Time is right to start Fehi Fineanganofo as All Blacks look towards Italy
Wednesday, 8 July 2026
What: Nations Championship week two, All Blacks v Italy. Where: Hnry Stadium, Wellington. When: 5.10pm Saturday, Sky Sport 1.
ANALYSIS: All Blacks coach Dave Rennie caught everyone on the hop with some of selections against France, so expect a few changes against Italy.
Winger Fehi Fineanganofo made his debut off the bench against France, coming on for the last 12 minutes, and the timing would be right to give him his first start in Wellington.
The All Blacks’ new attacking template seems better suited to Fineanganofo than Caleb Clarke, with Fineanganofo the perfect athlete to exploit the organised anarchy that looks like being a feature under Rennie and new attack coach Mike Blair.
The uncapped Josh Moorby and Anton Segner will also be pushing for their first caps after Rennie introduced three debutants in Christchurch - Fineanganofo, Xavier Numia and Jamie Hannah - and backed Ruben Love for his first test start at No 10.
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Those calculated gambles all produced a return for Rennie, so it would make sense for Moorby and Segner to get a crack in the capital.
Segner could wear the No 6 or No 7 jerseys, or earn a place on the bench, with the loose-forward mix likely to see plenty of chopping and changing this year.
Before the France test, Rennie said it had been the area that sparked most discussion among the selectors, and Luke Jacobson’s strong second half against Les Bleus has further muddied the waters about the top trio.
As it stands, Ardie Savea and Jacobson might be two-thirds of the preferred starting unit, with the numbers on the backs apparently viewed as less important than their complementary qualities.
Billy Proctor’s compelling 21 minutes off the bench against France also kept the midfield debate bubbling away.
Quinn Tupaea wasn’t poor by any means but Proctor’s all-action style of play and natural ability to feed his outsides again looks like a good match for the All Blacks’ attacking ambition.
Damian McKenzie has probably locked in the No 15 jersey for the big test against Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday week.
Rennie and co must have been thrilled at the way he took control when Love was in the sin bin.
But the selectors might also be keen to take a look at Will Jordan in the No 15 jersey as a way of finding space for a Moorby debut on the right wing.
Locks Tupou Vaa’i and Patrick Tuipulotu will be desperate to return after seeing Sam Darry and Josh Lord really step up in Christchurch.
Darry, in particular, was outstanding and it was the speed of his pass from the halfback position that was the catalyst for Peter Lakai’s first-half try.
That is the sort of all-court contribution that the All Blacks need from their tight forwards, so the Blues player deserves to keep his spot in the starting XV.
Some rotation is also possible in the front row, with Samisoni Taukei’aho unused in Christchurch.
Numia could also benefit from a first test start, with the first game of South Africa tour just one month away.
Ethan de Groot has taken ownership of the No 1 jersey, but the All Blacks need to build a bit of depth at loosehead in a hurry.
The All Blacks will name their team on Thursday afternoon.
Possible All Blacks XV for Italy: Will Jordan, Josh Moorby, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Fehi Fineanganofo, Ruben Love, Cameron Roigard; Ardie Savea (capt), Luke Jacobson, Anton Segner, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Darry, Tyrel Lomax, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Xavier Numia.