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Commentator's reason for backing Billy Proctor-Barrett combination in the AB's
By Henry Lee
In 2024, Hurricanes midfielder Billy Proctor made his debut for the All Blacks in San Diego against Fiji, where the 25-year-old scored a try in the 26th minute.
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Fast forward to 2025, Proctor has just returned to the Hurricanes starting lineup after a long period on the sideline with an injury. The Hurricanes midfielder travelled home during the end-of-year Northern Tour for the birth of his first child, after appearing twice for the All Blacks in his debut season under Scott Robertson.
Proctor’s performance on Saturday night against the Brumbies in Canberra clearly caught the public’s attention, scoring an impressive try and helping the Hurricanes secure New Zealand’s first victory in Australia this season.
Current Sky Sports commentator and analyst Taylah Johnson believes Proctor’s longtime combination with Jordie Barrett is something that could prove to be important in the race for the All Blacks midfield.
Barrett returns from his short sabbatical at Irish club Leinster ahead of the home France series in July, but who Robertson picks alongside Barrett is a popular topic of discussion.
“His combination already has been tried and tested with Jordie Barrett, so I think Jordie at 12 and Billy at 13 is pretty good,” Johnson said.
Former All Black Jeff Wilson has been impressed with Proctor’s first couple of appearances in 2025, after a tough ending to the season in 2024.
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“He played two Tests for the All Blacks last year and wasn’t seen again and he’s had a second game for the Hurricanes now after a long delay through injury, he came off the bench last week,” Wilson told The Breakdown on Sunday night.
“This was the Billy proctor that the Hurricanes were missing, and he was very good, and they’ve admitted they missed him. What you started to see was his impact on both sides of the ball, whether it’s carrying, whether it’s a clean out, whether it’s his defence, whether it’s being a bully on the outside channel.
“I like the way they used him, he’s got good footwork, he’s a different type of centre. It’s just whether or not that’s what they’re looking for at the next level. But for him to make a statement and if he continues to do that and build on that, to me, it’s a great start to his season.”
Former Wallabies centre Morgan Turinui likes what he sees from Proctor, saying that his playing style might be the only thing holding him back in the All Blacks.
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“I think he’s a gun and style is the only reason he hasn’t played more Tests, I would have thought it’s how he fits in an All Black team,” Turinui said on The Breakdown.
“I think it’s very much been the Cameron Roigard show at the Hurricanes, everything good from them has been around him.
“Proctor just gives them a different element out wide, he frees up the back three because he can play out on an edge as well. I think he’s great for the whole collective at the Hurricanes.”
Wilson is still unclear about why Robertson didn’t use Proctor more often last year before the birth of his first child, especially with how well he performed for the Hurricanes.
“There must be something going on there though for us not to have seen him more last year, I was surprised that we didn’t see him and another couple of Test matches for the All Blacks,” Wilson said.
“I thought there were plenty of chances to see him play and see whether his game would transfer, and we just didn’t get that in the big Test matches.
“We’re not any further along when he was in really good form and when he played against Fiji, he was outstanding, did everything he could ask of a player in his first Test match.”
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Proctor is a better option than a certain Canterbury back who appears out of form and out of fitness but is a favourite with the AB coach.
Ab selectors have no balls. Hoped that would change after foster made injury his only selector, sadly not
I’d love to see an old fashion trial game where the coach’s favorites had to mark the players who are actually in form.
It will never happen though as it will cost a test and the associated revenue (not much international interest from an All Blacks trial atm). Also, the coaches won’t like their favorites being shown up on tv.
Yep they dopped the game against Argentina and then there nuts for the rematch, where I’m sure they would have been wanting to rotate (Jordie had to play 8 straight games instead).
I just don’t see it happening, not before this WC is over. Unfortunately.
Gone are the days when players were picked mostly on form. The press like to romanticise about the good old days when that was true, and in fairness, so do we - the fans.
The fact remains; the ABs are more like a club team now, and Reiko is locked in with a big paying contract, has been heavily invested in at 13, so there he will remain.
Yes there is still some room for form, but taking the place of a senior player with a big juicy leadership group contract, and sabbatical clauses to keep him put until the WC, is probably not one of those opportunities.
