New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie will announce his first squad on Monday. He will name 34 players for the Nations Championship tests, before enlarging that squad to 44 for the Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa. Hayden Meikle breaks it all down.
Fullbacks
Rennie will be sweating on the health of one of the few genuinely world-class players in New Zealand rugby.
Will Jordan is a guaranteed selection when fit but has played just two games for the Crusaders in three months and is working to come right after aggravating a calf injury.
But the likelihood is one of the three consensus first fives listed below will wear the No 15 jersey in one or more of the three July tests if Jordan remains crocked.
Wingers
Glass half-full? Loads of options. Glass half-empty? Still unclear which two are best.
Caleb Clarke probably has one side sewn up after a consistently excellent season for the Blues, Leroy Carter should get another go, and Emoni Narawa will likely be included despite being sidelined with yet another injury.
Josh Moorby and Kini Naholo have plenty of fans at the Hurricanes. Highlanders sensation Caleb Tangitau was a safe bet until he succumbed to injury. Sevu Reece is off to France.
The wildcard is Fehi Fineanganofo. The Hurricanes flyer deserves to make his debut but he has signed a deal to go to England. Will the All Blacks pick him anyway? Can they convince him to stay?
Midfielders
Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea are the obvious selections.
Billy Proctor never fully convinced in nine tests last year but will get another chance.
Timoci Tavatavanawai has been spectacular for the Highlanders for the past two seasons, but there is a logjam at second five, and he might have to wait until South Africa. Same goes for David Havili.
How does Rennie feel about Rieko Ioane, who started the last test of 2025 at centre, having previously been moved back to the wing, then went on sabbatical to Ireland? And does he think Anton Lienert-Brown, who played for his Kobe club, has more to offer?
First fives
One is unproven at test level.
One has been given plenty of opportunities without quite nailing down the jersey.
One is battling Father Time.
Love at 10, McKenzie at 15 and Barrett on the bench shape as likely selections for the first test of the season.
Halfbacks
Cameron Roigard then daylight, realistically.
Noah Hotham, Cortez Ratima and Kyle Preston will fight over two spots.
Finlay Christie and Folau Fakatava have fallen back into the shadows. Every Highlanders fan hoped young gun Dylan Pledger would continue his rapid rise but that will have to wait.
Loose forwards
Ardie Savea — presumably to be given the captaincy — is a certainty, as are Wallace Sititi and Peter Lakai.
Du’Plessis Kirifi offers something different, and both Luke Jacobson and Simon Parker are likely to be favoured by Rennie.
Samipeni Finau remains inconsistent, Anton Segner was excellent for the Blues but there are questions over whether he has the physicality to step up, and despite what some southerners think, it is way too soon for Lucas Casey.
Christian Lio-Willie is such good value, but there might simply be no room for him until the Greatest Rivalry squad is named. Shannon Frizell is back in the mix soon.
Locks
Unlikely to be a major talking point.
Fabian Holland hopefully returns for South Africa.
Props
Again, stability is likely the feature.
Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell and Highlanders star Ethan de Groot have runs on the board, and Pasilio Tosi and Ollie Norris have been in good nick.
The future of Tamaiti Williams is unclear after his serious injury. Otago and Crusaders man George Bower is a good squad man.
Hookers
Codie Taylor is 35 but is certain to add to his 106 caps.
He might, however, play second fiddle to the dynamic Asafo Aumua if the Hurricanes rake stays fit.
Samisoni Taukei’aho grabs the third spot ahead of Brodie McAlister and George Bell.
All Blacks
Possible squad
Backs: Will Jordan, Caleb Clarke, Leroy Carter, Emoni Narawa, Fehi Fineanganofo, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Billy Proctor, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett, Cameron Roigard, Noah Hotham, Cortez Ratima.
Forwards: Wallace Sititi, Ardie Savea, Peter Lakai, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Luke Jacobson, Simon Parker, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, Patrick Tuipolotu, Sam Darry, Tyrel Lomax, Pasilio Tosi, Fletcher Newell, Ethan de Groot, Xavier Numia, Ollie Norris, Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho.
