Scott Robertson has named his All Blacks team to tackle the Springboks in the Rugby Championship match in Wellington and we pick out our winners and losers.
The New Zealand head coach has been forced into a couple of alterations due to injury, but he has also made some bold calls elsewhere as he looks to complete a 2-0 victory over South Africa in their double-header.
Winners
Leroy Carter
The big decision from Robertson, and perhaps the most significant one he’s made this year, as Rieko Ioane makes way for the up-and-coming wing. Carter started his professional career at half-back but he rather quickly switched to wing and it has paid off for the 26-year-old.
He is a late developer having only made his Super Rugby Pacific debut earlier this year, but the speedster starred as the Chiefs reached the final of the competition. Carter is blessed with plenty of speed and power, but the head coach will hope it is his aerial game which will prove to be a point of difference after the All Blacks‘ struggles this season.
Noah Hotham
This was perhaps even more of a surprise than Carter’s inclusion given that Hotham has only just returned from injury and has played just 15 minutes of rugby since June. The 22-year-old is highly regarded by the All Blacks boss and going into the Test season was the third in line behind Cortez Ratima and Cam Roigard.
With Ratima and Roigard injured, it perhaps makes sense that Hotham has come straight into the XV, but you have to feel for Finlay Christie, who was exceptional at Eden Park. It is a big opportunity for the youngster, though, who makes his first start at Test level, against the back-to-back world champions no less.
Samisoni Taukei’aho
Codie Taylor’s injury means that it is an obvious choice to bring in Taukei’aho. Robertson loves the powerhouse hooker’s impact off the bench, but he showed last week that he could do a fine job while on the field for an extended period of time.
Taylor’s departure in the first half meant the Chiefs star had a big responsibility but he passed that test with a busy performance. The All Blacks will no doubt want to tidy up that lineout slightly, with the Springboks having joy competing on New Zealand ball, but Taukei’aho’s fundamentals have generally been very good this year.
Damian McKenzie
After impressing for over 70 minutes last weekend following Emoni Narawa’s game-ending injury, the All Blacks have decided to select the playmaker at full-back and shift Will Jordan over to the right wing.
While there might be frustration over the Jordan situation, with the Crusaders man being seen as the long-term 15, it potentially makes the side even stronger for this weekend’s clash. McKenzie dovetailed superbly with Beauden Barrett when he came on and they can once again pin the Boks back with their kicking games.
Ruben Love
Another playmaking option has been added to the bench as Love, who like Barrett and McKenzie, operates at fly-half and full-back. He is perhaps more akin to the latter than the former, with the 24-year-old often looking to take the defence on, but he also has nice variety in his game.
Brodie McAlister
The next in line after Taylor went down, McAlister enjoyed a fine Test debut in July, scoring a try in a victory over France, and he takes his spot on the bench for the second Springboks encounter. Taukei’aho may play the majority of the match but, should the starting hooker struggle in the set-piece, then McAlister will be required to make a significant impact.
Losers
Rieko Ioane
Robertson has absolutely made the right call and it is not a moment too soon. The All Blacks boss has tried desperately to keep Ioane in the team, shifting him out to the wing when he was struggling at centre, but Ioane simply hasn’t seen an upturn in form.
This may well be for one game, or it could last several, but what is certain is that the speedster needs a break to reset. All eyes have been focused on the 28-year-old for what has seemed like the past 12 months, with the pressure unrelenting, and New Zealand’s head coach simply had to make the call.
Codie Taylor and Emoni Narawa
As has already been mentioned, two of the changes have been enforced with Taylor and Narawa suffering injuries and therefore missing the second of their double-header against the Springboks. The hooker will hopefully only miss this Test after sustaining a concussion in Auckland while the wing may be out for longer with a rib fracture.
Finlay Christie
Definitely the unluckiest player in the side having been dropped to the bench, and he may once again be thinking about his Test future. Christie, standing in due to an injury crisis at scrum-half, was utterly outstanding in the victory last weekend, producing the type of performance which could – and perhaps should – reignite his international career.
However, he has been moved to the replacements following the return of Hotham in what feels like a particularly brutal call. No doubt the decision will have been explained to him but we’re not sure he will get any comfort in that, whatever has been said.
Christie had been linked with a move abroad after drifting down the pecking order, but those rumours died down after his displays against Argentina and South Africa. They may just be revived, though, as it provides a hint to Robertson’s scrum-half plans going forward.
Peter Lakai
It is not necessarily a surprise that Lakai has been overlooked. Du’Plessis Kirifi has provided good impact this season while they have versatility in the form of Tupou Vaa’i and the three starting back-rowers, but Lakai appeared to be the one to watch following his performance in France last year.
The flanker came on early for Samipeni Finau last November and was absolutely superb in the narrow defeat, but it has not quite happened for him this season. Lakai may have to wait for the end-of-year tour to get his opportunity.
Fletcher Newell
When fit Tyrel Lomax has been the first choice tighthead but Newell’s performances should have been good enough for him to retain his place this weekend. The Crusaders prop put in a decent showing in Auckland, with the All Blacks’ scrum struggles mainly starting when the replacements, including Lomax, came on, but he joins his club team-mate, Tamaiti Williams, on the bench.
Caleb Clarke
Some thought the talented wing, who enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2024, would come straight into the XV, especially following Narawa’s injury, but Robertson instead opted for Carter. It is a fair call considering that Clarke struggled for form in Super Rugby and shows that the All Blacks boss has become bolder as a selector in 2025.