Razor's 2024 All Blacks Christmas wish list
The All Blacks head into 2025 probably with more questions than answers.
First-year All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson quickly found out what it was like to be an International coach and now has the job of getting the most dominant rugby team of all time back on top of the pedestal.
Razor is likely enjoying some well-earned relaxing time at his beloved Mount Maunganui beach surfing and swimming, and getting back lost time with family over the festive period.
But there are certainly some objectives he’s wishing for, or what some might call non-negotiables, for the All Blacks in 2025.
Springboks double
Razor’s number one Christmas wish will be the two games against the old foes in September.
Eden Park, Saturday September 6th.
The biggest non-World Cup Test match the All Blacks will play for a very long time. When the World Champion Springboks make their way onto New Zealand’s home of rugby Eden Park, the Test will be a spine-tingling battle of history and passion with a 30-year record on the line.
The All Blacks have to win that Test match. It doesn’t have to be pretty, there will be minimal attacking flow, lots of pressure-filled errors and many stoppages of play to calm the heart rate. But Robertson’s All Blacks must get over the line to prove they have what it takes to close out important Tests.
The Springboks have beaten the All Blacks four times in a row now, which is almost unprecedented territory for the men in black. Robertson won’t be satisfied with one home victory in 2025 against Rassie Erasmus’s team. He needs the Eden Park Test match for the record, but both to regain control of rugby’s fiercest and most storied rivalry.
Richie Mo’unga comeback
In 2024, Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett performed in the number 10 position to a solid standard. But there’s no denying that Robertson has a preferred first five for the All Blacks, one who’s currently playing in Japan on a three-year deal at the Toshiba Brave Lupus.
The eligibility rule may not change this year, but for the last two years of the World Cup cycle before the 2027 World Cup in Australia, 30-year-old Mo’unga will certainly be Robertson’s number-one option going forward.
Robertson’s continuous push for NZR to change the eligibility rule reinforces his trust in Mo’unga, or perhaps lack of confidence in Barrett and McKenzie as long-term options in the ten jersey.
France A-team
When a Dupont-less, understrength B-team French outfit heads over to Aotearoa in July for a highly anticipated series down under, nothing less than a 3-0 sweep will suffice for the All Blacks.
But will that be enough for fans to give the credit a series win against France deserves?
For Robertson and the team’s preparation for the South Africa Tests at home, the strength of the French team is vitally important. France won’t be a pushover, no matter which side they bring to New Zealand, which almost makes the B-team situation an even stickier one.
Leaving star players who will be involved in the Top 14 final is understandable, but still, a kick in the guts knowing what could have been, if the series doesn’t live up to groundbreaking, box-office standards.
New number seven
You could say the deepest position of depth for the All Blacks is in the loose forwards. There’s depth in numbers, with multiple players capable of playing in different positions.
As Sam Cane retires from International rugby, there becomes a free starting spot at number seven.
It seems like the idea of Ardie Savea moving to openside flanker is no longer on the table, and World Breakthrough 15’s Player of the Year Wallace Sititi seems to have locked down the number six jersey.
So is the jersey Dalton Papali’i’s? He didn’t feature on the end-of-year Northern Tour due to an upper hamstring injury and has never quite solidified his starting place in a black jersey.
Peter Lakai’s future is bright; he was thrown in the deep end against France and performed magnificently in his first major Test match in the black jersey. He’s one for the future, but it’s still unclear who Razor’s preferred number seven is when Luke Jacobson, Papali’i, Lakai and others are all fit and raring to go, without Sam Cane in the mix.
Du’Plessis Kirifi has been phenomenal in the Bunnings NPC competition and for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific, his breakdown work and leadership on the field is screaming for higher honours.
Whoever Razor picks will face mountains of pressure, knowing multiple openside flankers are breathing down their neck.
Backline cohesion
The All Blacks aren’t the attacking force they once were and often lacked cohesion in 2024 with ball in hand.
Robertson will be in desperate search of some consistency and fluency on attack, especially after former All Blacks Assistant coach Leon MacDonald left the role of attack coach following just four Test matches in 2024.
Razor’s right-hand man, Scott Hansen has taken over the role of attack with Jason Holland, but we are yet to see the fruition of the expected evolution and implementation of the All Blacks attack under the new coaching regime.
The All Blacks set-piece plays off scrums and lineouts in 2024 were one-dimensional and predictable. The ball would travel to Jordie Barrett at second five, who would throw a short pass to Rieko Ioane in traffic, frequently resulting in errors.
That’s just one example, but there needs to be a clear progression in 2025, otherwise, questions about the attack under Robertson will persist into another year.
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The articles picture is such a click bait tease. So did Razor and Richie lock lips or not?
The following players need to be dropped in 2025: Papilii, Blackadder, Jacobson, ALB, Havili, Reese, Tele’a, and Perofeta.
All are in their late 20s or older and have proven in 2024 they are simply not good enough to be a quality test starter. It is shocking how BOTH Reese and Tele’a have lost their pace. Tele’a is a shell of the player he was in 2023. Perofeta has never fulfilled his promise as either a 10 or 15. This generation’s Isaiah Toeava.
Have no clue who should replace these players at this time but confident that new players will step up in Super Rugby.
Yet Ethan Blackadder was one of our best against the World Champion Springbok. When he came back to the Crusaders later in the season , he made a huge difference, ( a long with others like Codie Taylor), we nearly made the Play Off's. Ethan has plenty of rugby left in him. His family , Dad Todd Blackadder must be very [proud of him. Todd Blackadder was a 3 time champion captain of the Crusaders, '98, '99 and 2000.An icon in this area. Also twice captain of Canterbury , '97 and 2001 when we won the NPC and Ranfurly Shield winning captain in 2000.
