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Top five individual performances for the All Blacks in 2025
By Henry Lee
There were some outstanding individual performances in 2025 for the All Blacks, mixed in with some below par team showings, that led to a ten win, three loss campaign under Scott Robertson.
It’s often said that Test rugby is won in moments, and some All Blacks players have stepped up in 2025 when it has mattered most.
Here are five individual performances that stood out from All Blacks players in 2025.
1. Quinn Tupaea against the Wallabies in Perth
The Chiefs second-five was thrown into the deep end in Perth against the Wallabies, playing out of his favoured position, as he lined up alongside Jordie Barrett in the midfield.
Yes, he’s played there before, but in such a big game, it was a huge call that could have come back to bite Roberson if they were to have lost in the second Bledisloe Cup Test.
Tupaea’s signature ball carrying prowess was on show early, barging his way over the advantage line, which led to Leroy Carter’s try. Then, in the next 15 minutes, it was his hard-hitting defence and last ditch tackles that continued his excellent first half in Perth.
The All Black midfielder’s first try of the evening might have been slightly fortuitous with Barrett heading the ball forward, but there was nothing lucky about the kick chase, being there at the right time, and scoring an important try in the first half.
Will Jordan’s quick thinking in the 35th minute led to Tupaea’s second, taking a quick tap and finding his midfielder in a bit of space down the left-hand side of the field. Tupaea fended one defender out of the way before extending the All Blacks’ lead to eight.
2. Damian McKenzie against Scotland at Murrayfield
He may have only played 36 minutes against Scotland, but Damian McKenzie’s off-the-bench cameo at Murrayfield is one of the most influential performances of the season.
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He was named man of the match from the 25-17 victory for the All Blacks, with some superb touches that changed the complexity of the encounter.
The All Blacks wouldn’t have won that game without McKenzie’s brilliance, and despite lots of talk about where his best spot is for this team, his performance in Edinburgh solidified himself as one of, if not the best, bench impact player in the world.
The game changed in the 70th minute when McKenzie received the ball deep in a pocket just inside his own half, before belting the ball down the field which resulted in a 50/22, that would end up leading to his game-winning try.
His try, in the 73rd minute, was arguably the best of the season because of the sheer determination and balance McKenzie showed to get to the corner.
McKenzie was running towards the sideline with a couple of defenders alongside, before fending one off, completely stopping himself as he was heading into touch, while falling on his back and placing the ball on the line simultaneously.
Just as you thought the home side may have a chance to get back in the game, McKenzie’s long-range penalty from inside Scotland’s half put the game out of reach, despite having a gash that left blood streaming down his face and tape wrapped around his head.
3. Cameron Roigard against the Wallabies at Eden Park
After their record loss against the Springboks at Sky Stadium in Wellington, the All Blacks still headed into the first Bledisloe Cup Test as favourites, but there was a belief there that the Wallabies could threaten the long-standing unbeaten record at Eden Park.
But as soon as the game started, and star All Blacks haflback Cameron Roigard started to take the game by the scruff of the neck, you got the feeling it would be the home side’s day.
Roigard’s performance at Eden Park was exceptional. It started with a couple of snipes around the ruck, keeping the Wallabies defenders on their toes. One quick tap that nearly led to a try put pressure on Joe Schmidt’s side, before he scored his first of the evening, a smart, textbook snipe to the left of the ruck right next to the line.
A pinpoint 50/22 helped swing the momentum back in the All Blacks’ favour, and put the home side in prime position to strike in the second half.
The halfback’s quickness at the breakdown and accuracy with the boot are two of the All Blacks’ best attributes on attack, and when he pairs those skills with being at the right place at the right time, he’s near impossible to stop.
Some nice play in midfield by Barrett and Tupaea put the latter through a gap, where you guessed it, Roigard was there in support, like every good halfback, to go in untouched under the posts.
The 25-year-old received a standing ovation at Eden Park as he left the field, and rightly so, with fans showing their appreciation for one of the world’s best No.9’s.
4. Caleb Clarke against Wales in Cardiff
Clarke’s performances in Super Rugby Pacific for the Blues were admittedly not where they needed to be, going the whole season without crossing the white line.
But Robertson and his coaching staff kept the faith and picked Clarke from what they saw in the previous year, where he locked down the left-wing spot.
The Blues winger looked back to his best in 2025 when fit, and his aerial skills really added something to a backline that was struggling.
Clarke missed the England loss at Twickenham through concussion, which meant an opportunity arose to play against a struggling Wales side in Cardiff.
The 33-Test All Black took his chances when they came his way, including when Ruben Love fired a pass to him early on in Cardiff, and then in the 78th minute when Rieko Ioane was all alone after a line break.
Clarke showed his class in the air, taking high-balls, and adding another dimension to the All Blacks attack with his power game.
He could have had a hat-trick, but referee Hollie Davidson ruled out arguably his best of the night, as Du’Plessis Kirifi knocked the ball on during the build-up.
5. Finlay Christie against the Springboks at Eden Park
It certainly wasn’t as flashy as McKenzie’s cameo in Edinburgh, or Tupaea in Perth, but Christie’s performance under the most pressure, in the biggest game of the year, is something to acknowledge.
In the context of what was on the line, who was in town, and the pressure he was under after one of the All Blacks’ best, in Roigard, was out, Christie’s performance was crucial.
When everyone’s fit, Robertson has shown that Christie is the fourth option at halfback, behind Roigard, Noah Hotham and Cortez Ratima, so there’s no doubt an appearance in this Test match was unexpected.
The All Blacks head coach often describes Christie as a “Test footballer” and someone who he trusts to come in and do a job if need be, and that’s exactly what he did at Eden Park.
It was a wet and cold night at Eden Park, difficult conditions for both teams, but Christie kept things simple while executing his role effectively on a night where it was less about the performance, and more about the result at the end of the 80 minutes.
With only uncapped Kyle Preston on the bench, Christie was asked to play 67 minutes on his home track, a shift that Robertson and his coaching staff would have been happy with and proud of.
Honourable mentions: Fabian Holland against Ireland in Chicago, and Ardie Savea against France in Wellington.
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