The All Blacks are the most well-known rugby team on the planet and a large reason for that is the success that they have enjoyed over their 122-year history as an international rugby team. Of course, to achieve such success, you need the personnel. And the All Blacks have had elite talent in spades across the years, headlined by some prolific goalkickers and try scorers.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane to run through the 10 players with the most points in All Blacks Test history.
1. Daniel Carter (2003 – 2015)
1598 points
14.3 points per appearance
One of the All Blacks’ superstars of the 21st century so far was Daniel Carter. Whether it was his delightful left boot, those unforgettable mid-2000s Adidas Predators boots, or his unprecedented run as being voted sexiest New Zealand male in 2004 AND 2005, DC left his mark on the country during his playing days.
Debuting for the All Blacks in 2003 at the ripe age of 21, Carter impressed with a 20-point effort against Wales before earning selection to the World Cup selection later in the year. However, Carter often found himself riding the pine across the tournament, with John Mitchell, perhaps controversially, not trusting him to make an impact in the 22. Does that behaviour from our mate John sound familiar?
Perhaps his most iconic performance in a black jersey came two years later in the first Test match against the British and Irish Lions. Still remembered as the best performance by a first five in the modern era, the GOAT first five scored two tries, five penalty goals and four conversions to finish with 33 points in a 48–18 drubbing of the visitors.
World-class performances continued throughout DC’s 13-year international career, signing off with a man-of-the-match display in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final. The proud Cantabrian guided the All Blacks to their third RWC title with 19 points in a 34-17 victory over those pesky Wallabies, cementing DC’s status as one of the best to ever do it.
2. Andrew Mehrtens (1995 – 2004)
967 points
13.8 points per appearance
The man affectionately known as ‘Mehrts’ was another long-term owner of the #10 jersey for the All Blacks and comes in at second on the list. Almost cracking the 1k points mark, Mehrtens was a staple of the ABs halves for the better part of a decade and took part in three Rugby World Cup tournaments over his career.
Born in Durban, South Africa, Mehrtens was raised in Christchurch (of course, another Cantabrian) and by the age of 22, he earned himself his first All Blacks cap in a 1995 Rugby World Cup clash against Canada.
Mehrts scored 28 points in that game, setting the tone for what would be a long, successful international career, which earned him plenty of love from the rugby-mad country, especially in Crusaders country.
We got plenty of glimpses into the character of Mehrts throughout his playing days, but no moment sums it up better than his iconic double-bird that he showed to the Loftus Versfeld crowd in a 1999 Super 12 game against the Bulls.
3. Beauden Barrett
734 points
5.9 points per appearance
The first of a few 2010s legends on this list is Beauden Barrett. The kid from the ‘Naki burst onto the scene for the Hurricanes in 2012 and months later he was joining the All Blacks for the three-Test series against the Irish.
In the midst of a dominant All Blacks period, the team went on a 24-game (23 W, 1 D) unbeaten run with Barrett in the squad as the fresh-faced fullback and first five showed off his trademark pace and attacking mindset from the get-go.
Scruffy hair and all, it wasn’t long until the man often referred to simply as ‘Beaudy’ was a mainstay of the ABs, earning selection for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Thank God that happened, with the great man combining with Grant Nisbett and Justin Marshall for one of the more memorable moments of rugby commentary from the 2010s stemming from the tournament’s final.
There’s an element of what could have been when it comes to Barrett’s scoring prowess. As reliable as his open-play kicking has been in his career — off of both feet — he has been prone to his fair share of wonky kicks off the tee. That saw him be relieved of his goal kicking duties, to use some corporate jargon, as the number one option around 2019, hurting his points-scoring abilities. Nevertheless, when all is said and done, Beaudy will go down as one of the best-ever scorers in the black jersey.
4. Grant Fox
645 points
14.0 points per appearance
The oldest player on this list, Grant Fox deserves a special shoutout. A true pioneer of the game, ‘Foxy’ brought the game of rugby union back to its football origins, heavily relying on his trusty right boot as he carved out a legendary career for Auckland and the All Blacks.
