need a bit of grub in the black jersey
@@Wildkard I think Sititi was lucky to sneak in ahead of Sotutu, but i think Blackadder, Finau or Jacobson could have also easily missed out in the very competative loose forwards this year. As a selector i would have been looking for reasons to narrow my selections. Blackadder played hardly any and the other 2 despite some harsh calls had consistant discipline inaccuracies. It would have been great if Savea and Beaudan Barret were properly out for the year, they ruin a proper selection process.
I like and have no problem with all the front row choices and am almost happy injuries give new hookers a go. Only 3 locks when none of them as currently injury reliable i find the most bizarre selections, 100% should be blooding a 4th one. Jacobson can and has played lock but there should be another startable lock for learning all the systems in injury cover. I laugh at you supporting Scott Barret for captain(far and away the most deliberate foul play infringer we've ever had) but criticizing others discipline. Blackadder hugely lucky with a tiny amount of form(it's good to be a crusader). If i was selecting i could easily have sent Finau or Jacobson away this season to work on their discipline, simply because there was so much high performing contest in the positions. Having said that, the semi final the chiefs comprehensively dominated the hurricanes in all 3 loosies making Lakai and Lose look lackluster. The final i could say the same from a selection stand point, head to head the chiefs loosies were better individuals despite the team getting dominated. Sotutu has been selected before and not performed, he's somewhat of a known quantity, unlucky off a great season, i think a poor final perfomance played his selection out. Sititi came in at 8 when Jacobson was injured at start of the season and was consistantly too good to drop so Jacobson just played a different position. How Christie keeps getting selected at halfback baffles me, i guess they want experience at the pivot even if it's consistantly average. I hoped it might be TJ and 2 new blood halfbacks. Ratima, Funaki, Fakatava, even all perform well ahead of Christie. Selection at 10 i find almost as bizarre as only 3 locks. 100% should be a proper 10 as well, not just Barret and Perofeta as cover. It stinks of Mo'unga all over. They love Ioane at centre despite still being a wing out of position and having an average season. Pleased to see Proctor get a go alongside Jordie even if Lienert-Brown is a better individual. Outside backs i find to be poor selections(especially when only have 3 locks). There should not be space for 3 one dimensional wings(Clarke, Reece, Tele'a) at the same time, Perofeta is a worse 10 than Plumber and a worse 15 than Zarn Sulivan(was gutted when he got injured, he would have been one of my breakthrough picks and hope for future 10). I wouldn't pick Perofeta ahead of Ruben Love unless he is your only additional 10 cover. I would have picked Nanai-Seturo as a kicking option ahead of one of the 3 attack only wingers at the least.
mate richie mccaw was the greatest at pushing the boundaries. i have no issue with scotty doing that, and he can cop it on the chin when he messes up, u cant have a team that no one takes risks. Christie also hugely improved since last season, his performance for the blues showed. much faster breakdown speed and accuracy. I dont think nanai-seturo is better than either Perofeta or ruben love. in both kicking or running as a full back.
@@Wildkard Scotty gets cards for active foul play, not for accidental or "pushing the boundaries". He's a disgrace. Just when you think he's improving he does it again, just like he did getting red carded against SA right before world cup, smashing guy on the ground miles away from the ball.(his first yellow was team yellow, the 2nd was intentional foul play) I would take Ruben love ahead of Perofeta in a heartbeat in the squad if perofeta wasn't the only backup 10 cover, i would take Nanai-seturo ahead of any of the 3 wings that do the same job and nothing else when your fullbacks are also 10 cover. (I would also happily take a 4th lock instead of one of them) There's no space for Reece Telea and Clarke in the same team, even 2 at the same time is pushing it, stupid bench for SA. Perinara is your 10 cover for SA?
@@axxey jordie barrett is the 10 cover if beauden gets hurt, he basically plays like a 10 for the canes. I see where razor is going with the extra wingers hes trying out the flexibility of these players. I think we will see clarke move to centre like his dad. Tbh scotty has much fewer yellow cards in super rugby and hes good when his good. The question is not about captaincy, would u not play scotty at all due to his discipline? I dont think there are anyone else better atm. And if u are always gona play him captaincy is just a tittle really.
@@Wildkard You were wildly opposed when i suggested Jordie as 10 cover a while back. I would have stood down Scott one of the several games he actively lost us in the past, that ship has sailed, he's never had any accountability for his actions. Captaincy is not just a title either, it's representing the team, which is representing the country in front of all our developing youth players. If it's just a title give it to one of the players with integrity.
