Dave Rennie set to select three All Blacks bolters and in-form Ruben Love as new era sees bold approach after Scott Robertson conservatism
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and possible fly-half starter Ruben Love.
Dave Rennie will usher in a new All Blacks era by immediately handing debuts to three uncapped players, according to a report in New Zealand.
The national team head coach, who has taken over from the sacked Scott Robertson, has been tasked with getting the side on the right path ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Rennie therefore does not have long, but he is potentially looking to fast-track certain individuals, which is in contrast to Robertson, who tended to be a more conservative selector.
He named four bolters in the wider training squad and three of those are set to be involved in the opener against France in Christchurch this weekend.
The three rookies likely to be involved
The New Zealand Herald are reporting that Fehi Fineanganofo, Anton Segner and Xavier Numia are likely to be picked in the 23 to face the Six Nations champions at One NZ Stadium.
It is claimed that Fineanganofo and Segner will start while the dynamic loosehead prop Numia has been included among the replacements.
That leaves Josh Moorby as the only uncapped player to miss out, with Will Jordan’s return from injury perhaps costing him a place in the squad.
Moorby and Fineanganofo both overtook the previous Super Rugby try-scoring record of 16 by crossing the whitewash 17 times apiece in 2026, but it is only the latter who looks set to be involved on Saturday.
It comes amid an interesting backdrop regarding his future with Fineanganofo signing a deal with English outfit Newcastle Red Bulls.
That was announced in January, before the Hurricanes’ season had even began, but his form for the Wellington-based team has put NZ Rugby in a difficult situation.
Rennie has arguably helped matters by picking him in the wider training group and handing the 23-year-old an All Blacks debut will perhaps tilt the balance even further towards the back three star reneging on his Newcastle deal.
The Herald are reporting that he will start in the 14 jersey – rather than the 11 that he has usually worn for the ‘Canes – and will be alongside Jordan and Caleb Clarke in the back three.
Ruben Love handed an opportunity
They are also suggesting that Ruben Love will get his chance at fly-half after a stellar Super Rugby season, while up front another Hurricane, Peter Lakai, will get the nod over Wallace Sititi.
However, the big story, should it be confirmed on Thursday, would be Segner’s debut at blindside, with the German-born back-rower being rewarded for his outstanding performances at a struggling Blues team.
It is reported that he is currently leading the way to be selected, albeit the Chiefs’ Simon Parker is also being considered, but Rennie and his backroom staff have been hugely impressed by the 24-year-old in training.
He could well start alongside Lakai and captain Ardie Savea in the loose trio with Sititi among the replacements.
The bench is also where another rookie could reside in the form of prop Numia, who may form a dynamic all-Hurricanes front-row trio with Asafo Aumua and Pasilio Tosi.
It is a tight call between Aumua and Samisoni Taukei’aho for the reserve hooker role, but the All Blacks boss appears to have opted for the club combination, which was so effective in Super Rugby.
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