The big selection talking points ahead of the All Blacks’ season opening test against France
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
It’s almost that time of the year again - time for the first All Blacks team of the season to be unveiled.
That always comes with a ton of intrigue in its own right.
But there’s added intrigue and interest ahead of Thursday’s announcement given it will be the first team naming under new head coach Dave Rennie.
Rennie will name his 23 to face France in Christchurch this weekend at 4pm on Thursday.
“We've had really robust discussions around what our team should look like going into this game, and to be fair, there are a lot of decisions to make where it's very, very close,” assistant coach Neil Barnes, a selector along with former coach Sir Graham Henry, said after training on Tuesday.
“It's good that we've got choices to make, and it's not obvious choices all the time.”
Here are the big selection talking points, while you can name your starting XV below.
Who starts at No 10?
A year after Beauden Barrett started 10 of 13 tests, Damian McKenzie or Ruben Love is expected to get first crack.
While the desire from many fans for the selectors to roll with Love against France went up tenfold after the Hurricanes trounced the Chiefs in the Super Rugby final, don’t be surprised if they opt for McKenzie and inject Love off the bench.
McKenzie is, after all, a 74-test veteran, and there will likely be some caution against France, a team far from full-strength but one with immense depth.
That said, the All Blacks do need to find out if Love can thrive at test level, meaning he should probably start against Italy and Ireland in the other two Nations Championship tests.
“You've just got to put your best foot forward. In a training week, and then through what you've done throughout the year, just trust what you've done,” said McKenzie, who started three tests at No 10 last year and another at fullback.
“Things aren't always perfect, I've had that sort of season, where things have gone good at times, things haven't gone good.”
What about the midfield?
Another old chestnut.
It’s safe to say Jordie Barrett, who took his game up a notch for the Hurricanes this year, will don the No 12 jersey.
As for who starts alongside him, the selectors can’t go too wrong between Hurricanes teammate Billy Proctor or Chief Quinn Tupaea.
The latter, of course, is predominantly a No 12, but last year showed he was more than comfortable at centre when handed two starts in the No 13 jersey under Scott Robertson.
Tupaea, the most destructive ball carrier among the midifielders in the squad, as well as a menace at the breakdown, is arguably too good not to be on the paddock.
Should both record breaking Hurricanes wingers start?
There must be a real temptation to strike while the iron is hot, wheeling out both Fehi Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby.
The pair both scored a Super Rugby record 17 tries this season, lighting up the competition and earning their first test call ups.
A back three comprised of the rookies and Crusaders fullback Will Jordan sure looks lethal on paper.
Of course, Rennie and co can’t go wrong with their other wing options - Caleb Clarke and Leroy Carter, who wasted no time returning from injury late in Super Rugby and showing his class.
Given France could opt to pepper the All Blacks back three with bombs, the hosts might be tempted to roll out Clarke, an excellent operator under the high pill.
As for Jordan’s status given he’s coming off a second calf injury with the Crusaders, all signs point to him featuring to start the Rennie era.
“He's looking very fast and good. We like to not really joke, but he's the Ferrari, so make sure we get him out of the garage at the right time of the week. He's ready to go,” McKenzie said this week.
What about the loose forwards?
Captain Ardie Savea has the No 7 jersey locked down, while there’s no shortage of options at blindside flanker and No 8.
On form, it would be hard to argue against Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi deserving first shot at No 8 and No 6 respectively.
Lakai started four of the last five tests in 2025 at No 8, and only looks more comfortable at the back of the scrum after an excellent Super Rugby campaign.
Sititi can also play No 8 - he started four games there under Robertson last year - but is arguably better suited to blindside flanker, where he turned in some immense performances for the Chiefs this season.
Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson and rookie Anton Segner are also viable options who can cover multiple positions.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
Regardless, expect them all to get a chance the next few weeks.