All Blacks: Rennie rewards form but also shows his ruthless side

Ardie Savea after his announcement as All Blacks captain.

The All Blacks’ new coaching regime headed by Dave Rennie has rewarded form with the selection of four new caps in his first squad of the year.

But it has also shown a ruthless side.

While Hurricanes prop Xavier Numia and wings Fehi Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby, plus Blues loose forward Anton Segner celebrated their recognition at the squad announcement in Feilding today, Rieko Ioane has returned from his sabbatical at Irish club Leinster to more of a cold shoulder than a warm embrace.

It is difficult to argue against Ioane’s omission from next month’s three Nations Championship Tests – and he will almost certainly make the extended squad for the tour of South Africa which starts in August.

Shock selections: Dave Rennie reveals his first All Blacks squad - Watch on TVNZ+

Ioane, 29, faced a difficult task of breaking into a midfield containing Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor and Anton Lienert-Brown. After the selectors put their faith in wings Fineangonofo and Moorby, plus incumbents Caleb Clarke and Leroy Carter, there was no place for him.

There is also no room for halfbacks Finlay Christie and Noah Hotham, fit-again loose forward Ethan Blackadder, or in-form flanker Du'Plessi Kirifi.

Will Jordan is the only specialist fullback in the squad, although Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett and Ruben Love, all listed as first-fives, plus second-five Jordie Barrett and perhaps Moorby could do a job there.

As far as the new quartet of Numia, Fineangonofo, Moorby and Segner are concerned, they all bring a dynamism and flexibility the selectors want for a game plan that will be based on the All Blacks’ traditional talents of pace and power.

New All Blacks, from left, Anton Segner, Xavier Numia, Fehi Fineagonofo and Josh Moorby at the squad announcement.

Fineangonofo, 23, has signed with Newcastle and even earlier this month appeared unlikely to feature for the All Blacks, despite his form in scoring 17 tries this season – a competition record also reached by Moorby.

After today’s announcement he would say only that his agent was looking after his contract details but he is presumably more likely to be staying in New Zealand long term now than he was a week or two ago.

First German-born All Black

Segner’s story is even more uplifting – his inclusion the first time a German-born player has made an All Blacks squad. He said he called his parents in Germany once he got the call from Rennie – at 4am their time. Segner added that they not surprisingly struggled to get back to sleep afterwards.

Few will argue against the selection of Ardie Savea as captain – a role he would likely have been given even had incumbent Scott Barrett not been struck down with a back injury, for which the Crusader received surgery recently.

Savea and Rennie are close from their time together at Kobe in Japan but Savea maintained today that he was only asked about the role yesterday.

“You never take it for granted… to be asked by the All Blacks coach [to be captain] is a huge honour,” Savea said.

“Obviously, I spent time with Rens at Kobe. I think it’s a testament to him – we only had a few conversations about the All Blacks. He was locked into what we were doing in Japan.”

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie, pictured between selector Sir Graham Henry, left, and assistant coach Neil Barnes, at today's squad announcement.

Asked about the style of a man who replaced Scott Robertson early this year, Savea replied: “One thing I know is he’ll make sure we work hard and keep us accountable… it’s going to be exciting.

“When people come together with one goal that they’re trying to achieve and you embrace the people and their stories and testimonies it can be a beautiful thing.”

Savea, who has 106 caps for the All Blacks, has captained the team many times but this is the first time he has been named full-time skipper at the start of a campaign.

He has plenty of previous leadership experience at the Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika and Kobe. When asked about the difference of leading New Zealand, he said: "The biggest difference is the pressure and responsibility and knowing you’re not only representing the players and the team but the whole nation and every single Kiwi around the world. That can be a burden or you can walk towards it and embrace it.”

Savea’s message of unity after the bloodletting that marked the end of the All Blacks’ 2025 season extended when he was asked about the Pasifika roots he and Rennie, who has Cook Islands heritage, share.

“We’re all Pacific – whether you’re brown, white, whatever,” Savea said. “We’re all Pacific… the ocean connects us all. The next 17 months [before the World Cup] is about not only the team but the country – coming together and trying to win.”

Savea said he had not spoken to Scott Barrett after accepting the captaincy, but added he had sent him a message.

All Blacks squad

The 34-man squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby Club, province, Test caps)

* denotes new cap

Forwards (19)

Hookers: Asafo Aumua (29 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 20), Codie Taylor (35 / Crusaders / Canterbury /106), Samisoni Taukei’aho ( 28 / Chiefs / Waikato / 43)

Props: Ethan De Groot (27 / Highlanders / Southland / 40), George Bower (34 / Crusaders / Otago / 25), Xavier Numia * (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0), Tyrel Lomax (30 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 48), Fletcher Newell (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 35), Pasilio Tosi (27 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 16)

Locks: Tupou Vaa’i (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 45), Patrick Tuipulotu (33 / Blues / Auckland / 56), Josh Lord (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 12), Sam Darry (25 / Blues / Canterbury / 8)

Loose Forwards: Peter Lakai (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 8), Simon Parker (26 / Chiefs / Northland / 8), Ardie Savea (32 / Moana Pasifika / Wellington / 106) (Captain), Wallace Sititi (23 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 19), Luke Jacobson (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 24), Anton Segner * (24 / Blues / Auckland / 0)

Backs (15)

Halfbacks: Cameron Roigard (25 / Hurricanes / Counties Manukau / 17), Cortez Ratima (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 21), Kyle Preston (26 / Crusaders / Wellington / 1), First Five-Eighths, Ruben Love (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 5), Beauden Barrett (35 / Blues / Taranaki / 144), Damian McKenzie (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 74)

Midfielders: Jordie Barrett (29 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 78), Quinn Tupaea (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 24), Billy Proctor (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 11), Anton Lienert-Brown (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 88)

Outside Backs: Caleb Clarke (27 / Blues / Auckland / 33), Fehi Fineanganofo * (23 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 0), Leroy Carter (27 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 6), Josh Moorby * (27 / Hurricanes / Waikato / 0), Will Jordan (28 / Crusaders / Tasman / 54)

Injury cover: Lock Jamie Hannah * (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 0).

Unavailable due to injury: Tamaiti Williams; Scott Barrett; Fabian Holland; Leicester Fainga’anuku.