“Anonymous” – Five All Blacks who failed to impress against the Lions

A much-changed New Zealand side were seriously tested before eventually finding a way to victory, with the Lions building an 18-point advantage at one stage.

RUCK writer Charlie Elliott handed out his player ratings after the final whistle, with several experienced names and returning stars failing to hit their usual standards.

Here are five All Blacks who failed to impress.

Tosi held his own at scrum time for much of the contest, but the All Blacks were unable to establish the sort of dominance they would have wanted up front.

The prop did produce one notable carry but otherwise struggled to make a major impression around the field.

His biggest setback came at scrum time when he conceded the penalty advantage that eventually resulted in the Lions powering over from five metres out.

RUCK writer Charlie Elliott wrote: “Tosi held his own at scrum time without gaining much of an edge.”

It was another difficult outing on tour for the Hurricanes prop, who will have wanted to make a much stronger case for further opportunities.

One of the most experienced players in the side, Tuipulotu was unable to provide the authority the All Blacks needed as the Lions took control of the contest.

The veteran lock was replaced after just 48 minutes with New Zealand trailing by 18 points.

His biggest contribution came when he provided a simple assist for Emoni Narawa, but otherwise it was an unusually quiet performance.

Elliott wrote: “His age and experience counted for very little today.”

Given the competition for places in the All Blacks second-row, Tuipulotu will be looking for a significantly bigger impact if another opportunity comes his way.

A surprisingly anonymous afternoon from a player capable of having a huge influence on matches.

Sititi got his hands on the ball for a handful of carries but rarely troubled the Lions defence and struggled to impose himself physically on proceedings.

Elliott summed it up simply: “Sititi was very quiet and while he got involved with a handful of carries, he was mostly anonymous.”

With the All Blacks boasting considerable competition across the back-row, this felt like a missed opportunity to strengthen his position.

All eyes were on Mo'unga as the fly-half pulled on the famous black jersey for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

There were undoubtedly flashes of the quality that made him such an important player for New Zealand during his previous spell.

A beautifully timed pass helped create an Ethan Blackadder try, while Mo'unga began to take control as the match entered its closing stages and the All Blacks fought their way back into the contest.

However, it wasn't the blockbuster comeback many had anticipated.

A couple of handling errors prevented him from having a greater influence and there were periods when the returning playmaker struggled to dictate proceedings.

Elliott wrote that Mo'unga “did not quite live up to the hype but still put in a decent display.”

He eventually took the game “by the scruff of the neck” towards the end, helping guide New Zealand to victory, but his overall performance arguably leaves the door open at fly-half.

For now, it still feels like Ruben Love's jersey to lose.

Hotham endured arguably the toughest afternoon of the five.

Making his first All Blacks appearance of 2026, the 23-year-old struggled to provide the speed and control New Zealand wanted from scrum-half.

His first box kick went straight into touch before an even more costly mistake gifted the Lions a try.

Hotham failed to look up before passing directly to Sibabalwe Mahashe, who intercepted and raced away to score the Lions' second try.

The scrum-half did respond by crossing for a straightforward try of his own, but it wasn't enough to erase what Elliott described as a “moment of madness”.

His service remained sluggish and he struggled to dictate the tempo of the contest.

Elliott concluded: “His speed of play wasn't great and he failed to dictate the game effectively.”

After initially missing out on the All Blacks squad, Hotham will know this was an opportunity he failed to fully grasp.