Rivalling the great Owen Franks with a lack of try-scoring ability, Fox more than made up for it off the tee. Amassing 118 conversions, 128 penalty goals and 7 drop goals across 46 Test matches for New Zealand, Fox was a deadeye with his boot and, in 1987, he ensured he would never have to buy another round, kicking the All Blacks to their first-ever World Cup title. Fox finished the tournament with 126 points — the most points ever scored in one RWC tournament.
Foxy has continued to score points with kiwis far and wide since he hung up those golden boots, being the father to the country’s best golfer, Ryan Fox, and lending his voice to the commentary of the iconic Rugby 06 and Rugby 08 games.
5. Richie Mo’unga
464 points
8.3 points per appearance
Richie Mo’unga only made his All Blacks debut six years ago, but somehow he has forced his way onto this list in fifth spot. The bane of any non-Crusaders fan’s existence throughout his Super Rugby days, Richie Mo ensured the post-Dan Carter era was equally successful and he was able to carry that over to the All Blacks.
A sniper off the tee with rapid acceleration to boot, the Cantabrian’s points tally for the All Blacks may be far from over, with plans to return to New Zealand rugby from Japan in 2026.
6. Aaron Cruden
322 points
6.4 points per appearance
Aaron Cruden wasted no time in making a name for himself, debuting for the All Blacks the same year that he made his Super Rugby debut for the Hurricanes.
The following year Cruden found himself involved in the infamous curse of All Blacks first five-eighths at the Rugby World Cup, making his RWC debut off the bench in the quarterfinals before going off injured in the final, joining his pals Dan Carter and Colin Slade in the first five injury ward. Shoutout to Stephen Donald.
With an 88% win percentage in the 50 ABs games from 2010-17 that Crudes appeared in, the pint-sized first five proved to be an valuable player under Steve Hansen’s reign.
7. Jordie Barrett
292 points
4.9 points per appearance
Of course there’s another Barrett on this list. Of course there is.
One third of a trio of world-class brothers, Jordie is the youngest of the three All Black brothers, Beauden and Scott, and has made a name for himself for his bazooka that is his right boot. With 60 Tests to his name and just 27 years old, Jordie will almost certainly be higher on this list by the time he hangs up the boots. And hopefully we’ll have a few more 60m bombs to remember him by, by then.
8. Carlos Spencer
291 points
8.1 points per appearance
Just one point behind Jordie is King Carlos. The unofficial mayor of Levin produced an unforgettable tenure in the black jersey, despite only racking up 36 Test appearances.
Starting in his Test debut in 1997, Spencer ran amok against Argentina at Athletic Park, scoring 33 points (2T, 10C, 1P) getting his ABs career off to the dream start. His flair-filled style of play made him a much-loved player — unless you were a Crusaders fan.
Off the field, Spencer enjoyed brief stints as a topless Toffee Pop model and a charity boxing convert.
9. Doug Howlett
245 points
4.0 points per appearance
What happened to the days of rapid wingers with afros? They came and went with the beginning and end of Doug Howlett’s career.
The only man on this list to have not scored a single point with his boot, Howlett wrapped up his playing days as the All Blacks’ top try scorer and while there have been some threats to overtake him since (shoutout Joe Rokocoko, Julian Savea and the still-active Beauden Barrett 👀) it’s the Auckland speedster who still holds top spot and, with that, ninth place on this prestigious list.
10. Christian Cullen
236 points
6.6 points per appearance
The Paekakariki Express. What better way to round out this list of legends?
Like a cheetah in full stride, Cullen was a rocket on the green grass and was one of the most graceful open-field runners that the game has ever seen. The Paekakariki Express scored a jaw-dropping 46 tries in 58 Test appearances for the All Blacks, as well as three conversions, and despite his international career famously being cut short at the hands of John Mitchell.