@@axxey did i? I always said jb is the best 12s that can be a play maker and linebreaker, did i not?. Well based on what i saw in super rugby i think hes fine to cover 10. Well who u gona play instead? Vaaii or finau or call up walker-leawere? With only a fraction of the experience?
It's a good first squad, but I think it will be different by the end of the year and going forward. End of year tour. Blackadder will get injured, Peter Lakai will come in. Will Jordan for Sevu Reece Cam Roigard for TJ Perenara I think they will add a few more players for the tour as well. Ruben Love, Soututu will hopefully be added
@@Wildkard hahaha yeah, maybe a little pessimistic. Blackadder is a good player, but every time he takes the field your risking being down a player from very early on the game, and then the rest of the season. All that upskilling spent during the season or year, would be better spent on other players, like Lakai
Christie wont start at halfback not with tj perenara there and ratima is the 9 for the future. It will go like this tj starting ratima or Christie off the bench to ween ratima in to more of a starter. Your comments of christie leading the blues to a title are off the mark there forwards lead them to the title this year Christie was just lucky enough to play behind them .. Christie is average at best.
@@WildkardChristies style of play just won't work against a stoic english forward pack. They will need a 9 that can spark up the backline from anywhere offensively tj will be hard for the English to nail because he is strong and sparky. Likewise ratima who benches 170kg apparently 😮
@@Wildkardthere's a reason tamaiti Williams is there after only playing 2 games of super rugby this year. Because he can cover both sides of the scrum Carrys the ball hard hes massive at 6.4 140 kgs a natural beast if you will 😂and he's mobile at that. So no ratima will take the 9 starting role at some point within the next year take that tip from me mate👍
@@hellion5039 g he needs to stop bullying the players it killing the game bro we gotta get a bigger audience look at all the cool stuff Trump does bro that why everyone loves him Wildkard gotta take the same approach g
I’m a minority in that I very much support the selection of Sititi over Sotutu. How many times have we seen x-factor type players selected that just can’t transfer their form to the test arena. Sititi already has the size for an international number 8 and he hasn’t even finished filling out yet. He’s direct, abrasive and a great defender. Hoskins looks great in a dominant pack where he has freedom to use his flair but forward play in the international arena is very rarely about how much flair they have. It’s an arm wrestle and whoever can grind it out the longest usually comes out on top. His flair will be of little use when he has time and space drastically cut and he is up against forward packs who do not take a backward step.
Setiti is the one with flair mate, hoskins is just pure physicality. 12 tries just from him charging into the defense this season.
@@Wildkard disagree. Hoskins has literally never been known for his physicality lol it’s the reason he was dropped in the first place. He’s always been known for his loose play in the wide channels, chip and chase, flick pass offloads etc all the flashy stuff. He was always criticised for his lack of mongrel on defence and inefficiency at the breakdown. Sititi on the other hand is all power, nothing too flashy about his play. Hard, direct running , pace and power off the back of the scrum, nice footwork late at the line, simple and direct running lines etc.. yes Hoskins has had a good season in amongst a dominant pack, but coaches have obviously concluded that his skills are ill equipped to transfer to the test arena. This is the second snub from 2 different head coaches, they’ve obviously noticed inefficiencies in either his game or his attitude that say he’s not ready to be a test player.
@@kainoizkingmind you where do you see sotutu fit in when you have Ardie 😂 backing Sititi all the way.
@@Wildkarddefense wise Sotutu is not great and he can't cover 6 nor 7 as better than the other loosies picked.
100% agree. Satiti is a more solid choice over Sotutu, plus Sotutu won't be in the picture in 4 years time given the display of younger talent coming through.
Both Williams and Tosi are 300kg combined. I like Razors intention of size and power to go toe to toe up front. Fozzy and Hansen focused on trim mobile packs to play at speed. The line out is a concern with a shorter lineout. Exciting times though. Sotutu and Riccitelli unlucky uce
To be fair, Tosi wasn´t on anyones radar until this year.
@@mikescudder4621 I agree, first time I've seen him this year. Tosi and Williams same physical dimensions but Tosi is more aggressive with bad intentions.
140kg fit powerful props are the future. France 150kg prop Kiwi born Antonio set the blue print. Passive 120kg props won't cut it at international level now.
@@ae_marika.9551ox nche less than 120 outscrummed atonio
@@mikescudder4621 need to watch my videos mate! Tosi had one of the best run meter and defenders beaten stats for props if not the best.
