Dave Rennie’s ‘point of difference’ verdict on All Blacks back-row selections and Du’Plessis Kirifi snub
Du'Plessis Kirifi and an inset of All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie.
Dave Rennie has revealed why Du’Plessis Kirifi has been overlooked for the touring squad to South Africa for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
The Hurricanes co-captain was a regular feature for Scott Robertson last year but hasn’t got a look-in under the new head coach despite his strong performances en route to winning Super Rugby Pacific.
Instead, Rennie has stuck with the likes of Ardie Savea, Anton Segner, Luke Jacobson, Wallace Sititi, Simon Park and Peter Lakai as his loose forwards, who did service during the Nations Championship while adding Crusaders star Ethan Blackadder and calling up the uncapped Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa.
Why Du’Plessis Kirifi was overlooked
While the head coach admits that Kirifi is a ‘good player’ and performed well for the ‘Canes in 2026, he explained that there is sufficient cover for the openside flanker position.
“I spoke to a handful of guys, so I’m not going to go into those in massive detail, but as you’ve seen with the guys that we used in the Nations Championship, those boys fronted well for us,” the All Blacks boss explained.
“Luke, Anton, Peter Lakai, and Ardie can all play seven, and Dups is a good player; he had a good season, but there are good players who have missed the squad, not just him.
“His job is to go away, keep working hard, and be ready if an opportunity arises. I’d be surprised if we don’t call someone in at some stage.”
Ethan Blackadder’s recall to the All Blacks
One player who has been called into the squad after missing the Nations Championship is Crusaders’ back-rower Blackadder. Rennie explains that he and Moana Pasifika star Ta’eiloa bring a ‘point of difference’ that the squad didn’t have in July.
He hailed the work rate of the ‘Saders man who will be an option at number eight and on the side of the scrum in South Africa. While Blackadder played regularly for Robertson in 2024, he was overlooked last year due to his injury struggles.
“He has obviously had a lot of injuries over time, but when he played this year, he was really impressive. He has a massive engine, physically, so we think he offers a point of difference around that,” Rennie said about the 31-year-old.
Ex-All Black adamant New Zealand concern can be ‘easily fixed’ with Springboks ‘big boys’ looming
“We’ve spoken about Semisi Ta’eiloa before, but he has got a genuine point of difference. We haven’t got that big, powerful loose forward like him, and he’s really destructive defensively, and he carried Moana on his back a lot this year, so we think he has a point of difference as well.”
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
Dave Rennie on uncapped looseforward Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa
Rennie is particularly pleased for Ta’eiloa, who shone for Moana in 2026 despite the club’s struggles on and off the pitch.
“I watched less Super Rugby last year, to be fair, when I was in Japan and not realising I was going to be coaching the All Blacks, but I watched a lot this year,” he added.
“Look, Ardie speaks really highly of him. It’s exciting.
“It’s a really good story in it that someone who maybe is playing in a side that’s battling can stand out the way he did. So we’re really pleased for him.”
