The All Blacks loose forwards logjam: who joins Ardie Savea in Dave Rennie’s crew for July?

Wednesday, 27 May 2026

Ardie Savea and Wallace Sititi will be there in the All Blacks’ loose forward contingent. But who joins them?

ANALYSIS: It’s little wonder Devan Flanders took a quick glance at the writing on the wall and asked his Japanese suitors, “where do I sign?” The impressive Hurricanes back-rower may be one of the big movers in New Zealand rugby, but he would have been just another name on Dave Rennie’s impossibly long list of contenders for the All Blacks’ loose forward positions.

It’s no stretch to say Rennie, fellow selectors Neil Barnes and Sir Graham Henry and forwards coach Jason Ryan have a mighty task on their hands sifting through a logjam of loosies to come up with what’s likely to be a half-dozen in their July squad, with an eye to including at least a couple more on the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ tour to South Africa and beyond.

No position in the New Zealand game is as blessed with high-end talent as the loose forwards. And no spot in the upcoming national squad of 34 for the July Nations Championship tests against France, Italy and Ireland will be as difficult to pick as Nos 6, 7 and 8.

Think about it. Even factoring out the departing Flanders who, despite his eye-catching form for the Hurricanes, has decided to head to Japan to continue his career after this season, contenders abound for the back-row positions. There must be at least a dozen on the short-list, and it won’t be difficult to make the case that any number of those squeezed out could consider themselves unlucky.

So, who are these contenders, and which among them make the first cut?

Leicester Fainga'anuku has morphed into an outstanding fulltime No 7 with the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

Well, let’s start with Ardie Savea in a tier all of his own. Nailed-on certainty to start, difference-maker, leader, inspiration, force of nature and, surely, Rennie’s choice for captain. The only slight cloud of uncertainty hovering over the best All Black of the last half-dozen years is how sharp will he be coming off his second season in Japan at the age of 32? Do not expect a dropoff, though he may take a test or two to slip back into true international mode.

Then you have the “strong likelihoods”. The men you would be pretty game to leave out. That would be Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai and Luke Jacobson. You have to think that each of those form types, based on time in the jersey, on the eye-test, on capability and on test upside joins Savea in the first squad of the year.

Then there’s Leicester Fainga’anuku, the remarkable Crusaders hybrid forward/back who could be about to hit uncharted All Blacks waters. You have to think Rennie finds room for a wing/No 7/centre ata pinch who changes the balance of a bench in the shrug of your shoulders. Yes, there are doubts about his size as a test openside, and same with his pace as a wing. But what an exciting supersub he could be, and a more than capable fallback option as a starter in the event of injuries.

The third tier includes those with test runs on the board, good heads on their shoulders and decent form in Super footy. That’s the likes of Du’Plessis Kirifi, Simon Parker, Samipeni Fiau (reportedly weighing offshore options) and Ethan Blackadder who have all been All Blacks of recent vintage.

Lucas Casey has made the most of his chances with the Highlanders over the latter part of Super Rugby.

Lastly, you have younger, dynamic, upside-infused rising forces, such as Anton Segner of the Blues, Lucas Casey of the Highlanders and Christian Lio-Willie of the Crusaders. Lio-Willie has briefly flirted with the international game and the other two look well on the way to being key figures for the next cycle.

Are they ready now? Maybe not. But, by geez, they are not far off it and bear further scrutiny.

So, who does Rennie run with first up?

While injuries and finals form could change things, you can probably write in Savea, Lakai, Sititi and Jacobson now, and Fainga’anuku too, though just what his designation is remains to be seen,

That leaves, at most, just two more spots, which shapes as a head-scratcher that could go to the wire. Finay brings size at 6 that could be so valuable in South Africa, Kirifi, so strong over the ball and a robust carrier, has a game you have to think Rennie would relish, while a Parker or Blackadder might require an eye-catching finals surge to re-enter the equation.

Then factor in that Shannon Frizell will also be back and available in due course, and you can certainly see why a hot prospect like Flanders threw his hands up and took the sensible option.

All Blacks loose forward contenders: Ardie Savea (Japan), Peter Lakai, Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes), Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson, Simon Parker, Samipeni Finau (Chiefs), Anton Segner (Blues), Lucas Casey (Highlanders), Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders).

Returning: Shannon Frizell.