Beauden in box seat: All Blacks likely to opt for continuity
Analysis: The selectors will probably go for proven combinations in Dunedin but there could be opportunities for two newcomers, writes Patrick McKendry.
Not many would have predicted the exact make-up of Scott Robertson's first squad of the year, but guessing his first match-day 23 of 2025, which he will name in just over a week, is likely to be far easier.
For all the excitement over the five newcomers in his squad of 33, Robertson and his fellow selectors will almost certainly go with experience against the French in Dunedin for the first Test a week on Saturday.
That's not to say a couple of them — and potentially Chiefs loosehead prop Ollie Norris and Hurricanes loose forward Du'Plessis Kirifi — won't feature.
Much will depend on how the seven Crusaders and 11 Chiefs players in the squad back up after their torrid Super Rugby Pacific grand final in Christchurch last weekend.
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Loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams played in that match despite a minor meniscal (knee) tear and may be on light duties next week which could open the door for Norris to make his Test debut off the bench under the roof.
Likewise, Chiefs loose forward Luke Jacobson is unlikely to be available due to his head knock in the final. Jacobson, his face bloodied afterwards, also lost a tooth. As a result, Crusader Christian Lio-Willie has joined the squad as injury cover.
Jacobson's recent travails may provide an opportunity for Kirifi, one of the more heart-warming stories of Robertson's squad announcement in rural Taranaki on Monday.
At the start of the year, the 28-year-old thought long and hard about his plans before deciding to fully commit to his dream of becoming an All Black, and after being on the selectors' radar for the last three or four years, he is on the brink of a Test cap.
Such has been Kirifi's maturity this season as a Hurricanes' co-captain, it is difficult to see him unduly fazed by a potential bench role in the first Test – and his skillset as a proven turnover winner makes him an ideal impact player.
The make-up of the bench – and the potential impact those eight players provide – is a priority for the coaching staff this year after they watched the All Blacks spurn halftime leads in all four defeats last year.
A blood-soaked Du'Plessis Kirifi carries the ball against Moana Pasifika last month. (Source: Photosport)
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They were up 20-15 against Argentina in Wellington (a 38-30 loss), 12-11 against South Africa in Johannesburg (31-27 loss), and 9-3 against the Boks in Cape Town (18-12 loss).
One of the more gut-wrenching would have been the defeat to France in Paris in November when the All Blacks were up 17-10 at halftime, only to concede two converted tries in 12 minutes after the break to lose 30-29.
After missing the previous Test against Ireland in Dublin due to a head injury, Beauden Barrett played at No.10 in Paris and again against Italy in Turin a week later in his team's final Test of the year.
Of all Robertson's selections, the name of the man wearing the No.10 jersey will again be the most highly anticipated but it would surprise if Barrett does not start the year as he finished the last.
Damian McKenzie filled in superbly in Dublin to help the All Blacks to victory over an Irish team who are probably now New Zealand's greatest rivals after South Africa, given their recent history.
But McKenzie, who started at first-five in the first eight Tests of Robertson's first year, was usurped by Barrett after the All Blacks' narrow victory over the Wallabies in Sydney in September and has been forced to play back-up to Barrett since.
McKenzie also suffered the recent misfortune to play No.10 in a Chiefs team which lost its third consecutive Super Rugby grand final, while Barrett's form in the second half of the season has been excellent – he was particularly good in the head-to-head battle against McKenzie in the Blues' last-gasp qualifier victory in Hamilton.
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Such is Barrett's influence as a leader in the squad alongside skipper and brother Scott, and other brother Jordie, a vice-captain, it's difficult to see anyone other than the 34-year-old, who has played 134 Tests, starting in that pivotal position a week on Saturday.
Billy Proctor, in action for the All Blacks against Japan last year, could earn his third cap in the first Test against France. (Source: Photosport)
The third back reserve, after McKenzie and back-up halfback Cortez Ratima, is harder to predict but the selectors will almost certainly dip into their deep resource of six midfielders here.
Billy Proctor would appear a good fit, with Rieko Ioane potentially shifting from centre to left wing during the Test to accommodate him.
Otherwise, the team virtually names itself, with Samipeni Finau almost certain to play blindside flanker alongside No.8 Sititi and openside flanker Ardie Savea in the wake of Sam Cane's departure.
The French are bringing an inexperienced 37-man squad for the three Tests, with only six players possessing 18 or more caps – the average is 9.3 per player.
With so many players unavailable, coach Fabian Galthie is in building mode - a state that would make an All Blacks defeat over the next few weeks all the more unpalatable.
