It's Razor Time, fuckers!

[morepork]

It's good, but all so very messy. We still have Fozzie the missing womble scowling around for the RWC knowing he is out on his arse straight afterwards.

[morepork]

6 months is scant preparation for a tournament that comes around every 4 years. What's the plan this year? Box kick its and hope the opposite drops it? It all seems very staid and lacking in a certain je ne sais quois. But neither does Fozzie.

[J Dory]

ABs in with a good shout IMO. Assuming they they get out of the pool will face a tough quarter, a winnable semi, then it's just one game.

[morepork]

DMac.....form 10?

[J Dory]

Coaching team announced:

"current All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan will be joined by Leon MacDonald, Jason Holland and Scott Hansen, with the group to take up their respective roles in 2024"

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/scott- ... TE5QVBUSU/

[morepork]

Pretty much the Canterbury/Crusaders under Razor all-stars coaching team. The only notable assistant coach missing is Ronan O'Gara.

You reckon they will sound O'Gara out for a job?

[Lizard]

Because I'm on holiday and I've got slightly more free time than usual (i.e., I can do all-nighters marking assessments and shit without worrying about it being a school night, bitches), let's have a look at the depth-chart that Razor's got to work with, position by position

Loosehead Prop
Capped
Ethan de Groot
George Bower
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Alex Hodgman
Aidan Ross
Atu Moli

Uncapped
Ollie Norris
Xavier Numea
Josh Fusitua
Pouri Rakete-Stones

There'll be some players who'll want to make a point in the next season or two after falling down the pecking order (that's you, Atu), and some solid uncapped talent coming through in the form of Ollie Norris and Xavier Numea. de Groot has emerged as a rock at the loosehead side, while Norris in particular has had a big role in making the scrum a genuine weapon for the Chiefs.



Hooker:
Capped
Samisoni Taukei'aho
Asafo Aumua
Codie Taylor

Uncapped
Kurt Eklund
Bradley Slater
Leni Apisai
Ricky Riccitelli
Soane Vikena

With Dane Coles announcing he's packing it in, the candidates at this stage to be the top 3 2s are fairly obvious. There's also some quality emerging beneath them as well, like Bradley Slater and Soane Vikena. Leni Apisai stands as an interesting case, as he's still in his mid-20s, but seems to have ben around for years, and has played seemingly everywhere.


Tighthead Prop
Capped
Tyrel Lomax
Nepo Laulala
Fletcher Newell
Jermaine Ainsley

Uncapped
Oli Jager
Tamaiti Williams

The depth isn't actually too bad - Lomax has developed into a world-class tighthead prop under Jason Ryan, while Laulala is starting to get back into the form that made him the first-choice tighthead a couple of years ago.
On the uncapped end, the Oli Jager is clearly on the selector's radar while Tamaiti Williams is seen as the literal next big thing.


Lock
Capped
Scott Barrett
Patrick Tuipulotu
Josh Lord
Tupou Va'ai
Dominic Bird

Uncapped
Sam Darry
James Tucker
Naitoa Ah Kuoi
Manaaki Selby-Rickitt
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Quentin Strange
Josh Dickson
Fabian Holland

Definitely leaning more towards uncapped potential - there are provincial and SR veterans like Tucker, Dickson, and Strange who have proven themselves at their respective teams, as well as young guys like Darry and Holland who have huge potential, so it'll be a case of finding the right combinations.


Loose Forwards
Capped
Akira Ioane
Dalton Papali'i
Hoskins Sotutu
Sam Cane
Luke Jacobson
Ardie Savea
Ethan Blackadder
Cullen Grace

Uncapped
Anton Segner
Adrian Choat
Tom Robinson
Samipeni Finau
Devan Flanders
Du'Plessis Kirifi
Peter Lakai
Tom Christie
Billy Harmon
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u

The main aim should be to find the next 6, as 7 and 8 are pretty decently stocked. No one has really had a chance to put their hand up at 6, although Segner and Flanders are currently leading the pack out of the uncapped bunch.


Halfback
Capped
Finlay Christie
Brad Weber
Folau Fakatava
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi

Uncapped
Taufa Funaki
Cam Roigard
Cortez Ratima
Noah Hotham

Tahuriorangi will be champing at the bit to get himself back into a SR match-day squad after a few years in the wilderness, and will probably benefit from a solid NPC season under his belt. Fakatava's return from injury has been a slow process, and in the meantime, players like Cam Roigard have emerged as potential future All Blacks. Noah Hotham is currently relegated to 3rd halfback at the Crusaders, but he's still 19, and under the learning tree of Razor, as well as Mitch Drummod and Willi Heinz - both vastly experienced players who would have a lot to pass on to him. A definite "keep an eye on this boy" scenario.


