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Nations Championship

Five changes in starting All Blacks team for Italy, two debutants poised on bench

Ned Lester

Published: 8 July 2026 20:40 PDT
Updated: 8 July 2026 22:04 PDT

Anton Segner speaks during the New Zealand All Blacks Squad Announcement at Feilding Yellows Rugby Club on June 22, 2026 in Feilding, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has made five changes to his team’s starting XV to play Italy, while an overhauled reserves unit features two potential debutants, with only Cortez Ratima holding his place from last week’s win over France.

The changes see Tyrel Lomax enter the starting front row in his 50th Test, joining Ethan de Groot and Codie Taylor, while Tupou Vaa’i returns from injury to start alongside Sam Darry at lock. Luke Jacobson and Ardie Savea retain their respective places in the starting loose forward trio, while Wallace Sititi comes into the starting team on the blindside flank.

In the backline, the halves duo of Cam Roigard and Ruben Love is back, with Hurricanes running mates Jordie Barrett and Billy Proctor starting in the midfield, the latter having come off the bench last week. There’s a change on the left wing, where Leroy Carter will start, while Damian McKenzie will again line up at fullback and Will Jordan, just three tries shy of the All Blacks’ all-time record, is named on the right wing.

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Josh Moorby and Anton Segner are the uncapped duo on the bench and are joined by George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, and Anton Lienert-Brown, who all missed selection in Christchurch. Josh Lord is the final member of the reserve unit.

“There are a number of players and combinations who we felt deserved and would benefit from a second successive run, and other players who have earned the right to get their opportunity,” Rennie said.

“We are excited for Josh and Anton to potentially earn their first All Blacks caps, following Xavier, Fehi and Jamie’s debuts against France. Congratulations to Tyrel Lomax, who also brings up a special milestone, playing his 50th All Blacks Test.

“This is a strong side to reflect the respect we have for this Italian team. They have shown through the Six Nations competition that they are capable of knocking over any team, so we have prepared for a tough challenge and look forward to facing it in front of a sold-out Wellington crowd.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

Draws

Wins

Average Points scored

First try wins

80%

Home team wins

40%

All Blacks team to play Italy

Ethan de Groot (41)
Codie Taylor (107)
Tyrel Lomax (49)
Sam Darry (9)
Tupou Vaa’i (45)
Wallace Sititi (20)
Luke Jacobson (25)
Ardie Savea (107) (Captain)
Cam Roigard (18)
Ruben Love (6)
Leroy Carter (6)
Jordie Barrett (79)
Billy Proctor (12)
Will Jordan (55)
Damian McKenzie (75)

Reserves

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (43)
17. George Bower (25)
18. Pasilio Tosi (16)
19. Josh Lord (13)
20. Anton Segner *
21. Cortez Ratima (22)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (88)
23. Josh Moorby *

Injured: Fehi Fineanganofo (shoulder strain)

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Comments

44 Comments

B 45 days ago

The 5 NZ SRPacific franchises are represented by…

7 Hurricanes, 8 Chiefs, 3 Crusaders, 2 Blues, 1 Highlander, (2 Kobe Steelers)…

A solid starting AB’s XV to settle some combinations with a strong 5-3 bench,again…

Go the AB’s…this JAFFA is coming back dressed in Black to Hnry Stadium…

Bazzallina 45 days ago

It was expected but still nice to see Ruben suit up again at 10 out of all of them he is the only dude I reckon should def play all 3

RD 45 days ago

Hope they are saving the twins (2) for the Irish. They are a not so secret weapon. Otherwise the selections make sense. Hopefully the developing playing style remains the same!

Bazzallina 45 days ago

Agree thought especially home at tin they should start

Lou Cifer 45 days ago

Still way too conservative by Rennie. No need for Taylor or Ardie Or DMac. Should’ve been run-on debuts for Moorby & Segner at least and a different front row

Two Cents 45 days ago

ABs certainly could've tested a few more combinations and given runs to a few more players who need the game time.

That isn't because Italy are easy beats. It's simply the fact that in every past encounter even with this strong lineup that they currently have Italy has never come close to troubling them.

And given that they welcome the Irish to Eden Park next week now was the time to get some decent minutes into guys who will definitely be required.

Oh well. It's equally as good a time to keep the combinations going to build that cohesion and continuity.

JW 45 days ago

Who did you want to see for the Irish test that not here?

JW 45 days ago

Really unsure why Rennie is so tentative with his selections, when did this start happening? Wasn’t he still ripsheitnbust with the Wallabies?

Two Cents 45 days ago

Different team, different level of players to work with, more options and less interference from selectors and executives.

Bruiser 45 days ago

Touch conservative. Samsoni and Aumoa need a decent run. Preston needs footie badly and hes better for our new style than Ratima.

johnz 45 days ago

Agreed - Samisoni or Aumua deserve a start. There’s very little gained in giving Taylor another run. Ratima is a poor backup for Roigard - this would have been the perfect game to give Preston a run.

NucK 45 days ago

Agree with all those points!

KwAussie 45 days ago

Good to see players being rotated and not spending all their lives as tackle bag holders. Really looking forward to seeing how Segner and Morby go. The Canes backline should assist with both attack and defence as they were great at both in Super rugby

Blackmania 45 days ago

It’s a well-thought-out team.

The players who probably impressed the least last week have been left out: Newell, Lakai, Clarke, Tupaea, while Lord drops to the bench.

The No. 3, 6, 11 and 13 jerseys are still up for grabs.

Otherwise, Rennie has stuck with the selections from the first Test: Taylor at hooker, Ardie at No. 8, Jacobson at openside flanker, Love at fly-half, Jordan on the wing, and DMK at fullback.

It will also be interesting to see the first appearances of Segner and Moorby.

Tuipulotu, Parker, Preston and Beauden Barrett are not involved for the time being.

Icefarrow 45 days ago

Tuipulotu still has leg issues. Little hard to be involved when you’ve been battling the same injury all year.

johnz 45 days ago

I hope Segner and Moorby get on early. Some of the substitutions were a bit late last week, leaving little time for impact. I think Fehi got 5 minutes - pointless.

NucK 45 days ago

I thought QT had a solid game. Lakai was asked to stay out wider from what I can gather. FN was quiet but the scrum was rock solid. Clarke was quiet.

The Flying Dutchman 45 days ago

That’s an exciting team!

NucK 45 days ago

Do Cody or Ardie need to play this game? Surely rest them. I get development combination in the 9-10-12-13 Axis. Lacking a power back. 6/2 Bench!!!

KwAussie 45 days ago

I certainly agree with resting Ardie. Cody got enough rest during the last week of the finals so ok with him playing

Over the sideline 45 days ago

Power backs arnt teally a necessity. Simply look at the metres Jordan makes v Clarke, or the metres Carter makes. I see a place for any type if they do the job right.

Blokes like Reece and Kolbe seemed to be ok.

I agree around Ardie and Taylor. We have good cover.

The Flying Dutchman 45 days ago

I know what you mean, but it’s about setting the tone for the new era. They will start, set the tone, hopefully be off for the last 30 minutes.

If I was Ardie, after the last ABs Caketin game I would be demanding to start

OtagomanII 45 days ago

I had the impression that Lakai had a knock? Nice for Segner and Moorby to get a chance.

johnz 45 days ago

Lakai didn’t have his best game, although it was his first ever 1st class game at 6. Not convinced that’s his position. As always, the balance of the loosies is a problem.

Bruiser 45 days ago

Lakai surely resting for next week

The Flying Dutchman 45 days ago

Yes very happy for these young guys!

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