Here we go. The All Blacks have announced a 42-man squad to take on the upcoming Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship. As is standard, there is a core group of 36 players, with six additional names included as injury cover for squad members currently managing knocks.
As usual, the selections are a hot topic. A few intriguing names have been included, offering a broader look at who is currently on the fringes of the All Blacks setup. Just like I did with the squad that was named to face France, I am diving headfirst into this announcement and sharing my own two cents on the squad.
No doubt this will be plenty of fun, so let’s crack into it.
My Favourite Pick: Peter Lakai
The Hurricanes and Lions’ Swiss Army knife loose forward Peter Lakai is my favourite selection in this 42-man All Blacks squad. This one was an easy choice for me because I believe he will be a bona fide star for the All Blacks throughout his career. I had some concerns that he might miss out due to a recent injury and limited game time, but thankfully he made the cut.
Lakai is a superb athlete with the kind of build that allows him to cover positions 6 through 8 at international level. His rare combination of power, skill, and size makes him a genuine threat across the back row.
He missed the France series after sustaining an injury during the Hurricanes’ quarterfinal loss to the Brumbies. However, we saw him return to action for the Lions in their opening game of the NPC season, which was a strong sign for anyone hoping to see him back in the All Blacks setup. My hope is that at some point during the test season we get to see a loose forward trio of Lakai, Savea, and Sititi on the field together. We saw glimpses of this combination at the back end of 2024 when Lakai was called into action early against France due to Samipeni Finau’s injury. This time, I hope it happens not because of injury, but as a deliberate selection choice that gets the best three loose forwards in New Zealand on the field at the same time.
My Least Favourite Selection: Samipeni Finau
I will be very honest and say I struggled with this one because I truly understand why the All Blacks have selected Samipeni Finau. That makes it quite hard to say he is my least favourite selection in the squad.
His selection makes sense. He brings the kind of physical profile you want in a test-level number six, and there are shades of a Jerome Kaino-type player in how he plays. He has the potential to become that tough, physical enforcer the All Blacks have relied on in the past.
However, in my opinion, the loose forward depth in New Zealand is incredibly competitive. If you are not performing, there is always someone ready to take your spot. For Finau, I thought that might be the case this time. Even though he clearly has the tools, his work around the park over the last year or so hasn’t impressed me as much as some of the others in the position.
To be clear, I am not at all upset about his selection. As I said, I can absolutely see the reasoning behind it. For me, though, he just hasn’t quite taken the chances he’s been given at the international level.
That said, I really do hope he proves me wrong.
Most Surprising Absentee: Christian Lio-Willie
Lio-Willie has every reason to feel frustrated about missing out on selection for this All Blacks squad, especially after the faith shown in him during the France series, where he earned back-to-back starts after being called in as injury cover.
Yes, it’s clear that space had to be made for the likes of Wallace Sititi and Peter Lakai, but it’s still a bit of a surprise to see a player who started and played well in the first two tests now left out.
The biggest knock on Lio-Willie’s game is his lack of versatility. He is generally viewed as a specialist number eight, and that can be seen as a limitation, particularly in a touring squad where flexibility is often valued. It is also hard to argue that he is currently ahead of Sititi or Lakai in the pecking order.
Looking at the numbers, he has started 94 percent of his professional games at number eight, which shows how consistent his role has been, but it also highlights how narrow his utility is. That lack of positional flexibility could make it difficult for him to crack the All Blacks squad when everyone is fit, given the depth in the back row. That said, at just 26 years old, it would be unfair to suggest he has reached his ceiling. There is still room for growth, and another jump in performance could put him right back in the mix. For now, though, it seems like he is caught between a rock and a hard place.
The Most To Prove: Billy Proctor
This might be a bit of a surprising call to make, given the limited opportunities Billy Proctor has had in a black jersey so far. You could easily argue that players like Finau, Ioane, or even McKenzie have more to prove at the international level, simply because of the number of games they have played and the expectations that come with that experience.
However, in my view, this Rugby Championship could be the moment Proctor locks down the All Blacks centre jersey for the foreseeable future. I believe he has a genuine shot at starting in the opening and most important matches. If he performs at the level he consistently shows in Super Rugby, I do not think there is another centre in New Zealand with as well-rounded a game as the Hurricanes midfielder.
In the France series, Proctor was given two starts. The first test in Dunedin was a bit of a rollercoaster, but in the second test at home, he looked much more composed and confident. If he can bring that level of play to every match during the Rugby Championship, there is a strong chance he becomes Scott Robertson’s first-choice centre, playing outside his good mate Jordy Barrett.
Best Story: Kyle Preston
To me, this player’s determination speaks for itself, clearly shown by his meteoric rise to All Blacks selection for the Rugby Championship.
Just two years ago, he was selected to play for the Wellington Lions for the first time at NPC level and earned three starts during the 2022 season. After another year of Wellington club rugby, he returned to the Lions setup and became the full-time starter in their dominant, championship-winning campaign. He was undoubtedly a key part of that success.
That season turned out to be his big break. Preston was offered a Super Rugby contract by the Crusaders and quickly found himself in the spotlight after scoring a hat-trick off the bench against the Hurricanes. This felt somewhat like a revenge game for Preston, as it was against the team who let him get away.
From there, Preston started five of the Crusaders’ fifteen matches. He shared game time with fellow All Black Noah Hotham, forming a dynamic combination and helping the Crusaders climb back to the mount top of Super Rugby.
For those who may not know much about Preston, he is a natural winner with excellent instincts. He runs strong support lines, as any good halfback should, and is an efficient distributor from the ruck. What truly sets him apart is his kicking game. He is so ambidextrous that it is difficult to tell which foot is his weak one, making him an outstanding clearance option at any level.
Will he get an opportunity during the Rugby Championship? It is hard to say. However, Scott Robertson has noted that he sees Preston as a great option to close out games. If two of the three frontline halfbacks are unavailable at any point, Preston may find himself wearing the number 21 jersey.