Heck, they respect him so much, they award him with leading the haka, despite acting like a 13 year old in his spat with Sexton.
So we’ll just have to get used to blind on attack Reiko. In fairness, he’s been very solid on defence at international level, and that’s nothing to be scoffed at.
But I look forward to (or hope for) seeing Proctor, Faingaʻanuku, and others compete to replace him. Both are players who recognise there are 3 blokes playing outside them.
The team decided to back Ioane against the BS claims from grubby Sexton. Sexton started the BS in NZ , continued it into the WC then during the match. Ioane REACTED. And so he should. No need to put up with that Loser Sexton and his derogatory attitude.
Is Sexton the only player ever to lose 4 straight world cup 1/4 finals? He got angry and lost the plot.
There’s always going to be opportunities though johnz, and he has one now already being elevated up higher than last year.
Not sure what you mean but “it” though.
I don’t actually see that as really being his problem. In fact one of his key failings is he doesn’t attack his on channels space correctly because he’s simple feeding it to his outsides instead, as apposed to Proctor who only uses them last second if needed.
Can't agree more with this comment. Contracts obviously play a big part. Super disappointing
Early days yet to be deciding which players will occupy the AB midfield as there are several candidates. Proctor still needs a couple more games under his belt but him outside the 2 Barretts could make sense. Faainganuku and Tatananawai must also come under consideration ditto Havili & Ennor. ALB & RI to my mind are inferior to all of the aforementioned even though they have been tried in the past . Don’t envy Razor having to make some tough choices
ALB will still be injured no doubt and Leicester unavailable. When is Ennor coming back again? Also like Tavatavanawai and a couple of other different options over Havili. I’m not sure Havili works to well with someone like Proctor, grate for a Rieko combination though.
But no doubt Havili and Rieko will be selected again regardless of form, but with three of your names likely out of the equation it’s going to still be interesting (hopefully lol).
ALB is a far superior player to Ennor. Sadly he has an injured shoulder by the looks of it which will keep him out but Ennor and LF are not serious selection options.
Ennor pales in comparison to everyone else. He is never mentioned by anyone who isn’t a die hard Crusaders fanboy.
Proctor just gives them a different element out wide, he frees up the back three because he can play out on an edge as well.
ie He does what a centre is supposed to do…which demonstrably RI does not. Wont matter a damn though. Razor is besotted with RI. Blinkered selections are a feature of all AB teams.
Agree with ya mate but wouldn't say besotted just playing it safe in His 1st year as head coach! Hopefully Proctor gets more game time this year the drums are beating!
Yep, for a while now, I’m thinking McAlister days? Hard to imagine a Buck or Cullen situation these days.
Still, Proctor will get his chance to test his defence and see if he can handle the big games as well as Rieko. Test level is what’s important, not so much Super, but was indeed pleasing to see a center handle his options well. I think the only other kiwi I’ve seen do it this year is Ennor, if you’re not counting Patafilo, or even those running around masquerading as aussies.
I’m not sure what is known behind the scenes, but from my perspective a Barrett-Proctor combination in the ABs midfield is a no-brainer at this point. It is a proven combination at domestic level, with Jordie also an established performer on the international scene.
Proctor was only blooded last year (and went home early on the EOYT for family reasons) and injured at the start of this year, but in just one game has done more than Ioane has done all season (and to be honest in every season). Ioane could still be a world class winger, but Proctor’s form is a debate-killer.
Eh, that’s going a step too far Another, why add in a poor distributor if you’re going with Proctor?
Is it? Or is Rieko’s (in peoples eyes)? lol
First I’d love to know who they’re going to go with at 12 (if not using Jordie) to start with. Would Havili be a better link assistor or would he just try and pully Proctors role by trying big skip passes to the wing? I’d like a lot of other combinations before that but it might be what we see first.
Yep, a Barrett/ Proctor combo definitely is the future, but the return of Fainga'anuku complicates matters. Cause suddenly we have an excess of midfielders, and Robertson prefers someone who can cover 12 and 13 on the bench. Fainga'anuku can play Wing, but he’s far better in the midfield. Likewise Reiko can play Centre, but he’s better on the Wing. Not to mention Robertson will be looking to blood a new 12 and 11/ 14 as well this year.