All Black prop reveals how the team is embracing the spotlight ahead of Ireland

With under 24 hours to go before the All Blacks take the field at Soldier Field in Chicago against Ireland, it’s safe to say that 12-Test replacement prop Pasilio Tosi is starting to understand the pressure his team is under on the Grand Slam.

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson named Tosi in the No.18 jersey, alongside a relatively familiar squad for the opening Test match of the end-of-year tour, sticking to mostly the tried and tested, including bringing back both Caleb Clarke and Beauden Barrett into the starting XV.

Barrett and Clarke return after missing the second Wallabies Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth due to injury, and will join Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Leroy Carter, and Will Jordan in the backline for Chicago.

Despite being in the bright lights of Chicago, Tosi explains to Millsy and Guy on Sport Nation NZ that nothing changes in the preparation, regardless of where or who the All Blacks are playing.

“We have a big thing on showing respect to our opponents by prepping our best, you know, but every game that we play in, no matter what team it is, we prepare the same, like it might be our last game, like we don’t treat specific games harder than others,” Tosi said on Sport Nation.

“We just prep the same, and that’s how it should be when prepping against teams internationally, you just can’t take anything for granted.

“Because, like, you’re not just playing for just yourself and your family, but you’re playing for the whole of New Zealand.”

After the All Blacks finished up their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign in early October, the players and staff had two and a bit weeks off to refresh their bodies ahead of the end-of-year tour, something that Tosi believes helped the team get mentally ready for these upcoming Tests.

“Body’s feeling good, like we had the two and a half weeks off before we came over, had good family time. But this is a privilege that we get to come here for four or five weeks, and we’ve got a big opportunity in front of us to get a Grand Slam.

“It doesn’t come around often, like this opportunity is rare. So we’ve got to do our job first, we can’t be already at the airport to go back home.

“We need to commit to these next four weeks to get a Grand Slam, it’ll be cool.”

Tosi, who has now played 12 Tests for the All Blacks, describes the pressure of playing for the All Blacks as a “privilege” and that, no matter the level of rugby he plays, whether it be in the black jersey or in the Bunnings NPC, he’s always nervous.

Fixture

Internationals

Ireland

13 - 26

Full-time

New Zealand

All Stats and Data

“Well, the thing with me is that, like, no matter what level of rugby I play in, the nerves are always the same. So if it was the NPC, my Super Rugby team, or for international Tests, the nerves are always the same,” Tosi said on Sport Nation NZ.

“I don’t want to let the team down, you know, like, no matter what jersey I wear, but obviously in the black jersey like you’ve got to do it justice.

“The country depends on us to put out results, and that’s what the jersey demands, pressure is a privilege and it’s just up to us to walk towards the challenge, and take it head on.”