33 - 27

35 - 20

31 - 14

22 - 21

51 - 20

61 - 24

20 - 30

36 - 10

24 - 21

19 - 52

33 - 28

18 - 19

39 - 12

12 - 50

45 - 12

36 - 33

5 - 40

48 - 12

34 - 32

62 - 24

WOMENS

33 - 52

33 - 21

19 - 15

26 - 21

52 - 26

10 - 59

29 - 31

41 - 14

WOMENS

41 - 38

41 - 14

21 - 23

29 - 26

21 - 23

26 - 7

WOMENS

27 - 17

42 - 22

Today

07:30

Today

12:05

Super Rugby Pacific

Former All Black on race for No.12 jersey under Dave Rennie

By Henry Lee

47 days ago

Quinn Tupaea and Jordie Barrett of the All Blacks look on during a New Zealand All Blacks Captain’s Run ahead of The Gallagher Cup: The Rematch between Ireland and All Blacks at Soldier Field on October 31, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The All Blacks No.12 jersey is one that new head coach Dave Rennie has a multitude of options in, with the likes of Jordie Barrett, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Quinn Tupaea, and David Havili fighting for selection.

Barrett was the All Blacks’ vice-captain under former head coach Scott Robertson, and is arguably the front-runner for the jersey, while the rest of the options are left battling for either the No.13 jersey or bench spots in the match day 23.

Rennie also has Lienert-Brown available for selection as well, despite being in Japan, someone who the new head coach sees and coaches first-hand at the Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

After four rounds of the Super Rugby Pacific competition in 2026, most, if not all, of these New Zealand-based options have had strong performances, leaving Rennie with a solid selection headache, come July’s first Test.

Former World Cup-winning All Black first-five Stephen Donald was impressed with Tavatavanawai’s performance against the Force, highlighting his breakdown work.

“Tavatavanawai in the wide channels defensively, was picking them off at wide rucks, like that part of his game is quite phenomenal,” Beaver said on his podcast with Kirstie Stanway, The Aftermatch.

“Quinn Tupaea does the same, but when you see someone like both of them are built pretty similarly, you’re not getting them off the ball. They are remarkable when they get across the ball.

“But he is a phenomenal player and the thing is, he does it every week. Yes, there are so many good players in that Highlanders team, but you feel like you’re watching one man when you go watch the Highlanders.

VIDEO

“It is remarkable. I don’t know if I’ve quite seen anyone, maybe Ardie Savea last year with Moana Pasifika, where you just feel gravitated towards watching one guy in the team, because that’s how big an influence he is.”

Donald explained that Tupaea’s skillset is slightly different despite having a lot of the same strengths, labelling him as a “hybrid of the other two”.

“Quinn’s almost a hybrid of the other two we’re talking about. So Jordie’s got the full game, the passing, the kicking, the running and all the rest of it and then you’ve got Tavatavanawai who’s physical presence when he carries, very rarely tackled first time, very rarely loses contact, so strong over the ball.

“Then you got Quinn in the middle of it, who is equally probably powerful and strong with the carries, but also has a lot more touch to his game than he’s probably given credit for, and maybe a little bit more than Tavatavanawai, or shows a little bit more.

“Surprisingly to some of us in this room, we saw Quinn play 13, and he did it very well. So is that still a realistic option for the new All Black regime coming in?

“But it is a luxury, like we’re not even mentioning guys like Proctor. There are so many good midfielders at the moment. There’s not really a stress on depth there.”

Comments

37 Comments

Bazzallina 45 days ago

lotsa good 12s running around but 13s a little thin and none who switch between the 2 historically and or presently, QT did a good job at 13 but I still have my doubts fairplay to him tho he keeps proving me wrong , Lam I thought was an option but dude is off now would really like to see Saders try Leicester 1 in at 12 when he has played there personally think he looks better either way in squad for first 3 tests of the year bar injury if you have Jordie QT Proctor TT Leicester somebody in the outsides going to miss out …lotsa water to go under the bridge still

TruthHurts 46 days ago

All these “I would like’s….” There is only one who counts and there will be plenty of gunslingers out there taking pot shots at him. Who would want it? No wonder our best coaching talent goes off shore, forums like this are toxic.

AB Tainui 46 days ago

Jodie probably our best player with the high ball so would like to see him start at full back.. He’s probably our best mid field back too but maybe move him there towards the end of the game for his defence and kicking ability

GS 46 days ago

Personally don’t think either Tupaia or Lester’s defence is currently up to international level, both have missed key tackles at test level, and Lester also has issues with ball retention.

