Rating every All Blacks player from the Nations Championship: Three big standouts in new era but star forward ‘disappoints’ as Dave Rennie sends message
Will Jordan and Jordie Barrett in action for the All Blacks.
Dave Rennie’s charges went three from three in the July Nations Championship matches, beating France, Italy and Ireland; here’s how we rate every All Blacks player’s performances.
Outside backs
Damian McKenzie: Was a controversial pick to play full-back at the start of the Nations Championship but, by the end of the three games, McKenzie had justified Rennie’s mammoth call. He was promising in both the France and Italy games, but was utterly sublime against Ireland and really came into his own. 8
Will Jordan: With McKenzie at 15, it meant the new head coach put Jordan on the wing – another decision which did not have too many backers – but six tries in three games effectively tells its own story. The 28-year-old broke the All Blacks’ try-scoring record in the process and also contributed plenty elsewhere in what was an outstanding month. 9
Fehi Fineanganofo: Played the last few minutes of the first Test against France, had a couple of runs and then suffered an injury which kept him out of the final two internationals. 3
Leroy Carter: Another back three player to have a short run this month due to injury. Was impressive against Italy, having set up a Jordan try when he was forced off and replaced by Josh Moorby. 5
Caleb Clarke: Was fine in the opener against France but was sidelined for the Italy encounter and then overtaken by Moorby. Did come on in the finale versus Ireland and played like he had something to prove thanks to some excellent moments with ball in hand. 6
Josh Moorby: Outstanding after coming on against Italy but was slightly quieter the following week in the Ireland encounter. Still plenty of promise, however, and has put himself in contention to face the Springboks next month. 7
Centres
Quinn Tupaea: Outside centre is not his usual position for the Chiefs, but the 27-year-old has shone every time he has played in that spot for the All Blacks. There might not have been any searing breaks, but Tupaea was magnificent on both sides of the ball, while his dexterity on the gain line was a real point of difference as he put his team-mates in space. 8
Jordie Barrett: Just utter class throughout the three games. Barrett was an incredible player before going to Ireland but he seems to have gone up another level since returning and was a focal point in the backline. Made three assists which was more than any other non-scrum-half in the Nations Championship as his passing game created plenty of opportunities. 9
Billy Proctor: Still trying to take his Super Rugby form into the Test arena. Was handed an opportunity to start in the Italy match but he was ultimately unconvincing and was dropped from the squad the following week. Tupaea is very much in possession of the shirt. 4
Anton Lienert-Brown: Had little game time across the Nations Championship – 36 minutes in total – but he was solid enough. We particularly liked what he brought in the Ireland game, but at the moment he remains on the fringes of the team. 5
Fly-halves
Ruben Love: Just one player started at 10 in July and that was the Hurricane, who was handed an opportunity after a stunning Super Rugby season. We mentioned during that campaign that he was a facilitator rather than a general and that was how he played at Test level. Love therefore underplayed his hand, which is fine and worked well enough for New Zealand, but he now needs to step up a bit more in South Africa, especially with Richie Mo’unga potentially lurking. 6
Scrum-halves
Cam Roigard: Alongside Barrett and Jordan, the best player for the All Blacks this month. Played with tempo and a cool head, always taking the right decision as Rennie’s men found their rhythm in attack. Roigard’s ‘worst’ game was against Ireland and yet he was still outstanding, which is akin to the level Antoine Dupont has produced over the past few years. 9
Cortez Ratima: On the subject of Dupont, whereas France have depth at nine to replace the great man adequately when he is absent, the Kiwis do not. There is a big drop-off between Roigard and his challengers and that was shown by the lack of game time Ratima had. In truth, we are surprised Kyle Preston did not get given a chance as the Chiefs half-back has had a poor season. 4
Loose forwards
Ardie Savea: In his first campaign after being named the official captain – he of course stepped in for Scott Barrett under Scott Robertson – Savea kept up his high standards. Not quite as influential with ball in hand as usual but still incredibly effective in pretty much all parts of the game. 8
Luke Jacobson: Rennie’s other biggest call, alongside the full-back decision, with Jacobson the head coach’s man to provide a hard edge at the breakdown, and he did just that. Was perhaps fortunate to avoid a red card against Ireland but, other than that, the openside flanker did his job exceptionally well. 7
