Still no sign of Ciaran Frawley as Leinster name team for Dragons

2. The all blacks didn't innovate for 7 years between 2016-2023 as Foster stuck to Hansen's playbook to try and relive the glory days. Robertson has started to innovate the attack and its looking good in terms of gainline success but individual execution is leading to lost scoring opportunities.

3. International rugby has become more physical in the last few years, with set piece dominance and rush defence trending due to SA's success. All Blacks physicality was compromised between 2016 to mid 2022 as Foster and Hansen prioritised forward mobility over physicality and set-piece to try and relive the 2015 quarterfinal against france where props were offloading like Sonny Bill. Jason Ryan has improved it a lot and some young talent like Sititi, Tamaiti Williams, Vaai etc are starting to come through but they still need a bit more experience.

I think it's also significant that the shunt to 10, awkward as it is, started after he suffered a potential career ending injury. Maybe they are trying to protect him?

He's a Ferrari but they're using him as a lawnmower.

Albornoz is a Ferrari. Just flat out. Argentina have started slowly in all 3 of their wins and he was the catalyst for all of those comeback wins.

Like ABs of old, Argentina are regularly turning over 10-0 and 17-0 handicaps. It's all Albornoz. He's developing in the role and playing super while Mckenzie is being developed in the role and not playing super. Just how I see it.

We have 3 of the RC teams in Dublin this Nov. With respect to the others, it's only Argentina I'm nervous about. Although I can't wait to see this lad in person.

They could weight Aussies wins as being double points like a WC knockout match, and an loss would just have a small rating drop as if playing a normal game against the #1 ranked side! That would be close to fair I reckon🤣

But yeah nar, seriously, it will have to be after these EOYTs. Given that it is a yearly thing? Or has the "season" really started with TRC, and should end with the 6N next year? Or maybe they will "freeze" the rankings during July and the rest of 2025 will count? It would be bugger all change if they just took the ranking up till this EOYT!! We know what WR are like, I think were in for another debacle here!

Godfrey is going to be really good but could be too small. Rico Simpson debuting for Auckland at 18...hard to ignore. Cam Miller has shown a lot of class already and seems to be expanding his game for Otago.

I'm yet to see much i like about Kemara but he's super young and haven't watched any of Spencer or Cashmore to be honest, they're expected to be good players which is why I threw them in there.

The All Blacks have a starting lineup that boasts 917 Caps, while the Wallabies starting XV have only a total of 374 Caps, plus scrum weight and possibly technique advantage unless Jasons mentor Mike Cron has other plans. Boring in, like they did in last weekends game.

Anyways, all going well, the weather forecast is looking good for an open running game of rugby with on field official Nika Amashukeli in charge.

Go the All Blacks...the stats are heavily stacked in your favour...stay on the good side of Nika and don't be flippant and produce a Betty Crocker...OK 👌..

He has also lost his pace.

A 7 is more than just a tackler and ruck cleaner. He needs to link with the backs in open play as Jones, Kronfeld, McCaw, and Cane (pre-neck injury) did.

You could indeed have an extra playmaker JD, if they had the cattle. But they don't, Perofeta is injured, and there is no other suitable player in NZ. People have the Mounga Dmac Jordan picture in their head for 2026, but that's so far away I think were going to have a couple of younger players raining on that parade!

My bad also, I was describing the attack that Rieko scored from, with Jordan the other option to have scored. Also also, that's what's so great about those Irish plays though, you're just waiting for the opposition to make a mistake!

I feel everyone is desperate to turn the ABs into the Baby Blacks, change for change sake isn't necessary...we're not far off being a force again and just need to re-discover our ruthless, killer streak to close out games. Our tight 5 is rapidly becoming the best in the world, we have 2 rock-star 9s in Ratima and Roigard, proven performers in Frizzell and Mounga coming back and Will Jordan showing signs of being an international 15 which will scare everybody outside of NZ.

I would have Talea at 14 over Reece currently...this team on Sat seriously lacks a secondary kicking option which Jordie (or BB when at 15) has been operating as, will be interesting as we know how slow TJs box kick (and pass) is.

Blackadder will step into Cane’s role as workhorse.