‘Really disappointed’: Rieko Ioane axed as All Blacks coach Dave Rennie launches reset

Monday, 22 June 2026

ANALYSIS: Dave Rennie won't have persuaded everyone in New Zealand to do celebratory somersaults when he named his 34-man All Blacks squad in Feilding on Monday.

That shouldn't bother him. It's not the All Blacks coach's job to collect friendship badges.

Having been involved in professional sport for more than two decades, Rennie knows the best way to win over the rugby public is to win test matches.

Rennie has launched his tenure by naming loose forward Ardie Savea as captain, axing veteran centre/wing Rieko Ioane and picking four uncapped players in Fehi Fineanganofo, Josh Moorby, Xavier Numia and Anton Segner.

The decision to select Savea as skipper means the 106-test veteran will be a key part of the plan to win the Webb Ellis Cup at the World Cup in Australia next year.

Given previous captain Scott Barrett was unavailable due to injury, Savea was at the shortest odds to replace the wounded lock as the leader; hooker Codie Taylor was also an option, but Savea was the obvious choice.

Savea, who played two of the last three seasons under Rennie at the Kobe Kobelco Steelers club in Japan, has previously captained the All Blacks and his reputation as one of the world's premier players makes him an automatic selection.

That's not to say he will be universally accepted by fans.

Because everyone who supports the national team has a view on what they want from the captain of the All Blacks.

The benchmark has been set by men such as Richie McCaw, Sean Fitzpatrick and Buck Shelford; they were tough men who punched through the pain barrier, maintained a high standard with their output on the field and could never be accused of being show ponies.

Barrett, in many ways, was cut from the same cloth; he worked tirelessly in the boiler room, but injuries did him few favours in 2024 and 2025.

Savea will have his own way of doing things.

If there are any wounds to heal following the axing of previous coach Scott Robertson, Savea has to move quickly and ensure the squad is settled and focused on a demanding season that involves 17 fixtures.

The decision to omit Ioane is a bold move. Robertson refused to ditch him during his tenure, despite Ioane’s fluctuating form.

Rennie has not been so reticent. Ioane played his last game for Irish club Leinster when they beat the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship final at the weekend.

“Obviously Rieks is still in Ireland,’’ Rennie told Sky Sport.

“We had a conversation with him and guys like Du’Plessis [Kirifi] this morning and so on. They are really disappointed, they want to be a part of it.

“Rieks has gone pretty well in recent weeks. He has played a bit of centre and wing and what we know with 44 going to South Africa we are going to bring another 10 in. His versatility means he is a strong chance to go there.’’

Hurricanes wings Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby (who can also play fullback), loosehead prop Xavier Numia and Blues loose forward Anton Segner have been rewarded for their excellent form during the Super Rugby Pacific season.

Fineanganofo and Moorby each scored a record 17 tries to be the competition's joint top tryscorers following the Hurricanes' hammering of the Chiefs in the final in Wellington on Saturday night.

At the start of the season Fineanganofo appeared a no-go for Rennie, given he had signed a two-year contract with English club Newcastle and wouldn't be available for the World Cup.

That appears to be set to change

“I think that is the process that he is going through,’’ Rennie said in regards to the Newcastle deal with the powerful wing.

”What we know is that he is contracted here until November. His form has been irresistible and we are keen to name him.

“So I think he will worth through that [the Newcastle contract] in time.’’

Last year when World Cup wing Mark Tele'a announced he would depart for Japan at the end of the season, Robertson elected to ignore him because he wanted to stick with players who had remained loyal to NZ Rugby through to the global tournament in Australia.

A leg injury to wing/centre/flanker Leicester Fainga'anuku, who was forced to retire hurt during the Crusaders defeat to the Chiefs in the semifinal and could be unavailable for up to 12 weeks, has opened up space in the outside backs.

Wing Emoni Narawa missed the cut. Injuries prevented him playing a significant role in the Chiefs season, and he was ruled out of the playoffs.

Segner, who can play several positions in the back row and was used as jumper in the front row of the Blues lineout this season, has been preferred ahead of Hurricanes co-captain Du'Plessis Kirifi who has been denied the chance to join 11 team-mates in the squad.

Rennie is expected to present his teams with strategies to play fast, attacking rugby, and he must have been impressed with how the Hurricanes' backline operated in the blustery conditions in the Cake Tin against the Chiefs on Saturday night.

Apart from fullback Callum Harkin, every member of the Hurricanes backline that started the final has been selected in the All Blacks squad.

Test rugby, however, is a different beast.

When Robertson arrived as All Blacks coach in 2024, having had a successful tenure with the Crusaders between 2017 and 2023, it was hoped he would sprinkle his magic over the attack.

But, as he soon discovered, the international matches were a grind. Armour-plated defensive lines and contestable kicks turned the tests into arm wrestles, with little margin for error.

The All Blacks squad named at the Feilding Rugby Club is, at first glance, stacked with in-form players who are quick, skilled and know how to use the ball from set plays or turnover ball.

In the coming days there will be plenty of debate in chatrooms, forums and media platforms about the team Rennie should pick to play in the Nations Championship opener against France in Christchurch next month.

Much of the discussion will be angled on whether Ruben Love, who was outstanding for the Hurricanes in the final, should wear the No 10 jersey.

Rennie, having also named Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie as his first five-eighths, has options.

Love may be the least experienced of the trio with just five test caps, but he's in the best form of his life.

He would be a popular addition to the All Blacks' backline.

We will soon learn if Rennie has the appetite to take a calculated risk on the 25-year-old.

All Blacks squad (34 players)

Hookers - 3

Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Asafo Aumua

Props - 6

Ethan de Groot, Xavier Numia (NEW CAP), George Bower, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi

Locks - 4

Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa'i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry

Loose forwards - 6

Ardie Savea (CAPTAIN), Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi, Simon Parker, Anton Segner (NEW CAP)

Halfbacks - 3

Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Kyle Preston

First five-eighths - 3

Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett, Ruben Love

Midfielders - 4

Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown

Outside backs - 5

Fehi Fineanganofo (NEW CAP), Josh Moorby (NEW CAP), Will Jordan, Leroy Carter, Caleb Clarke

Temporary injury cover: Jamie Hannah has been included because Tupou Vaa'i was concussed in the Super Rugby Pacific final

NEW CAPS:

Anton Segner, Fehi Fineanganofo, Josh Moorby, Xavier Numia

THE UNLUCKY ONES:

Rieko Ioane, Du'Plessis Kirifi, David Havili, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Samipeni Finau, Christian Lio-Willie, Ethan Blackadder, Finlay Christie, Ollie Norris, Noah Hotham, George Bell

UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE OF INJURY

Leicester Fainga'anuku, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Tamaiti Williams, Caleb Tangitau