Dave Rennie’s All Blacks contenders under the microscope in Super Rugby semifinals
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
ANALYSIS: Earlier this season Crusaders skipper David Havili joked that the younger members of the squad may not be able to identify the fresh panel of All Blacks' coaches.
Havili was fooling no-one.
If a player is signed-up with NZ Rugby, he will have aspirations to get his hooks into an All Blacks jersey.
That, in turn, means he’s certain to have knowledge of the people who could alter the trajectory of his life, and boost his pay packet, with a flick of a pen.
Apart from those players who represent other nations - Hurricanes lock Warner Dearns is ineligible because he plays for Japan - or have already signed contracts with overseas clubs, the majority of them will have a burning desire to impress All Blacks coach Dave Rennie and his crew.
There's no better time to do this than during the last two weeks of the Super Rugby Pacific finals.
Rennie and his co-selectors Graham Henry and Neil Barnes shouldn't have to lift a finger; if they have to explain to the Hurricanes, Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders players what's at stake, they may as well drop their NZ Rugby-issued laptops into the pond and retreat to the hills to make moonshine.
The four teams are in a privileged position.
Unlike the Highlanders, who weren't invited to join the playoffs party because they failed to qualify, the teams north of the Waitaki River have the opportunity to advance to next weekend's final.
This is what we know.
The Chiefs host the resurgent Crusaders in Hamilton on Friday night, followed by the Hurricanes meeting the calamitous Blues in Wellington the following evening.
It goes without saying all involved should be committed to playing at maximum revs, although given the defensive output from the Blues during their four consecutive defeats, it could be argued they've mislaid the precious literature on this topic.
There will be no chance for Rennie, who is set to return to New Zealand after guiding the Kobe Kobelco Steelers to a national club title in Japan, to take extended leave and bake on a beach.
The real graft is about to begin.
Rennie will reveal his 34-man All Blacks squad for the Nations Championship tests against France, Italy and Ireland in New Zealand on July 22.
NZ Rugby chief executive officer Steve Lancaster said on Monday that Rennie had been up to his gills in work as he juggled his commitments.
When Steve Hansen was coaching the All Blacks he acknowledged many punters and fans could pick the bulk of a national squad. The more difficult part was filling the last couple of spots on the roster, and that's when the selectors earn their coin.
The domestic tests in July are the tip of the iceberg.
Rennie will later name a 44-man roster for the seven-match tour of South Africa.
That trip will be followed by the third test against the Springboks in Baltimore, two Bledisloe Cup matches, three Nations Championships tests in the northern hemisphere and a playoff fixture.
This weekend's games will provide the All Blacks selectors an opportunity to assess how the most talented players handle the heat.
Five capped players who could play a bigger role in 2026
David Havili (Crusaders)
Last year second five-eighth Havili led the Crusaders to a Super Rugby Pacific title.
There was no black jersey at the end of the rugby rainbow.
Although he produced a series of excellent performances, and was one of the form No 12s in the competition, Havili wasn't wanted by then-All Blacks coach Scott Robertson.
Rennie has a long list of quality second-fives to choose from. Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes) and Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs) have been the most consistent.
Timoci Tavatavanawai wasn't quite as sharp for the Highlanders this season, which may have reflected a heavy workload; he beat the most defenders (81) out of anyone else in the tournament but looked zapped towards the end of the round-robin.
Last season Anton Lienert-Brown was valuable for the Chiefs - he can cover both midfield spots - but has been playing for Rennie's club in Japan this year.
Havili wasn't anywhere near his best in the first half of this season; uncharacteristic errors on both sides of the ball marred performances, as the defending champions' bumbled along.
In recent weeks, however, Havili has more than flourished.
Havili has flicked the switch, and opened fire on opponents. This is a player who thrives when the pressure intensifies.
He would be perfect for the tour of South Africa. Havili could be an automatic selection for a mid-week team, and a handy option on the bench for the tests.
Christian Lio-Willie (Crusaders)
No 8 Lio-Willie made his test debut last year against the French in Dunedin. He earned another cap the following weekend in Wellington.
Then he was made to wait. Lio-Willie slipped down the order. Wallace Sititi and Peter Lakai returned from injury, forcing Lio-Willie to join Otago in the NPC.
He was called in as an injury replacement on the northern tour and took the field as a replacement against Wales in Cardiff.
In recent weeks he has thrived under the roof for the Crusaders in Christchurch.
If Rennie wants players who are athletic, physical and are willing to bounce off the turf and stay involved in the game, Lio-Willie should be an option for the trip to South Africa.
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes)
Aumua never wore black in 2025.
Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei'aho and Brodie McAlister were selected as the three hookers to play France in the domestic series last year.
Aumua wasn't considered by the selectors because of the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Hurricanes ill-fated qualifying final against the Brumbies in Canberra.
When he returned to work for Wellington, concussions forced him to stop pulling on the boots. That ended his chances of adding to his 20 test caps.
Codie Taylor, Taukei'aho and George Bell were picked for the northern tour, the latter making just one appearance as a substitute against the Welsh.
Barring injury, Aumua should be an automatic selection for the July tests.
