All Blacks v the world: The best of the rest XV to take on Scott Robertson’s men from 2025 performances

This story was first published by the Herald in November.

In 13 tests this year, Scott Robertson’s men have encountered standout performers among the sides that beat them – and from among the vanquished. Here’s a starting line up comprised of the players who delivered the best single performance in their position against the All Blacks in 2025.

1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (South Africa)

Came off the bench in the explosive Bomb Squad display in Wellington. In his time on the field, the Bok pack lifted in set pieces and nailed the All Blacks around rucks and mauls.

Herald rating: 8/10

Also considered: Ox Nche (Springboks) – Started in Wellington and sucked the life out of the hosts’ pack before tagging off for Wessels.

2 Julian Montoya (c) (Argentina)

There was a lot that was ropey about the All Blacks this year, but the difficulty in picking an opposition hooker suggests the lineout jumpers were doing something right. When Argentina bagged their Buenos Aires win, Montoya was accurate in set pieces and busy around the park. A go-ahead leader in a superb pack.

Herald rating: “Has the nous to know where he needs to be tidying up or stealing another yard. Did a great job of Fitzpatricking into the referee’s ear.” 8/10

Other contenders: Malcolm Marx, the World Rugby Player of the year, might seem a surprise omission, but he was poor at Eden Park and inaccurate in Wellington before subbing off as the record-breaking rout opened up.

3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

Ireland’s big man has been a thorn in the side of the All Blacks since that historic series in 2022. In Chicago, he scrummaged well and was a sharp, tough and savvy presence on both sides of the ball. His try, running on a clever angle, was just reward.

Herald rating: “His side led 13-7, when the big prop trotted off the field with 20 minutes remaining. He’d look pretty good in black.” 7/10

4 R.G. Snyman (South Africa)

Led Zeppelin wrote a song about men like this. Snyman came off the bench early on that dark Wellington night and tore the All Blacks a new one. As the game opened up, the lock who looks like he should be howling at the front of a Viking longboat found room to play, with offloads and a late dash to the line. But the looseness only came because Snyman and his pals had pummelled the All Blacks in a brutal third quarter.

Herald rating: 9/10

5 Ruan Nortje (South Africa)

Was immense in the record bashing the Boks served up in Wellington. He was instrumental in the worst spell of the year for the All Blacks’ set pieces, pilfering at lineouts and shunting in scrums.

Herald ratings: “Another massive 80 minutes. Gave the All Blacks troubles late on, including a huge lineout steal which led to the third Boks try.” 9/10

Also considered: Maro Itoje (England) – Topped the tackle count on the way to a superb victory at Twickenham, misses out on a starting call up because England’s lineout struggled.

6 Pablo Matera (Argentina)

On second thoughts, when Matera’s agent asked if the Argentine monster could have a run with the Crusaders, perhaps Razor should have said no. If only he’d come to Christchurch a decade sooner, we could have scholarshipped him through one of those fancy Christchurch schools, married him to a local and found him a Kiwi passport. Matera is a fabulous player of an old-school bent; his raw-blooded charges are a joy to behold.

Herald ratings: ”Beast mode throughout. Matera is a bullish freak and the black jersey is his red rag. All Blacks No 8 debutant Simon Parker had a fine teacher in Buenos Aires.“ 10/10

Also considered: Ryan Baird (Ireland) A blood-and-guts showing from the green-clad flanker who even managed to make Fabian Holland look ruffled in a lineout.

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)

How such a big man can run so fast, for so long, making and taking so many big hits is a wonder of biological science. We’ll be wondering at Du Toit’s remarkable physical gifts for years to come. He was immense in that Wellington match, as he was in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.

Herald rating: “Big effort in the last quarter.” 8/10

Also considered: Fraser McReight (Australia) – Latest in the Aussie production line of grafting, openside fetchers.

8 Jasper Wiese (South Africa)

Left shattered and scattered All Blacks defenders in the shadows of That Stadium That Shall Not Be Named in Wellington in the record-breaking rout. Wiese (likely guided by Rassie Erasmus’ planning) seemed to target the third quarter as his moment for maximum impact.

