All Blacks team naming: Scott Robertson names squad for third test against France
Live updates of the All Blacks squad naming for the third test against France in Hamilton.
Coach Scott Robertson has made 10 changes to his starting XV, with Brodie McAlister set to make his debut off the bench.
No Barretts have been named in the 23-man squad with Beauden Barrett, who started the last four tests at No 10, ruled out with a hand injury. Brother Jordie Barrett has been rested, with Chiefs teammates Quinn Tupaea and Anton Leinert-Brown named in the midfield.
End of coverage
Cameron McMillan
That wraps up our coverage of the squad naming. France name their side later on today, when we are expecting more changes too.
'Great mixture of experience'
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Robertson continues:
"You always have a plan and then, like any plan, you always adjust. It's got a great mixture of experience in the group and also one debutant."
Scott Robertson talking to the media
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On the changes to the squad and giving every member of the extended squad a run:
"Firstly, we're really pleased that everyone's trained incredibly well. They get picked as All Blacks and get to play as All Blacks. Good combinations, good balance in the squad and they get the opportunity this week."
Breakdown per Super Rugby Pacific franchise in the starting XV
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Chiefs 7
Blues 2
Crusaders 2
Hurricanes 2
Highlanders 1
Moana Pasifika 1
Breaking down the team – Reserves
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Not exactly a bomb squad and no noticeable first five or lock on the bench.
But the power of Timoci Tavatavanawai and speed of Will Jordan will not be fun for a tiring French defence in the last 20 minutes.
Brodie McAlister will likely make his debut while George Bower will play in his first test since the 25-25 draw with England in 2022.
Dalton Papali'i and Du Plessis Kirifi are there as well but if a lock comes off – likely Patrick Tuipulotu – then maybe Samipeni Finau could cover lock.
Noah Hotham gets another chance to impress and will play his first test on home soil.
Breaking down the team – Backs
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The backline sees Chiefs teammates Cortez Ratima and Damian McKenzie starting at halfback and first five-eighths respectively, while fellow Chiefs Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown make up the midfield combination. That means Chiefs players take up numbers 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13.
Sevu Reece starts on the right wing, with Ruben Love getting the start at fullback. Rieko Ioane will play start his third straight test on the wing.
Breaking down the team – Forwards
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Ethan de Groot, Fabian Holland, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea and Rieko Ioane are the only players holding their positions in the run-on side, as the selectors opt to rotate the squad.
In the forwards, Samisoni Taukei’aho gets a rare start at hooker, while Tyrel Lomax starts at tighthead prop. With Tupou Vaa’i out with concussion, Samipeni Finau starts at blindside flanker while Luke Jacobson starts at No 8.
Just two of the forwards have played more than 50 tests – Savea will bring up his 97th cap while Tuipulotu earns his 55th.
With Codie Taylor rested, Tuipulotu also gets called in as vice-captain – the only one in the squad.
10 changes to All Blacks starting side, no Barretts
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No Barretts
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The last time a Barrett didn't feature in an All Blacks test was against Japan last season. Seems weird, though, to be Barrett-less.
'High motivation'
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Head coach Scott Robertson said there was a healthy edge in the camp this week, knowing that the French will throw everything at this final game of the series.
“There is high motivation and focus to perform in Hamilton this week. We are prepared for a determined and spirited French side and excited to play in front of a passionate sold-out crowd.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tyrel, Luke, Anton and Sevu back from injury and, with 185 caps between them, we know that they will be ready to perform at the highest level.
"It is also exciting to have Brodie debuting, as well as Ruben, Noah and Timoci adding to their single All Blacks cap. These men have earned their place in the team, have trained extremely hard over the last three weeks and will take their opportunity on Saturday night.”
One possible debutant
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Seven players in the 23 have been named for the first time this season, and Brodie McAlister is set to debut.
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Ethan de Groot, Fabian Holland, Patrick Tuipulotu and Ardie Savea are the only players retained from the forwards who played the last test.
Rieko Ioane in the backs.
Team is out
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And plenty to talk about. Ten changes to the starting XV with Damian McKenzie starting at 10.
Beauden Barrett is out with a hand injury.
Ruben Love is starting at fullback but imagine he's the back-up 10.
Not long now
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The team will be revealed at 10.45am.
99th for Codie?
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If Codie Taylor is named in the squad, he’d be set for his 99th test cap. If he gets a rest, then he'd possibly bring up the 100 in Argentina, with the All Blacks starting the Rugby Championship with two matches there.
Not far away now from squad announcement
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How many changes are we going to see to the starting XV? We had just two last week. Could we see more than 10?
Fairly wet conditions in Hamilton
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Halfback options
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If Cam Roigard is rested this week, after a fine start to the 2025 season, then that leaves Cortez Ratima and Noah Hotham as the options to wear the No 9 jersey.
Ratima looks likely, having started four tests last season – Fiji, South Africa, England and Ireland.
Hotham's only appearance was against Fiji in San Diego.
Best stadium?
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One hour away
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The team will be released at 10.45am. Could we see a new name in the mix? Naitoa Ah Kuoi could be a chance to make his debut off the bench.
All Blacks in Hamilton ... for how much longer
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This will be the All Blacks' 17th test in Hamilton. Interesting when they will play there again as the Christchurch stadium should be ready next test season which means FMG Stadium will move from the pecking order behind Eden Park, One New Zealand Stadium, Sky Stadium and Forsyth Barr Stadium. There is also the issue that there isn't decent accommodation for two teams – with the French deciding to base themselves in Auckland this week.
Also with the new World Rugby Nations Championship beginning next season, we won't see three test tours anymore.
