The answer for the All Blacks' No.9 jersey is Kyle Preston

The All Blacks were dealt the bad news that Cam Roigard and Noah Hotham remain at least three weeks away from selection while Cortez Ratima is battling a fractured rib ahead of their two Test series against the Springboks.

It seems grim for the All Blacks with the halfback stocks stretched thin ahead of the biggest Test of the year. But the good news is that Kyle Preston is available.

He is one of the top three halfbacks in the country, better than Hotham, better than Christie, and the All Blacks almost have no choice but to pick him now.

SA legend on shift from player to coach

SA legend on shift from player to coach

His game is perfect for this Test against the Springboks where the All Blacks need a reliable performance from a game driver. In his eight minute cameo in the Super Rugby Pacific final, Preston delivered seven kicks in the pressure moments to grind out the win.

In his Super Rugby debut he made his hometown franchise pay with a hat-trick of tries against the Hurricanes. His instinct as an inside support runner is up there with Ratima, and was on show that afternoon.

In just four starts and nine bench appearances with the Crusaders he bagged six tries, good for third best on the Crusaders behind Will Jordan and Sevu Reece.

That seems improbably for a bench player, but Preston has a knack for the try line. This has been prevalent his whole career. In Wellington club rugby he bagged 35 from 47 games. In the NPC title season in 2024 he had eight as the team’s top try scorer.

His delivery is quick and he’s got the kicking game to match the Springboks in the aerial battle. He’s fit, holding the Crusaders bronco record. He can run the Boks off the field. Most of all, he seems to avoid the calamitous moments that have plagued the other All Black halfbacks.

We’ve seen Finlay Christie struggle multiple times against South Africa. Even in short spurts from the bench, the Boks find a way to put Christie off.

In the win at Mt Smart in 2023, Christie was stripped at the ruck by Kwagga Smith for a soft try. In the World Cup final he was charged down in the dying stages. There are key moments where Christie just doesn’t execute.

At 25-years-old Preston has forced his way to the top the hard way. From a small Wellington school, Preston was overlooked graduating. He went through club rugby working as a roofer, before cracking the NPC in 2023 with the Wellington Lions, winning the title in 2024 in his second year.

After being injury cover with the Crusaders, he made the squad in 2025 before his incredible debut where an early injury put Preston into the game. A hat-trick later he had defeated the Hurricanes.

The occasion will not overawe this man as he has fought tooth and nail just to get a sniff. Unwanted and overlooked his entire rugby career, Preston becoming an All Black next Saturday will be a hell of a story to tell. The Crusaders’ No.9 is made for this occasion.

He’s had one dream debut this year, can you rule out another? Lightening can strike twice. Give Preston the start.