All Blacks coach Dave Rennie puts store in skipper Ardie Savea
THREE WISE MEN: New Zealand All Blacks coach Dave Rennie flanked by assistants Graham Henry and Neil Barnes after announcing the All Blacks squad for the forthcoming Nations Championship Tests, including the July 18 clash with Ireland iN Auckland. Pic: Ben Strang, AFP via Getty Images
IN two-and-a-half years as Wallabies coach, Joe Schmidt hasn’t settled on a permanent captain. But in his first course of action since taking over from Scott Robertson as New Zealand head coach, Dave Rennie didn’t hesitate to name his skipper.
While four fresh faces – Xavier Numia, Anton Segner, Josh Moorby and Fehi Fineanganofo - dominated the headlines surrounding Rennie’s first All Blacks squad ahead of their Nations Championship, which features a Test against Ireland at Eden Park on July 18, the appointment of Ardie Savea as captain was arguably more important.
The move represented the latest move away from Scott Robertson’s camp, but it also ensured there would not be a repeat of the last two years when Scott Barrett’s place in the All Blacks’ side was debated.
Barrett might have missed the entire 2026 season so far, but Rennie made it clear that Savea – the 2023 World Rugby player of the year – was his man on Monday as he named his 34-man squad.
No ifs or buts, no vice-captains. Just the ‘C’ next to Savea’s name.
“We thought we had a couple of really good options in Codie Taylor and Ardie, both highly respected and really good men,” Rennie said. “And what we know, Ardie’s not a massive talker, but he leads through his actions, and I know you get the best out of Ardie when he’s going to take on that responsibility, he’s played 100 tests, he’s highly respected.
“We had a couple of really good options there I think, and certainly Codie and others will have a big role around leadership.”
While Schmidt wouldn’t confirm his captain for the Ireland Test after selecting a 37-man squad, a group with big holes in it, especially a lack of size, and more on promise rather than form, Rennie picked a squad largely on merit.
The task was made easier by four of New Zealand’s five Super Rugby sides making the semi-finals, but several first-time members came from the clouds to earn selection.
Segner, the Blues loose forward, who moved from Germany to Nelson in New Zealand’s South Island as a teenager, earned a maiden call-up after a brilliant season.
Moorby, 27, finished the season with a bang and his 17 tries, including two in the Hurricanes’ 60-5 demolition over the Chiefs, was a competition record.
He was joined at the top of tryscoring list by Fineanganofo, who earlier this year signed a mega deal with Newcastle but could yet wriggle his way out of it.
Both men, as well as Segner, were picked on form and could feature against France, Italy and Ireland.
Rennie, who sat next to Sir Graham Henry, the World Cup-winning All Blacks coach, on Monday and has returned as a selector, said the New Zealand brains trust was on the same page around regarding selection.
“We’re pretty aligned, surprisingly, and it’s not easy to pick because there’s so much talent out there, there’s some really good players that we’ve left out, but maybe they’ll get an opportunity when we take 44 to Africa, so we’re just excited with the group we’ve chosen,” he said.
“We picked 34 guys before that final and that didn’t change, so it’s exciting to see them all on Wednesday.” While the All Blacks picked a strong squad, the tricky part is coming as to how all the pieces of the puzzle come together.
Rising playmaker Ruben Love was sparingly used under Robertson, but the Hurricanes star could start in the No.10 jersey after having the same impact at the Super Rugby champions as Beauden Barrett did a decade ago when he burst onto the world stage.
Barrett, 35, was selected, but the two-time World Rugby player of the year is not assured of selection after struggling to find his best form in 2026, especially with livewire back Damian McKenzie still very much in the mix. Richie Mo’unga’s looming return to New Zealand rugby could even squeeze him out later in the year.
Love is expected to be one of a handful of players in the All Blacks’ backline selected by Rennie, including halfback Cam Roigard, but the 9-10-12-13 combination could be broken up by Quinn Tupaea.
The Chiefs No.12 was rightly named Super Rugby player of the year, and the All Blacks midfielder could be shifted to outside centre to allow for Jordie Barrett to feature one place closer to the action.
The Hurricanes have an embarrassment of riches in the tight-five, with locks Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa’i kicking on in 2026 to make it easier for Rennie.
But the former Wallabies coach, who was sacked in early 2023 before signing a three-year deal with Kobe, will likely have a harder job selecting his back-row.
While Savea is a lock, who joins him in the back-row remains to be seen, especially with a lack of height present in the options selected.
All Blacks squad (*signifies new cap): Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho; Ethan de Groot, George Bower, Xavier Numia*, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi; Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Lord, Sam Darry; Peter Lakai, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea (captain), Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson, Anton Segner*.
Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Kyle Preston; Ruben Love, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie; Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown; Caleb Clarke, Fehi Fineanganofo*, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby*, Will Jordan.
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