Scott Robertson's side faces an uphill battle on this end of year tour. Graphic: Liam K. Swiggs Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The All Blacks head off for the last leg of a long 2025 season on Friday, with the first stop being a rematch with Ireland in Chicago. The following weeks see them move to Edinburgh to face Scotland, then London for a date with England, before finishing in Cardiff against Wales.
That'll make it 13 tests for the year, with the current record standing at seven wins and two losses. So while obviously 11 wins overall is the target, which of the home unions stands the best chance of denying the All Blacks that record?
Ireland
Ireland v All Blacks
Kick-off: 9:10am Sunday 2 November (all times NZT)
Soldier Field, Chicago
Live coverage on RNZ
Autumn Nations Series, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 8/11/2024 Ireland vs New Zealand New Zealand’s Damian McKenzie with Jamison Gibson-Park of Ireland Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
This test's location has meant that the tour's status as a 'Grand Slam' is debatable, however this might as well be an Irish home game. It's not actually that far for them to go and Irish fans travel in large numbers anyway, plus Chicago has a rich Irish-American heritage.
Andy Farrell's team finished third in an incredibly tight Six Nations earlier this year, however the British & Irish Lions tour means that little can be read into their results since. The All Blacks triumphed 23-13 last year in Dublin and will be hoping that the Irish will be rusty again in what will be their first test match of the northern hemisphere season.
Scotland
Scotland v All Blacks
Kick-off: 4:10am 9 November
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Live coverage on RNZ
All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke is tackled by two Scotland defenders at Murrayfield. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
There's always an element of unknown with the Scots, given the infrequency of test matches against them. However, Gregor Townsend's side did give the All Blacks a scare the last time they met, with a couple of late tries sealing a 31-23 win.
But while the team might not be familiar, Scotland's Six Nations campaign this year followed the same script as it always seems to. They came in with a lot of hype around their exciting style of play, and while they did showcase some great rugby at times, just couldn't pull off the results that they needed to claim a title.
England
England v All Blacks
Kick-off: 4:10am 16 November
Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), London
Live coverage on RNZ
Asafo Aumua offloads under pressure. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2024 www.photosport.nz
So here's the one that most people will have their minds on, because England at Twickenham has been the scene of some of the most dramatic All Black tests in the last decade. Both wins there have been by one and two points respectively, while in 2022 a late English charge saw them secure a 25-all draw.
Steve Borthwick would've taken plenty from the tour to NZ his side undertook last year, and now can draw on an in-form group of young talent that are making their mark on the English Prem competition. The question most are asking is whether he will take a chance on them in a big test like this one.
Wales
Wales v All Blacks
Kick-off: 4:10am 23 November
Principality Stadium
Live coverage on RNZ
Beauden Barrett runs in a try. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Welsh rugby is in big trouble, with the recent rescue mission by Warren Gatland only making things far worse. The one upside? They are coming off their first win since the 2023 World Cup, having beaten Japan back in July and unlike the other sides, it was one that wasn't shorn of too many Lions reps.
So at least there's some improvement and really Steve Tandy's side will have absolutely nothing to lose by attacking across the park. They can take some heart from the fact that it will be the last test of the year for the All Blacks, with fatigue very evident in the corresponding fixture last season.
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