Dave Rennie should revive the Baby Blacks spirit of 1986 with new cap starters for All Blacks against France

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

ANALYSIS: New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie should go bold for the first test of his tenure and evoke the ethos of the famous Baby Blacks 40 years ago.

Rennie won’t need to be quite as radical with his team to play France in Saturday’s Nations Championship opener - the first test at Christchurch’s new One NZ Stadium (7.10pm kickoff).

The ‘Baby Blacks’ had 11 new caps for their epochal 18-9 win over France in 1986 at Christchurch’s late, lamented Lancaster Park.

The deluge of debutants was imposed, rather than pure bravura by Brian Lochore, the ‘86 All Blacks coach. Most frontline All Blacks were banned for two tests for joining the controversial unsanctioned Cavaliers tour to South Africa.

Some Baby Blacks never got another cap, but their victory launched great careers for 1987 World Cup winners Sean Fitzpatrick and Joe Stanley.

Rennie has four new caps in his 34-man Nations Championship squad and there is no better time to blood wingers Fehi Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby, flanker Anton Segner and prop Xavier Numia than the first test of a gruelling year.

This may be the start of the Rennie era, but it is also, importantly, the third year in the World Cup cycle.

That has often been a time when the All Blacks test newbies to see if they could make the step from Super Rugby.

Rugby fans don’t just want to see Razor Robertson regime retreads.

The Nations Championship games against France and Italy are the perfect chance to introduce the 2026 rookies.

Jason Ryan - the only coach retained from Scott Robertson’s regime - admitted this week: “We’ve picked them, so you want to play them”.

Rennie wants the All Blacks to be more ambitious with the ball, and no-one does that better than the Hurricanes.

Fineanganofo, Moorby and Numia came into camp on a high after the Canes’ imperious march to the Super Rugby title.

It wouldn’t be a calculated risk to start the two 17-try wingers in a backline boasting the experience of world-class Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett and Cam Roigard.

The selectors know what seasoned first five-eighths Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie can do.

The public are slavering to see the Hurricanes inside back trio of Roigard, pivot Ruben Love and Jordie Barrett in synch for the All Blacks.

But is the club combination component over-played?

Jordie Barrett said in Christchurch that “combination is a word that’s brought out a lot, but there’s no fairytales in the All Blacks jersey”.

Test caps are never given away, but the fab foursome are worthy of the honour.

Ryan said Segner has the skillset to play on either the open or blindside flanks and is a genuine lineout option who is “very fast at getting in the air’’ and is quick in the open spaces on the edge.

It would be no stretch then to name the German-born fetcher in a back row with Ardie Savea and Wallace Sititi, or Peter Lakai if Sititi isn’t ready after a recent concussion.

Numia is a dynamic ball carrier who offers a potential point of difference with his mobility in an era where props are getting more touches of the ball.

Ethan de Groot’s toughness will be needed at loosehead against a big French pack, but Numia appeals as the ideal impact man in a Canes-flavoured ‘bomb squad’.

There is extra frisson to the French test than the usual early season series because Nations Championship points are at stake and the All Blacks will want to win the inaugural competition.

New stadium, new coach, new comp - the portents are there for a Baby Blacks-esque sea change. Give the four freshmen a shot.

Tony Smith’s All Blacks team to play France: Will Jordan, Josh Moorby, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Fehi Fineanganofo, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea (capt), Anton Segner, Wallace Sititi, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Damian McKenzie, Billy Proctor.