Every year, new All Blacks are embedded into the squad, and with the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle underway, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson will be weighing up Super Rugby form with extra emphasis, as he looks to the future.
Robertson will be preparing to select a squad for France’s three match series in New Zealand, also with eyes on The Rugby Championship in August.
As Super Rugby Pacific heads into the second half of the season full steam ahead, the Sky Sports Breakdown panel have looked into possible selections based on Super Rugby form so far this season.
Ex-Highlander turned Sky Sports commentator Joey Wheeler puts Highlanders captain Timoci Tavatavanawai forward as an option for Robertson’s first squad of the year.
“Timoci Tavatavanawai just keeps producing at this level, he’s done it on the wing for the Highlanders. He’s now doing it in the midfield and Jamie Joseph has waved his magic wand,” Wheeler told The Breakdown on Sunday night.
“I think the timing again, it could be his lucky break. I think with Telea now signing overseas in Japan, what are the All Blacks going to do there? Are they going to pick him for this French series, or are they going to leave him out?
“So I think this could be the opportunity for a guy like Tavatavanawai to play in that French series. The reason being is he brings a point of difference.”
The Breakdown’s host Kirstie Stanway believes in-form Crusaders loose forward Christian Lio-Willie is in the frame for the France series, saying rooming with Sam Cane on the end-of-year Northern Tour in 2024 for the All Blacks will have done him no harm.
“Christian Lio-Willie, he is my guy. He will be in the All Blacks this year, he went on the end of your tour with the All Blacks last year,” Stanway said.
“Let’s talk about his playing style, remember last year when Hoskins Sotutu didn’t get picked for the All Blacks, they singled out one thing.
“He had to be good on both sides of the ball, now this guy is good on both sides of the ball, and in four years, he’s gone from club rugby playing in Dunedin while studying a five-year dentistry degree, to the Crusaders.
“That is three seasons now, plus at the end of year tour last year, he was rooming with Sam Cane, just plying his trade, learning everything, soaking it all up. This guy is getting better and better every week.”
60-Test former All Black Jeff Wilson has confidence in Highlanders lock Fabian Holland to make a step up into the All Blacks environment.
“Fabian Holland is a guy who’s been on the radar, waiting for eligibility, and now he is eligible,” Wilson said.
“They had their eye on him last year. He got a taste of the environment at the All Blacks, he’s a big body who continues to grow and develop every week.
“You can see his impact on the game, you saw him out in the open field on the weekend as well, almost scoring a long-range try. So I think there’s just so much upside for where he’s going to get to. You put him in the All Blacks, he’s only going to go to the next level.”
World Cup-winning former All Blacks first-five Stephen Donald describes Chiefs winger Emoni Narawa as one of the most well-rounded wingers in New Zealand, an attribute that becomes even more valuable following Blues winger Mark Telea’s announcement that he’s moving to Japan at the end of the year.
“For me, he is as complete a winger as we have in this country, a lot of our wingers have huge work rates, you think of Telea, you think Sevu Reece as well, well, this guy’s work rate is of that standard,” Donald said on The Breakdown.
“Saturday night was a perfect example, he’s scoring tries in the middle of the park from pick and go’s, he is a constant threat.
“I think he brings a utility value as well, like we saw him play for Bay of Plenty last year in the midfield and at fullback.”
