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Winners and losers from Dave Rennie’s first All Blacks squad
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Now that Dave Rennie’s first All Blacks squad has been named, it’s time to look over who the big omissions were and who the beneficiaries were of the big selection calls.
Rennie’s 34-man squad was named on Monday at Fielding Rugby Club in Manawatu, ahead of three Nations Championship fixtures in New Zealand, starting on July 4.
The new selection panel, including Rennie, Sir Graham Henry, and senior assistant Neil Barnes, picked four debutants in their first squad of 2026.
Hurricanes trio Xavier Numia, Josh Moorby, and Fehi Fineanganofo received their maiden call-up, alongside German-born loose-forward Anton Segner.
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The four inclusions have squeezed out a number of experienced All Blacks, and players who many expected to be named.
Here are the four winners and four losers from the first All Blacks squad of 2026.
Winnners
Ardie Savea
The All Black centurion was the odds-on favourite to be selected as the new captain under Dave Rennie, and eventually won the race over the likes of Codie Taylor and Jordie Barrett.
His relationship with defence coach Tana Umaga, and recent championship in Kobe with Rennie would have helped his cause, but there’s no denying the experience and leadership qualities of the Wellington-born All Black loose-forward.
Many questioned Savea’s intentions and actions during Scott Robertson’s dramatic departure at the start of 2026, but Rennie and his coaching staff clearly weren’t fazed by the unconfirmed rumours circulating around Savea’s name.
Rumours aside, this is a smart decision by Rennie and his coaching staff, who have publicly stated that the leadership group will be smaller than it was under Robertson. If the group is smaller, having Savea and the likes of Taylor and Barrett alongside makes complete sense, as there’s experience, selection certainty, and a range of positions in the trio.
There will be times in 2026 when the 32-year-old will be rested in order to manage his workload ahead of a huge campaign in 2027, but clearly, the All Blacks coaches selected their man.
Anton Lienert-Brown
The 88-Test All Black knows what it takes at international level, and more importantly, has been in Japan working alongside Rennie and attack coach Mike Blair.
On form, a key part of the selection criteria, it’s hard to argue that Lienert-Brown deserves to be in the 34-man squad over Timoci Tavatavanawai, but this specific selection feels situational.
Rennie and the new coaching group have ten days between the squad meeting on Wednesday in Auckland and the first Test against France in Christchurch.
The experienced midfielder will play a key part in the adjustment from the previous regime to Rennie and Blair’s new game plan, and having someone who’s played in both could prove pivotal in how quickly the new group learns and applies a new system.
Kyle Preston
The Crusaders’ halfback is exceptional when given the chance for the Crusaders, and has evidently impressed Rennie in his short cameos off the bench. Picking a Super Rugby Pacific bench player over the club’s starter, who many believed would be picked, is not something you see often.
Preston, whose kicking skill set off both feet is impressive, was more consistent in his minutes at Super Rugby Pacific level, and that’s likely why he got the nod over club teammate Noah Hotham.
Preston made eleven bench appearances in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season and zero starts. He’s an elite finisher who may take up a bench role, assuming Cameron Roigard starts for the All Blacks. Rennie said, “Kyle’s speed to the breakdown, the quality of this distribution was key for us, and we want to play at a really high tempo, and so he got the nod.”
Anton Segner
In a straight shootout for one loose-forward spot, Segner pipped Hurricanes co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi on stats and versatility, according to Rennie.
“If you look at pure numbers Anton has been incredible. His post-tackle numbers are in the 90s. He’s made really good decisions and he’s been really effective. Du’Plessis was unbelievable this time last year. Probably not as good numbers this year but he’s a really good player. He’s a good athlete, he’s got great work ethic. They’re discussions we had but Anton’s form has been irresistible.”
Not only do the numbers speak for themselves, but the positional make-up of the loose-forward mix has worked in Segner’s favour. He’s a linout option and can play blindside, two things Kirifi can’t offer, at least at international level.
Kirifi should get selected for the Greatest Rivalry Tour of South Africa, but for the three Nations Championship fixtures, Rennie’s decision of the Blues loose-forward makes sense.
Losers
Du’Plessis Kirifi
No doubt, the Hurricanes’ co-captain did everything he could to get picked in Rennie’s inaugural squad. Kirifi led his Super Rugby Pacific franchise to its first title in a decade, and did it with some incredible individual form, too.
You have to think that the 29-year-old is a victim of not being versatile enough in a loose-forward mix that can all play at least two positions. This doesn’t take away from his ability, leadership qualities, and future in a black jersey, as the No.7 is still a frontrunner for one of the extra ten positions in the Greatest Rivalry Tour squad.
The All Blacks head coach told media on Monday in Fielding that they see Segner as a genuine No.7 who can play blindside, and with Savea being named captain, you can see why Kirifi was overlooked as a specialist openside flanker.
Rieko Ioane
Ioane is the massive omission, for a number of reasons. The outside back went to Leinster on a sabbatical, as part of his NZR contract, and now hasn’t been selected for the All Blacks.
It might not seem strange, but it’s the first time a player has been granted a sabbatical overseas, only for the coaching staff to then leave him out of the squad on his return.
The likes of Savea, Lienert-Brown, Jordie and Beauden Barrett, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Patrick Tuipulotu, and Sam Whitelock were all granted sabbaticals and came straight back into the All Blacks squad, as their form warranted selection in the coaches’ eyes.
Ioane’s form in Ireland hasn’t been bang-the-door-down material for Rennie and co, but it certainly has improved in the final stages of the URC and Champions Cup, with many expecting the 88-Test veteran to be named.
Throw in the injuries to Caleb Tangitau and Leicester Fainga’anuku, who were squad certainties, and selection was surely falling into Ioane’s lap.
But Rennie, who continues to explain the importance of form, picked Moorby and Fineanganofo over him as he stayed true to his word, on this selection at least.
It’s not all doom and gloom for Ioane, who will likely feature in South Africa due to his versatility and experience, as mentioned on multiple occasions by Rennie on Monday.
Noah Hotham
The All Blacks coaching staff made it clear Hotham wasn’t far off, but it’s his passing distribution and inconsistent kicking that have come back to haunt him.
Rennie will likely take four or five halfbacks to South Africa, and Hotham’s instinctive running game and physical style could see the 24-year-old back in the All Black frame at some point in 2026.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for the Crusaders’ halfback, who, by Rob Penney’s selections during 2026, was the primary option at No.9 for the Christchurch-based franchise.
Timoci Tavatavanawai
Tavatavanawai, known as “Jim the Difference”, can feel hard done by on form, after going close to winning Super Rugby Pacific’s Player of the Year.
The Highlanders midfielder was abrasive as ever, powerful on both sides of the ball, and contributed 15 turnovers in 2026. The 28-year-old led the competition with 81 tackle breaks, with the next best, Leicester Fainga’anuku, on 64.
Lienert-Brown’s experience and versatility saw him get the nod as the fourth midfielder in Rennie’s squad, while Tavatavanawai’s lack of fitness in games where he’s had to shift to the left wing simply isn’t viable at Test level.
With ball in hand, there’s no denying his impact, but Rennie’s fast-paced game plan is clearly less suited to Tavatavanawai.
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