All Blacks: Dave Rennie shakes up squad for French opener with bold and brave selections

All Blacks v France, Saturday, 7.05pm

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New era, bold selections.

Dave Rennie immediately stamped his mark on the All Blacks with his first squad selection to confront France in Christchurch on Saturday.

The headline was supposed to be rewarding Ruben Love’s compelling Super Rugby form with the keys to drive the All Blacks in the coveted No 10 jersey ahead of Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett.

Rennie instead surprised everyone with the composition of his loose forwards – and a positional switch for Will Jordan.

Rennie moved new captain Ardie Savea from openside to No 8. Peter Lakai will start his first professional match at blindside after starring for the Hurricanes – and impressing for the All Blacks last November – at the back of the scrum.

Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson is the flashpoint selection, though.

Rennie and forwards selector Neil Barnes have promoted Jacobson, considered by many a somewhat marginal squad selection, to openside flanker.

While he featured there for the Chiefs this season, Jacobson is not a traditional pilfering New Zealand openside. His strength lies in his defensive combativeness and work rate, which Rennie believes best complements Lakai and Savea for the abrasive French pack.

“It’s just numbers on the back for me,” Rennie said of his new-look loose forward trio. “We like Luke. He’s tough. He will have a real physical presence against the French and we think that’s really important. Peter and Ardie give us a post-tackle presence but they are excellent athletes who suit our type of game. It was the area we discussed most around combinations.”

Jacobson’s selection relegates Chiefs teammate Wallace Sititi to provide impact from the bench, and Anton Segner to wait at least another week for his test debut.

The other notable talking point is in the back three, where Rennie signalled his intentions to play Will Jordan on the wing rather than fullback, where he featured for the past two years and previously spoke openly about that being his preference.

McKenzie endured a horror Super Rugby final for the Chiefs from first five-eighths, but he produced his best rugby for the All Blacks from fullback last year, with his bravery in the air coming to the fore. That’s where he will start Rennie’s tenure, too.

“The two best fullbacks in the world on the field at the same time,” Rennie said.

Jordan’s switch to the right edge leaves Super Rugby’s joint single-season record try scorer Fehi Fineanganofo to debut from the bench alongside Hurricanes prop Xavier Numia.

“I spoke to Will a couple of months ago when I was down here with the Crusaders about fullback versus wing. He said a couple of years ago he would have always said fullback, now he’s happy with either,” Rennie explained, while suggesting later in the match McKenzie will switch to first five and Jordan to fullback.

“The type of game we’ll play he’ll get his hands on the ball a lot. Having a couple of guys in the backfield with that skill set, great aerially, great kicking games, optimistic and will have a crack when it’s on, is really exciting for us.”

Four Hurricanes in the starting team is light given their untouchable championship run, but no one could accuse Rennie of starting his tenure with any form of nervous conservatism that dogged the previous regime.

That stance extends to backing Love to transfer his hot form to the test scene.

It’s too early to state Love seizing the No 10 jersey is a definitive change of the playmaking guard. Richie Mo’unga is, after all, waiting in the wings to satisfy eligibility criteria before his recall to the All Blacks.

Rennie has, though, entrusted Love to capitalise on his confidence with his maiden start for the All Blacks at first five – in his sixth test match appearance.

Inexperience, be damned. Love’s freedom of expression must be harnessed.

“He was outstanding. I’m sure there won’t be too many arguments about that selection. He sits in among Cam [Roigard] and Jordie [Barrett] which will give him a lot of comfort, combination and communication. He’s really confident, clear. He’s spent a lot of time with Mike [Blair]. His ability even running things in meetings has been really impressive.”

Love’s promotion dictates that McKenzie or Barrett would miss selection.

Barrett’s omission is notable, therefore, after he largely led the All Blacks from No 10 in Scott Robertson’s two-year tenure. The centurion did, however, arrive at this test campaign after an underwhelming season with the Blues.

“I’ve been so impressed with Beauden. I haven’t coached him before. His contribution has been massive. He’s come in; he’s training really well. To have someone of that quality sitting in the wings, it shows how strong we are in that position.”

Tupou Vaa’i’s absence through concussion thrusts Sam Darry into start alongside Josh Lord, which tests the All Blacks locking depth while Fabian Holland and Scott Barrett work their way back from injury.

Rennie also unveiled serious bench power underpinned by the all-Hurricanes’ front row of Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax alongside fellow forwards Sititi and Patrick Tuipulotu.

While the French land in New Zealand under familiar frustrating circumstances – missing eight Top 14 finalists – Rennie expects their heavy influence from European champions Bordeaux, with eight players in their starting side, to ensure they challenge through their contestable kicking, ball movement, offloading and physical strengths.

“The French have 28 professional teams, and they have the best competition in the world. They’ve got so much depth. Whoever they put out there will be a quality side.”

All Blacks team to play France: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Sam Darry, 6. Peter Lakai, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Ardie Savea (c), 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Damian McKenzie

Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Billy Proctor, 23. Fehi Fineanganofo

Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.