We examine who strengthened the All Blacks’ Test claims and who hurt them in light of their upcoming European tour after their 64-19 victory over Japan.
For Saturday’s match in Yokohama, Scott Robertson picked a makeshift 23 to give several benchwarmers a chance before their crucial matches against England, Ireland, and France the following month.
Here are the winners and losers from New Zealand’s victory over Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms, taking into account that certain players rose to the occasion while others struggled.
Winners
Sititi Wallace
The back-rower is currently unstoppable and has adapted to Test rugby with ease. Sititi was among their finest performers on the pitch against Japan once more, and he undoubtedly solidified his starting position for the European tour. He will undoubtedly start against England the following weekend, but it’s more likely that he will start at blindside instead of number eight, as he did on Saturday.
Sititi possesses all the necessary athletic qualities for success, but his ability to make decisions is maybe his most remarkable quality, particularly for someone so young. The back-rower excels in several technical areas, including lineout and breakdown, because to his exceptional rugby brain. A fantastic player who ought to enjoy a lengthy career in Test cricket.
Proctor, Billy
Although it seems unlikely that Scott Robertson will fire Rieko Ioane at this point, Proctor is undoubtedly exerting enough pressure on the flyer. The Hurricanes star once again made an impression on his second Test match after playing well in his maiden match against Fiji.
With a strong all-around skill set, the centre has several positive aspects. If chosen, he will balance that midfield and link play well with the ball in hand. Proctor’s outstanding breakdown turnover in the first half demonstrated his defensive prowess.
Tuipulotu Patrick
The lock, who was elected captain after making his first appearance in the All Blacks starting lineup since July, put on an incredible display. After being limited to just three Test matches in 2024 due to injury, Tuipulotu has had a difficult few months. However, on Saturday, the second-row made up for lost time.
The 31-year-old may make a comeback into the XV because of his widespread presence versus Japan. Robertson might believe Tuipulotu’s added weight and physicality will be better appropriate for the tougher pitches they will face in Europe, despite Tupou Vaa’i’s impressive performance in the Rugby Championship.
Roigard, Cam
Although the returning scrum-half, who was playing his first Test since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, didn’t play flawlessly, there were several encouraging indicators. Early on, Roigard was undoubtedly rusty, as the playmaker struggled to keep his kicking game in check, but he eventually settled into the match.
His support lines were particularly strong, and his performance would have impressed Robertson, who has face a very tough choice the next weekend. Since joining the team, Cortez Ratima has excelled, and TJ Perenara provides that expertise.
You would think that Perenara is a lock for the 23 given the head coach’s cautious selections thus far, particularly for the crucial Test match the following weekend. However, Ratima and Roigard are the All Blacks’ scrum-half of the future, so he has the option to make the risky move.
Finau Samipeni
The Chiefs flanker was given another chance in the squad following the disappointing England series, and this was much more in line with the gifted blindside’s style. The back-rower had several strong performances, displaying his strength and agility throughout the 80 minutes. He also made several significant defensive hits.
As a result, Finau did nothing to hurt his chances of returning to the England Test squad. Given the injuries to Dalton Papali’i, Luke Jacobson, and Ethan Blackadder, he ought to at least make the 23 for the match at Twickenham. Though there is still a persistent suspicion that the flanker’s close quarters work is currently not quite up to par, hopefully he will seize the opportunity this time.
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Losers
McKenzie, Damian
The fly-half had the opportunity to show Robertson that he could dominate a Test match, but he was unsuccessful. McKenzie unable to control the game effectively, even when against less formidable competition. Japan fought back after the interval, but there were simply too many mistakes and bad choices, especially in the second half.
Although there were some positive aspects as well, particularly the 20 minutes prior to halftime, Robertson will undoubtedly not be persuaded to give him the reins for the match against England. Beauden Barrett just tightened his hold on the fly-half jersey even though he wasn’t playing.
Perofeta, Stephen
Even though injuries has played a role, this guy, who began the season on the team, is currently on the margins. Perofeta was reliable and shown some good touches in his first Test since July, but it’s highly doubtful that he will be able to push his way into the starting lineup.
At fly-half, Beauden Barrett is a lock right now, therefore Will Jordan will probably start at full-back. Despite his lacklustre performance against Japan, McKenzie’s versatility and ability to influence the game off the bench may cause him to replace Perofeta in the starting lineup.
Darry, Sam
Similar to Perofeta, Darry didn’t do anything wrong in and of himself, but the lock need a stunning performance to unseat Patrick Tuipulotu or Tupou Vaa’i. Regretfully, that did not occur, and he will most likely have to wait for another opportunity.
Following his debut earlier this year, Darry has adapted well to Test rugby; however, his performances have plateaued, while Vaa’i’s have progressed dramatically. They now have a rather strong quartet in a position that worried Robertson at the beginning of the season, but the Blues player is finally ranked fourth.
Tosi Pasilio
This was the tighthead’s chance to make a lasting impression on the team following an outstanding cameo against the Wallabies in the last Rugby Championship match, but it did not materialise. Tosi may have pushed his way into the team for the Twickenham Test with a strong performance, but Tyrel Lomax is the sure starter and Fletcher Newell is just getting back from injury.
However, a formidable Japanese front-row trio held strong at the scrum, and the enormous prop failed to gain any traction. To make matters worse, the All Blacks started to dominate set pieces with the return of Newell, which likely convinced Robertson of the two tightheads for the match the following weekend.
Impact of a bench
The All Blacks believed they had resolved their second-half problems in the Bledisloe Cup, but as the replacements entered the pitch, they produced again another lacklustre final forty minutes against Japan. The others were merely ordinary, with the exception of Ruben Love, who made a strong debut with two tries, and the set-piece, which was enhanced by the props.
For some reason, when the All Blacks look to the bench, they tend to lose continuity rather than pick up the pace and physicality. This game has clear limitations because it was a makeshift 23 and they were already far ahead, so naturally the level of energy can drop. However, it will raise some concerns when considering England.
