The first Test of each international season in the last couple of years always seems to be a clunky performance from the All Blacks, which was proved right once again on Saturday night, when they narrowly beat an inexperienced France team, 31-27, in Dunedin.
Forsyth Barr Stadium has hosted the All Blacks’ first Test for the past two years, with both games resulting in unconvincing, slim victories to start the international campaign.
Questionable team performances in the All Blacks are normally followed by conversations regarding selections and combinations that featured in the match, and whether they should be changed for the next Test match.
For the second Test of the 2025 international season, which will be hosted at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday night, Scott Robertson will likely have to be forced into a couple of changes with Sevu Reece going off with a category one HIA.
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett also has a slight doubt around his selection, after coming off with a tender Achilles in the 57th minute. Robertson told the media on Monday afternoon in Wellington that there will be an announcement in the coming days about Barrett’s injury.
“It will be released tomorrow, we’ve had the scan, so yep, you’ll find out in a media release tomorrow.”
Former All Black Angus Ta’avao expects there to be only a couple of changes to the All Blacks lineup for the second Test in Wellington.
“100% yeah, I think that front row really stepped up, put their hand up where they needed to, and I really liked Tupou Vaa’i at six, Holland had a great debut,” Ta’avao said on The Breakdown.
“I don’t think there’s going to be many changes, bench-wise, though I think there might be with Patrick Tuipulotu potentially coming back in.
“He played and trained through a bad shoulder, and I think he’s probably just taking a little bit longer, but I’d say he’s raring to go this week.”
Former All Black Jeff Wilson says that he saw Luke Jacobson training at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday; therefore, he might be ready for the second Test.
But for former Chiefs and All Blacks first-five Aaron Cruden, he also agrees with Ta’avao, expecting the only unforced changes to be on the bench.
“Possibly not on the starting 15 or apart from obviously the right winger and what they’re going to decide there, but yeah, whether they can tweak a few things on the bench to give guys opportunities and see what it’s all about.
“I’d love to see Timoci Tavatavanawai, I think they’ve picked them in the squad for a reason, and he’s going to get a go at some stage in the series, whether that’s Wellington or Hamilton.
“I guess we’ll wait to see, but yeah, I’d love to see him go out there and just give it everything,” Cruden said.
World Cup-winning former All Black Stephen Donald believes Robertson should stick with his starting group and give them another go in Wellington.
“Yeah, I think the 15 guys that are fit and healthy that we finished with at the end, they go again.
“The same locks, Tupou Vaa’i if he’s available, obviously that backline, I think you just back them to go again and they’ll be better.”
