All Blacks player ratings vs Argentina | 2025 Rugby Championship

All Blacks player ratings: Scott Robertson’s All Blacks have lost their first game in 2025, going down to Felipe Contepomi’s Argentina side, 29-23, in Buenos Aires.

Here’s how Scott Robertson’s All Blacks rated.

1.  Ethan de Groot – 6.5/10

No scrums for the first 20 minutes which meant it was all about the clean and carry, trying to get the All Blacks quick ball. Scrums certainly didn’t go backwards, but was solid, and could have won a couple of penalties on another night.

Huge effort in his 42 minutes making 11 tackles and three carries. With Tamaiti Williams back in the squad, Roberston will have a tough decision going forward on who starts and who brings impact off the bench.

2.  Codie Taylor – 6

Not the way he would have liked the game to go on his 100th Test, but Taylor was key in keeping the set piece stable. The All Blacks didn’t get the same sort of dominance at the maul as they did last week in Cordoba and was replaced after 51 minutes as the All Blacks coaches were searching for impact, as the away side were trying to wrestle back momentum in their favour. Made ten tackles and continued to throw the ball into the lineout at a high percentage.

3.  Fletcher Newell – 7.5

Like De Groot, Newell was solid at set piece, but didn’t quite have the same impact as last week at scrumtime. This time around in Buenos Aires he managed to get on the outside of the Argentina defence with ball in hand to score the All Blacks’ second try, showing power and athleticism to break through the line and score. Off at 56, but his performance continued to showcase his elite skills at Test level.

4.  Scott Barrett – 7

The All Blacks captain was able to get through a mountain of work in Buenos Aires, and was part of a solid set piece for the away side. Barrett’s work often goes under the radar, and now looks to be back close to his best in a black jersey. Barrett’s personal discipline seems to have improved in the past two weeks, but his bigger concern will be the three yellow cards his side had in Argentina. Carried seven times and lead the game in tackles with 21.

5.  Fabian Holland –  6.5

You’re starting to get used to what Holland is going to give you over the course of an 80 minute Test match. Graft, work rate and power on both sides of the ball. Holland’s lineout work shouldn’t be under appreciated, and is now a battle hardened Test lock. Once again was replaced with just under ten minutes to go, with 19 tackles and only two carries.

6.  Tupou Vaa’i – 5.5

The big Chiefs loose forward was yellow carded for an intentional knock down in the 32nd minute, and didn’t really impose himself with ball in hand with only two carries in the first half. An important lineout malfunction late in the Test match and his yellow card didn’t help the 41-Test lock’s rating.

7.   Ardie Savea – 6.5

Caught offside early trying to get up and disrupt the Argentina attack, and then made handling error on attack shortly after, which gifted the ball back to Argentina. Heroic defence on the tryline to hold up Pablo Matera, and was unlucky to not win a couple of penalties over the ball during the game.

The All Blacks vice captain was relentless on both sides of the ball as usual, but overall will be disappointed with how they gifted Argentina the ball too easily. Led the All Blacks with nine carries.

8.  Simon Parker – 7

Took 15 minutes to get into the game in Buenos Aires, but started to get over the gain line with ball in hand and showcase his physicality on the defensive end. Made one nice break down the right edge, stepping inside and beating an Argentinian covering defender.

Tireless throughout his debut performance and looks like a solid option going forward for Robertson. Was the All Blacks leading tackler at halftime by a mile, and finished second with 20 on debut.

9.  Cortez Ratima – 5

A couple of early Ratima box kicks went past the chasing All Blacks players, and was on the end of an average pass from Tupou Vaa’i from the base of the maul which was dropped in midfield. Made a brilliant covering tackle after an Argentina break, before being replaced in the 18th minute for what looked like a sternum injury.

10. Beauden Barrett – 6

Not his night at all with the boot, but defensively Barrett was able to disrupt and stop multiple Argentina line breaks. A couple of clutch defensive reads and tackles kept the All Blacks in the game during the first half when they were down to 13, but for large parts of the game the away side were unable to break down a resolute Argentina defence.

Suprisingly taken off the field at the 56th minute, but the All Blacks looked more dangerous with McKenzie running the cutter.

11. Rieko Ioane – 4

Looked lost on the wing early after an Argentian midfield bomb, and continued to not pose any threat with ball in hand. Had one opportunity, but couldn’t finish with three Argentinian players getting across to put pressure on. Couple of missed tackles that led to the home side breaking the defensive line.

