Rating every All Blacks back in 2025: Cam Roigard the ‘standout’ but Rieko Ioane’s Test career in the balance after ‘decidedly mediocre’ year
Cam Roigard and Rieko Ioane in action for the All Blacks in 2025.
Following the conclusion of the All Blacks’ 2025 international season, we rated every single player that Scott Robertson selected this year out of 10.
We finish with the backs in what was another mixed campaign for those behind the scrum. While there were some excellent individuals, the backline has failed to fire since Robertson took charge following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Back three
Will Jordan: Consistently excellent throughout the year, whether at full-back or on the wing. Jordan was probably the All Blacks’ best under the high ball, an area they otherwise struggled with throughout the season, and continued to add to his impressive try tally, which now stands at 45 in 54 Tests. 8
Sevu Reece: Heavily involved early on before dropping out of contention midway through the Rugby Championship. Finished on a high by touching down twice against Wales in their final game of the year, but you have to think the end of his Test career is nigh. 4
Rieko Ioane: Robertson was desperate to keep Ioane in the team, in the hope that he would eventually find his form, but it never materialised. He had the ideal chance to stake his claim for 2026 against Wales, but the Leinster back was decidedly mediocre, which summed up his campaign. 3
Emoni Narawa: Was given limited opportunities but showed plenty of promise when handed a chance. Unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury early on against the Springboks at Eden Park. If Narawa can get back fit, he will surely have plenty of game time in 2026. 5
Ruben Love: Another player that Robertson tended to overlook, with the head coach often pointing to the fact that the All Blacks had two classy operators in Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie covering 10 and 15. Still, Love generally did well when called upon, but like his back three team-mates, he needs to improve his aerial work. 6
Leroy Carter: Exploded onto the Test scene with three tries in as many Tests, but he struggled on the northern hemisphere tour, where his weaknesses were exposed. It was still promising from Carter, but he now knows where he needs to get better in 2026. 6
Caleb Clarke: The All Blacks very much missed the talented wing as injury limited his game time in 2025. Clarke impressed when he got on the field but that just wasn’t enough for him to get too high a mark. 6
Centres
Billy Proctor: After the shifting of Ioane, Robertson pinned his hopes on Proctor to be the answer at 13, but it never happened for the Hurricanes star. There is a lot to like about this game on a purely technical level, but it failed to translate into consistent top-quality performances. 5
Jordie Barrett: One of New Zealand’s best throughout the year, and he was certainly missed in the defeat to England. Offers a triple threat in run, carry and pass, and that makes him one of the best inside centres around. 8
Quinn Tupaea: Was generally used off the bench at the start of the season before he benefited from Proctor’s omission against the Wallabies in the final match of the Rugby Championship. Tupaea was a standout in Perth, and he continued to put in good displays, whether at 12 or 13, after that. 7
Timoci Tavatavanawai: Barely played before getting injured. You felt Robertson should have given him more of an opportunity before Tavatavanawai broke his arm in an NPC match, but it just didn’t quite go for him during the 2025 Test campaign. 4
Anton Lienert-Brown: Similar to Reece, you feel that his Test days are numbered. Featured here and there, but didn’t really do anything special. Lienert-Brown’s best game came against Wales, where he was used primarily on the crash, but it was an underwhelming year for him. 4
Leicester Fainga’anuku: Played as a wing but probably sees himself as a centre, and you would think that Robertson will be looking to get him in that 13 channel more in 2026. Fainga’anuku came in at the end of the Rugby Championship and gave them real thrust in the carry. 7
Fly-halves
Beauden Barrett: Very much won the individual duel for the 10 jersey as he remained the All Blacks’ first choice fly-half. Did more than enough to end the year in credit, but the performances on the November tour were a bit more concerning. 7
Damian McKenzie: Ultimately, a mixed year for McKenzie. The Chiefs playmaker will probably feel disappointed as he couldn’t wrestle the jersey off Barrett, but the 30-year-old did have some nice moments during the season, including his match-winning contribution against Scotland last month. 6
Scrum-halves
Cam Roigard: With Antoine Dupont injured, Roigard arguably took over the mantle as the best scrum-half in the world. The Hurricanes playmaker was superb throughout the campaign and was comfortably ahead of his competitors for the All Blacks nine jersey. Probably New Zealand’s standout player in 2025. 9
Cortez Ratima: Has not really improved since last year, which will be a concern. Ratima has a sharp pass and is pretty quick around the fringes, but his service is too slow at the moment and his kicking game is not up to Test standard. There were some good cameos, but he needs a big year in 2026. 5
Noah Hotham: A shame the youngster got injured, otherwise he could have challenged for that back-up slot to Roigard. Hotham had just 24 minutes on the field for the All Blacks this year, which meant his overall contribution was lacking. 3
Finlay Christie: You get the sense that Robertson sees Roigard, Ratima and Hotham as his World Cup scrum-half trio, but Christie had a better season than two of those players. The Eden Park performance against the Springboks was outstanding and, despite limited game time in November, his cameo off the bench in Cardiff was a level above Ratima’s performance. 6
Kyle Preston: Had just 13 minutes on the field in 2025 as he saw out the win against the Springboks. Preston will look to have another fine Super Rugby campaign to put himself in the frame for more Test action in 2026. 3