First-Five
Capped
Damian McKenzie
Brett Cameron
Stephen Perofeta

Uncapped
Bryn Gatland
Rivez Reihana
Aidan Morgan
Fergus Burke
Mitch Hunt

Pickings will be a bit slim with the impending departures of Mo'unga and and Beauden, but D-Mac will likely run largely unopposed into the black 10 jersey next year. If Brett Cameron can maintain his form, he is a definite dark horse candidate, as question marks still remain about Perofeta as a five-eighth.
Morgan and Burke are the next likeliest candidates, with the former impressing at every outing for the Canes and Wellington, while the latter is the latest off the Canterbury production-line. Hunt and Gatland remain as potential options, as they are both steady, reliable hands, while Reihana is developing along nicely within the Chiefs system.


Midfield
Capped
Jordie Barrett
Rieko Ioane
ALB
Quinn Tupaea
David Havili
Jack Goodhue
Peter Umaga-Jensen

Uncapped
Corey Evans
Bailyn Sullivan
Billy Proctor
Dallas McLeod
Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Josh Timu
Levi Aumua

Probably the most wide open area - RTS is likely headed back to the NRL, and there's no telling what shape Tupaea will be in after Darcy Fuckface's thuggery put him out of action until next year. Havili will likely benefit from being under a coach that understands how to best utilise him. PUJ has seemingly dropped off the face of the earth after a strong season that got him his sole call-up.
Proctor and Sullivan have consistently been there or thereabouts, while Aumua and McLeod are benefiting from extended time in the starting XV. Evans stands as a good long-term prospect, so he's definitely worth keeping an eye on.


Back Three Quarters
Capped
Caleb Clarke
Mark Telea
Julian Savea
Sevu Reece
Leicester Fainga'anuku
Will Jordan
Josh Ioane

Uncapped
Zarn Sullivan
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Shaun Stevenson
Etene Nanai-Seturo
Ruben Love
Josh Moorby
Macca Springer
Sam Gilbert
Jona Nareki
Jonah Lowe
Connor Garden-Bachop

Another case of huge competition for limited spots. Josh Ioane is a bit of a forgotten man, and he's smartly re-inventing himself as a fullback that can cover 10. Clarke's defence has improved this season, which otherwise made him a bit of a weak link for the ABs back three. Savea is showing his age a bit, but he has been a good contributor for the Hurricanes, and definitely picks his spots better.
Out of the uncapped bunch, Stevenson is probably closest to a call-up. Everyone offers something valuable - Gilbert and Love are both fullbacks that can cover 10, Sullivan has a giant boot, while Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and Nanai-Seturo are physical specimens that can conjure up tries, while Springer and Moorby are both consistent try-scoring threats with strong positioning and timing. Nareki, Lowe and CGB are reliable hands that when provided a chance, play smart with the tools they have.

Brodie? Aaron Smith? Mo’unga?

[morepork]

It's time for D-Mac, Shirley?

Kerr-Barlow is tearing it up in Europe, BTW.

[Cameo]

Who do we think is going to play 15 this year? Barrett despite his poor form? Mackenzie as he was originally intended to in 2019? Jordan got time to force himself in?

[morepork]

BB is a good option for fullback. Quick, smart positioning, and pretty useful in cover defense. That's where he tore it up in the unner twennies. We still don't have a solid centre combination, which seems to be a malaise borne of coaching philosophy inbreeding the world over, apart from France and maybe Ireland. We need a butti as pack to let the diminutive fighter pilots do their thing. Need to play away from the driving maul positional attrition plan that will be coming in the World Cup. 10 needs a good keen 9, and fuck knows who that would be. Need looses that can compete while playing to the letter of the law as close as without giving away territory from penalties (see maul concern). Biggest chink in the armour is Fozzie. Choosing the right captain is paramount. I'm actually really looking forward to seeing how we deal with the French total rugby and the clinical Irish (see Fozzie concern). It's all on this time around and I would not begrudge a team that handed us our arses if we can't step up.

[Cameo]

Who do we think is going to play 15 this year? Barrett despite his poor form? Mackenzie as he was originally intended to in 2019? Jordan got time to force himself in?

On current form, it's hard to look past Shaun Stevenson, who's in the same "I'm surprised this guy didn't get a cap or two already" club as James Lowe or Sean Maitland before him.

Oh yeah, complete mind blank from me. You'd think he will definitely get some game time this year. They have been keen on the two 10s idea for a while now though. Mackenzie offers that while being more of a threat from 15 than current day Barrett.

Will Jordan has just been named for this weekend though. If he hits form,I'd be very tempted by his combo with Mounga. The best attacking option I reckon.

[morepork]

Going into the test season, the tight five should be pretty settled:

1. de Groot
2. Taukei’aho
3. Lomax
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock

IMO, only 8 is settled in the loosies - Ardie has to start there.
6 is still pretty open, and the Cane v. Papali’i debate will rage on this year (IMO, Cane is playing better).

Halfback is set in stone with Smith, so it’s a race to see whom his backups will be.

10 will probably be Mo’unga, with Jordie and Rieko making the midfield.

11, 14 and 15 is anyone’s guess,

But not captain, yeah?


Those are two pretty old locks.