Peter Lakai is our seven, Wallace at 8, Samipeni will own SR and take the 6.
Ardie the bench option if he performs. He’s on the way out.
Finau looks great in Super Rugby regular season matches the past two seasons, especially against Australian clubs. But in the SRP Finals and Test rugby against big nasty forwards his own size, he has been found wanting in both 2023 and 2024.
"It seems like the idea of Ardie Savea moving to openside flanker is no longer on the table"
Says who? Savea was picked on the open side, with Wallace Sititi at 8, against France. It makes no difference to Savea’s game, whatsoever and allows Sititi to play in his preferred position. It also provides an option to bring in a third loose forward that may provide a better lineout option and a big body to compete with some of the big bodies found in other teams.
It was unfortunate that Finau was injured so early on against France before he had a chance to show how he might combine with Savea and Sititi, and there is still a possibility that Hoskins Sotutu might be effective alongside them too.
Don’t count out viable options.
Yeah they could have done with more grunt against France for sure. The opportunity for Lakai was good, and he was affective for 40 minutes but a full 80 was far too much to put on a debutant, losing a bit of the punch that was needed in the game be himself coming on fresh at the end.
A new axis at 10, 12 & 13 is needed. And to start blooding young players who may be good enough to win us a world cup rather than stick with known players who won't.
Bingo. I’m glad someone else has picked up on it. This setup is rubbish compared to Carter, nonu, smith.
It’s the main reason we’re not beating the big teams anymore.
We need mounga, … and procter.
Richie Mo'unga will be back and will reclaim the AB 10 jersey. As he showed with Brave Lupus, Crusaders and All Blacks he is so much better than McKenzie or Barrett. Ethan Blackadder will take over from the thankfully departed Cane
Don't forget we has our worst years under mounga and we lost the world cup because of him
But he's not better than dmac we have already seen that dmac smashed in in the Japanese league and in super rugby and dmac top the tables in alot of the stats was literally the best 10 in the world even world rugby thought so
Razor isn't a grinch to ask for two wins against SA, and if he was to ask for two, those would be meaningless if the record is still lost. After SA come to Eden Park the game he'll most ask to be gift wrapped is Eden Park's Bledisloe Cup.
He's also already got Mo'unga I'd say, what he'd be asking of Robinson (or whoever takes over) is that the rules are bent to all his inclusion without first representing Canterbury. Razor will need a lot of good will spirit heading his own way if he selects Mo'unga to start in July against France.
You aren't very good at sneaking a look at what's in the Xmas hamper around you Henry? If Toulouse somehow fluff one of their knockout games they will be able to tour (only players in the Final are excluded) and it will basically be Dupont's Toulouse versus all of New Zealand in July. They will be VERY hard to beat.
The old Christmas excitement gets the best of everybody. Personally I think Razor would be saving up backline wish for some creativity and spark till next Xmas. Mostly he'll wanting to stay in the good books and for fans to pay attention next year.
Ardie was selected as an openside flanker against France, two games ago. Dalton Papali'i is the incumbent though and while the jersey number is largely irrelevant, he might still want somebody to stand out in the 6 jersey next year.
It would be my own wish that Ardie is asked to be selected at 7 again, and play like a 7, though. I really hope that no one stands out in the 6 jersey for Razor though, so he's forced to think creatviely and move Scott Barrett there lol
I agree that people should count their chickens about the France squad until it is actually picked and shouldn’t underestimate them regardless. I think Toulouse will probably make the final though.
For Razor and Hansen, 2024 has been a gradual realisation, as they exit the Crusaders bubble, that there might be better options elsewhere. Surely the likes of Reece and Havili have had their day, and the likes of Fihaki have to earn a place. The Crusaders won't keep being the default selection option in a crisis.
Chay Fihaki had a outstanding second half of the Super comp for the Crusaders. A brilliant, attacking wing/ fullback for the Crusaders and Canterbury. He was brought in as cover for the AB's and played for the NZ 15.
David Havili hardly played. He will be back. Will Jordan is rightfully at fullback. Dallas McLeod has to be looked at in the midfield, big , strong , bruising midfielder for Canterbury and the Crusaders. Noah Hotham has to step in now TJ is gone. Default position ? Who do TJ, Cane, Ioane , Barrett, McKenzie play for ? They are "default " selections and they ain't Crusaders
Can't deny that there are still problem areas with the ABs but decent progress has been made. Onwards & upwards. As a well known maxim says " Rome wasn't built in a day."
No progress in the backs whatsoever. A total lack of a gameplan to follow and a lack of selection nous. Almost deliberate!
And this is exactly why the All Blacks will not improve under Razor. Obsessed with what-could-be instead of what-can-be. Until he forgets about Mounga, we won't have a coach fully invested in our available players' potential.
We all know his real number 1 desire though is a return to form for David Havili, or at the very least discovering a way to sneak him back into the squad for a second year running.
McKenzie had 10 starts to make All Black supporters and coaches to forget about Mo’unga and he failed. He had two very good tests (Argentina II and Ireland), two very poor tests (Argentina I and Australia I) and 6 mediocre tests mixing good plays with poor plays.
If McKenzie’s excuse for having 2 of 10 very good tests is his coach likes someone better than me then he is a mental weakling.
Agree. Its embarrassing tbh. Mounga and Havili have had plenty of time in a black jersey and both found wanting. Razor cant seem to move on from Saders players.
second?
Couldn't agree more. David Havili was too slow for fullback, now he is an inside center who can't get over the gain line, so resorts to the Crossfield kick. I wonder if Sevu Reece will somehow make the squad.