Paul Lewis is a veteran sports journalist who has written four books and covered Rugby World Cups, America’s Cups, Olympic & Commonwealth Games and more. OPINION All Blacks selectors love local derbies – rugby’s petri dish where the chemical reaction of talent mixed with speed of play and intense pressure mimics test rugby and is studied carefully. If the quarter-finals go as expected, the Hurricanes and Chiefs will meet in the semifinals, as will the Blues and the Brumbies – although the Highlanders have a surprisingly good record in Canberra, with a 4-4 record there over the last eight matches, and a win for the southern side would mean four New Zealand teams in the semis and another three derbies for the selectors to assess.
The derbies already played offer good clues to Scott Robertson ’s first 32-man squad named next month; many are expecting a small boatload of fresh faces to be groomed towards the next World Cup in 2027. But will that be the case? England are a stern test and the vast majority of the squad will likely be seasoned All Blacks. A few positions might accommodate newcomers – depending on factors like injuries, identified selection gaps for a certain style of play, and easing younger players in, a la the modern fashion of bringing them into camp in a wider training group or as injury cover to assess and upskill them.
Take Billy Proctor , for example. The Hurricanes centre is everyone’s choice for a black jersey this year – but will he oust on.
