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?

u/Powerful-Pressure312 — 2 days ago

Riley 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.

u/MrKingi — 4 days ago

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

reddit.com
u/Wizardhhh — 5 days ago

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.

reddit.com
u/Wizardhhh — 6 days ago
▲ 12 r/allblacks+1 crossposts

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

  1. Tom Robertson

  2. Billy Pollard

  3. Alan Alaalatoa

  4. Nick Frost

  5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto

  6. Jeremy Williams

  7. Luke Reimer

  8. Nick Champion De Crespigny

  9. Jake Gordon

  10. Ben Donaldson

  11. Max Jorgensen

  12. Joseph Sua'ali'i

  13. Josh Flook

  14. Dylan Pietsch

  15. Tom Wright

  16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa

  17. Tom Lambert

  18. Daniel Botha

  19. Matt Philip

  20. Joe Brial

  21. Charlie Cale

  22. Teddy Wilson

  23. Jack Deb

  24. Andrew Kellaway

  25. Corey Toole

  26. Zac Lomax

QLD Reds

  1. James Slipper

  2. Matt Faessler

  3. Zane Nonggor

  4. Darcy Swain

  5. Angus Blyth

  6. Angus Scott Young

  7. Fraser McReight

  8. Harry Wilson

  9. Tate McDermott

  10. Carter Gordon

  11. Filipo Daugunu

  12. Hamish Stewart

  13. David Feliuai

  14. Andy Muirhead

  15. Jock Campbell

  16. Josh Nasser

  17. George Blake

  18. Massimo de Luttis

  19. Lachlan Shaw

  20. Seru Uru

  21. Vaiuta Latu

  22. Kalani Thomas

  23. Tom Lynagh

  24. Dre Pakeho

  25. Kadin Pritchard

  26. 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:

  1. Isaac Kailea

  2. Josh Canham

  3. Rob Valentini

  4. Carlo Tizzano

  5. Pete Samu

  6. Ryan Lonergan

  7. Hunter Paisami

  8. Harry Potter

North Island

  1. Tamiti Williams

  2. Samisoni Taukei'aho

  3. Pasilio Tosi

  4. Tupou Vaa'i

  5. Scott Barrett

  6. Luke Jacobson

  7. Du'Plessis Kirifi

  8. Wallace Sititi

  9. Cam Roigard

  10. Richie Mo'unga

  11. Caleb Clarke

  12. Jordie Barrett

  13. Quinn Tupaea

  14. Leroy Carter

  15. Beauden Barrett

  16. Asafo Aumua

  17. Ollie Norris

  18. Ofa Tuʻungafasi

  19. Josh Lord

  20. Peter Lakai

  21. Finally Christie

  22. Billy Proctor

  23. Ruben Love

South Island

  1. Ethan De Groot

  2. George Bell

  3. Fletcher Newell

  4. Sam Darry

  5. Patrick Tuipolotu

  6. Mitchell Dunshea

  7. Ethan Blackadder

  8. Sam Withy

  9. Dylan Pledger

  10. Damien Mackenzie

  11. Macca Springer

  12. Timoci Tavatavanawai

  13. Leicester Faingaʻanuku

  14. Kyren Taumoefolau

  15. Will Jordan

  16. Brodie McAlister

  17. George Bower

  18. Tyrell Lomax

  19. Fabian Holland

  20. Cullen Grace

  21. Nathan Hastie

  22. David Havili

  23. Cam Millar

reddit.com
u/Ruck_Off — 6 days ago
🔥 Hot ▲ 77 r/allblacks+2 crossposts

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.

theaustralian.com.au
u/Ruck_Off — 8 days ago
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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?

u/ToastedSubwaySammich — 9 days ago