All Blacks team: Winners and losers as Rieko Ioane faces a positional change and Scott Robertson makes a bold decision at fly-half
All Blacks winners and losers as Ioane faces a positional change and Scott Robertson makes a bold decision at fly half
Scott Robertson has named his All Blacks starting line-up for the first game of their eagerly anticipated Test series against France.
He has included four debutants in his 23-man squad and made some very bold calls for their first international of the year.
Here are our winners and losers from the selection.
Winners
Beauden Barrett
Taking the number 10 shirt for what will be his 136th cap in an All Blacks jersey, Beauden Barrett will be relieved to be starting ahead of the arguably more in-form Damian McKenzie. Barrett will link up with his brother Jordie in the midfield as they look to release a new-look backline that sees Rieko Ioane pushed back onto the wing.
34-year-old Barrett has struggled to nail down the fly-half position in recent years, despite being twice named as World Rugby Player of the Year in that position.
Both McKenzie and Richie Mo’unga have taken shifts at 10 in the past, but this show of confidence from Robertson is a major statement as the All Blacks are near the midway point of their World Cup cycle. The global event in Australia in 2027 is expected to be Barrett’s last.
Debutants
As previously mentioned, there are four young stars set to make their Test debuts against France, with both Fabian Holland and Christian Lio-Willie starting in the pack, while Du’Plessis Kirifi and Ollie Norris wait patiently for their opportunity from the bench.
Highlanders star Holland will make his international debut for New Zealand despite only moving to the country in 2019. The 6ft 9in lock is about to fulfil the dream he’s had since he was 12, when a visit from the All Blacks to his club in the Netherlands inspired him to chase his rugby ambitions.
Further back in the scrum, Ardie Savea will move onto the flank, giving Lio-Willie his first opportunity in black as the 26-year-old steps up following Wallace Sititi’s injury. Both Kirifi and Norris, despite not being young guns, will look to make their mark when given the opportunity, with both Super Rugby stars having waited patiently for their chance.
Billy Proctor
This will be a huge opportunity for the giant centre as he makes just his third Test start. Settling into what was typically Ioane’s 13 position, Proctor’s hard running and abrasive style is very different to now-winger, which could well give the All Blacks some much-needed gainline success. He will hope to build upon his impressive performances in the latter stages of this year’s Super Rugby competition.
Quinn Tupaea
This will be his first cap since a horrific injury ended his World Cup hopes in 2022. His recent form for the Chiefs has earned him a long-awaited recall – one that he will want to make the most of. The 26-year-old centre has always been highly regarded within the New Zealand rugby community, and is expected to fully grasp the game with both hands once given the opportunity on Saturday.
Samipeni Finau
The giant Tongan-born back-rower regains his spot in the squad after losing his place last year. This comes following some terrific performances for the Chiefs in Super Rugby this year.
First recruiting him as injury cover for the Crusaders in 2020, Robertson has always been a fan of the hard-hitting loose forward, notably preferring him even to the likes of Ethan Blackadder, who failed to even make the 33-man squad.
Losers
Damian McKenzie
Having guided the Chiefs to the Super Rugby final, McKenzie would be forgiven for believing that his recent form would have afforded him a Test start against the French, but that’s not the case.
Heavily overlooked throughout his career, McKenzie has found himself on the outside, looking in, once again, as positional rival Barrett takes the playmaking mantle. Although he does still have the opportunity to pull the strings at 10 when given the nod, the 30-year-old will still be disappointed not to have been trusted with the reins from the start.
Caleb Clarke
A huge call from Robertson to leave Caleb Clarke out of the Test 23 altogether. This is expected to greatly damage the confidence of the 26-year-old, who has found his spot taken by the out-of-form Ioane and Sevu Reece.
Clarke has suffered setbacks in the past, most notably after he returned from a failed sevens venture to find his spot in the XV game under threat, but this setback could be rather more difficult, with many aware of just how short an All Black winger’s career can be.
Robertson has stated that he is confident that the coaching staff can get the best out of Clarke, who failed to score a single try during the Super Rugby Pacific season, but he has not been afforded to do so in the first Test against Les Bleus.
Tyrel Lomax
The powerful prop is currently struggling with a calf injury. The All Blacks scrum could come under the pump without his 20-stone frame providing the power at the front. He will hope to be available for selection before the series is done, but for now, Ethan de Groot and Fletcher Newell will have to hold the fort.
Ruben Love
The versatile backline player has been brilliant in Super Rugby this season, probably deserving of a shot from the bench at least. Sadly for the man from Wellington, his form had not been rewarded this time around, with his only appearance in black lasting just 10 minutes when he scored two tries and beat Japan 64-19. So, although he’s a loser this time, it’s unlikely he’ll miss out on squad selection for too much longer.
