An U23 All Blacks XV: Monster tight five, lacking midfield

micronesians ha ha nah

The Polynesian Triangle has its corners at Hawaii, Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

Are you on about the migration of melanesians vs polynesians again 😁

more from Hawaii than PNG, get your pathways correct.

did you see Drua play against Force in the warm rain? if world rugby depower scrums, The Pacific lions need to buy more drua. Their skill set was amazing

Yeah, we will have to see. The side had to start somewhere and I suspect with a fair few AB hopefuls. I hope NZR are proven wrong and the Hawaii outfit prove capable a producing a top Poly team.

But I take issue with NZ, because

1. they have a awesome rugby structure of their own

2. They were No 1 for 10 years in a row

3. they have loads of money

As do the other nations youd rather not take aim at, and ultimately, its like economics, business for the other PI nations, where they can almost work in partnership with NZ for their own benefit. Not that I condone this, just talking about your perspective.

They have been no1 for pretty much their lifetime, and since professionalism, for all levels (world schools/under age comps. Alternatively some have argued they only remain there by such practices.

They have nowhere near enough money to compete on the world stage, I fear that it is all a downward spiral.

Not that these topics have anything to do with your overriding one of having a manufactured commercial strength in the islands that ‘might’ save everyone, which it might, I’d just have to argue its even less ethical than anything bad you portray about NZR.

I need a research assistant.

If the Pacific Lions over last 30 years have 10-20% Non NZ players in their team

What is it for Super Rugby

What is it for Regional Rugby

What is it for club rugby

What is it for first XV? (St Kents would be high?)

You sound so sanctimonious

- NZRFU have done the world a favour but sorting Moana Pasifika

In reality it will be like St Kents and Tasman and be another feeder team

to the The PACIFIC LIONS

So much blah blah for and against. Although the ethical and moral high ground must be that NZ should not actively poach (I have listed the facts, numbers going up and the evidence is irrefutable) NON NZ born players especially PI players as PI nations need their own playing squads and NZ has ample and it is an unfair playing field for the rest of the world.

NOW come on Jon, lets do this, lets get into nuts and bolts

the nitty gritty

lets do this- many examples, let us start with

Shannon Frizell.

My point is he played u20 for Tonga. He is Tongan. NZ have so many no 6’s. Why if you had the choice do you pick him? when NZRFU know it is not the right thing to do (NZRFU do not care, most people are unaware - let’s take it to a referendum)

Other options rather than non NZ born Shannon Frizell at 6. I have list 19 other options.

NZ born and rugby schooled.

I have listed mainly blindsides (no particular order), there are more 7’s I could have listed and locks that play flank.

OPTIONS galore - all NZ born - there may be others -please readers add to the list

1. Tupou Vaa'i

2. Luke Jacobson

3. Ethan Blackadder

4. Akira Ioane

5. Dom Gardiner

6. Tom Robinson

7.  Du'plessis Kirifi

8. Te Kamaka Howden

9. Jimmy Tupou

10. Simon Parker

11. Christian Lio-Willie

12. Adrian Choat

13. Sean Withy

Other Options

1.     Scott Barrett

2.     Cullen Grace

3.     Sotutu

4.     Dalton Papali'i

5.     Jamie Hannah

6.     Laghlan Mcwhannell

Pita Gus Sowakula nah can't use him, given 1 Cap in The Greener Pastures then discarded, Now He Can't Play For Fiji

BTW NZRFU also nabbed, poached

Samipeni Finau

another Tongan hit man.

Yes you raise some good points for and against.

Some players do seek greener pastures

it is hard not to when the “green pastures pamphlets” get plastered around

when green pastures man comes scouting at your school

or if your tour NZ as a 15 year old and a slim shady comes to your motel after the game

Some players take the chance of a change

Some wish they had not

Some PI stories in Italy and France paint a grim picture, not greener

Loads of countries do it.

But I take issue with NZ, because

1. they have a awesome rugby structure of their own

2. They were No 1 for 10 years in a row

3. they have loads of money

They do not need to and should stop actively seeking NON NZ born players, in particularly PI players.

Simple

the % NON NZ born players of the team has being trending higher every RWC cycle

While I told you I think it would be great if NZ could work as one with their PI neighbours, you should know that is against the law, with your education. A player has to choose a loss of income and opportunity, by opting to play for another nation, themselves. You simply cannot ask the ABs not to pick them.

There are ethical question that should be raised around some circumstances of dual and multi optional players, and I hope NZR has enough mana to raise those to WR themselves. Like following football and allowing those with only a few appearances to switch countries faster, say with a declartion from the player and countries.

Why are you picking on my teams players for?

Sitiveni 2001–2003 Counties Manukau 20(120)

I noted Lauaki as one of the 12 Kiwi’s playing for the Pacific Islanders team. He and his brother grew up in Auckland. I remember them fondly, such a shame, I think heath was affecting Sione when he left the ABs for France.

It’s pretty simple really, you have been conned. There had be talk out of the upset North for decades and you have well and truly lapped it up. NZR can certainly be questioned, but not of what you think/say. Which is a shame, the PI community could certainly use more good voices, and prattle like yours actually causes a lot more harm. It is like the boy who cried wolf too often, you will get ears but when they see the fallacy in your message you will be on ignore and, more importantly, cause that person to put other, more reasonable, posters on ignore.

