All you need to know ahead of the first All Blacks team naming of 2026

Thursday, 2 July 2026

The floor is all yours, Dave Rennie.

Four months after being appointed All Blacks head coach, Rennie will unveil his first 23 on Thursday afternoon.

Rennie’s team to face France in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon will be released at 4pm, before Scott Robertson’s replacement fronts a press conference at One New Zealand Stadium at 4.45pm.

There’s always intrigue ahead of the first team naming of a year, but that’s been elevated with Thursday’s doubling as Rennie’s first in the hot seat.

Will he make some big calls, or will he follow on from Robertson, who for the most part played it safe during his two-year tenure?

Stuff will provide live updates from 1pm, giving readers a chance to chip in with their thoughts.

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.

Click here for more selection talking points

ALL BLACKS SQUAD

Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho

Props: Ethan de Groot, George Bower, Xavier Numia*, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi

Locks: Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Lord, Sam Darry

Loose forwards: Peter Lakai, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea (captain), Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson, Anton Segner*

Halfbacks: Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Kyle Preston

First five-eighths: Ruben Love, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie

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

Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Fehi Fineanganofo*, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby*, Will Jordan

* = uncapped