Winners and losers of the first All Blacks squad of the year

Scott Robertson’s first All Blacks squad of the year showed form is valuable with five uncapped players named in the July squad.

Highlanders lock Fabian Holland and co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai, Chiefs front rowers Brodie McAlister and Ollie Norris and Hurricanes openside flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi were named.

There were some notable omissions however two form players, Crusaders No.8 Christian Lio-Willie and Chiefs wing Emoni Narawa remain as injury cover.

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Winners

Fabian Holland*

The Dutchman became eligible last year and after serving an apprenticeship on the end of the year tour, has been elevated to the full squad as one of the four locks alongside captain Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu and Tupou Vaa’i. A player with special size, Holland was a tackling machine in Super Rugby Pacific with the second most attempts in the competition with 221 at a 92.3 per cent success rate. The 22-year-old is likely to see action against France with three of the four locks playing every game.

Timoci Tavatavanawai*

The bold pick of winger-turned-midfielder is a great one. Tavatavanawai is a special talent that can provide what no other midfielder can, turnovers. At No.12 the Fijian had 25 breakdown steals, the most in the competition. With power running a hallmark of his game, he will get the All Blacks gain line with tough carries. He is the perfect No.12 to play against certain opposition that requires a no nonsense approach. One of six midfielders named, it is a crowded positional group.

Du’Plessis Kirifi*

Kirifi has finally been given his call up after serving the Hurricanes for a number of years. He first got a taste of the All Black environment in 2020 and has played for the All Blacks XV. A specialist openside, Kirifi finished with 22 breakdown steals this season but it was work protecting the ball that also deserves mention. He hit 144 defensive rucks and 294 attacking rucks while topping the tackle attempts in the competition. Savea is expected to start at openside, having a second specialist is necessary when Savea will be rested at times or play at No.8.

Quinn Tupaea

The Chiefs’ second five-eighth returns to the All Blacks for the first time since 2022 beating out a host of midfield candidates. The 26-year-old had the world at his feet three years ago when he started against Ireland in the first Test at Eden Park. After the infamous Melbourne Bledisloe that season in his 14th Test where he suffered a serious leg injury, it’s been a long road back for Tupaea. Deserving of a recall, Tupaea is a natural midfielder who has been a great form for the Chiefs. No doubt he will cherish his 15th Test cap when it comes.

Brodie McAlister*

Robertson and Jason Ryan will be very familiar with McAlister with the Chiefs’ hooker coming through the Crusaders and Canterbury system when the pair were coaches there. He moved to the Chiefs this year after 41 caps for the Crusaders and as part of a form pack has earned a call up as a 28-year-old. With Asafo Aumua injured, McAlister has risen to become a bolter pick in 2025 taking the third hooker spot.

Ollie Norris*

The 25-year-old has impressed during Super Rugby over the last few seasons and now the All Blacks coaches believe the rookie is ready for the next level with Ofa Tu’ungafasi unavailable. He powered a dominant Chiefs scrum this season, despite some troubles against the Crusaders in the final. This is the first All Blacks squad he has been named in, despite having featured for the Maori All Blacks.

*Denotes uncapped

Losers

Leroy Carter

Just two specialist wingers were named in the squad, Caleb Clarke and Sevu Reece, with Robertson opting for players with versatility. On form, Carter outgunned Clarke in Super Rugby, but Clarke brings runs on the board at the international level.

Carter can feel disappointed after putting a compelling case together in his first season since switching codes from the All Blacks Sevens. He was one of the top try scorers with nine and showed game-breaking ability as the Chiefs made a title run, falling just short in the final. At 25-years-old Carter still has more time to break into the All Blacks.

Ethan Blackadder

A Crusaders fan favourite and a loose forward selection last year, Blackadder has missed the first squad of the year. Samipeni Finau was named as the specialist No.6, with Luke Jacobson also a versatile option. His teammate Christian Lio-Willie has been named as injury cover, meaning Blackadder has fallen down the pecking order. The hard working loose forward started at No.6 in the final over the weekend, but it looks like the selectors prefer Finau, who was in-and-out of the starting Chiefs line up all season.

David Havili

The first ever back to led the Crusaders to a title, Havili was back in vintage touch for the Crusaders this year. A fullback-turned-midfielder, Havili brings a kicking game out of hand to the midfield and handy distribution. That was deemed surplus to requirements for the All Blacks, who turned to Quinn Tupaea for an All Black recall. Havili couldn’t have done any more, but after being around the squad last year and getting no game time, the selectors clearly want a diversified mix of midfielders.

AJ Lam

The form back at the Blues this year, Lam was a dark horse for this first squad. When the Blues needed a spark, Lam was able to provide with line breaking ability and hard carries at No.12. Lam went on the end of year tour with the All Blacks last year, indicating he wasn’t far off, or at the very least, in consideration heading into 2025. He will have to wait longer to get his opportunity in a crowded midfield space.

Kyle Preston

Many would not expect Preston’s name to be read on Monday afternoon, but there are a few reasons why he should still be considered on this list. The first is that neither Cortez Ratima or Noah Hotham are that convincing as young All Blacks. They both blow hot and cold and neither really stood out as exceptional during the Super Rugby Pacific final. The gap between those two and the next halfback up is very slim.

The second reason is that Preston offers something different as a No.9, a pure passer with reliable service. All three of the current All Blacks halfbacks seem to be similar, Roigard is a runner, Hotham is a runner, Ratima is more balanced but lacks the complete kicking game and execution.

The All Blacks need a No.9 who will close out games with precision, perfect decision-making and control. That means zero poor exits. That means a contestable box kick when they absolutely need a contestable box kick. That means not getting sacked, stripped or charged with possession at the base of the ruck. The jury is out whether Hotham or Ratima are capable of being this halfback.

Injury cover – Lio-Willie for Jacobson, Emoni Narawa for ALB