The All Blacks have lost just once in Hamilton – in 2009 against the Springboks.
Familiar face in the middle
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Aussie referee Angus Gardner is in charge of the third test in Hamilton. He was the referee for the Super Rugby Pacific final and was last in Hamilton when the Blues upset the top-seeded Chiefs in the qualifying finals.
This will be the third All Blacks-France test Gardner has been in charge of – the last two matches in 2017 and 2018 resulted in New Zealand wins.
Gardner has officiated 15 All Blacks tests since 2016, and they have won 12 of them.
He’s been in charge of eight French tests; the first four, they lost.
Most recently, he was in the middle when France beat Ireland 42-27 in Dublin during the Six Nations.
The question at 10
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Damian McKenzie is tipped to be back in the No 10 jersey at his home turf in Hamilton.
He started the first eight tests last year at first five-eighths but hasn't worn No 10 since the win over Ireland in Dublin, with Beauden Barrett starting the last four tests.
Not the only test in the country
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Manu Samoa and Scotland square off at Eden Park tomorrow night. Halfback Joel Lam and first five A.J. Mamoe Alatimu appeared on Herald NOW to talk about the chance to make history.
The two teams have met 12 times and Samoa have just one win back in 2013, in Durban of all places. So maybe neutral territory will work in their favour.
French changes
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According to L'Equipe, five French players were unable to take part in training on Tuesday.
Centre Pierre-Louis Barassi, lock/loose forward Cameron Woki and tighthead prop Régis Montagne are all out of the third test.
Joris Segonds, who started at 10 in Wellington, and lock Romain Taofifénua also didn't train.
Fresh faces expected for All Blacks
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Changes to the All Blacks?
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Scott Robertson names his squad for the third test this morning with quite a few changes expected. Gregor Paul reports:
"Robertson has been clear that he wants everyone in the squad to have game time in this series, and so there will most likely be first outings this year for Tyrel Lomax, George Bower, Brodie McAlister, Luke Jacobson, Noah Hotham, Anton Lienert-Brown and Ruben Love."
"Injuries to Scott Barrett and Tupou Vaa’i have most likely opened the door for Naitoa Ah Kuoi, drafted in as cover a few weeks ago, to win his first cap in Hamilton."
All Blacks v France, third test, 7.05pm, Saturday, FMG Stadium, Hamilton
All you need to know as Robertson’s side as they look to complete the sweep against France. A 3-0 series win would be the fifth time the All Blacks have swept aside France in three tests, the last time being in 2018.
The All Blacks have now won 50 tests against France, just the second nation they have reached that milestone against (Australia 126 wins, South Africa 62).
The All Blacks have lost just once in Hamilton in 16 outings, to the Springboks in 2009. Since that defeat, they have won nine straight at the home of the Chiefs.
France have never played a test in Hamilton.
All Blacks v France history
Played – 66
All Blacks won – 50
France won – 15
Draws – 1
All Blacks points scored – 1733
France points scored – 935
All Blacks’ record in Hamilton
1997 – All Blacks 62 Argentina 10
2002 – All Blacks 64 Italy 10
2003 – All Blacks 55 Wales 3
2004 – All Blacks 41 Argentina 7
2006 – All Blacks 34 Ireland 23
2007 – All Blacks 64 Canada 13
2009 – South Africa 32 All Blacks 29
2010 – All Blacks 29 Wales 10
2011 – All Blacks 83 Japan 7
2012 – All Blacks 60 Ireland 0
2013 – All Blacks 28 Argentina 13
2014 – All Blacks 36 England 13
2016 – All Blacks 57 Argentina 22
2019 – All Blacks 92 Tonga 7
2021 – All Blacks 60 Fiji 13
2022 – All Blacks 53 Argentina 3
All Blacks v France line-ups
All Blacks side:
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Luke Jacobson, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Rieko Ioane 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Ruben Love.
Reserves
16. Brodie McAlister, 17. George Bower, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Dalton Papali’i, 20. Du Plessis Kirifi, 21. Noah Hotham, 22. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23. Will Jordan.
France side:
Named Thursday.
Centre Pierre-Louis Barassi, loose forward/lock Cameron Woki and prop Régis Montagne have already been ruled out, according to French media.
Form guide (past five tests)
All Blacks: W, W, W, L, W
France: L, L, W, W, W
The All Blacks have won eight of their last nine matches since back-to-back defeats in South Africa last year. Robertson’s winning percentage has moved to 75%.
All Blacks v France referee
Angus Gardner of Australia is in charge of the third test in Hamilton.
This will be the third All Blacks-France test Gardner has been in charge of – the last two matches in 2017 and 2018 resulted in New Zealand wins.
Gardner has officiated 15 All Blacks tests since 2016 – they have won 12 of them.
He’s been in charge of eight French tests; the first four they lost. Most recently, he was in the middle when France beat Ireland 42-27 in Dublin during the Six Nations.
All Blacks v France TAB odds
All Blacks: $1.07 Draw: $31 France: $7.50
All Blacks v France series schedule
Saturday, July 5, All Blacks 31 France 27, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Saturday, July 12, All Blacks 43 France 17, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Saturday, July 19, 7.05pm – All Blacks v France, FMG Stadium, Hamilton
All Blacks v France - how to follow the action
For live commentary of All Blacks v France, join Elliott Smith on Newstalk ZB, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio.
Plus James McOnie & Mike Lane of The Alternative Commentary Collective will be providing commentary on their iHeartRadio stream.
You can watch the game on Sky Sport 1 and it will be livestreaming on Sky Sport Now.
You can also find live updates at nzherald.co.nz.