I really like this squad and with Jordan, Taukei’aho and Roigard still to come back, there's good things ahead. The front row stocks are exciting, can't wait to see how our set piece and phase play develops with these guys over the next couple of years. Yeah Sotutu is unlucky but I can see the thinking with the loose forwards they've picked, he'll get his chance I'm sure as injuries are always a factor. Sititi looks like a generational talent though and bringing in young energy like this is important, Razor has always been good at this. Looking forward to a challenging 15 Test year for the ABs, bound to be some bumps along the way but I reckon there could be some sensational rugby to come from this team in 24.
Yup will be a great season regardless i think christiam leo willie is also a generational talent
@@Wildkard Definitely. He must be close.
Keep in mind, Razor said this is the team to play against England. England are going to try and bully the AB's in the forwards, good luck with that. He also said that selection was determined on how people play on both sides of the ball. That's where Hoskins Sotutu doesn't quite cut it, its on defense and clearing rucks. This squad has a lot of raw power and mongrel attitude.
This potential AB's forward pack is going to be brutal and is going to just smash into those England forwards all day! Here's the starting AB's forward pack in my opinion.
Ethan de Groot
Codie Taylor
Tyrell Lomax
Scott Barrett
Patrick Tuipolutu
Samipeni Finau
Dalton Papali'i
Ardie Savea
Asafo Aumua
Fletcher Newell
Tamaiti Williams
Tupou Vaa'i
Either Ethan Blackadder, Wallace Sititi or Luke Jacobson (All three of those players can cover, 6, 7 and 8).
Good point mate, i think hes also trying new combinations for long term plans should be a easy series to beat england
Hey Wildkard 🎸🎸🖤🖤 give the new look All Blacks a lot of good wishes and luck...they deserve a chance and lets see how they gel as a team... Cheers buddy love your opinions and breakdown of these selections 🍻🍻
👍👍👍thanks for watching !
Scott ‘red card’ Barrett lol.
Facts though.
fast and its good!
I love him, my nickname for him is boom boom Barrett 💥💥🖤
I think Marshall said it on the Breakdown that NZ must figure a way around the Rush defence pioneered by the Springboks ofcource. NZ has tried cross kicks, chip kicks and still has not yet figured a way to unlock that kind of defence.
Probably just go strait down the middle like the blues did
For 120 years the best way to combat the he rush defence is through the middle.
I am in agreement with you. It has always been my area of concern. The rush defence by SA, always places NZ under pressure defence wise. However, ABs always find a way out because they play smart rugby.
SA only beat NZ because of cards not the rush defence.
@@Trajan24014 wcs
So pumped for this series
Brilliant, Brilliant. Keep it up boet. Lekker dag 👍👍
Dankie!!
Height in the lineouts will be an issue, hopefully they'll be able to mitigate it, there's some great coaches on board, and I'm not overly worried.
It's a really strong line up, feel bad for the guys that missed out, but it's just the start of very long year, and I don't doubt there'll be injuries, and cover required.
Now the real work can start, it's going to be a great test season, pretty excited to see how Razor gets on, mildly confident tbh, cheers mate, another great analysis
Thanks for watching! Its good to see at least razor is builing towards future with setiti and ratima will be a good season for the ABs
Just a question, who take over captaincy when Scotty is red carded😂
Ardie savea🤣🤣
@@Wildkard exactly g so show him respect Savea much better
I know there are some selection disappointments? But they all deserve their positions. Just see how Razor gels the team together. Exciting.
oh yeah not a single person dont deserve their spot, we'll see how razor works towards long term success
The AB's are going to muscle up like the old days 💪🏾🇳🇿
no more 60% win rate!
You do realise the reason Barrett was moved to fullback was because his tactical kicking was rubbish otherwise great summary and i would sooner have Sam Darry in there than a extra prop......
Dont think that was the reason. his kicking game was bad under foster, but he was absolutely brilliant for the blues completely different player. He also runs the ball better than dmac thats the main thing.
@@Wildkard you must have seen Dmac run the ball probably the best from flyhalf, Barrett is best off the bench or at fullback but i do respect your summary...
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Jacobson is a dying breed in rugby, he is the kind of player who will lose tight games for you due to discipline.
Troy Flavell is a similar player. Neither deserved a spot in top tier rugby.
