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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)
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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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NoLongerARuck 50 minutes ago
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry deep dive - what has happened to the All Blacks’ scrum?

Alot of people have talked about how the AB's are making progress and getting closer to the Boks. Its also important to ask where the net gain has been. In 4 games under Razor the AB's attack failed dismally and struggled to score tries. The Boks outscored them comprehensively. Even so the All Blacks led for long periods in Joburg and Cape Town in 24. They lost each game by one score. They led all the way in Auckland and led for a quarter of the match in Wellington. Razors team always lost control in the final quarter of matches against the boks where the Boks bench completely overpowered them.

Under Rennie the AB's have scored plenty of tries, more than the Boks, they have rediscovered their attacking threat but they have regressed in other areas. Their scrum has totally capitulated, their lineout has been hammered, they are turning the ball over more at break down and in the tackle. They are making mistakes within their attacking template that has cost them and presented the Boks opportunities and so their defence has suffered with the Boks making hay in the last 3 games outscoring them in terms of tries and pts during that period. They have conceded 2 and 3 score leads in the last 3 matches heading into the final quarter. At Cape Town it was 16 points, Soweto 12 pts and in the US 15 pts. The Boks established control of Rennies team earlier and led for longer with AB's forced to chase games. They won the second half in Ellis Park comprehensively and the final quarters in the next 2 matches matches but little else illustrating the lack of control for the AB's.



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