Second half was more of the same from all of his Tests this year on the wing, and if the All Blacks want to play a more fluid style of rugby, Robertson and co will have to rethink who is in this position going forwards.

12. Jordie Barrett – 5

Put in a weird left foot chip kick in the middle of nowhere, and had a very quiet first half for his standards. Carried hard to try and get the All Blacks over the gain line. Didn’t drop the intensity late in the game, but it wasn’t Barrett’s most fluid and groundbreaking performance.

13. Billy Proctor – 6

Looked much better early on in Buenos Aires, made one little break down the right wing, before being brought down by the covering defender.

A smart kick from a turnover inside his own 22 was effective, and he was the leading chaser all the way down the other end. Proctor didn’t build on his solid first half performance, as he was quieter in the second when the All Blacks tried to roll up their sleeves. Off at 59 minutes.

14. Sevu Reece – 5

Might not have been Sevu’s best night with ball in hand, but the right winger managed to move some bodies at the breakdown and play halfback when Ratima or Christie were occupied. Great clearing kick when the All Blacks were down to 13 players on the stroke of halftime. Quiet second half until Reece stuck a hand out on defence, where referee Nic Berry deemed it to be an intentional knockdown.

15. Will Jordan – 5

Not at his best. Struggled to get into the game in the first half, and was penalised and yellow carded after changing his line to impede the Argentinian attacker. We are so used to seeing Will Jordan create opportunities out of nothing, but Argentina managed to completely nullify one of the world’s best.

Jordan had issues dealing with the high ball in the second half and was penalised for an infringement at a ruck in the middle of the park.

Replacements

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho –  7

Scrum started to dominate when the new front row came on, and the lineout continued to work at an effective percentage. In a carbon copy of what happened last week, Taukei’aho was the man at the back of the maul as the All Blacks marched their way to the line. Taukei’aho has slowly started to solidify his place as the second best hooker in New Zealand, with the impact he is currently bringing off the bench.

Key lineout error in the last ten minutes, when the All Blacks were searching for a way back into the game, but played a big part in bringing impact onto the field in the second half.

17.  Tamaiti Williams – 6

Came on shortly after halftime for his first appearance for the All Blacks in 2025, winning an important penalty at scrumtime to try and shift the momentum back towards the All Blacks. Largely ineffective with ball in hand in his 40 minute stint, but Robertson and co will be pleased to have him back in the lineup.

18. Pasilio Tosi – 6

Played a solid 24 minutes in Buenos Aires, and kept the scrum more than stable when coming on. Would like to see more with ball in hand going forward, but is now starting to get the experience at Test level he deserves.

19. Josh Lord – 5.5

The Chiefs lock came on with just over ten minutes to go and got a crucial steal at the lineout when the All Blacks were under pressure. But when it mattered most, Lord was at the heart of the lineout error with Chiefs teammate Samisoni Taukei’aho.

20. Wallace Sititi – 6.5

Good to see the World Breakthrough Men’s 15’s Player of the Year back on the park after not featuring yet for the All Blacks in 2025. One nice run after coming on midway through the second half, breaking a couple of tackles on the back of a lineout move.

21.  Finlay Christie –  7.5

Probably the All Blacks best on the night. Christie was a sharp injection off the bench much earlier than expected, coming on in the 18th minute. Was quick to the ruck for Billy Proctor’s first try, and kicked effectively off the boot to get the All Blacks out of trouble after points.

Christie started the second half superbly by getting over the ball after it went loose at a ruck just on the Argentina side of halfway, but Barrett was unable to convert the good work into points.

With Roigard, Hotham and Ratima seemingly out injured, Christie could have a huge part to play for the All Blacks in the rest of the Rugby Championship.

22. Quinn Tupaea – 6

Came on for Billy Proctor with just over 20 minutes to play and couldn’t really make an impact. Carried a couple of times off first phase but didn’t break the game open in any way shape or form.

23. Damian McKenzie – 6.5

Looked to bring a bit of intensity and cohesion into the All Blacks attack when they needed it most, trying to create some opportunities for his teammates. Floated one pass over to Reece, but looked dangerous on a couple of occasions.

Two important kicks off the boot when Barrett went off, securing a bonus point for the All Blacks after the final hooter.