Think Lester is great off the bench/starting wing, but needs to continue working at 13. He is in the best place to develop that skill in the Crusaders.

Maybe Tupaia’s best position is 13? I walked past him last year and was surprised at how small he was (compared to Nonu), don’t think given the size of some of the players at 12 at test level now, he would be the right fit - however, I did think he looked good at 13 when he played vs Oz.

Real pity with Barrett back at the Hurricanes is that we are not seeing anything of Riley Higgins, who looked to have a great future ahead of him.

SC 46 days ago

12 Jordie Barrett and 13 Quinn Tupaea to start with Timoci Tavatavanawai (12) or Leicester Fainga’anuka (13) on the bench as they both can cover midfield and wing.

Billy Proctor (13) in the squad.

Reiko Ioane and Anton Lienart-Brown dropped.

OutRun22 46 days ago

nz meatheads at the top’oldmans network’ have ruined so many promising all blacks then picked useless players such as stephen bashop and to lesser extent luke mcalister. Laumpai should have been another 100 test all black but they stupidly got rid of him he would have been another nonu. Think about how inept nzru has been since they luckily had Carter and McCaw and Reid to not worry about. The wasted talent is unbelievable over the years shame on these idiots. What about the wasted Gear bros both great wingers impactful wingers removed. Jane and Cullen not used when they were clearly the best in their position. As a kiwi it drives me and many people crazy just how dumb they are.

TokoRFC 46 days ago

There is definitely nepotism in NZ and a lot of wasted talent

BUT, Luke McAlister was rated as the top youth player in the world before he came in and went on to win the Top 14 (a couple times?) after

Laumape has never gotten near his level

Rick Clark 46 days ago

I’d like to see Roigard 9, Mounga 10, Clarke 11, Tupaia 12, Fainganuku 13, Jordan 14, J Barrett 15.

Bench, Hotham, Tavanawai, Fihaki and Dmac.

In the mix, Love, Carter, B Barrett, Preston, Tangitau.

BigMack 46 days ago

I originally was a big fan of seeing more of Fainganuku at 13, but the more I see him there, the more I’m worried about his defence.

I’ve been really impressed with Quinn Tupaia lately. I’d happily have him at 13 given his performance there last year vs the Wallabies. JB at 12, TT off the bench covering 12 (and to a lesser extent wing..lacks true top end speed)

B 47 days ago

Dave Rennie must select the most physically, mentally fit, healthy, injury free and in form players for the AB's…

No cotton wool rotation???…the last best men standing get the jerseys …

JW 47 days ago

Defintely rotation. This WC were lucky theres a banker 12, Jordie, straight away you don’t select him their and start rotating. 3 guys I’d say, Razors squads were all too same same, these guys need to be in and out constantly so that only the fittest are playing at any one time.

Gone are the days where the All Blacks select their best 23 everyweek until the one minor game comes around. There are none now.

SB 47 days ago

Jordie Barrett is the best rugby player out of the lot but is he best suited to 12? Very interested to see where Rennie uses him.

TokoRFC 46 days ago

It’s a tricky one right SB, Jordie is class but does lack top speed and punch, he has been wasted as a one off runner in the past. So he needs someone that can dent the line with him. I reckon that may be why him and Ioane were so ineffective on attack but in saying that Ioanes speed outside barret was very complimentary on defence.

I think Tupaea works best with Barrett currently as he has some punch, enough speed but can also see space to pass and kick (which Ioane struggled with). Proctor is as good a decision maker/passer as Tupaea but perhaps not fast or physically threatening enough at test level combined with Barrett?

Then you have the physical threats that are a touch slower like Leicester and Jim, they would be better inside of Barret you have to feel, especially on defence. But then Barrett probably isn’t fast enough to close space at 13 either. But Conrad wasn’t that fast 🤷‍♂️

In any case it’s a tough nut to crack and I think we need to think differently by playing Barrett at 15. But also get creative like playing Leicester or Jim on the bench to cover midfield or loose forward. Then they could play in the line or as an edge forward late in games to add the physical threat a more balanced combo like Barrett/Tupaea or Proctor are lacking

JW 47 days ago

ALB has been exclusively, not that that probably rules him out, like Lam and Faingaanuku they will all be seen as 12 options as well.

Great bunch of talent available to Rennie, they cover all the bases you could want and fully agree that Quinn is the alround of the bunch. If there is a DDA type playertype missing perhaps its covered by the young New Zealand eligible star playing inside ALB at Kobe?

Again, really enjoyed Leicester kicking tactics in the weekend.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!