"Stunned" - 5 players blacklisted by All Blacks coach Scott Robertson

While a few have moved overseas, others remain in New Zealand but are seemingly out of favour.

Here’s a look at the five players who have felt the cold under Robertson this year.

David Havili has been one of Super Rugby’s most consistent performers, and in 2025 he was named captain of the Crusaders, becoming a central figure in the team’s leadership group.

Despite his strong form and leadership, he was repeatedly overlooked for the All Blacks squad throughout the year. Instead, Havili featured for the All Blacks XV, a second-tier side providing international-level experience outside the main test team.

This omission has been particularly surprising given Havili’s experience — over 30 All Blacks caps — and his status as a reliable and versatile back.

Hoskins Sotutu, the dynamic Auckland-born No. 8, was once tipped for a long-term role in the All Blacks loose forward rotation.

However, he hasn’t been selected for the national team in 2025 and has now committed to a three-year deal with Newcastle Red Bulls in England, effectively making himself ineligible for All Blacks selection.

While the move abroad secures his professional future, it also reflects growing frustration with national selection, leaving fans to wonder if New Zealand Rugby is losing top talent prematurely.

Lock Ethan Blackadder has been a stalwart for the Crusaders, delivering a high work rate and leadership on the field.

Despite this, he hasn’t been included in All Blacks squads in 2025, with Robertson opting for other forwards to shape his pack.

Analysts suggest it’s a matter of team balance rather than a reflection on Blackadder’s form, but missing out year after year makes his snub hard to ignore.

Loose forward Dalton Papali’i was widely considered the natural successor to former All Blacks captain Sam Cane.

In 2025, however, Papali’i has fallen out of Robertson’s first-choice plans. Instead, he has captained the All Blacks XVon a European tour — showing that while still valued for leadership, he’s no longer seen as a top-tier selection.

For a player with over 30 test caps, being sidelined like this marks a significant shift in his international career trajectory.

Flanker Tom Christie has joined Newcastle Red Bulls and is already competing in the Gallagher Premiership.

His move overseas has effectively made him ineligible for All Blacks selection, but even before leaving, Christie had struggled to break into the main squad in 2025. His situation mirrors Sotutu’s and highlights a growing trend: some of New Zealand’s top forwards are looking abroad for opportunities while Robertson experiments with squad combinations at home.