The June OFC Nations Cup? Not really the same thing though as a 4 team tourney involving the teams ranked 10th, 28th & 33rd in the world, is it.
It's not that long ago that the AWs went through a high stakes OFC tourney (March 2022), winning the final 5-0. Nearly all of the current squad (was an enlarged 33 man squad from memory), played in that tourney. That's all the OFC game experience they need for now.
I'd rather the AWs get a couple of high quality friendlies in June. And back NZF now to pull that off. Maybe they are eyeing up another mini tourney in June, or sometime next year after the 2026 WC qualifiers are completed (March 2025?). And of course Bazeley & about 6 plus of the AWs will be involved in the Paris Olympics, another tourney experience.
It's not that long ago that the AWs went through a high stakes OFC tourney (March 2022), winning the final 5-0. Nearly all of the current squad (was an enlarged 33 man squad from memory), played in that tourney. That's all the OFC game experience they need for now.
I'd rather the AWs get a couple of high quality friendlies in June. And back NZF now to pull that off. Maybe they are eyeing up another mini tourney in June, or sometime next year after the 2026 WC qualifiers are completed (March 2025?). And of course Bazeley & about 6 plus of the AWs will be involved in the Paris Olympics, another tourney experience.