The form All Blacks forward pack after seven rounds of Super Rugby Pacific

A number of big name All Black forwards have been missing from Super Rugby action so far in 2026, including Ardie Savea and captain Scott Barrett who are away on sabbaticals.

Others like Tyrel Lomax, Wallace Sititi, and Tamaiti Williams have rarely been sighted due to ongoing injuries, with Williams the latest to be ruled out for the season.

What does the form All Blacks forward pack look like? It is very different from the 2025 side when taking into account only Super Rugby Pacific form.

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1. George Bower (Crusaders)

The 33-year-old has been quietly doing his part for the Crusaders this year. The veteran has kept a clean sheet with no penalties conceded in four games which is exceptional. He’s come off the bench in three of those four appearances as the younger Finlay Brewis has been blooded, but Bower could see a lot more action now that Tamaiti Williams is injured. Other experienced looseheads in New Zealand like Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Ethan de Groot have copped high penalty counts, while younger props like Brewis and Jared Profitt are still learning their trade. Xavier Numia of the Hurricanes is always a reliable performer and worth a shout here but we’ll go with Bower.

2025 starter: Ethan de Groot/Tamaiti Williams

2. Samisoni Tau’keiaho (Chiefs)

The Chiefs have the best lineout in the competition surprisingly, with a 91.2% completion far above the Crusaders at 80.6%. The McAlister/Taukei’aho combination is responsible for that, along with the variety of Chiefs’ jumpers.

With ball-in-hand Tau’keiaho has been a wrecking ball, powering the Chiefs’ carry game with damaging runs. He’s one of the hardest players in the competition to tackle and the extra dimension he adds gives him a edge over the other hookers. If you want a strong gain line ball carrier, there are no better in New Zealand than Taukei’aho. He’s the Chiefs’ second most frequent ball carrier, behind Quinn Tupaea, which goes to show they see him able to fill the role of a No.8.

While Codie Taylor was exceptional for the All Blacks in 2025, on form, it’s Taukei’aho.

2025: Codie Taylor

3. Angus Ta’avao (Highlanders)

Ta’avao has been the best tighthead in New Zealand over the first part of the season. He has been pinged just once over four games, highlighting his reliability at scrum time.

Crusader Fletcher Newell has three pens in five games, Marcel Renata of the Blues has five pens in six games, Tevita Mafileo has five pens in four games, George Dyer of the Chiefs has five in five.

All Black Angus Ta’avao has the best mark, with only one infringement. On the other side, All Black loosehead Ethan de Groot has copped seven pens in six games which shows Ta’avao has held his own. The Highlanders have the best scrum completion in the competition at 97.3%.

The 36-year-old has been resurgent down south despite the turbulent results of late.

2025: Fletcher Newell/Tyrel Lomax

4. Josh Lord (Chiefs)

5. Sam Darry (Blues)

6. Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders)

Many will feel that Devan Flanders deserves the call up here but you can’t beat experience and Blackadder is still one of the best performing loose fowards in the competition. Perhaps the bigger conversation is that last year’s All Black starter Simon Parker is not in contention after six rounds, with at least two other blindsides putting their hands up.

Blackadder has been a machine ranking second in tackles completed behind Dalton Papalii and second in dominant tackles. He’s averaging 18.4 tackles a game which is great mileage. He’s also top 10 in turnovers won ranking seventh with five so far.

The 31-year-old is the form No.6 from a defensive point of view and would warrant selection in the team based on that.

2025: Simon Parker

7. Dalton Papalii (Blues)

The departing Blues loose-forward is arguably in career best form, tackling anything that comes close to him, and leading the Blues to second on the table after seven rounds. Papali’i fell out of favour under former All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson, which ultimately led him to confirm a deal in France, but that hasn’t slowed down the 37-Test All Black. Papali’i is second on the tackles completed list with 104 stops, only behind the Highlanders’ TK Howden.

It’s unlikely Papali’i’s picked under Rennie this year, but there’s no denying that his form warrants a conversation from the new head coach. If injuries were to hamper the loose-forward group in 2026, the stand-in Blues captain is someone who can be relied on.

2025: Ardie Savea

8. Peter Lakai (Hurricanes)

The Hurricanes’ loose-forward trio have been the most dynamic, powerful, and game-breaking group in the competition during the opening seven rounds of Super Rugby Pacific. A lot of that comes down to the youth of the trio, and ball carrying determination that Lakai, All Black bolter prospect Devan Flanders and Braydon Iose possess. Lakai has grown into a versatile and consistent force for both the Hurricanes and the All Blacks, where he highlights elite footwork in close contact.

Lakai’s skillset, which is on show in spades with the Hurricanes’ free-flowing attack, means he can play multiple different styles in the space of 80 minutes. Lakai can carry hard, play on the edges, win turnover ball, and make dominant tackles no matter where he is on the field.

Rennie’s supposed “breakdown focused” game plan could do with the 23-year-old in some way shape or form.

2025: Wallace Sititi/Peter Lakai