17-07-2025
'Risk and reward' — Razor seeks selection balance for All Blacks
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has followed through with his promise to give all those in his squad an opportunity in the final Test of the French series. But, on the face of it, the selected team may be light on cohesion — and is definitely light on lock cover.
Risky? Not according to Robertson in Hamilton today after he named eight players who have yet to feature in the series and 10 changes in total to the team that beat France in Wellington last weekend to claim the Sir Dave Gallaher Trophy.
There are new combinations everywhere for a Test at Waikato Stadium that will feature a rarity – an absence of a Barrett brother due to injuries to captain Scott (calf tear in the first Test), Beauden (hand injury in training), and Jordie – rested.
Prop Tyrel Lomax returns from injury, as does centre Anton Lienert-Brown after a three-month break due to a broken collarbone.
Luke Jacobson starts at No.8 after recovering from a concussion suffered in the Super Rugby final.
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Potential debutant Brodie McAlister has been named on the bench as back-up hooker on his home patch, with Ruben Love starting at fullback in his second Test and first in New Zealand.
Anton Lienert-Brown in action for the All Blacks against France in Paris last year. (Source: Getty)
So far, so predictable. Robertson reasoned that, with experience running through the spine of the team – and the flanks, the element of risk is acceptable against a French team coming to the end of a very long season.
The biggest roll of the dice is at lock. Robertson has elected to again select 22-year-old Fabian Holland for the third Test running, alongside Patrick Tuipulotu.
There is no specialist lock cover. Blindside flanker Samipeni Finau would be expected to move to the second row in the event of injury to Holland or Tuipulotu. Presumably Jacobson or back-up loose forward Dalton Papali'i, named on the bench alongside Du'Plessi Kirifi, would be options if things get really bad.
Did he consider going for Chiefs and All Blacks XV lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi as a back-up?
"We considered Naitoa but Semipeni finished the game last week at lock," Robertson replied.
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"It's good for us – you know how I like our players to play a couple of positions. He's learned that. The last three weeks have set him up so he can play six or lock."
So, no real risk according to Robertson. "No, and the bench with Dalton coming in – he's been great the last three weeks. He deserves the opportunity… he's been a great pro."
The return of Papali'i, initially as injury cover, after apparently drifting from favour last year, represents quite the renaissance.
The risk and reward equation for Robertson clearly did not extend to naming another debutant in the form of Ah Kuoi, a 25-year-old who probably has a longer runway in terms of his international career than Papali'i.
Ruben Love at fullback in his first Test in NZ
Overall, if all those taking part have the confidence of 24-year-old Love — the Hurricanes outside back starting in the No.15 jersey who will also provide back-up to No.10 Damian McKenzie — the All Blacks should be in safe hands.
"When you're training and competing with Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Will Jordan, you gain a lot of confidence being around them and talking to them off the field," Love said.
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"There's no reason for me not to feel confident. I've been in this environment last year, learned off the great coaches and great players and, this weekend, I've got experienced wings and Anton inside me, so I've just got to play my game and back myself."
What does he bring to the All Blacks?
"An X-factor but also reliability," he said. "I feel like I've done well under the high ball this year. The French will kick so I've got to make sure I'm there when they put those kicks up. I feel like I'm good at giving others confidence as well. I'm vocal on the field… I just want to be a great teammate and be reliable."
Similarly, the body of work put in by the returning Lienert-Brown gives the Chiefs man his own self belief.
"I've had four weeks of full training," he said. "I'm confident in the work that I've done and I trust in that."
Robertson said of Love: "He's matured nicely, he's trained incredibly well. He's ready for this. We expect a lot of kicking and he's great under the high ball. He has an incredible boot on him… and gives us that depth that is required.'
It is no surprise, but Finau, Jacobson, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Cortez Ratima and Quinn Tupaea provides the All Blacks with a Chiefs' spine that should be well versed in each other's quirks and which may mitigate against so many changes.
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"They know their way around the park down the road,' Robertson said. 'They know each other pretty well and they've played a lot of footy together which always helps. They get to run out in front of their people."
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets; * for debutant)
1. Ethan de Groot (31)
2. Samisoni Taukei'aho (32)
3. Tyrel Lomax (44)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (54) (Vice-Captain)
5. Fabian Holland (2)
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6. Samipeni Finau (10)
7. Ardie Savea (96) (Captain)
8. Luke Jacobson (24)
9. Cortez Ratima (13)
10. Damian McKenzie (63)
11. Rieko Ioane (83)
12. Quinn Tupaea (15)
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13. Anton Lienert-Brown (84)
14. Sevu Reece (33)
15. Ruben Love (1)
16. Brodie McAlister *
17. George Bower (22)
18. Fletcher Newell (25)
19. Dalton Papali'i (36)
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20. Du'Plessis Kirifi (2)
21. Noah Hotham (1)
22. Timoci Tavatavanawai (1)
23. Will Jordan (43)
Unavailable due to injury: Tamaiti Williams (knee); Wallace Sititi (ankle); Scott Barrett (calf); Caleb Clarke (ankle); Tupou Vaa'i (concussion); Beauden Barrett (hand)