How can they miss out Sotutu ffs🤦🏽♂️🙄
I know maybe they will bring him for the Rugby championship
Easy
You know bro, the AB has dominated world Rugby more often than not. You achieve this by dominating your opponent for a long time. Then it becomes Intimidating. Razor's choice of Captain is with this in mind. He chose hard heads with power and skills. It won't make a difference whose standing in front of them. It's about Mana.
intimidation is the most important part of warfare according to sun-tzu
The one thing about this squad that is concerning me is the lineout. We have NO height and no obvious defensive lineout players. The hooker will have to be spot on. Don't think we've had 2 sub 200cm locks since Robin Brooke and Ian Jones when Rugger went profeassional
Vaai Scott and tuipolotu are 1.98cm you can't be crying over 2cm
@@EdgarJnrJnr they aren't lineout specialists ... and height helps ... 2.02-2.05 has been the std for AB lineout specialists pretty consistantly since around early noughties. Again, as the 2nd rowers we have aren't specialist jumpers like say Whitelock, Williams and to a lesser extent Retallick, the hookers will need to be spot on ... and no one's crying, I'm stating an opinion
Rach is different from height, players can have massive reach despite their height
@@Wildkard Generally the taller you are the better reach you have
Goeie dag Wildkard!! I honestly think they're making too much of this Razor guy. Sometimes new ideas are good but they don't always work out the way you've planned. International rugby and club rugby are completely 2 different levels but i guess we shall see.
Goeie dag! We shall see if he can translate club success to test rugby
Captain Intimidator Scott Enforcer Barrett 💪🏾🇳🇿.
scotty will be a great captain cant wait to see him play
Razor did say this AB selection was picked up to play England 🏴 so he's not looking beyond this game.
What will be his game plan ? I can only fk'n Guess.
Shut down the ball at henry slade, the counter attacking from the poor kicking game. Easy win!
WK how do you think england will do against the abs?
Methinks an upset is afoot!
Keep dreaming the AB's will beat England without to much trouble.
it will be a close game nz haven't played in a while and super rugby doesn't prepare you for grindy international rigby
@@subbie5498 close 😂.
@@Trajan2401i can't wait to be right
@@subbie5498 you'll be waiting forever 😁.
As a safa, I fear this team and but more so this coach! Is this the return to the top? Just got to beat the new sleeper team, Australia.
My goodness 'fear' of what exactly. Are you actually a Saffa??
Australia is comming with safty blankets.
@@Wildkard 🤣🤣👏👏
Line outs is the weakness.We don’t have world class line out jumper.
All three locks are grunters not jumpers.Wallace Sititi is too short for international number eight.
Sotutu is 6ft 4 ins and he is great line out jumper.
Sam Darry absolutely hammered Vaai in the line outs.He is 6ft 8 ins and best jumper in NZ.
Sotutu won 46 line outs during Super Rugby!! Both Sotutu and Darry absolutely destroyed the Chiefs.
Good analysis there but reach isnt just height, whiles i dont have stats for players reach im sure razor would have that at his disposal
I don't know Savea was the vice captain he still holding that title is it because of the last name or his color, so so unfair 😢😢
Physical side.
With roigard and will jordan back we will be dynamic enough, but id say weak centers and not much height in the lineout. Otherwise good team.
ALB is not weak hes like multiple folds better than he was last year
@@Wildkard Hes ok, but when we have to rely on them "being in form" all the time especially when they are a little older, id like to see a new young gun somewhere in the mix. I dont rate reiko that highly. I dunno, just missing the nonu, umaga even sonny days and wish we hadnt lost laumape. I guess Clarke can fill the roll of a more punchy player, but with reiko not passing much.............In a fantasy rugby world where you could just play someone in a new position and they nailed it immediately , video game styles, Id rather have clarke or sotutu in at center lol. ALB and reiko are more dynamic than they are punchy. Another way to put it, I dont go into any game of late thinking the all blacks have the best centres in the world. Havent in a long time. Wings yes. Centres no and I value good centres over good wingers.