Potential All Blacks match-day team for the first Test against France
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett ©, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan. Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams/Ollie Norris, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Damian McKenzie, 23. Billy Proctor.
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1News
7 hours ago
- 1News
Beauden in box seat: All Blacks likely to opt for continuity
Analysis: The selectors will probably go for proven combinations in Dunedin but there could be opportunities for two newcomers, writes Patrick McKendry. Not many would have predicted the exact make-up of Scott Robertson's first squad of the year, but guessing his first match-day 23 of 2025, which he will name in just over a week, is likely to be far easier. For all the excitement over the five newcomers in his squad of 33, Robertson and his fellow selectors will almost certainly go with experience against the French in Dunedin for the first Test a week on Saturday. That's not to say a couple of them — and potentially Chiefs loosehead prop Ollie Norris and Hurricanes loose forward Du'Plessis Kirifi — won't feature. Much will depend on how the seven Crusaders and 11 Chiefs players in the squad back up after their torrid Super Rugby Pacific grand final in Christchurch last weekend. ADVERTISEMENT Loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams played in that match despite a minor meniscal (knee) tear and may be on light duties next week which could open the door for Norris to make his Test debut off the bench under the roof. Likewise, Chiefs loose forward Luke Jacobson is unlikely to be available due to his head knock in the final. Jacobson, his face bloodied afterwards, also lost a tooth. As a result, Crusader Christian Lio-Willie has joined the squad as injury cover. Jacobson's recent travails may provide an opportunity for Kirifi, one of the more heart-warming stories of Robertson's squad announcement in rural Taranaki on Monday. At the start of the year, the 28-year-old thought long and hard about his plans before deciding to fully commit to his dream of becoming an All Black, and after being on the selectors' radar for the last three or four years, he is on the brink of a Test cap. Such has been Kirifi's maturity this season as a Hurricanes' co-captain, it is difficult to see him unduly fazed by a potential bench role in the first Test – and his skillset as a proven turnover winner makes him an ideal impact player. The make-up of the bench – and the potential impact those eight players provide – is a priority for the coaching staff this year after they watched the All Blacks spurn halftime leads in all four defeats last year. A blood-soaked Du'Plessis Kirifi carries the ball against Moana Pasifika last month. (Source: Photosport) ADVERTISEMENT They were up 20-15 against Argentina in Wellington (a 38-30 loss), 12-11 against South Africa in Johannesburg (31-27 loss), and 9-3 against the Boks in Cape Town (18-12 loss). One of the more gut-wrenching would have been the defeat to France in Paris in November when the All Blacks were up 17-10 at halftime, only to concede two converted tries in 12 minutes after the break to lose 30-29. After missing the previous Test against Ireland in Dublin due to a head injury, Beauden Barrett played at No.10 in Paris and again against Italy in Turin a week later in his team's final Test of the year. Of all Robertson's selections, the name of the man wearing the No.10 jersey will again be the most highly anticipated but it would surprise if Barrett does not start the year as he finished the last. Damian McKenzie filled in superbly in Dublin to help the All Blacks to victory over an Irish team who are probably now New Zealand's greatest rivals after South Africa, given their recent history. But McKenzie, who started at first-five in the first eight Tests of Robertson's first year, was usurped by Barrett after the All Blacks' narrow victory over the Wallabies in Sydney in September and has been forced to play back-up to Barrett since. McKenzie also suffered the recent misfortune to play No.10 in a Chiefs team which lost its third consecutive Super Rugby grand final, while Barrett's form in the second half of the season has been excellent – he was particularly good in the head-to-head battle against McKenzie in the Blues' last-gasp qualifier victory in Hamilton. ADVERTISEMENT Such is Barrett's influence as a leader in the squad alongside skipper and brother Scott, and other brother Jordie, a vice-captain, it's difficult to see anyone other than the 34-year-old, who has played 134 Tests, starting in that pivotal position a week on Saturday. Billy Proctor, in action for the All Blacks against Japan last year, could earn his third cap in the first Test against France. (Source: Photosport) The third back reserve, after McKenzie and back-up halfback Cortez Ratima, is harder to predict but the selectors will almost certainly dip into their deep resource of six midfielders here. Billy Proctor would appear a good fit, with Rieko Ioane potentially shifting from centre to left wing during the Test to accommodate him. Otherwise, the team virtually names itself, with Samipeni Finau almost certain to play blindside flanker alongside No.8 Sititi and openside flanker Ardie Savea in the wake of Sam Cane's departure. The French are bringing an inexperienced 37-man squad for the three Tests, with only six players possessing 18 or more caps – the average is 9.3 per player. With so many players unavailable, coach Fabian Galthie is in building mode - a state that would make an All Blacks defeat over the next few weeks all the more unpalatable. Potential All Blacks match-day team for the first Test against France 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett ©, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan. Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams/Ollie Norris, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Damian McKenzie, 23. Billy Proctor.
