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Jamie Joseph names first All Blacks XV team of 2025 for Barbarians duel

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Caleb Tangitau of Auckland scores a try during the round seven NPC match between Auckland and Manawatu at Eden Park, on September 14, 2025, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
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Jamie Joseph’s first All Blacks XV team is, as expected, littered with New Zealand’s rising stars, but it also includes a couple of experienced Test campaigners to steady the ship.

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37-Test flanker Dalton Papali’i will captain the team, with 30-cap midfielder David Havili bringing more experience in the backline.

The front row sees Xavier Numia, Jack Taylor, and George Dyer get the nod for first honours on the three-match tour, ahead of Josh Fusitua, Bradley Slater, and Siale Lauaki, who will provide impact off the bench.

Josh Beehre and Caleb Delany are set to start in the second row and will be backed up by newcomer Jamie Hannah. A robust loose forward trio of Kaylum Boshier, Papali’i, and Devan Flanders complete the starting forward pack, with Sean Withy providing cover on the bench.

An exciting backline has been picked, with Chiefs pairing Xavier Roe and Josh Jacomb running the attack in the halves and looking to unleash a lethal back three of Etene Nanai-Seturo, Caleb Tangitau, and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Daniel Rona joins Havili in the midfield.

One-cap All Black Kyle Preston will serve as Roe’s replacement, with Rivez Reihana and Braydon Ennor also at Joseph’s disposal on the bench.

“We’re expecting three tough matches on this tour, and the experience and leadership of Dalton and our other senior players will be valuable for what will be three exciting challenges.  We’ve selected a squad full of talented players who have a great opportunity to showcase their talents in a black jersey and on an international stage.”

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All Blacks XV team to play Barbarians

  1. Xavier Numia
  2. Jack Taylor
  3. George Dyer
  4. Josh Beehre
  5. Caleb Delany
  6. Kaylum Boshier
  7. Dalton Papali’i
  8. Devan Flanders
  9. Xavier Roe
  10. Josh Jacomb
  11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
  12. David Havilli
  13. Daniel Rona
  14. Caleb Tangitau
  15. Jacob Ratumatavuki-Kneepkens

Reserves

  1. Bradley Slater
  2. Josh Fusitua
  3. Siale Lauaki
  4. Jamie Hannah
  5. Sean Withy
  6. Kyle Preston
  7. Rivez Reihana
  8. Braydon Ennor

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Comments

4 Comments
J
JW 257 days ago

I like that Dalton has been put back to 7 instead of continued at 6 (admittedly he might have only been used their as Counties had lighter 7’s, rather than playing their beause Razor asked). Exciting future backfield and looking forward to the backline changing at 9,10, 12 when the subs come on, should be lethal.


Struggling to think who from the Final is going to make this team better next week? Of course two of NPCs best were arbitrarily excluded from the squad.

S
SB 258 days ago

Excited to see how the back 3 does.

T
Tk 258 days ago

I really don't get the continuing selection of havili. Otherwise a really exciting young backline

J
JW 257 days ago

Yes hope Rona goes to 12 and Ennor comes in at 13. Perhaps when the full squad is available David gets squeezed out.

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Nickers 35 minutes ago
All Blacks to field new starting winger and converted flanker against Ireland

He didnt play well there which is why the experiment was ended. There are only so many games you play someone who is not performing the basics of their role. Taking out our best lock to be an underperforming flanker makes no sense. It’s a double negative. He’s mobile for a lock. But he’s not mobile for a loose forward. He’s slow for a loose forward and it shows against certain opponents. The ABs can’t out-south Africa or out-France either of those teams, but we can out-all black anyone. The combination of missing him at lock and having him in the loose forwards will make us worse than we could be while that is happening. He will move to lock after 40/50 minutes, and we will have 3 loosies in the field and everything will look better as a result. Ardie, Sititi, Lakai, Segner, and Jacobson are our best loose forwards and they are all super versatile. We have no requirement to turn our premier lock into a flanker. Maybe 33 yo Frizzell will slot back in to the World Cup team seamlessly, but more likely his best years are behind him and all of those mentioned are better options. Barrett actually had a great game at 6 - in the first test against Ireland I think? But injuries meant he had to go back to lock. Then Frizzell emerged. But that was a different team playing a different style. Had it not been for the lock injuries I think he was first choice at 6 for Foster rather than abandoned experiment. But he has been injured so much since the last World Cup he’s never really got back to full fitness.

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