Weak Centers Jordie and Reiko" Center pairing is much more than crash and bang power play both can shift have varied skill sets that make them an asset to the game plan and more than a handful for opposition its those micro moments and Reiko has demod a ton when setting up for a try
@@Edgycoo yeah mayke clarke has something going for him at 13, but nz dont really have another nonu in their ranks right now
@@rodeo4786 reiko sucks
good that sotutu didnt make it, but he also should have got rid of woke perenara and perofeta cheese is terribly overrated, seems jk has an influence, he was a decent rugby player but he couldnt coach for shit. and what? sititi? no should have been very fast number 8 IOSE from the horrorchokers in there. since we dont have the best halfback in the world at the moment(Cam Roigard) hes injured maybe go with Christie hes easily the next best. Light on locks? only 3 locks. and va'ai is really a 6 hes not a lock. so really we have 2 and half locks. we need retallick back badly. George Bell I hope he gets heaps of game time hes bit of a dane coles very fast. taylor meh hes ok.crap thrower tho. Ethan de Groot yip pretty good. Ethan Blackadder even better again hes excellent. Samipeni Finau um nope hes another lucky one.
i agree TJ is bit lucky to get there but they dont have anyone else really. 3 locks is a bit light but plenty of players can jump. Finau is yeah very risky selection
We may have another decade of nz powerhouse rugby just decimating everyone else in rugby. Or and this is a big or.... Was nz rugby better off when nz has a strong crusaders team feeding the national side?
Interesting comment; I don't think it's going to be a generational predicative moment because brilliance dictates otherwise. You don't need an indigenous mantra but sports mad-cap locals .......yeeeeha!!
They have the talents to do it, crusaders success was dude to players playing together a long time. That translated into the ABs, but blues canes chiefs are all top top teams too.
Sotutu is a super rugby player. He occupies the same channels and is the same lanes as Ardie. It's time we build to ardies strengths. We need to compliment the World Rugby Player of the year. Wallace is young but has the size and skill and doesn't shy away from the breakdown. Sotutu isn't a lineout threat. Also Samipeni Finau would slot in a 6. We need a bit of grub in the black jersey
Fair enough i still think sotutu deserved a spot even on the bench for his excellent season
@@Wildkard I think Sititi was lucky to sneak in ahead of Sotutu, but i think Blackadder, Finau or Jacobson could have also easily missed out in the very competative loose forwards this year. As a selector i would have been looking for reasons to narrow my selections. Blackadder played hardly any and the other 2 despite some harsh calls had consistant discipline inaccuracies. It would have been great if Savea and Beaudan Barret were properly out for the year, they ruin a proper selection process.
I like and have no problem with all the front row choices and am almost happy injuries give new hookers a go. Only 3 locks when none of them as currently injury reliable i find the most bizarre selections, 100% should be blooding a 4th one. Jacobson can and has played lock but there should be another startable lock for learning all the systems in injury cover.
I laugh at you supporting Scott Barret for captain(far and away the most deliberate foul play infringer we've ever had) but criticizing others discipline.
Blackadder hugely lucky with a tiny amount of form(it's good to be a crusader). If i was selecting i could easily have sent Finau or Jacobson away this season to work on their discipline, simply because there was so much high performing contest in the positions. Having said that, the semi final the chiefs comprehensively dominated the hurricanes in all 3 loosies making Lakai and Lose look lackluster. The final i could say the same from a selection stand point, head to head the chiefs loosies were better individuals despite the team getting dominated.
Sotutu has been selected before and not performed, he's somewhat of a known quantity, unlucky off a great season, i think a poor final perfomance played his selection out. Sititi came in at 8 when Jacobson was injured at start of the season and was consistantly too good to drop so Jacobson just played a different position.
How Christie keeps getting selected at halfback baffles me, i guess they want experience at the pivot even if it's consistantly average. I hoped it might be TJ and 2 new blood halfbacks. Ratima, Funaki, Fakatava, even all perform well ahead of Christie.
Selection at 10 i find almost as bizarre as only 3 locks. 100% should be a proper 10 as well, not just Barret and Perofeta as cover. It stinks of Mo'unga all over.
They love Ioane at centre despite still being a wing out of position and having an average season. Pleased to see Proctor get a go alongside Jordie even if Lienert-Brown is a better individual.
Outside backs i find to be poor selections(especially when only have 3 locks). There should not be space for 3 one dimensional wings(Clarke, Reece, Tele'a) at the same time, Perofeta is a worse 10 than Plumber and a worse 15 than Zarn Sulivan(was gutted when he got injured, he would have been one of my breakthrough picks and hope for future 10). I wouldn't pick Perofeta ahead of Ruben Love unless he is your only additional 10 cover. I would have picked Nanai-Seturo as a kicking option ahead of one of the 3 attack only wingers at the least.
mate richie mccaw was the greatest at pushing the boundaries. i have no issue with scotty doing that, and he can cop it on the chin when he messes up, u cant have a team that no one takes risks.
