Reflecting on the squad, the tight forwards are about as strong as they could be. Likewise, the backs are fine, albeit one could quibble around the fringes. However, the SEVEN loose forwards are a dog's breakfast! Four who were principally sevens at their franchises, none of whom are recognised fetchers. ONE which is a top class lineout operator. ONE big hard hitter, TWO short no. 8s. Jacks of all trades but master of none. Looking at forwards as a whole, Blues were by far the best pack in Super rugby and manage to provide only four of the 20 forwards in the squad. Calling Jerome Kaino?

Tomasi Cama a rubhish coach. Starting Joe Webber in a knockout match is one of the most stupid decisions I've seen watching decades (and playing) sevens. He misses far too many tackles (in fact, the only tackle I can recall he made was at the kickoff for the 2nd half, his one and only good play in the whole match), his passes are piss poor, usually going behind the player he's passing to and he pretty much does the same thing every time he has the ball in hand. To compound that headscratcher, he doesn't start either of the two playmakers used the most thru the HSBC 7s, Cook-Savage and Rokolisoa, yet he starts Collier and Dillon who are both too old and too slow and keeps them on almost the entire match. In fact, Collier played the entire match and contributed almost nothing just because he's the captain he's kept on the whole time... WTF! And WTF was that from Knewstubb, he was thru the tackle, line open in front of him and he attempts a miracle offload which is intercepted and turned into the match winning score when the SA player looks up, sees only Dillion and Collier in front of him and takes the most logical option, kick and chase when you know you can outpace your opposition, just too easy.

I'm sure they will transition to the young guys - and I'll leave that up to Razor and Co. how fast they do it. But, the most important thing at the moment is that we keep winning as much as possible (refer 2022). And, it's quite possible that the best combo to deliver consistent wins, right now, is to pick TJ and Finlay for the biggest games - even though from the outside it doesn't look like it. I don't think it's a coincidence that Fozzie and Schmidt picked Finlay on the bench for the RWC Final and then Vern picked Finlay to start the play-off matches in Super this year. We sort of go, WTF - but, we've had decades of All Black coaches telling us how important experience is. And decades of observing that it's harder to get dropped from the ABs than to get picked. And I think that happens for good reasons. Hansen spent most of his tenure telling us how much experience should be valued - and then right at the end he abandoned his own philosophy - panicked and picked a rookie backline in 2019, when he could have picked experience - Beauden, SBW, Crotty, Reiko and Ben Smith (and Sam Cane). I wish someone would ask him about this (but, I digress). We lost - and we lost in 2007 with a bunch of newbies running on among the inside backs. To make a very ageist comment - but, fuck it, a girl at the supermarket checkout asked me if I was eligible for a gold card earlier this week - none of the guys I mentioned earlier are 25 yet. And if I look at the sub-25 kids at my work, you barely trust them to do some filing in alphabetical order. And my bro-in-law, who's a builder, makes similar comments about his apprentices. These guys are just kids. Just because they're good at sport, doesn't mean they're proper grown ups to be entrusted with the keys to the ABs. And they'd be morons (or their agents would) to fuck off overseas at this point without racking up a bunch of test caps and ratcheting up their price. So, I reckon, use TJ and Christie to lead them and support them this year. Develop Ratima. Bring Roigard in for the EOYT tour. Maybe take Hotham (or one of the others) on the EOYT as an apprentice. TJ will disappear at the end of the year If we've got three young guys ready for test rugby at the end of 2025 - with Finlay still in the mix and a couple of others knocking at the door and maybe with a couple of bench caps, that's plenty fast enough for me.

I think these next two tests are a perfect opportunity to find out what that “best” team is. My summary of the backs. I reckon the selectors think that they could start any of Reece, Clark or MT in a tough test match. Not dissimilar to when Henry could play different combinations of Rok, Howlett, Sivi (and even Gear). Clark, Reece Fullback remains a question mark. A state of flux, genuine transition or holding for Jordan? Jordan is an unknown at fullback at test level, but Razor likes him there at Super level. Beaudie js rocks and diamonds (but I’m a fan). Perofeta has a few caps now and has looked sharp-ish. Wide open I think the midfield is Jordie and Ioane with ALB on the bench. But now that they have seen Proctor in a black jersey and also has a franchise combo with Jordie, they could make a change. Likewise if they wanted to ALB and Ioane have test experience together. Jordie, Ioane Unlike the pendulum that was Barrett and Mo’unga, Rangi has DMac running the cutter and bar injury we should see him start most of not all tests. Beaudie provides an able backup but Insuspect we will see 80 minute DMac from here on in (ala peak Carter period). DMac If ever there was an example of why young talented players should be played, our recent experience at halfback is case in point. This spot is wide open right now with Roigard’s absence. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that if he were fit for England 1 he would’ve started. Now with Perenara injured we got a chance to see Ratima make a difference. Christie brings a defensive game that would be appealing and is not unlike a young Perenara. But if he is first choice we would have to live with his attacking deficiencies. Something that we had to in previous years and halfbacks prior to Aaron Smith’s emergence in black. Not settled yet

