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Rieko Ioane out with injury as All Blacks forced to make changes

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 12: Rieko Ioane of New Zealand and coach Scott Robertson of New Zealand share a moment following the International Test Match between New Zealand All Blacks and France at Sky Stadium on July 12, 2025 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Scott Robertson and the All Blacks have been forced into making a change on the left wing for the third and final Test against France in Hamilton this weekend, with Rieko Ioane missing the Test through a tight hamstring.

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Ioane will be replaced by Will Jordan in the 23, which means Sevu Reece will shift to that left wing spot, with Jordan to start on the right wing.

Jordan has spent most of his All Blacks career in that right wing spot for the All Blacks, a position which he was also forced to play in the first Test in Dunedin, after Reece suffered a failed HIA after 1 minute.

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Experienced midfielder Jordie Barrett, who was in line for a rest this weekend, comes into the 23 on the bench, to make his third straight appearance for the All Blacks in 2025.

After having only named two specialist wingers in the original squad for the France series, the All Blacks have been forced to make changes and adjustments every week of the series so far.

Blues and All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke was ruled out last weekend prior to the Test in Wellington, after an injury to his lower leg in training.

Clarke’s lower leg injury is set to keep him out for up to eight weeks, meaning he will miss the two Argentina Tests in the Rugby Championship.

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Emoni Narawa is the only other specialist winger in camp, but he was also only named as injury cover for Anton Lienert-Brown when the first squad was announced by Robertson.

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J
JW 48 minutes ago
Everyone knows Robertson is not supposed to be doing the coaching

Yeah it’s not actually that I’m against the idea this is not good enough, I just don’t know whos responsible for the appalling selections, whether the game plan will work, whether it hasn’t worked because Razor has had too much input or too little input, and whether were better or worse for the coachs not making it work against themselves.

I think that’s the more common outlook rather than people panicking mate, I think they just want something to happen and that needs an outlet. For instance, yes, we were still far too good for most in even weaker areas like the scrum, but it’s the delay in the coaches seemingly admitting that it’s been dissapoint. How can they not see DURING THE GAME it didn’t go right and say it? What are they scared of? Do they think the estimation of the All Blacks will go down in peoples minds? And of course thats not a problem if it weren’t for the fact they don’t do any better the next game! And then they finally seem to see and things get better. I’ve had endless discussions with Chicken about what’s happening at half time, and the lack of any real change. That problem is momentum is consistent with their being NO progress through the year. The team does not improve. The lineout is improved and is good. The scrum is weak and stays weak. The misfires and stays misfiring. When is the new structure following Lancasters Leinster going to click?



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