Bolters? Sackings? Who will be picked in the All Blacks 34-man squad for July tests?

Thursday, 18 June 2026

ANALYSIS: The naming of the All Blacks squad under newly-appointed coach Dave Rennie may tell us as much about the man in charge as it does about the style he wants the team to play.

It will take place at the Feilding Yellows rugby club - All Blacks test centurion Aaron Smith is its most famous son - in Feilding on Monday.

The stakes are high for everyone.

Not just for NZ Rugby, Rennie and the 34 players that will be listed in the All Blacks squad for the three domestic Nations Championship tests in July.

Millions of fans in New Zealand and overseas will be seeking proof that the All Blacks are going to produce the form that's going to be required to make them a combative force against all opponents in 2026.

What we want to know is this: Will Rennie use the tests against France, Italy and Ireland as an opportunity bring uncapped players into his squad or will he wait until the seven-match tour of South Africa in August and September to be adventurous with his selections?

NZ Rugby was determined to turn a fresh page when it ditched previous coach Scott Robertson in January.

Rather than be loyal and trust him to continue to create depth in each position ahead of the World Cup in Australia next year, NZ Rugby chair David Kirk and his fellow directors tore up Robertson's contract with two years left to run.

NZ Rugby has appointed Rennie to not only develop talent and implement a strategy that will give the All Blacks a genuine shot at winning the Webb Ellis Cup, but to play with accuracy and flair.

If the All Blacks succeed in playing Total Rugby while increasing the winning percentage, it would manifest in fans agreeing with NZ Rugby's decision to appoint Rennie; it could also prove important when NZ Rugby goes to the market and seeks fresh contracts from potential commercial partners.

Rennie won't have it easy. He admitted as much when he was preferred ahead of Jamie Joseph for the job on March 3.

Time is short. The season is long. The challenges, especially in South Africa, are enormous.

So, having fulfilled his duties with the Kobe Kobelco Steelers in Japan, which won the League One club competition, Rennie finally gets the chance to pivot and focus solely on the All Blacks.

Last year, prior to the northern tour, Robertson named a predictable squad and, in doing so, stuck with several players who had struggled for form or were unlikely to feature at the World Cup.

Halfback Finlay Christie and wing Sevu Reece were among those deemed fortunate - by media and supporters - to be included in the squad.

It's Rennie's turn to have each selection scrutinised and debated. There will be little room for error. That won't be news to him or NZ Rugby.

Who will Rennie name as captain?

With incumbent skipper and lock Scott Barrett unavailable because of a back injury, possibly for another four months, loose forward Ardie Savea features as a frontrunner to take on the leadership role.

Rennie has stated he was prepared to be open-minded and thorough. He wouldn’t rush any decision.

He has canvassed a number of high-profile sports identities for their views, including All Blacks great Richie McCaw and NBA star Steven Adams.

Given Savea has spent two of the last three seasons at Kobe, Rennie has knowledge of how the influential backrower rolls. Savea could have the inside running.

Hooker Codie Taylor, midfielder Jordie Barrett and wing/fullback Will Jordan are other options.

Who won't be available for the squad because of injuries?

Locks Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland, prop Tamaiti Williams and uncapped wing Caleb Tangitau.

Barrett was supposed to return from a non-playing sabbatical towards the end of the Crusaders campaign but that plan fell to pieces when it was announced he would require surgery.

Holland never got on the park for the Highlanders because he was shipped to the operating theatre to fix the shoulder he busted in a pre-season game against Moana Pasifika.

Highlanders wing Caleb Tangitau ruptured an Achilles tendon against the Chiefs. Had he remained in one piece, he would surely have been picked for the July tests.

Which players have signed for overseas clubs?

Loose forward Dalton Papali'i and wing Reece have already confirmed deals with French clubs. Fullback/No 10 Stephen Perofeta is reported to be destined for Japan. All are All Blacks.

Uncapped loose forward Devan Flanders has announced he won't play for the Hurricanes again, having inked a contract to move to Japan.

While he could pick some of these players for his squad, Rennie has to take into account that they won't be around for the World Cup.

Last year Robertson refused to pick World Cup wing Mark Tele'a because he had agreed terms with Toyota Verblitz, the club Steve Hansen coached in Japan. Tele'a had to play for North Harbour in the NPC instead.

Which brings us to Fehi Fineanganofo. He has been outstanding for the Hurricanes this year, and with 16 tries to his account, will set a fresh record if he dots down in the final against the Chiefs on Saturday night.

Fineanganofo has signed a contract with English club Newcastle.

World Rugby's rules prevent NZ Rugby from directly approaching Newcastle to break the deal, but there's nothing to prevent the player from trying to nut out a deal to stay at home.

If he hadn't committed to Newcastle, Fineanganofo would surely be in the All Blacks.

He's still eligible, but Rennie and his fellow selectors Graham Henry and Neil Barnes have to ask themselves whether they should bother picking a player who won't hang around for the World Cup.

Which uncapped players could be included in the All Blacks squad?

Loosehead prop Xavier Numia has provided excellent service for the Hurricanes.

A couple of years ago he appeared destined to be selected for the national side, until an untimely injury torpedoed his aspirations.

With Tamaiti Williams sidelined by an infection in one of the discs in his spine, Numia deserves an opportunity to sit an examination against international opponents.

Hurricanes players Josh Moorby and Kini Naholo, the former has been named to start on the right wing for the Super Rugby Pacific final while the latter's in the reserves, have given Rennie much to consider.

Finding space in the squad is the issue. There's Moorby's versatility to take into account, too; he can also play fullback, a skill that may prove too irresistible when the bigger squad is named for the tour of South Africa.

Highlanders halfback Adam Lennox could be worth a look.

Everyone in the universe would agree that Cam Roigard is miles ahead of the rest of the field. If Rennie picks three halfbacks, he could take a punt on Lennox ahead of Noah Hotham or Cortez Ratima.

Any other tough calls for Rennie to make?

Crusaders captain and midfielder David Havili could pay a high price for a dud performance in the semi against the Chiefs.

His previous performances under the roof in the new stadium in Christchurch were excellent, and it seemed his chances of winning a recall to the All Blacks were good.

So it was alarming to see second five-eighth Havili make a series of costly errors in the semi. But he did.

He, like his team-mates, just didn't perform in the high-pressure environment.

That could open the gate for Highlanders No 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai.

Although he looked leg-heavy towards the end of the season, Tavatavanawai remains one of the best backs at creating turnovers and his determination with the ball can thrust his team over the gainline.

Who might be the unlucky ones?

Rennie could take a squirt gun to any training ground in New Zealand and end up soaking a mob of quality loose forwards.

That's excellent news for the sport in this country. It creates a high threshold for aspiring All Blacks. They either make it or they don't.

Here's a list of players who may miss the cut on Monday. Samipeni Finau, Christian Lio-Willie, Ethan Blackadder and Anton Segner.

Maybe some of them will get the nod for the trip to South Africa.

Wing Emoni Narawa has been absent for a decent chunk of the Chiefs' season because of a foot injury.

What will Rennie do with Beauden Barrett?

Pick him. Probably.

Rennie doesn't really have the option of overlooking the All Blacks veteran at this juncture.

He may pick Damian McKenzie and Barrett as his No 10s (officially, anyway) and add Ruben Love to the category reserved for outside backs.

That isn't to say Love won't play at first five-eighth for the All Blacks in July. At the end of the day where the players are listed on the squad sheet is just semantics.

The real issue is that NZ Rugby continues to say Rennie can't pick Richie Mo'unga until he's completed a tour of duty with Canterbury in the NPC.

Mo'unga is contracted to NZ Rugby through to the 2027 World Cup. He has just returned from Japan.

Sound familiar? Rennie has also signed with NZ Rugby through to the global tournament. He, like Mo'unga, has just come back from Japan. But Rennie is allowed to get straight on the tools. Rightly so.

But Mo'unga has been made to wait. NZ has gone potty on this issue. It owes it to Rennie and everyone who supports the All Blacks to reverse this decision.

All Blacks squad - possible (34 players)

Hookers - 3

Codie Taylor

Samisoni Taukei'aho

Asafo Aumua

Props - 6

Ethan de Groot

Xavier Numia

George Bower

Tyrel Lomax

Fletcher Newell

Pasilio Tosi

Locks - 4

Josh Lord

Tupou Vaa'i

Patrick Tuipulotu

Sam Darry

Loose forwards - 6

Ardie Savea

Luke Jacobson

Peter Lakai

Wallace Sititi

Simon Parker

Du'Plessis Kirifi

Halfbacks - 3

Cam Roigard

Noah Hotham

Adam Lennox

First five-eighths - 2

Damian McKenzie

Beauden Barrett

Midfielders - 5

Billy Proctor

Rieko Ioane

Jordie Barrett

Quinn Tupaea

Timoci Tavatavanawai

Outside backs - 5

Ruben Love

Will Jordan

Leroy Carter

Caleb Clarke

Leicester Fainga'anuku