Herald ratings: “Best on the field in a huge showing after a four-week ban. Led the test with 14 carries and also made eight tackles. A constant threat for the full 80.” 10/10

Also considered: (Is it revealing that there were so many standout No 8 performances against the All Blacks in 2025? Answers on a postcard to Scott Robertson, please.) Ben Earl (England) – Trademark powerhouse running at Twickenham. Harry Wilson (Australia) – Carried the ball hard as an inspirational figure in an often outgunned forward pack. Joaquin Oviedo (Argentina) – Hard-hitting unit showed surprisingly deft hands in Cordoba defeat. Jack Dempsey (Scotland) – The Celts best on a day where they felt history was on hand. Mickael Guillard (France) – Battling best as his packmates struggled.

9 Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)

Plenty of the halfbacks the All Blacks faced in 2025 had a sharp pass and good nous for distribution and game management; none brought the line-break menace of Cam Roigard (to be fair, no other All Blacks No 9 did, either). Gibson-Park gets a spot in this side because he was staunch in Chicago and his kicking game was the best of any opposition No 9 in 2025.

Herald ratings: ”Best halfback on show (until the final quarter), and for a while there he was possibly the best Kiwi on show as well. Terrific on game management and distribution, but lacks the cutting run of Roigard.“ 8/10

10 George Ford (England)

Ford’s Twickenham performance was possibly the best of his international career against major foe (the All Blacks, for all their faults, are no Six Nations doddle). He was on target, on song and surprisingly fleet of foot against Scott Robertson’s men.

Herald ratings: “His cool-headed thinking showed the value of getting points [even if it’s only three of them] whenever they’re on offer.“ 9/10

Also considered: Tomas Albornoz (Argentina) – Los Pumas playmaker was another who rated 9/10. If he runs behind a fizzing pack in 2027, a decent World Cup run is on.

11 Mateo Carreras (Argentina)

Fast of wit, feet and mind, Carreras is one of a growing number of Los Pumas players who can comfortably measure up against the best sides in the world.

Herald ratings: ”Carreras was a constant threat, finding and exploiting space with gas. Ran for 80m with the ball in hand on a day when the entire All Blacks backline (including reserves) could manage just 73m.“ 9/10

Also considered: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England). One of those many annoying Englishmen who manages to find another level to their performance when facing the All Blacks.

12 Damian Willemse (South Africa)

A key figure in Rassie Erasmus’ swelling Boknaissance, Willemse can run happily anywhere from 10 to 15. At times in Wellington, he seemed to be all those positions at once.

Herald rating: “Superb.” 10/10

Also considered: Stuart McCloskey (Ireland) – Produced a solid outing of error-free bash in Chicago.

13 Ollie Lawrence (England)

Admittedly, he ran in the No 12 jersey at Twickenham, but Lawrence is equally comfortable at (what the English call) outside centre. Against the All Blacks, the straight-ahead midfielder was direct and accurate in all he did.

Herald rating: “All Blacks struggled to contain this terrific, granite-hard midfielder. Always made the gainline for his side.” 8/10

14 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)

A throwback to the days of tiny, speedy wingers, Kolbe was exposed at Eden Park but lively and lethal in Wellington.

Herald rating: “A brilliant intercept try and another good finish for his second.” 7/10

15 Théo Attissogbe (France)

A livewire showing at fullback in the first test before being poked out to the wing for later runs. He gets the nod here for the dash and old-fashioned verve he brought to Dunedin.

Herald rating: “Best on show. Arrived with a big reputation and justified it with his energy and dash. Lovely running and important tidying-up in the busy late stages. Billy Proctor is probably too young to remember Serge Blanco, but he got a taste of the classic when the French No 15 jersey wafted out of reach in build-up to opening try.” 9/10

Coach: Rassie Erasmus (South Africa)

Putting the big-brain Bokke in charge is a no-brainer. He’s a tactically astute rulebook pedant with a flair for getting inside everyone else’s heads. The thing that doesn’t get talked about by those of us looking into the Springbok squad from the outside is his man-management. Much of Erasmus’ success seems to be built around a culture of players who believe him and feel his belief in return.