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The good, the bad, the ugly with the All Blacks' forwards in 2025
By Ben Smith
There are some suggestions the All Blacks forward pack went backwards in 2025, unable to match what the improvements they made in 2024.
There are some truths to the suggestion, but there was more experimentation in 2025, which meant the pack was not reaching their optimal level. The ‘dip’ in output can be put down to a combination of injuries, player availability, depth-building and experimentation.
The year that was 2024 saw Wallace Sititi take over the blindside flanker role for the All Blacks and become a game-breaking force down the stretch, dominating international rugby with line-breaking runs that offered the All Blacks an extra threat in attack.
With Sititi returning from injury during the international season, we didn’t see the same force with ball-in-hand. Sititi was limited to one line break during the 2025 Rugby Championship.
This was a natural, unavoidable reality of Sititi’s injury. The 23-year-old will likely return to his best form in time, and get back to the form that saw him claim the Breakthrough Player of the Year award.
But without Sititi hitting top gear, the All Blacks pack failed to field the same sort of game-breaker out in the wider channels to turbocharge their attacking ability. They tried Simon Parker and Ardie Savea out in the tramlines in attack, but the 2024 deeds of Sititi were difficult to replicate.
2024 was also the year that Tupou Vaa’i became one of the world’s best locks. His tour of South Africa last year was when Vaa’i climbed into that conversation with an all-round game at the lineout, the ruck and defence. Breakdown turnovers, lineout steals and the maturity to call the lineout plays made Vaa’i the most valuable forward.
In 2025, Vaai’s impact in the second row was diminished with the early season experiment at blindside flanker. We know Vaa’i is a capable No.6, but lock is where the All Blacks get the best of him. He doesn’t bring the explosive ability at No.6 that Sititi does, they are just two different player types.
The Vaa’i blindside move allowed the All Blacks to blood Fabian Holland, who became this year’s Breakthrough Player of the Year on the back of big minutes, high tackle counts, and a reliable target at the lineout. The Taylor-Holland connection was free money for most the season, as opposition decided it wasn’t worth competing against the tall Dutchman.
While Holland was a surprise find, he isn’t the finished product. Tackle completion of 81 per cent during the Rugby Championship isn’t at the world class standard. There were some defensive read lapses, and he doesn’t have the same ability at the breakdown as Vaa’i.
When the All Blacks used Holland in the second row, with Vaa’i in the back row, they had lineout options but lost turnover generation in the second row and explosive ball-carrying in the back row.
The veteran pair of Patrick Tuipulotu and Scott Barrett were off injured throughout 2025, limiting the depth in the second row. When both are healthy, the All Blacks pack is stronger. Particularly when Tuipulotu is available to play on the bench and bring hard-hitting tackles and lineout stability in the final quarter.
The worst half of rugby in 2025 was the second 40 minutes against the Springboks in Wellington, with a very inexperinced core of forward reserves. Brodie McAlister, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Fabian Holland and Du’Plessis Kirifi. Veteran experience was missing from that group, and it was felt when the lineout completely capitulated with McAlister unable to find any of his marks.
A consistent theme under Robertson is that the All Blacks play their best rugby when the bench is stacked with experience.
2025 was the first full international season that Ardie Savea played at openside, having taken the No.7 role off retiring Sam Cane.
Savea at No.7 for the All Blacks is very different to the Savea at No.7 for Moana Pasifika. He put up two world class campaings, but in different style.
With his club side there is the freedom to ad-lib and play a lot more off the cuff. Chip kicks, grubber kicks, heads up rugby. That’s where we saw Savea do some outrageous things on attack during Super Rugby Pacific.
His role as the 7 for the All Blacks is more traditional with a high defensive workload, secure possession at the breakdown, and win back possession. His eight turnovers during the Rugby Championship a testament to his world-class poaching instincts.
It wasn’t just turnovers, it was where and when those turnovers happened. Many times he took the ball off the opposition in his own 22, snuffing out points. His last minute breakdown penalty against the Springboks roughly 10 metres out from his own try line at Eden Park helped sealed a historic win.
Savea ended up as the All Blacks most consistent and best forward in 2025, playing a traditional openside role.
The emergence of Hurricanes No.8 Peter Lakai late in the year was another bonus. He’s long been a carrying machine for the Canes in Super Rugby. He stood up in Paris against France last year, but wasn’t given the chance to play until late in 2025. It is clear that Lakai adds power and dynamism to the All Blacks pack.
The area of most concern in 2025 was the front row and their set-piece. When the All Blacks had to rely on their third-string hooker, the lineout fell apart.
There was a huge gap between Taylor and Taukei’aho, and the next best hooker. The season-long absence of Asafo Aumua hurt massively. Last year’s debutant, George Bell, wasn’t selected, with Chiefs hooker McAlister filling that role.
The All Blacks need to find that third hooker who can make the pressure throws. A healthy Aumua will be welcomed back with open arms. But should any of the top three be unavailable, that could see Highlanders pair Henry Bell and Jack Taylor considered if Super Rugby form warrants.
Tyrel Lomax is New Zealand’s best tighthead and injuries beset the Hurricanes prop this year. As a result the set-piece suffered. He returned for the second Springboks Test but perhaps was underdone and then suffered injury against the Wallabies at Eden Park. Fletcher Newell and Pasilio Tosi tag-teamed in Lomax’s absence with varied results.
The most total scrum performance was against the Wallabies in Perth where the set-piece was used to gain ascendency in a match that the All Blacks struggled to get a grip on early. It was scrum penalties that helped the All Blacks get out of multiple holes, and the bench continued that dominance when they came on.
The old adage that you are only as strong as your weakest link proved to be true for the All Blacks pack this year. At full strength, they can be a world-leading force and match it with the best, but that wasn’t seen in 2025.
That might be an idealistic dream given injuries will always play a part, which means the All Blacks coaches need to find better second and third options in some positions in 2026.
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