Following Scott Robertson\u2019s team announcement for the All Blacks\u2019 highly anticipated clash in Chicago against Ireland, we select our winners and losers.<\/p>\n
Winners<\/p>\n
Caleb Clarke<\/p>\n
It took a while for Robertson<\/a> to bring him back into the fold after injury but, when he did, the wing impressed in Auckland and gets another chance in Chicago. Clarke didn\u2019t see out the whole game against the Wallabies at Eden Park, going off with a worrying injury that forced him to miss the Perth Test, but thankfully he has recovered for their November opener.<\/p>\n The All Blacks\u2019<\/a> aerial problems have been heavily discussed in 2025 but having the Blues star in that back three should help alleviate those issues. Clarke enjoyed a breakout year in 2024 where his work under the high ball was absolutely outstanding and Robertson will hope he is similarly effective in Chicago as Ireland<\/a> will challenge them in that area.<\/p>\n Quinn Tupaea<\/p>\n As we stated prior to the Perth Test, while Robertson suggested that Billy Proctor was only being rested, should Tupaea produce a blockbuster display, it would be incredibly difficult to drop him. And that is exactly what has happened with the head coach rewarding form. You feel sorry for the Hurricanes man but the All Blacks boss simply could not take the Chiefs star out of the team after his two-try performance against the Wallabies.<\/p>\n Although the New Zealand backline still lacked some fluidity, the centre partnership between him and Barrett appeared far more balanced, while Tupaea looked to make things happen throughout his time on the field, which has been in stark contrast to Proctor and Rieko Ioane.<\/p>\n Ethan de Groot<\/p>\n Tamaiti Williams is the form loosehead in New Zealand, with De Groot not quite hitting the heights of their 2023 Rugby World Cup final run, but his selection still shows how highly the Highlanders prop is rated by Robertson.<\/p>\n He perhaps doesn\u2019t provide the explosiveness around the field that Williams does but the 27-year-old remains an excellent scrummager and will give them the platform for the replacement front-rowers, including Williams, to wreak havoc in the second period.<\/p>\n Peter Lakai<\/p>\n Like Clarke, New Zealand\u2019s head honcho was not immediately knocking on Lakai\u2019s door after the back-rower returned from injury, but he has played himself into the XV after impressing in the final two Rugby Championship encounters.<\/p>\n With Wallace Sititi struggling to recapture his form from 2024, Lakai was handed a chance to start in Perth and he has done enough to retain his place, where he combines with Ardie Savea and Simon Parker in the loose trio.<\/p>\n Josh Lord<\/p>\n An injury crisis at lock has rather ironically opened the door for the talented 24-year-old. Lord has always been highly rated within New Zealand but injuries have often curtailed his progress but, with Tupou Vaa\u2019i and Patrick Tuipulotu out of action, the Chiefs second-row comes into the squad and takes his place on the bench ready to make an impact.<\/p>\n