All Blacks Sevu Reece and Luke Jacobson join All Blacks XV team for England A match

Friday, 7 November 2025

All Blacks Sevu Reece and Luke Jacobson have dropped to play for the All Blacks XV side against England A in Bath on Sunday (NZ time).

They are the first All Blacks from Scott Robertson’s top squad to be selected in Jamie Joseph’s development team on their northern tour.

Reece has fallen out of favour since starting on the wing in the last of his 36 tests when the All Blacks lost 29-23 to Argentina in Buenos Aires in August.

Jacobson hasn’t played a minute for the All Blacks in 2025. The 25-test loose forward was due to start against France in Hamilton in July, a test the All Blacks won 29-19, but he suffered a groin injury in the warm-up.

Reece has been named on the left wing for the All Blacks XV, who are backing up from last weekend’s impressive comeback win (33-19) against a Barbarians team loaded with South Africans in London.

Jacobson is on the bench while Dalton Papali’i captains Joseph’s side again in a loose forward trio with Devan Flanders and Christian Lio-WIllie.

“It’s great to have Sevu and Luke join the squad and add their experience to the group for what we expect will be a strong and motivated England A squad,” Joseph said in a statement.

“The challenge this week is to build on the performance against the Barbarians and once again it’s a great opportunity for the players to perform and execute on the international stage.”

Both Reece and Jacobson need playing time and have joined Joseph’s squad while the All Blacks prepare for their test against Scotland in Edinburgh on Sunday (NZ time).

Joseph has made eight personnel changes for the All Blacks XV’s second tour match against England’s development team.

Reece joins a backline with three of his Crusaders team-mates, Chay Fihaki and capped All Blacks midfielders Braydon Ennor and David Havili.

Josh Jacomb retains the No 10 jersey and Kyle Preston has been promoted to start at halfback, with Folau Fakatava coming on to the bench.

Capped hooker Brodie McAlister also gets a start with the new locking pair of Jamie Hannah and TK Howden.

Lock Josh Beehre, who was added to the All Blacks squad as cover after Scott Barrett’s leg injury, joins midfielder Dallas McLeod on the bench.

The All Blacks XV will finish their tour next weekend against Uruguay in France. Their clash with England A starts at 2:15am on Sunday (NZ time).

All Blacks XV: Chay Fihaki, Caleb Tangitau, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Sevu Reece, Josh Jacomb, Kyle Preston; Christian Lio-Willie, Dalton Papali’i (c), Devan Flanders, Jamie Hannah, TK Howden, George Dyer, Brodie McAlister, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Jack Taylor, Josh Fusitu’a, Siale Lauaki, Josh Beehre, Luke Jacobson, Folau Fakatava, Rivez Reihana, Dallas McLeod.