All Blacks take conservative approach against Italy and miss chance to build depth
Thursday, 9 July 2026
ANALYSIS: The All Blacks weren’t kidding when they said they would show Italy “utmost respect”.
The starting XV that Dave Rennie has selected for the Wellington test is extremely strong, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the same starting pack take to the field in the first test against the Springboks on August 23.
In fact, the All Blacks might be so concerned about getting the win against Italy that they have missed a chance to build some depth.
Does Codie Taylor need another start ahead of Asafo Aumua or Samisoni Taukei’aho?
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Would Xavier Numia benefit from a start on home turf, especially as Ethan de Groot already carried a heavy workload during Super Rugby Pacific?
Should debutants Anton Segner and Josh Moorby be on from the start rather than waiting on the bench?
There is a hint of conservatism about this team and a sense of an opportunity lost to find out more about the next tier of players.
Perhaps Rennie is still haunted by the ghosts of Florence.
In 2022, he picked a much-changed Wallabies side to play Italy in a draining, five-test end-of-season tour.
The Wallabies lost that test 28-27 and a few months later Rennie was sacked by Rugby Australia.
Perhaps, too, senior assistant Neil Barnes has been in Rennie’s ear about the quality of this Italian side, as Barnes knows many of the players from his time with the Azzurri.
Rennie and Barnes will definitely be expecting a response from Italy after their subpar 27-10 loss to Japan last weekend, when the Italians failed to get their game going.
They can be dogged and niggly opponents, as both Scotland and England found out during famous Italian wins in the Six Nations this year.
However, that in itself is another reason to put the second- or third-choice into the mix: let them suffer a bit to find out what test rugby is all about.
One of the weaknesses of New Zealand rugby at the moment is the lack of exposure to different styles of rugby, especially with the South Africans out of Super Rugby.
The Wellington test looked like the perfect chance for the less experienced players to go up against an Italian side that will be very different to what they face in Super Rugby Pacific.
Rennie, presumably, wants to bed in some combinations before the big test against Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday week.
A shoulder injury to Fehi Fineanganofo also robs him of the Hurricanes excitement machine this week.
But of the three tests in July the Italy fixture looked like the one where the All Blacks could be the boldest. That has not turned out to be the case.
All Blacks: Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (capt), Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Darry, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, Josh Lord, Anton Segner, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby.