The big questions answered ahead of the first All Blacks squad naming of the year
Saturday, 20 June 2026
The first All Blacks squad of the year always carries plenty of intrigue.
Throw in the fact this year’s will be named by new head coach Dave Rennie, and that level of intrigue has been elevated even further.
Back from Japan and now solely focussed on the All Blacks job, Rennie’s 34-man squad for the Nations Championship tests against France, Italy and Ireland will be named at noon on Monday.
Here are 10 big questions as we look ahead to New Zealand Rugby chairman David Kirk reading out the names at the Feilding Yellows Rugby Club.
Will New Zealand Rugby get Fehi Fineanganofo out of his Newcastle deal, clearing the way for his name to be called on Monday?
Richard Knower: It's a moot question. For now. We will know more on Monday. One way, or another.
Speculation has been rife throughout much of Super Rugby Pacific about Fineanganofo's future in New Zealand and rightly so.
In-form wings are like gold dust. If he was available, Fineanganofo would surely be in Dave Rennie's squad.
World Rugby regulations may state national unions can't get involved with clubs in such circumstances, but if NZ Rugby really wants Fineanganofo to stay at home everyone knows there are many ways to skin this cat.
Robert van Royen: Don’t be surprised if Fineanganofo’s name is called on Monday.
After all, it’s no secret NZR have been working behind the scenes to ensure the try-scoring gun sticks around.
RIchie Mo'unga is back in the country. When is the earliest fans can expect to see him back playing for the All Blacks?
RK: If the NZ Rugby administrators stopped wringing their hands and pointing a long stick at their own rule book, he should be on the plane for South Africa.
But no. They want to play the role of the Big Sheriff, swing their six shooters in the air and say Mo'unga has been a naughty boy because he hasn't signed beyond the 2027 World Cup.
As a consequence he's not allowed to go near the All Blacks until later in the season. It's pathetic.
The latest gossip around the rugby bonfire is that newly-appointed independent selector Graham Henry will shake some sense into NZ Rugby.
Here's hoping Father Ted reads them the riot act.
RVR: He’ll surely feature during the South African tour.
All it will take is an injury and Mo’unga, who will have turned out for Canterbury and ticked the NZR box by then, will be rushed into the squad.
Rennie, having made it clear he was eager to have Mo’unga in the squad, playing him against the Stormers in the first tour match on August 7, just needs the green light.
“We’re still hoping to get him in so he can get his head around things,” Rennie said last month.
On form, Beauden Barrett simply shouldn't make the squad. But should Dave Rennie pick the veteran?
RK: Probably.
Barrett's intellectual property is worth plenty.
He shouldn't be in the match-day 23 for the first test of the season (Damian McKenzie should be at No 10, with Ruben Love getting 30 minutes off the bench) but Barrett is still a decent insurance policy in case a player gets injured prior to kick-off.
RVR: Ideally, it would be time to move on from Barrett, he’s just not playing well enough.
However, with Mo’unga not yet available, Rennie will include him in his 34-man squad.
Let’s hope he doesn’t eat into Ruben Love’s minutes.
Has Ruben Love done enough to convince you he's ready to play No 10 at test level?
RK: Yes. Let McKenzie have the first bite of the cherry against France in Christchurch.
Give Love a start against Italy in Wellington a week later.
Then pick the best performer for the Ireland fixture in Auckland.
RVR: Sure thing. The All Blacks need to find out if he can play first five-eighth in the test arena.
That means he should start no fewer than two of the July tests.
Who should don the No 10 jersey against France in Christchurch on July 4?
RK: See above. McKenzie.
RVR: Give Love first bite at the cherry.
How do you expect Rennie to utilise Leicester Fainga'anuku when he recovers from his fractured leg and high ankle sprain?
RK: As a bench player.
To be able to call on a player who can cover wing and flanker is a tremendous asset.
Especially one as explosive as Fainga'anuku.
RVR: As a powerful utility off the bench, one taxed opponents will dread tackling in the later stages of matches.
Given Rennie’s recent comments about Fainga’anuku, who had his defensive issues in the midfield for the Crusaders, it appears wing and loose forward are his positions.
Is there space for any true bolters for the July tests. If so, who makes the cut?
RK: The first name down for me is loosehead prop Xavier Numia.
With Tamaiti Wiliams unavailable because of injury, the Hurricanes' Numia deserves his chance.
Why not give Highlanders halfback Adam Lennox a crack, too? He is quick and can also play on the wing. Lennox is confident and not afraid to look up for gaps when at the base of the rucks.
RVR: Numia is the obvious one, but if you wanted to throw another one out there, how about Highlanders loose forward Lucas Casey?
It’s probably too early, but Casey was a monster down the stretch in Super Rugby, highlighted by a eye-opening performance against the Hurricanes.
How dearly will the loss of Scott Barrett be felt this year?
RK: It is huge.
Barrett has been unfairly maligned in recent seasons. Injuries have done him no favours.
If Barrett can get back to the role of using his soft hands, and distribution off second-phase play - something we didn't see much of in recent seasons - he could prove his detractors wrong.
His output as a lineout ball winner, mauler and scrummager goes without saying. He has also rubbed out the ill-disciplined stuff in recent seasons.
First Barrett needs to get back on the rugby field. Hopefully his recovery from back surgery goes to plan.
RVR: Big time.
Whether Rennie retained him as captain or not, he would have been one of the first names the new coach would put down in any match-day 23.
Who will Rennie appoint captain?
RK: No idea.
If he chooses Ardie Savea, the All Blacks need to be a happy bunch on and off the field. He was highly rated by former All Blacks coach Ian Foster, but the relationship with the next coach Scott Robertson wasn't as rosy.
Savea is a tremendous player.
If a player is one of the first names on the team sheet, it should make the job of picking the captain easier.
But the skipper needs to do many things. How he carries himself in front of the media, and what he says, will be pored over and picked apart.
The captain must set high standards for everyone in the squad. This is a big deal.
RVR: The obvious choice seems to be Ardie Savea.
However, don’t rule out Codie Taylor or Jordie Barrett for the job.
What does your starting XV for the France test look like? (15-1)
RK: All Blacks (15-1): Will Jordan, Leroy Carter, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, Cameron Roigard (captain), Peter Lakai, Ardie Savea (captain), Wallace Sititi, Tupou Vaa'i, Josh Lord, Fletcher Newell, Asafo Aumua, Ethan de Groot.
RVR: Will Jordan, Leroy Carter, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Fehi Fineanganofo, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard, Peter Lakai, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, Tyrel Lomax, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ethan de Groot.