optimism and brutality—that's the All Blacks under Rennie
In the long arc of All Blacks history, each new coach brings not just tactics but a vision of what New Zealand rugby should look like and who should carry it forward. Dave Rennie, stepping into one of sport's most scrutinised roles, has answered that question swiftly: Ardie Savea will lead, four new faces will be welcomed, and the Hurricanes' championship season will echo into the national team's July tests against France, Italy, and Ireland. It is a selection that speaks of continuity and disruption at once — honouring experience while opening the door to a generation shaped by a dominant Super Rugby campaign.
- Scott Barrett's back injury creates a leadership vacancy at the worst possible moment — the dawn of a new coaching era demanding clarity and direction.
- Dave Rennie responds not with caution but conviction, handing Ardie Savea the captaincy and signalling a philosophy of speed, physicality, and what he calls 'optimism and brutality.'
- The Hurricanes' Super Rugby title reverberates through the squad, with eleven of their players selected and three of the four new caps drawn from the Wellington franchise.
- Fehi Fineanganofo, who shattered the Super Rugby try-scoring record with 17 tries, earns his first cap even as he prepares to depart for Newcastle — a bittersweet window into what might have been.
- The All Blacks gather Wednesday to begin preparation for tests against France, Italy, and Ireland, three matches that will serve as Rennie's first real examination as head coach.
Dave Rennie announced his first All Blacks squad on Monday, naming Ardie Savea as captain and selecting 34 players for three Nations Championship tests in July against France, Italy, and Ireland. The captaincy passes from Scott Barrett, sidelined by a back injury after leading the side through 11 tests since 2024, and the transition feels less like a stopgap than the beginning of a new direction.
Savea, 34, has captained the All Blacks 13 times before and brings a different temperament to the role. That he is currently playing for the Kobe Steelers in Japan rather than in the domestic competition signals Rennie's willingness to look beyond traditional selection pathways. Working alongside assistant Neil Barnes and World Cup-winning coach Graeme Henry, Rennie appears to be building toward something deliberate.
The Hurricanes' Super Rugby title has left a clear imprint on the squad, with eleven players from the Wellington franchise included. Three of the four new caps come from that same club: prop Xavier Numia, winger Josh Moorby, and winger Fehi Fineanganofo, who set a Super Rugby try-scoring record with 17 tries this season. The fourth debutant is Anton Segner, a Blues backrower born in Germany who played for his country at under-16 level before a scholarship at Nelson College set him on a path to New Zealand rugby.
At the other end of the spectrum, Beauden Barrett, 35, and veteran hooker Codie Taylor have been retained, reflecting a balance between experience and forward momentum. Ruben Love, named Player of the Match in the Super Rugby final, will compete for the number 10 jersey alongside McKenzie and the elder Barrett.
Rennie described his vision as a fast-paced game built on physical solidity — rugby played with what he called 'optimism and brutality.' The squad assembles Wednesday ahead of tests in Christchurch on July 4, Wellington on July 11, and Auckland on July 18. For the new caps, the moment carries weight beyond the scoreboard; for Savea, it is a validation that geography need not diminish standing.
Dave Rennie arrived at the All Blacks helm with a clear signal: this team would be built for speed and physicality, and it would be led by Ardie Savea. The announcement came Monday, when New Zealand Rugby chairman David Kirk unveiled a 34-player squad for three Nations Championship tests in July—matches against France, Italy, and Ireland that will serve as the new coach's first real examination.
Savea, 34, takes the captaincy from Scott Barrett, the lock who has led the All Blacks through 11 tests since 2024 but is sidelined by a back injury. The transition feels less like a temporary measure and more like the beginning of something different. Rennie, working alongside assistant Neil Barnes and World Cup-winning coach Graeme Henry, appears to be signaling a shift toward younger energy and a different kind of leadership. Savea, who has captained the All Blacks 13 times in the past, most recently filling in when Barrett was injured, brings experience but also a different temperament to the role. He has been playing in Japan for the Kobe Steelers, and his appointment suggests Rennie is comfortable looking beyond the traditional power bases of New Zealand rugby.
