Lio-Willie Calls All Blacks Recall the 'Curveball You Want' After Shock Call-Up

Christian Lio-Willie has described his surprise All Blacks recall as the kind of curveball every player wants, after cancelling his Super Rugby preseason plans to fly to Europe for the Nations Championship. The 28-year-old Crusaders No. 8 admitted he was not expecting the call-up, having missed out on the initial squad for the Greatest Rivalry tour, but a string of injuries in the All Blacks' loose forwards opened the door. Lio-Willie produced another workhorse season for the Crusaders in 2026 and carried that form into the NPC, starting every game for both teams, yet the Test arena still seemed out of reach. A call from head coach Dave Rennie to say he had missed selection for the South Africa tour appeared to confirm he was further down the pecking order, but injuries to Shannon Frizell, Ardie Savea and Luke Jacobson changed the picture, and he was selected ahead of Semisi Ta'eiloa. The three-Test flanker, who made his debut in the first All Blacks match of 2025 against France and was not seen in black beyond that series, said being named officially for the first time, rather than as an injury replacement, made it very special. His focus had been on winning a championship with Otago, but now the November Tests against the northern hemisphere's best await instead.