Peter Lakai: A bit of a disappointing few weeks for Lakai. Started in the France game but was not as impressive as either Savea or Jacobson and duly had limited minutes after that. With the Springboks lurking and Tupou Vaa’i doing well at blindside, he may struggle to get into the Test XV next month. 4
Wallace Sititi: Supremely gifted and a player most countries would love to have, but the All Blacks have very high standards, and he quite simply did not reach them during his time on the field. Sititi was error-strewn and ultimately disappointing against Italy and was dropped as a result, with Rennie sending a “clear message” to the back-rower about what he expects. 3
Anton Segner: One of four bolters named in the wider training squad, and Segner got two opportunities, off the bench against Italy and Ireland. On both occasions the Blues star was excellent as he showed plenty of promise heading into the Greatest Rivalry series. 6
Locks
Sam Darry: Fantastic in the All Blacks’ opening two matches before slightly surprisingly making way for the final Test. Darry put in a huge shift against both France and Italy, playing 80 minutes in both, while he was also good in the set-piece. He will surely play a part in the Springboks series despite missing out against Ireland. 8
Josh Lord: Another lock to enjoy a good Nations Championship after playing all three games, two as a starter. Lord was excellent in the set-piece and got around the field as he influenced matters in the loose. 7
Jamie Hannah: A promising debut in their opening clash of the month as Hannah, who was only in the wider training squad as injury cover, came off the bench against Les Bleus. Was not seen again as Vaa’i and Tuipulotu recovered from their respective injuries, but we are sure we will see him in the black jersey again. 5
Tupou Vaa’i: Concussion ruled him out of facing Les Bleus, but Vaa’i made up for lost time with excellent displays in rounds two and three. The latter came at blindside as Rennie perhaps started looking ahead to their massive series against the Springboks. 7
Patrick Tuipulotu: Rennie decided to delay his return just to make sure he was 100 per cent, and it proved to be the right decision as Tuipulotu was superb in the victory over Ireland. Similar to the likes of Segner, didn’t have the body of work to get a higher mark, but, in his one game of the month, the gargantuan second-row was a standout. 6
Hookers
Codie Taylor: Solid and dependable as Taylor continues to do a fine job as the All Blacks’ starting hooker. At 35, he’s not quite as impressive around the field as he once was but Rennie, like Robertson, feels the Crusaders great is the best man to be in the XV before handing over to either Asafo Aumua or Samisoni Taukei’aho. 6
Asafo Aumua: Got the nod over Taukei’aho for two of the Tests, which suggests his Super Rugby form has seen him edge ahead of the Chiefs hooker for the impact role. Aumua was particularly special against Ireland after coming on early for an injured Taylor as he dominated in the physical exchanges. 7
Samisoni Taukei’aho: Was one of New Zealand’s best in 2025 and he also had a fine 2026 Super Rugby campaign, but Aumua has just had the edge this year. Taukei’aho was good in his 30 minutes against Italy, but that was the only time he spent on the field. 5
Props
Fletcher Newell: Another solid performer, even if Newell has not quite built on his early promise. The tighthead made his debut in 2022 and we expected him to become one of the best in the world heading into the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but he has not quite reached those levels just yet. 6
Ethan de Groot: Much better from the loosehead, who was a world-class player at the previous tournament. De Groot suffered a dip in 2024 and 2025, but the 28-year-old is starting to find his feet again. Good in the scrum and excellent around the field with some lovely touches on the gain line. 7
Xavier Numia: Has had limited time to show what he can do after an excellent year in Super Rugby. The positives are that he looks solid in the set-piece, which is always the big challenge for a prop, and his explosiveness in the carry could become a point of difference once Numia gets used to the speed of international rugby. But at the moment, he is still finding his way at this level. 5
Tyrel Lomax: Has endured his injury problems over the past year or so and is still not quite at his best. Lomax is improving in the scrum, but the All Blacks front five isn’t quite as dominant as it was during Jason Ryan’s first few years as their forwards coach. 6
George Bower: Had half an hour versus Italy, but Bower is very much there as cover for injury, with De Groot and Numia very much the first-choice props for Rennie at the moment. 4
Pasilio Tosi: Granted, there is fierce competition from Lomax and Newell, but it was still a surprise not to see Tosi get more game time after his outstanding Super Rugby season. However, he didn’t help his cause with a mediocre showing when coming on in the Italy encounter. 4