The first All Blacks test of 2025 is upon us, with the French arriving in New Zealand for three matches, the first of which is 5 July in Dunedin.
And with just two days until coach Scott Robertson names his matchday 23, there are a number of intriguing selections that could be in the pipeline, according to Sky Sport commentator Tony Johnson.
When it comes to naming an All Blacks side, everyone has a view - and more often than not, most are wrong. That makes sense, rugby fans don’t tend to present a résumé that meets the standards of the All Blacks coach.
But when Johnson starts dropping hints, you listen, because the veteran rugby broadcaster has been around long enough to know the difference between a red herring and a real clue.
Johnson joined Martin Devlin on the DSPN to discuss who’s in, who’s out, and who might just be making a shock debut. If his mail is right, there are a couple of curveballs coming.
“What we’ve been hearing is that Rieko Ioane has spent a fair bit of time in the first week or so, that the team’s been together, playing on the left wing,” Johnson said. “It’s been a while [since Ioane has played there]... but I don’t think he would’ve forgotten.”
Since 2020, the 28-year-old Ioane has spent his entire international career at centre, but the early stages of his time in black camped out on the left were fruitful. His first two years as an All Black (2017 and 2018) he was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year.
Who joins Ioane in the back three is obvious to Johnson, with Sevu Reece on the right wing and Will Jordan at fullback.
The midfield is a bit more of a puzzle to piece together, especially when factoring in the value of the first-five and second-five combination.
“To me, a lot of it blends in with who’s going to play 10. I think if it’s Jordie Barrett [at 12], then you can start Beauden [Barrett] because you’ve got Jordie Barrett’s goal kicking. I’m wondering whether it might be Quinn Tupaea Damian McKenzie - the combination that’s played together for the Chiefs,” Johnson said.
"You cannot talk about that number 10 thing without lighting a fire, because everyone’s got an opinion on it.
“Super Rugby didn’t provide a compelling case for one or the other. Both certainly had their moments. McKenzie for a lot of the time was brilliant, but he also had a couple of not-so-good games. Barrett, I think, has certainly worked on developing the variations in his kicking game.”
One selection that seems a bit more straight forward is young lock Fabian Holland, whether starting or off the bench. The main giveaway is that Holland was put up for media duties on the Monday ahead of a test, which Johnson believes is a big indicator.
“It’s in front of his home fans in a stadium where he’s really comfortable playing. He’ll be charged up. Really looking forward to seeing this guy take the step up,” Johnson added.
Two of the easier departments to select now have to contend with injuries – prop Tamaiti Williams and loose forward Wallace Sititi are out. The desire for partnerships - particularly in the front row - for the All Blacks in recent years makes the likely replacements tricky to predict.
Could Ollie Norris be put straight into the starting line-up? Is Du'Plessis Kirifi now assured of a debut?
These are questions that any rugby nerd loves to speculate over, which of course is something totally necessary before Thursday.
Catch new episodes of the Devlin Sports Podcast Network (DSPN) every weekday on rova.