Christie also hugely improved since last season, his performance for the blues showed. much faster breakdown speed and accuracy.
I dont think nanai-seturo is better than either Perofeta or ruben love. in both kicking or running as a full back.
@@Wildkard Scotty gets cards for active foul play, not for accidental or "pushing the boundaries". He's a disgrace. Just when you think he's improving he does it again, just like he did getting red carded against SA right before world cup, smashing guy on the ground miles away from the ball.(his first yellow was team yellow, the 2nd was intentional foul play)
I would take Ruben love ahead of Perofeta in a heartbeat in the squad if perofeta wasn't the only backup 10 cover, i would take Nanai-seturo ahead of any of the 3 wings that do the same job and nothing else when your fullbacks are also 10 cover. (I would also happily take a 4th lock instead of one of them)
There's no space for Reece Telea and Clarke in the same team, even 2 at the same time is pushing it, stupid bench for SA. Perinara is your 10 cover for SA?
@@axxey jordie barrett is the 10 cover if beauden gets hurt, he basically plays like a 10 for the canes. I see where razor is going with the extra wingers hes trying out the flexibility of these players. I think we will see clarke move to centre like his dad.
Tbh scotty has much fewer yellow cards in super rugby and hes good when his good. The question is not about captaincy, would u not play scotty at all due to his discipline? I dont think there are anyone else better atm. And if u are always gona play him captaincy is just a tittle really.
@@Wildkard You were wildly opposed when i suggested Jordie as 10 cover a while back.
I would have stood down Scott one of the several games he actively lost us in the past, that ship has sailed, he's never had any accountability for his actions. Captaincy is not just a title either, it's representing the team, which is representing the country in front of all our developing youth players. If it's just a title give it to one of the players with integrity.
@@axxey did i? I always said jb is the best 12s that can be a play maker and linebreaker, did i not?. Well based on what i saw in super rugby i think hes fine to cover 10.
Well who u gona play instead? Vaaii or finau or call up walker-leawere? With only a fraction of the experience?
It's a good first squad, but I think it will be different by the end of the year and going forward.
End of year tour.
Blackadder will get injured, Peter Lakai will come in.
Will Jordan for Sevu Reece
Cam Roigard for TJ Perenara
I think they will add a few more players for the tour as well.
Ruben Love, Soututu will hopefully be added
Haha mate why u already predicting blackadder injury. Hes a great player mate. But i do wana see roigard back more than anyone else
@@Wildkard hahaha yeah, maybe a little pessimistic. Blackadder is a good player, but every time he takes the field your risking being down a player from very early on the game, and then the rest of the season. All that upskilling spent during the season or year, would be better spent on other players, like Lakai
@@ajaylal5892 im sure we'll see him at some point this year
England will beat the ABs & the so called saviour coach will be on the chopping block 😂😂😂
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England are going to get smashed!
@@elkiwi69 mark my words England will manhandle the AB s
@@KJTmethod
😂😂😂
Christie wont start at halfback not with tj perenara there and ratima is the 9 for the future. It will go like this tj starting ratima or Christie off the bench to ween ratima in to more of a starter. Your comments of christie leading the blues to a title are off the mark there forwards lead them to the title this year Christie was just lucky enough to play behind them .. Christie is average at best.
we'll see who razor puts up for the english
@@WildkardChristies style of play just won't work against a stoic english forward pack. They will need a 9 that can spark up the backline from anywhere offensively tj will be hard for the English to nail because he is strong and sparky. Likewise ratima who benches 170kg apparently 😮
@@dub_h7900 ratima he can cover tight head prop, its how razor play 6 forwards
@@Wildkardthere's a reason tamaiti Williams is there after only playing 2 games of super rugby this year. Because he can cover both sides of the scrum Carrys the ball hard hes massive at 6.4 140 kgs a natural beast if you will 😂and he's mobile at that. So no ratima will take the 9 starting role at some point within the next year take that tip from me mate👍
Sotutu drops the ball too much.
😮
Prove it with stats lol
Lakais overrated.
Bro stop raging it not healthy
🍵😮
Hes not named Wildkard for nothing!? Keep at it Wildkard
@@hellion5039 g he needs to stop bullying the players it killing the game bro we gotta get a bigger audience look at all the cool stuff Trump does bro that why everyone loves him Wildkard gotta take the same approach g
Scott Robertson said it was a squad to beat England so take what you want from that
Yeah i expect changes for the boks looking at this team