I’m not to sure why matt conceded the point on Frizell. He wanted to immigrate for better opportunity, and he wasn’t able to get a passport for Australia "It is something that is pretty common in Tongan culture, to adopt a kid from another family, but he wasn’t able to come over and live with us," Frizell told NRL.com.”, his football coach, and likely everyone else, is on record telling him to take all the opportunities he can for his family. As matt has tried pointing out to you, you are trying to tell NZR that they should deny him, and everybody else, that opportunity.

Progress can be made in that area, and NZR has gone a long way towards that in the formation of Moana Pasifika, where players now at least have a pathway option, so that even coming over as an 18yo like he did, signing for Tasman at 22, those opportunities can come through another path now.

My concern is the selection of so called elite young players in previous failed NZ u20 teams who have continued to be promoted to the higher levels of the game in NZ super rugby teams because they are in the NZ rugby system. The SR franchises and NZ rugby do not really look outside of these players as late bloomers and some club youngsters are also brilliant but because they are not in the system, they are over looked for higher honours! The AB’s future could look bleak as we have continued to slide after the Rugby WC victory in 2015! Are we seeing a trend here?

Maybe our new coach may change the way things are done to put the AB’s back where we belong🤔

We’ll just have to disagree.

Stay angry and wrong my friend, and feel free to trot out your little ‘pacific lions’ line every time you see an all blacks article haha.

This research out of America is so good.

You should have a quick read

Gloria Ladson-Billings

Kimberlé Crenshaw.

Kevin Hylton

Just cut from Wikipedia

Critical race theory (CRT) is an interdisciplinary academic field focused on the relationships between social conceptions of race and ethnicity, social and political laws, and media. CRT also considers racism to be systemic in various laws and rules, and not only based on individuals' prejudices. The word critical in the name is an academic reference to critical theory rather than criticizing or blaming individuals.

Gloria Ladson-Billings, who—along with co-author William Tate—had introduced CRT to the field of education in 1995, described it in 2015 as an "interdisciplinary approach that seeks to understand and combat race inequity in society." Ladson-Billings wrote in 1998 that CRT "first emerged as a counter legal scholarship to the positivist and liberal legal discourse of civil rights."

Tenets of CRT

Scholars of CRT say that race is not "biologically grounded and natural"; rather, it is a socially constructed category used to oppress and exploit people of color;and that racism is not an aberration, but a normalized feature of American society.According to CRT, negative stereotypes assigned to members of minority groups benefit white people and increase racial oppression.Individuals can belong to a number of different identity groups.

The concept of intersectionality one of CRT's main concepts was introduced by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw. she is amazing loads of youtube speeches. Kevin Hylton from Leeds Beckett Uni is also great, lectures are on youtube.

In sport

Hylton, K. How a turn to critical race theory can contribute to our understanding of ‘race’, racism and anti-racism in sport.

A. Hallinan, Aborigines and positional segregation in Australian rugby league.

Ok I Read it.

Tema Okun - white supremacy culture

I think it is a long bow to pull to dump this list of characteristics all on white

supremacy culture

perfectionism

sense of urgency

defensiveness

quantity over quality

worship of the written word

paternalism

either/or thinking

power hoarding

fear of open conflict

individualism

i’m the only one

progress is bigger, more

objectivity

right to comfort

you need to read more peer reviewed work not just opinions pieces

you really have got the horse before the cart

poaching then citizenship

this is so slow

Non Nz born players are New Zealand citizens with the same rights and responsibilities as anyone else.

It would be discrimination not to pick them.

Best person for the job, NZ citizen, you want them denied a life changing and immense honour for them and their family just because they weren’t born here.

Representing New Zealand, one of their countries, in an All Black jersey is a special privilege for anyone regardless of their ethnicity or birth place.

You want to tell them they were coerced into wearing the All Black jersey? These people who worked so hard and sacrificed so much to achieve something so difficult, and so cherished by them and their communities?

You’re either ignorant or just plain old angry.

Fair enough point. That’s a whole 1 player currently.

oh here we go

PEOPLE he is wrong

um he admit it and says it is only one.

Bullshit stop lying

what about Sivivatu, and Lauaki, ?

it goes on and on. STOP IT

STOP poaching

I am not talking about other Countries because the PACIFIC Lions do it the most and have done it for over 200 caps

I have said and I repeat

NZ are good enough and have good enough players (ranked No 1 for 10 year in a row and loads of cash), including players of PI heritage born in NZ. They do not need to pick Non-NZ born players. It is unfair to NZ, unfair to other PI nations and unfair to the world.

Sit Down

Shut up.

waste of my time trying to explain it to you.

Hopefully Simon Raiwalui can fix not little warts like you.

you never answer questions

How about Sivivatu, Sitiveni Waica and Lauaki, Sione Tuitupu actually played for the Pacific Islanders rugby union team before been poached.

were Sivivatu and Lauaki professional before being poached?

be care your house of cards is coming down.

Sivivatu ended up playing 46 games -145 points

2004 Pacific Islanders 3

2005–2011 New Zealand 46

Not sure how much thought to give this, as there is no u23 team it is all hypothetical. Only one non NZ born PI so that is a good sign. Now, If only the Pacific Lions can follow suite.

Looks quite encouraging this team in terms of more talent for Razor to pick from. Will be very interested to see how that forward pack go against those big boys in the Northern hemisphere. Seeing our smaller forwards bullied that past few seasons did not sit well.