All Blacks: Five players who could make their Test debuts in 2025 including ‘Ma’a Nonu on steroids’ and ‘breakdown specialist’

With the 2025 Test campaign upon us, Planet Rugby has selected five players who could possibly make their international debuts for the All Blacks during next month’s series against France in New Zealand.

The All Blacks and Les Bleus are set to face off in three eagerly anticipated Tests, with the series opener taking place in Dunedin on July 5 before Wellington hosts the second encounter seven days later and they will meet in Hamilton for their last clash on July 19.

So without further ado, here are the players who we feel could make the step up to Test level for New Zealand against Fabien Galthie’s charges.

Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders)

Although the Highlanders finished at the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific standings after the league phase of the tournament, it was not through a lack of effort from the Fijian-born powerhouse.

Tavatavanawai, who had played most of his rugby on the wing, was converted into a centre by Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph and that decision worked out superbly as he has been a handful for most defences in 2025.

The 27-year-old has been a devastating ball carrier and it is no surprise that he finished amongst the competition’s leaders in several of its attacking statistics for the season.

Tavatavanawai’s attacking brilliance saw him finish in top spot for defenders beaten (78), second position for offloads made and he made the fourth most carries (176).

Earlier this year, legendary All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall described Tavatavanawai as being like “Ma’a Nonu on steroids” and we expect him to illustrate that against Les Bleus next month.

Leroy Carter (Chiefs)

New Zealand are blessed with a plethora of talented wingers with Carter one of several uncapped speedsters who has caught the eye with some scintillating performances in Super Rugby Pacific this year.

Carter, along with the likes of Caleb Tangitau of the Highlanders and Kini Naholo of the Hurricanes, fall into that category but the latter duo sustained injuries during the latter stages of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Carter has gone from strength to strength as the season progressed and is one of the most exciting players with ball in hand in the competition. He is currently in joint third place in the try-scoring charts (9) while he has also made the 10th most clean breaks (13) in the tournament and is in sixth position for metres gained (705).

The news of former World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Mark Tele’a’s decision to leave New Zealand to take up a contract with a Japan Rugby League One outfit means it’s unlikely that All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson will select him for the France series.

That means there’s a vacancy amongst the outside backs in his squad and Carter’s superb form should be rewarded with a deserved call-up.

Fabian Holland (Highlanders)

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Another player who caught the eye with several outstanding performances in a struggling Highlanders team, Holland is just 22 years old – which is quite young by second-row standards – but plays with a maturity beyond his years.

Holland, who was born in the Netherlands, is a behemoth second-rower who stands at 2.04 metres tall and weighs over 120 kilograms.

He arrived in New Zealand as a 16-year-old and after representing his adopted country’s U20 national team with distinction, he was tipped to kick on and make the transition to Test rugby.

He is no stranger to the All Blacks environment as Robertson called him up as injury cover on last year’s end-of-year tour – without seeing any action – after he impressed for the All Blacks XV.

Holland showed his class with some excellent all-round performances for the Highlanders in Super Rugby Pacific where he made his mark as a superb lineout exponent, solid ball carrier and dependable defender.

The latter department was an undoubted strength for him in 2025 and he finished the season with the second most tackles won (204) in the competition.

Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes)

One of the most exciting players in Super Rugby Pacific, Kirifi has always impressed as an openside flanker but has taken his game to the next level with several outstanding performances for the Hurricanes this year.

Kirifi captained the All Blacks XV on their two-match tour to Europe last year and was one of his side’s best performers as they notched victories over Munster and Georgia.

A big part of his improvement has been attributed to how he has adapted to the added responsibility of leadership and earlier this year he was named as one of the Hurricanes’ co-captains for the season.

Apart from coming to the fore with excellent leadership, the breakdown specialist led by example with his breakdown and defensive work amongst the best in the tournament.

Therefore, it was hardly surprising when the 28-year-old finished Super Rugby Pacific’s regular season atop the charts for tackles won with 220 dominant hits made.

AJ Lam (Blues)

Just like Tavatavanawai, Lam has been shifted from the wider channels – where he featured mostly on the wing – to inside centre and he has thrived in midfield.

The 26-year-old is the third player on this list who has already represented the All Blacks XV and after numerous outstanding performances for the Blues this year, he should make an easy transition to the Test arena.

Blessed with plenty of speed and raw power, Lam was moved from wing to centre during the Blues’ 2024 campaign and played a leading role for the Auckland-based outfit as they won their first Super Rugby title since 2021.

Although the Blues have not displayed similar form in 2025 and reached Super Rugby Pacific’s play-offs via the back door, Lam was one of their best players as he impressed both on attack and defence.

He knows his way to the try-line and this season his playmaking skills has come on in leaps and bounds, forming a solid partnership with All Blacks outside centre Rieko Ioane.

Lam will be hoping he gets a chance to replicate that combination alongside Ioane at Test level.

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