Ruben Love (Hurricanes)
If Love isn't wanted for the July tests, Rennie should erect an Anderson Shelter in his back yard and fill it with enough provisions to last a decade.
Because the rugby brethren in Hurricanes country won't be happy. And rightly so.
It would be a travesty if Love isn't selected for the first squad of the year.
He's risen to the challenge at No 10 for the 'Canes this season. In the qualifying final against the Brumbies last weekend he slotted all nine conversion attempts and a penalty.
The experienced Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) may be the best man to start at first-five against the French in Christchurch. Love could get a run the following week against Italy in Wellington. That would give Rennie the option of deciding who would be best to wear No 10 against the Irish in Auckland.
Where does that leave Beauden Barrett? Probably in the squad as cover for first-five and fullback. He's struggled to get anywhere near his best in an underwhelming Blues side.
Richie Mo'unga, having completed his work in Japan, is supposed to wait until after the tour of South Africa before being available for the All Blacks and play for Canterbury instead.
What a farce.
NZ Rugby has lost the plot if it makes Mo'unga stay at home.
Don't be surprised if Henry, a former All Blacks coach and headmaster, convinces NZ Rugby to stop being so pedantic and allow Mo'unga to tour.
Noah Hotham (Crusaders)
The All Blacks need more than just a reliable deputy for Cam Roigard.
They require a player who can turn up the temperature, and frighten the wits out of dozy defenders around the ruck edges.
Roigard is undisputed king of halfbacks in New Zealand. He makes the odd mistake, but doesn't dwell on them.
Instead he dusts himself off and gets back into the swing of things; bullet passes, booming kicks from rucks that carve off large slices of territory (much like Antoine Dupont) and sniping runs.
His bag of tricks is a heavy one.
Hotham will get an opportunity to unlock his box of goodies against the Chiefs. Hotham has got size and attitude when he runs and his distribution is accurate.
If he shades Chiefs No 9 Cortez Ratima in Hamilton, it could determine who advances to the final.
Uncapped players to watch in the semis
Josh Moorby (Hurricanes)
Fullback/wing Moorby has made 14 appearances for the Hurricanes this season. All have been in the starting team, and he's scored 13 tries. Last weekend he wore the No 14 jersey.
Moorby has started more games, and accumulated more minutes than anyone else on the Hurricanes' roster. He has beaten 45 tacklers, the fourth best player in that category.
Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw has got excellent value from a player who, unlike the All Blacks players in the squad, must take rest weeks as part of an agreement with NZ Rugby.
Moorby could be an asset on a tour of South Africa, as Rennie seeks hardened professionals to do the job in the non-test fixtures.
Having played in France, Moorby has been exposed to an alternative style to Down Under.
With Hurricanes team-mate Fehi Fineanganofo contracted to join English club Newcastle, unless he can extract himself from the deal, and Caleb Tangitau injured, Rennie will be keeping an open mind when searching for wings.
Emoni Narawa will play no further part in the Chiefs' season, and Leroy Carter's comeback, when he was listed on the bench, was short-lived. He was withdrawn before kickoff against the Reds in Hamilton last weekend.
Jamie Hannah (Crusaders)
Rennie has given up on Japan-based lock Brodie Retallick playing for the All Blacks this year.
Good thing, too.
Former coach Robertson made the mistake of chirping that he wanted Mo'unga back from Japan during his tenure. It could have been interpreted as being disrespectful to the incumbents.
Which has nothing to do with Hannah.
Crusaders second rower Hannah could provide additional cover in the second row for the All Blacks. Captain Scott Barrett could be out for five months after an operation on his back.
Fabian Holland is still recovering from surgery on the shoulder injury that prevented him playing for the Highlanders, and the Blues' Patrick Tuipulotu and Sam Darry are members of a team that has major issues.
What's left? Tupou Vaa'i has been a corker for the Chiefs, and team-mate Josh Lord's best years could be ahead of him if he stays on the field.
Naitoa Ah Kuoi, also from the Chiefs stable, was on the fringes of the All Blacks in 2025 but never earned a cap.
He is having a fine season. So, too, is Hannah.
Kyren Taumoefolau (Chiefs)
The absence of Carter and Narawa has provided Taumoefolau with opportunities to make a statement on the wing, along with fellow uncapped players Isaac Hutchinson and Liam Coombes-Fabling.
Taumoefolau hasn't got close to matching the efforts of try-scoring maestro Fineanganofo (16 tries) but he's broken the defensive line on 16 occasions.
While Taumoefolau deserves kudos for the way he rebounded from being dropped from the Chiefs earlier in the season, fullback Hutchinson has done well to bounce back from the serious knee injury he suffered in club footy last year.
One of the form wings in recent weeks has been the Crusaders' Sevu Reece, but the All Black will play overseas later in the year and Rennie has to regenerate fresh talent ahead of the World Cup in Australia next year.
Reece has been excellent for the Crusaders, thriving under the roof in the stadium in Christchurch.
The semi in Hamilton on Friday night will be played under the stars and, if there's moisture on the grass, with a slippery ball.
That may not bother Reece. Rennie, regardless, must be tempted to bring in fresh blood.