It’s been a blistering start in the opening six rounds of Super Rugby Pacific in 2025 and with selection discussions happening all across New Zealand and Australia regarding their respective teams, all eyes are on the national team’s head coaches.
Scott Robertson and his staff’s first assignment of 2025 is to pick their squad for the France home series in early July, and Joe Schmidt will also pick his squad for the all-important British and Irish Lions series in July.
Sky Sports commentator and analyst Taylah Johnson strongly believes that the Wallabies players are outplaying the All Blacks players so far in Super Rugby 2025.
“The Wallabies are currently outperforming our All Blacks in Super Rugby, and I’m not saying in every position. Yes, Damian McKenzie is playing great. So is David Havili, Ardie Savea, but on a whole, the Australians are playing much better,” Johnson said on The Breakdown.
“The Wallabies look like Wallabies out there.”
Johnson then argues that when you dive deeper into the stats, the likes of Angus Bell from the Waratahs and Josh Canham from the Reds are outplaying Ethan de Groot and Scott Barrett so far this season.
“There’s been a lot of commentary saying our All Black captain is not in form. When you compare him to one of the Wallabies locks, you have to take a look at Josh Canham, the same amount of games played, more meters, better tackle percentage, and line-out wins.
“That is someone standing up, so I’m not saying all our All Blacks are playing terribly, because they’re not, but the Wallabies are head and shoulders above.
Johnson also explains that All Blacks midfielder Rieko Ioane is being outplayed by Wallabies player Filipo Daugunu.
“Rieko Ioane has struggled to find form in Super Rugby. We know what he can do at Test level, on the wing I’ll add that, but you’re comparing him to Filipo Daugunu who’s also made that transition wing to centre.
“These stats, don’t lie either, Ioane has a game in hand over Daugunu but there’s five tries to Daugunu, more defenders beaten, more line breaks.
“He’s also top three in carries.”
Former All Black Jeff Wilson argues back at Johnson, saying that people should only be worried if the All Blacks players aren’t performing come playoff time.
“I think there’s a lot of merit to what you’re coming up with, but I think there’s a different level of urgency in Australia right now in regards to being competitive,” Wilson said on The Breakdown.
“There’s a week that’s really important to them in the British and Irish Lions tour, right?
“So they’re trying to prove to Joe Schmidt, they deserve to be there, and now is the time to make an impact.”
Wilson also believes that the All Blacks players feel comfortable at the moment, something that could hurt them in the long run.
“I’ve got a feeling a lot of our All Blacks are comfortable: the fact that they know Scott Robertson, they know the environment they’ve been a part of last season, which wasn’t quite ideal in terms of performance. But they’ll look at the long game and go, the back half of the year, if I start to show my form again.
“Several All Blacks, for a long time through their career, chose when it was time to start showing some proper form and they didn’t help their Super Rugby teams as they should have.
“So I understand where you’re coming from, but I’d start getting concerned in two or three more weeks when things are really on the line.”
