All Blacks team: Scott Robertson makes huge calls on Ardie Savea and Rieko Ioane while young lock handed shock start
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and Fabian Holland in action for the Highlanders in 2025.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has made several massive selection decisions for their first Test of the year against France in Dunedin on Saturday.
It is headlined by four debutants and particularly the selection of young lock Fabian Holland alongside captain Scott Barrett.
The decision to name Holland in the engine room means that Tupou Vaa’i has shifted to blindside flanker in a much-changed back-row.
Fellow newbie Christian Lio-Willie comes straight into the XV and will duly make his All Blacks bow at number eight with Ardie Savea moving to openside despite Wallace Sititi’s injury.
Many thought that Sititi’s absence would see Savea remain at the base of the scrum, but Robertson has decided to give Lio-Willie an opportunity in what is a significant call.
With Vaa’i, Savea and Lio-Willie forming the loose trio, another newbie, Du’Plessis Kirifi, will have to wait for his chance after the Hurricanes flanker was named among the replacements.
He is joined on the bench by fellow rookie Ollie Norris, who gets an opportunity after Tamaiti Williams’ injury.
“This is a huge moment for these men and their families; we are all thrilled for them. For Fabian and Christian, it will be special to debut in front of a Dunedin home crowd and I am sure Fabian’s Highlanders supporters and Christian’s Otago fans will be out in full force,” Robertson said.
“Ollie and Du’Plessis have both shown their class in Super Rugby this year and we know they are ready.”
Other massive decisions
Elsewhere, Robertson has made further big calls at fly-half and centre with the head coach sticking with Beauden Barrett but deciding to change the midfield axis.
Barrett keeps his place at 10 over Damian McKenzie, despite the latter arguably being the outstanding back during the recent Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
The pivot is paired alongside Cam Roigard at half-back, while his brother, Jordie, is picked in the midfield after returning from a successful stint at Irish side Leinster.
The key decision for Robertson was who he would select alongside Barrett and he has ultimately chosen to alter the combination, with Billy Proctor his new partner.
However, Rieko Ioane remains in the side despite his poor form for the Blues and has been picked on the wing for the first time since 2021.
Ex-All Blacks star warns New Zealanders of France’s ‘new generation’ who ‘just don’t care’
Will Jordan continues at full-back but there is no place for Caleb Clarke with Sevu Reece joining Jordan and Ioane in the back three.
The team is completed by a front-row trio of Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell, who starts due to Tyrel Lomax’s injury.
On the bench, debutants Norris and Kirifi are joined by Samisoni Taukei’aho, who is set to make his first international appearance under Robertson, Pasilio Tosi, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, McKenzie and Quinn Tupaea in a 5-3 split.
“Facing France is always special; they bring intensity, flair, and physicality,” Robertson added.
“As a group we have had a fantastic ten days together, preparing for the three-Test series ahead of us. We are ready for the challenge and what better place to kick it off than under the roof in Dunedin, in front of a packed home crowd.”
All Blacks team to face France
All Blacks: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Samipeni Finau, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie
Date: Saturday, July 5
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England), Takehito Namekawa (Japan)
TMO: Damon Murphy (Australia)
FPRO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
