Right then, the dust has barely settled on the All Blacks’ 2025 test season, and already the great national pastime resumes: picking the team better than the actual selectors.

So, myself, Mark Watson and John Day decided to do what any group of responsible rugby citizens would do - lock ourselves in a metaphorical room and pass judgment on every player in black.

The mission was simple enough in theory, utterly contentious in practice: from a list of 52 All Blacks, who should be kept for 2025, who should be politely shown the door, and who sits squarely in the murky, head-scratching middle?

To make it fair - or at least defensible - we began with the 43 players the real selectors picked this year, then sprinkled in nine extras. Seven of those were already named alongside the actual 2025 All Black squads but never made it onto the park due to injury.

We also tossed Richie Mo’unga into the mix because, let’s be honest, if Razor gives the nod, the NZR “overseas rule” suddenly becomes more guideline than gospel. And yes, Ethan Blackadder made the cut purely because Blackadder is always in the conversation, whether he’s wrapped in cotton wool or actually playing.

Now, let’s be crystal: We are not naming a squad. We’re not predicting the tour party. We’re simply deciding - based on form, promise, and common sense - who should still be in the frame.

Three votes were cast on every player; two votes secured a result. Democracy, rugby-style.

The outcome? From 52 names, 33 players earned KEEP status, 12 were CUT, and 7 sit in the QUESTION MARK zone.

You’ll agree with some, you’ll disagree with plenty, and you’ll probably accuse at least one of us of having a concussion. Perfect. That’s exactly the point!

Have a look, have a scream, have your say. The All Blacks may be Razor’s team - but the debate? That belongs to all of us.

KEEP:

Ethan de Groot, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Pasilio Tosi, Fletcher Newell, Ollie Norris, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Bell, Asafo Aumua, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Lord, Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa’i, Ardie Savea, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi, Cam Roigard, Noah Hotham, Kyle Preston, Damian McKenzie, Ruben Love, Richie Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Quinn Tupaea, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Emoni Narawa, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan

CUT:

Brodie McAlister, Cortez Ratima, Finlay Christie, Luke Jacobson, Samipeni Finau, DuPlessis Kirifi, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Lienert-Brown, Reiko Ioane, Leroy Carter, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece

QUESTION MARK:

Tevita Mafileo, George Bower, Simon Parker, Christian Lio-Willie, Ethan Blackadder, Beauden Barrett, Billy Proctor

There you have it. Leave us a comment or two to discuss/debate any/all of these selectorial decisions. For the full onscreen debate watch the episode via DSPN YouTube channel or Spotify Video.