
r/allblacks

We lost the bloody World Cup because our first-fives couldn't kick straight. Here's the cold hard stats on DMac, Beauden & Ruben Love 👀
Kia ora ,
We all know the story. Another heartbreaking World Cup exit and the same old narrative — the All Blacks first-fives let us down with the boot when it mattered most.
Don't believe me? Have a look at these head-to-head player stats (2026 season, from the comparison tool). Kicking accuracy and points from the tee are what separate good 10s from World Cup winners.
Damian McKenzie vs Beauden Barrett
- Penalty Goals: McKenzie 3 | Barrett 3
- Conversions: McKenzie 20 | Barrett 22 (slight edge to Beaudy)
- Points: McKenzie 64 | Barrett 53
- Kicks: McKenzie 43 | Barrett 58 (Beauden kicking more, but DMac still outscoring him overall)
McKenzie is clearly the more dangerous attacker (higher metres carried, post-contact, line breaks, defenders beaten), but when the game's on the line and you need 3 points from 40m out... both have been shaky at times.
Ruben Love vs Beauden Barrett
- Penalty Goals: Love 0 | Barrett 3
- Points: Love 36 | Barrett 53
- Conversions: Love 18 | Barrett 22
- Kicks: Love 26 | Barrett 58
Ruben is the exciting young gun and brings X-factor, but the numbers show he's not (yet) the reliable goal-kicker we needed in knockout footy.
Bottom line:
Our first-fives combined are electric in attack — carries, metres, line breaks, all world-class. But when the pressure's on and the game comes down to kicking percentages, we keep falling short. Missed kicks have haunted us in big games for years now.
Is it time to finally pick one clear No.10 and back him to nail the basics? Or do we need a specialist kicking coach 24/7?
Drop your hottest (or coldest) take below. Who do you want wearing the 10 jersey going forward — DMac, Barrett, Love, or someone else?
Gilbert Enoka returns to the All Blacks as the Leadership and Mental Performance Coach.
instagram.com- YouTube great listen. They talk about loose forwards in the chiefs vs hurricanes
youtu.beRiley Higgins gone…
This one stings cause he’s still so young. Can break the line and offload at will. Will be in the Scotland squad no doubt.
All Blacks touring party for Rugby's Greatest rivalry series against Springboks to dwarf British and Irish Lions number - report
planetrugby.comChiefs v Hurricanes, crazy last minutes
Hurricanes vs chiefs (coming up real soon) - STATE of origin as far as I’m concerned . THE holy grail battle to determine the meanest dogs for the AB spot
some battles—-
- love vs McKenzie .
- quinn vs Jordie
- BATTLE OF THE number 6
-battle for the number 8
- aumua vs Samisoni
- who is the fastest man on the field
- most important - which forwards Cannot tackle
- who are the guys that RISE in the last 15mins
- will tupou vai RISE against Warner dearns (great international battle). Who commands and organises the lineouts , the lineout mauls. does vai have leadership.
——————————
some predictions (guess-timates):
-Pasilio tosi to slam down the hammer . The strongest tighthead in the world . Yes, world.
-love will cement his class above McKenzie . He will look more organised
—————-
I wouldn’t mind having 3 of these games back to back (2 week rest). we need competition between the guys , it’s gotta get dirty imo
Pat Pellegrini chases down Leroy Carter
Blues vs highlanders - blues really using their forwards !!! Highlanders scrum proving to be underrated (real deal)
very enjoyable match to watch so far
unfortunate for caleb tangitau early injury
feel bad for Tavitava- trying so hard in a struggling team.
Rugby Origins
If the Waratahs and Reds were to be standalone teams outside of Super Rugby (similar to state of origin) what would there squads looks like if we used similar criteria? In order from, place of birth>schooling years>pro debut.
For New Zealand, what would North V South Islands teams look like with currently contracted players.
Fixtures could be a round robin format between all 4, or the obvious best of 3 series
There's also an incomplete OzBarbarians squad with currently contracted Wallabies. A decent forward pack
NSW Waratahs
Tom Robertson
Billy Pollard
Alan Alaalatoa
Nick Frost
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Jeremy Williams
Luke Reimer
Nick Champion De Crespigny
Jake Gordon
Ben Donaldson
Max Jorgensen
Joseph Sua'ali'i
Josh Flook
Dylan Pietsch
Tom Wright
Brandon Paenga-Amosa
Tom Lambert
Daniel Botha
Matt Philip
Joe Brial
Charlie Cale
Teddy Wilson
Jack Deb
Andrew Kellaway
Corey Toole
Zac Lomax
QLD Reds
James Slipper
Matt Faessler
Zane Nonggor
Darcy Swain
Angus Blyth
Angus Scott Young
Fraser McReight
Harry Wilson
Tate McDermott
Carter Gordon
Filipo Daugunu
Hamish Stewart
David Feliuai
Andy Muirhead
Jock Campbell
Josh Nasser
George Blake
Massimo de Luttis
Lachlan Shaw
Seru Uru
Vaiuta Latu
Kalani Thomas
Tom Lynagh
Dre Pakeho
Kadin Pritchard
Mac Grealy
Current Wallabies
Abroad:
Angus Bell (NSW)
Len Ikitau (QLD)
Tom Hooper (NSW)
Will Skelton (NSW)
James O'Connor (QLD)
Noah Lolesio (QLD)
Eligible for;
Victoria:
Josh Canham
Pete Samu
Rob Valentini
Hunter Paisami
Isaac Kailea
ACT:
Ryan Lonergan
Western Australia:
Carlo Tizzano
UK:
Harry Potter
OzBarbarians:
Isaac Kailea
Josh Canham
Rob Valentini
Carlo Tizzano
Pete Samu
Ryan Lonergan
Hunter Paisami
Harry Potter
North Island
Tamiti Williams
Samisoni Taukei'aho
Pasilio Tosi
Tupou Vaa'i
Scott Barrett
Luke Jacobson
Du'Plessis Kirifi
Wallace Sititi
Cam Roigard
Richie Mo'unga
Caleb Clarke
Jordie Barrett
Quinn Tupaea
Leroy Carter
Beauden Barrett
Asafo Aumua
Ollie Norris
Ofa Tuʻungafasi
Josh Lord
Peter Lakai
Finally Christie
Billy Proctor
Ruben Love
South Island
Ethan De Groot
George Bell
Fletcher Newell
Sam Darry
Patrick Tuipolotu
Mitchell Dunshea
Ethan Blackadder
Sam Withy
Dylan Pledger
Damien Mackenzie
Macca Springer
Timoci Tavatavanawai
Leicester Faingaʻanuku
Kyren Taumoefolau
Will Jordan
Brodie McAlister
George Bower
Tyrell Lomax
Fabian Holland
Cullen Grace
Nathan Hastie
David Havili
Cam Millar
Ten teams, open borders: the Super Rugby overhaul officials want
A 10-team competition featuring 18 home-and-away matches and an opening of borders either side of the Tasman Sea to free up the opportunity for the likes of Beauden Barrett – and others – to play in Australia and still be able to pull on the All Blacks jersey, and vice versa.