NZ Herald
13 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Scott Robertson's All Blacks squad criticised despite clear strategic vision for 2025
What's more, it didn't really work. The win-loss ratio was ordinary, in the All Blacks context. This year, Robertson and his henchmen have gone back to a tried-and-true formula: first, decide what type of game you want to play. Second, select players best able to play that type of game. They've done that – and yet some criticism of the non-selection of Ethan Blackadder has taken centre stage when Robertson should be congratulated on a move to a more recognisable and understandable strategy. So how do they want to play? A few months ago, Robertson reviewed his first year as coach: 'By the end-of-year tour, we started to implement our DNA and how we wanted to play the game. We had the ball in our hands for long times and put a lot of pressure on teams. That will continue. 'Statistically, we made the most line breaks; most defenders beaten, most offloads and most carries in world rugby. We got better and better and our game understanding and calls embedded through the year – but we didn't quite execute and finish enough.' That explains the absences of Blackadder, David Havili, Chay Fihaki and, to a lesser extent, Joshua Fusitu'a and George Bower at loosehead prop. Scott Robertson: "We started to implement our DNA and how we wanted to play the game." Photo / Dean Purcell Blackadder first: committed, yes; a high-revving, high-endurance motor and a tireless tackler. Going forward? Not so much. He simply doesn't create problems for defences – and this All Blacks team, as Robertson said after the squad announcement, 'needs to go through teams and around them'. Power and speed, in other words. This column has been saying 'one-trick pony' about Blackadder for some time and, even though his team won the Super Rugby final with a typically robust defensive showing from him, his carrying was plentiful but ineffective. That's why Samipeni Finau is there instead. The Chiefs No 6 is a bit of an enigma. He has discipline lapses which cost valuable penalties and sometimes puzzlingly drifts out of games. However, he has enormous potential and power with and without the ball. He is a coaching job. Blackadder isn't out of things yet; it's not too hard to imagine he may be in the squad for the tests against the Springboks this year although another Chiefs loosie, Simon Parker, may have been closer than many think and could yet come into calculations. Power is also why the excellent Quinn Tupaea is in the squad and the skilled Havili not, even in a midfield surprisingly boosted to six players. It's why Timoci Tavatavanawai is there. Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor provide the finesse and distribution and, if you think the selectors needed more power at 13 as well as 12, you need only look at the British and Irish Lions' loss to Argentina last weekend. They played Polynesian power packs Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu in midfield – and they suffered. The balance was wrong, helping to undermine the Lions' chances as they chased the game. Jordie Barrett, Tupaea and Tavatavanawai are the iron fist; Lienert-Brown and Proctor more the velvet gloves. Loosehead prop Ollie Norris makes the squad for more of the same reasons. He has mobility aplenty and is a powerful ball carrier – best seen in his bravura performance against the Western Force this season. Bower seems the superior scrummager but then count the average number of scrums per match against the average number of carries made by props these days. That's not to say the All Blacks give up on scrums; they have had continued success bringing new props up to scrummaging excellence. Fusitu'a also has fine mobility but was outshone by Bower in their Super Rugby Pacific semifinal – although Bower, like Blackadder, doesn't offer a great deal going forwards. The outside backs are only four in number with only two wings. However, Rieko Ioane, Tavatavanawai and Will Jordan can cover that position. Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie and Jordie Barrett all cover fullback. Leroy Carter and Emoni Narawa are unlucky, particularly the latter and especially because Sevu Reece doesn't appeal as a likely World Cup starter in 2027. If they'd not been injured, you wonder if Kini Naholo – plenty of power and defence-testing running – and the blazing speed of Highlanders' wing Caleb Tangitau might have meant a slightly different line-up. However, Robertson has said he wants to play all 33 squad members against the French in July, trying to strike the right balance between the need to win and the need for development. He is to be complimented for, and encouraged in, that. Paul Lewis writes about rugby, cricket, league, football, yachting, golf, the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
NZ Herald
15 hours ago
- NZ Herald
All Blacks v France: French journalist reacts to weakened New Zealand touring squad
An understrength French outfit 'could keep the All Blacks guessing' after a host of rookies were named in the squad to tour Aotearoa next month. Les Bleus coach Fabien Galthie has named an inexperienced 37-man squad to tour New Zealand, inclusive of 17 uncapped players. Centre Gael Fickou, who has