Bladder was mixed out there. Not a 7 at all. His lines were poor - usually coming in the side of the ruck. Struggled to find people to tackle. Can see why you'd consider him at 6, but at 7 it's a strong no thanks from me. Our loosies are not setting the world on fire and just seem unbalanced. Separately, folk need to slow down a bit on reaching conclusions for the backs in particular. They got time and space you don't get against good teams. ALB (who's excellent generally) looked like the second coming of Cullen. That will not map across to a team that pressures us with rush defence. All of our weaknesses seemed to be there still; lineouts (Aumua much improved), exits, kicking, carrying in the tight. It looks easy against a side that misses 55 tackles, but I'd be very cautious of assuming we've cracked the issues that have plagued us for so long. If you were coaching against this AB side you'd be running a simple game plan based on rush defence, kicking and contesting lineouts making us try to exit.

2024 Counties Manukau Steelers Squad Props: Suetena Asomua, Kauvaka Kaivelata, Sateki Latu, Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Keran van Staden*, Lionel Evans*, Stephen Eseese*, Salesi Tuifua* Hookers: Ioane Moananu, Ian West-Stevens, Nicholas Muli*, Rico McQuoid** Locks: Jimmy Tupou, James Thompson, William Furniss, Aukusitino Ulugia, Jadin Kingi Loose Forwards: Alamanda Motuga, Cameron Church, Leo Ngatai-Tafau, Adam Brash, Hoskins Sotutu, Samuel Tuifua, Semesa Saukuru* Half Backs: Cameron Roigard, Liam Daniela, Jonathan Taumateine, Aidan Macpherson* First Five: Riley Hohepa, AJ Alatimu, Joshua Penney* Midfield: Alex Eruera, Tevita Ofa, Rodney Tongotea*, Gibson Popoali’i* Outside backs: Peniasi Malimali, Blake Makiri, Joshua Gray, Solomone Naiduki, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Simon-Peter Toleafa, Kalione Hala*, Fanoandrew Malua* *Development Contract **Injury Replacement

It will be very interesting to see which team Razor will field, considering the promising performances of the newbies against Fiji. Don't forget the latter were quarter finalists during the last RWC and are no pushovers (I know they were missing a few important players but their San Diego team would have beaten Wales, IMO). Props : De Groot and Lomax are likely to start, with Newell on the bench. Ofa T or Williams for the last spot. I'd go with the latter as he offers more in the loose. He scrummed outstandingly against Doge who is a strong scrummager. Hookers : Taylor or Aumua ? I am inclined to think Razor will start Taylor once again because of his experience and his leadership role. Locks : Barrett is a certainty. PT should join him with Vaa'i on the bench. Blindside : big mystery ! I think the long term solution is not among this squad, they will have to find someone else. Delaney ? Haig ? Suafoa ? Halfback : Ratima has my vote but I am not in the ABs selection panel ! I hope they won't opt for Christie who has good defensive qualities and a bit of experience but who is a handbrake in attack. 1st Five : DMac of course and B. Barrett as a cover. Midfield combo : Jordie is a certainty despite ALB's great performance against Fiji. Who will be the centre ? Last opportunity for Rieko Ioane maybe ? Billy Proctor is pushing strongly behind him. Left wing : I'd be very disappointed if they persist with Telea. He is a good player but he has lost his pace and is fragile under the high kicks. I like what I saw of Clarke this year, Fiji game included. Right wing : four options there with Reece, Narawa, Telea and eventually Ioane or Jordan if he is fit. Full back : I am not sold on Perofeta and would have liked to see Love there, but it won't happen, unless injuries occurring. BB was great off the bench against England and very good against Fiji (no errors and his passing was top notch).