These are just a couple of the ideas being discussed – and agitated for – by Super Rugby officials eager to breathe life into a competition described as “ho-hum” by some of the game’s top brass.
With Moana Pasifika running out of time in their bid to keep the lights on for a seventh season, modelling is under way to ensure the Super Rugby competition rediscovers its mojo.
The Australian understands it’s the preference of most clubs on either side of the ditch that the tournament shift to an 18-match season. Currently, the 11-team competition is a 14-match tournament, which has widely been thought of as awkward by Super Rugby officials ever since the Rebels were cut in mid-2024.
Not only would that allow for an equal competition, it would also help most teams’ bottom lines by allowing for a minimum of nine home games.
Another idea, by local broadcaster Stan, is for a conference system to return that would guarantee Australia’s presence in the finals, The Australian understands. The last Australian presence in a Super Rugby final was in 2014, when the Waratahs edged the Crusaders for the maiden title.
Super Rugby CEO Jack Mesley declined to comment on the future of Moana Pasifika, who are also after a new coach after All Blacks great Tana Umaga joined Dave Rennie’s New Zealand team.
It’s understood Super Rugby officials hope to be able to confirm its draw by August, especially with Allianz Stadium to be in demand as the NRL’s South Sydney Rabbitohs prepare to return to the venue.
Just as pressing is turning around Super Rugby’s plummeting appeal. While the Wallabies and All Blacks had no trouble selling out Tests last year, with Rugby Australia expected to announce a huge profit at their annual meeting this month off the back of the gate-breaking British & Irish Lions series, the first half of the calendar year continues to be a troubling issue for both national unions.
Most Super Rugby officials have welcomed a Super Rugby commission and Mesley’s appointment as the tournament’s chief executive, but clubs are concerned he could be limited in his effectiveness because all the power remains with Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby national bodies.
“We don’t think the commission has gone far enough,” one New Zealand Super Rugby CEO said. “More independence is needed. Jack’s been a breath of fresh air, and he’s had a great competition view, but anything that happens with the format is reserved for the national unions.
“Seldom do they talk about what’s of benefit for the Super Rugby competition. They see it as a development competition rather than a top-tier, commercial product. They’re not intentionally being difficult, but they can’t take their All Blacks and Wallabies hats off.”
Currently, NZR won’t pick players playing offshore. And RA high-performance director Peter Horne last week was reported as saying a maximum of three players could be selected from overseas, as per amendments to the policy four years ago. He was quoted last August saying the Giteau Law, allowing Australians playing overseas to be selected for the Wallabies, was now “kind of redundant” and national coach Joe Schmidt had “no impediment” to selecting whomever he wanted.
The resistance to opening up the borders remains two-fold: neither governing body wants its players to abandon the competition, and it’s also thought keeping players at home ensures everyone will be best prepared for the international arena – the stage that remains the main money-spinner for the respective unions.
But Super Rugby officials increasingly want players to still be able to be picked for their national teams even if they are playing on the other side of the ditch.
Renewed calls for the relaxation of the border policy come off the back of Barrett’s comments early last year that any anyone playing Super Rugby should remain eligible to play Test rugby for their home country.
“I’d like to think that in Super Rugby in however many years’ time, whatever countries are involved in Super Rugby, at a national level they can be eligible to represent their country,” the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year said.
Look to the strong start to former All Blacks winger George Bridge’s life at the Western Force, and James O’Connor’s successful one-year stint at the Crusaders in 2025 where he helped the franchise win a title, as success stories from trans-Tasman border swaps.
Officials also believe a fixed salary cap spend for every team across the competition would ensure the competition becomes more competitive. But if that was to occur, RA and NZR would have to blow up the way they contract players because national top-ups for their Test stars mean every team operates with a different spend.
While the Super Rugby agreement is locked up until 2030, meetings are planned this month as officials gather in Christchurch as Super Round – with all games in the city – returns for the first time since 2024.
Lima Sopoaga on Moana Pasifika's future in Super Rugby
From his Facebook post (link in comments).
Sopoaga is saying he's heard they won't exist after this season. Egregious if true. That team *needs* to exist.
Does anyone with a bit of insider knowledge know of or has heard of anything about Moana Pasifika's future in SRP?