The squad carries the fingerprints of a Super Rugby season that was dominated by the Hurricanes. Eleven players from that championship-winning franchise made the cut, including four frontrowers who will form a significant part of the All Blacks' tight five. Xavier Numia, a prop, joins hooker Asafo Aumua and props Pasilio Tosi and Tyrel Lomax in what amounts to a Hurricanes pipeline into the national team's forward pack. Three of the four new caps come from that same Wellington-based franchise: Numia, winger Josh Moorby, and winger Fehi Fineanganofo, who set a Super Rugby try-scoring record with 17 tries this season. The fourth uncapped player is Anton Segner, a backrower from the Auckland Blues with an unusual path to the All Blacks. Born in Germany, Segner played for his country at under-16 level before taking a six-month scholarship at Nelson College in New Zealand. He captained the school's first XV, played age-group rugby for the Crusaders, and eventually signed with the Blues in 2021. He has represented New Zealand at secondary schools and under-20 level.
At the other end of the experience spectrum, Beauden Barrett, 35, has been included in the squad despite having only a slim chance of playing at the 2027 World Cup. Veteran hooker Codie Taylor, who had a mediocre Super Rugby season, has also been retained. The selection reflects a balance between youth and experience, though the direction is unmistakably forward-looking. Ruben Love, the Hurricanes flyhalf who was named Player of the Match in the Super Rugby final on Saturday, will compete for the number 10 jersey alongside Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett.
Rennie framed the squad as a reflection of how the All Blacks intend to operate this season. He spoke of a fast-paced game underpinned by physical solidity, a team capable of meeting the demands of test rugby while playing with what he called "optimism and brutality." The language suggests a deliberate philosophy: not just winning, but winning in a particular way. The squad will gather on Wednesday to begin preparation for the three tests, starting with France in Christchurch on July 4, followed by Italy in Wellington on July 11, and Ireland in Auckland on July 18.
For the four new caps, the moment carries weight beyond the immediate matches. Fineanganofo, despite his record-breaking season, is due to join Newcastle in England at the end of the year, making this selection a window into what might have been. Rennie acknowledged the significance in his statement, offering special congratulations to the uncapped players and noting that their families and teammates would share in the pride of the moment. For Savea, the captaincy represents a validation of his standing within the squad, even as he plays his rugby in Japan rather than in the domestic competition that has traditionally been the pathway to All Blacks selection.
Citações Notáveis
The squad had the ability to rise to the demands of test rugby but also play with optimism and brutality.— Dave Rennie, All Blacks head coach
Ardie is highly respected by his teammates and cares deeply about the black jersey.— Dave Rennie, on Savea's captaincy
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why move the captaincy away from Barrett now, when he's injured? Why not wait until he's healthy?
Because Rennie is signaling a change in direction. Barrett was Robertson's captain—part of the old regime. This isn't just about Barrett's back. It's about who leads the next phase.
Savea plays in Japan. That's unusual for a captain, isn't it?
It is. But Rennie seems comfortable with it. Savea has captained the All Blacks before, he's respected in the squad, and he's not some fringe player. The Japan posting doesn't diminish him.
Three of the four new caps are from the Hurricanes. Is that smart, or is it just convenience?
The Hurricanes won Super Rugby. That's not coincidence. You pick from where the form is. But it also means Rennie is willing to trust a cohort of players who already know how to win together.
Fehi Fineanganofo scored 17 tries in Super Rugby, then gets picked for the All Blacks, then leaves for England. What's the story there?
He's at his peak, and he's leaving. So this squad is his window. He'll play these three tests, then he's gone. It's a moment that won't come again.
Rennie talks about "optimism and brutality." What does that actually mean on the field?
Fast, attacking rugby—that's the optimism. But backed by a physical edge, a willingness to dominate in contact. It's not pretty rugby. It's purposeful.
Is Beauden Barrett really a chance at the 2027 World Cup?
Rennie said he has an outside chance. That's diplomatic language for probably not. But he's still good enough to be in the squad, and his experience matters in a team with four new caps.