Former All Black Stephen Donald has weighed in on coach Scott Robertson's bold lineup shuffle for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup rematch against Australia, spotlighting the decision to slot Quinn Tupaea at outside centre. Despite a recent victory at Eden Park securing the Bledisloe Cup for the 23rd consecutive year, Robertson has revamped his squad with seven new starters and five bench changes for the clash in Perth.
Among the notable changes is Tupaea stepping into the outside centre position, previously occupied by Billy Proctor in most of the 2025 season's tests. Tupaea, primarily seen as a number 12, will now partner with Jordie Barrett in the midfield. This shift comes after Tupaea’s dynamic performance off the bench in last week’s game, where his synergy with Barrett helped engineer a crucial try.
"He's an outstanding 12. And you just haven’t seen him play 13. He might’ve played a few games here and there for Waikato, and the Chiefs, I can’t remember him starting a game at 13 for the Chiefs. They’re just so contrasting positions, particularly defensively. And there’s no bigger defensive assignment in world rugby at the moment than going up against Joseph Suaalii."
Donald articulated the challenges Tupaea faces in adapting to this new role, especially given the stark differences between the two midfield positions and the formidable opposition posed by Suaalii. Despite these concerns, Donald praised Tupaea's impact thus far, "He’s made every post a winner, Quinn this year. When you think about his appearances off the bench... He was very good against Australia in game one. He had a couple of beautiful cameos against the Boks as well off the bench."
The reconfiguration in the All Blacks lineup isn't just about individual player shifts; it also presents a somewhat perplexing situation in the back-row, adding another layer of intrigue to Robertson’s strategic adjustments. This weekend's game will not only test Tupaea's adaptability but also Robertson's tactical acumen as the All Blacks continue their dominance in the Rugby Championship.
All Blacks team: The exact lineup details remain under wraps with several changes expected both in the starting XV and on the bench.
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Former All Black Stephen Donald has weighed in on coach Scott Robertson's bold lineup shuffle for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup rematch against Australia, spotlighting the decision to slot Quinn Tupaea at outside centre. Despite a recent victory at Eden Park securing the Bledisloe Cup for the 23rd consecutive year, Robertson has revamped his squad with seven new starters and five bench changes for the clash in Perth.
Among the notable changes is Tupaea stepping into the outside centre position, previously occupied by Billy Proctor in most of the 2025 season's tests. Tupaea, primarily seen as a number 12, will now partner with Jordie Barrett in the midfield. This shift comes after Tupaea’s dynamic performance off the bench in last week’s game, where his synergy with Barrett helped engineer a crucial try.
"He's an outstanding 12. And you just haven’t seen him play 13. He might’ve played a few games here and there for Waikato, and the Chiefs, I can’t remember him starting a game at 13 for the Chiefs. They’re just so contrasting positions, particularly defensively. And there’s no bigger defensive assignment in world rugby at the moment than going up against Joseph Suaalii."
Donald articulated the challenges Tupaea faces in adapting to this new role, especially given the stark differences between the two midfield positions and the formidable opposition posed by Suaalii. Despite these concerns, Donald praised Tupaea's impact thus far, "He’s made every post a winner, Quinn this year. When you think about his appearances off the bench... He was very good against Australia in game one. He had a couple of beautiful cameos against the Boks as well off the bench."
The reconfiguration in the All Blacks lineup isn't just about individual player shifts; it also presents a somewhat perplexing situation in the back-row, adding another layer of intrigue to Robertson’s strategic adjustments. This weekend's game will not only test Tupaea's adaptability but also Robertson's tactical acumen as the All Blacks continue their dominance in the Rugby Championship.
All Blacks team: The exact lineup details remain under wraps with several changes expected both in the starting XV and on the bench.