Stephen Donald reveals his ‘big movers’ of 2026 as Dave Rennie handed a ‘gift’ in Wales game
Jamie Hannah in action for the All Blacks and former fly-half Stephen Donald.
Ex-All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald has picked out two lesser known forwards who have thrust themselves into contention after taking their chances this season.
No one probably had Jamie Hannah and Saula Ma’u in their All Blacks squad at the start of the year, but both have had a dramatic rise in 2026.
Hannah enjoyed a fine Super Rugby Pacific campaign and actually made his Test debut against France in the Nations Championship in July following a spate of injuries in the second-row.
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Following the return of Fabian Holland, Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu, he drifted down the pecking, but the 24-year-old has kept plugging away in the NPC, playing a key role in Canterbury’s title-winning campaign.
He has duly been rewarded for his efforts this season, getting selected ahead of Tuipulotu and Darry for the upcoming November Tests.
Hannah has been joined in the All Blacks squad by Ma’u, who comes into the squad after an injury to Hurricanes tighthead Tyrel Lomax.
The Highlanders prop missed the start of the season through injury but did well for the Dunedin outfit when he returned.
Ma’u was then called up as injury cover during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry and helped change the game when coming off the bench against the Lions in a midweek tour match.
“What a story his has been,” Donald said of the ‘Landers tighthead on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.
“He was injured for the majority of Super Rugby, came back towards the end but just off the bench because obviously the Highlanders front-row was going well with [Ethan] De Groot and [Angus] Ta’avao.
“Now he’s managed to make an end-of-year tour which is a pretty cool story when you think about the big movers. I would say Hannah is a big mover and I would Ma’u is a fair big mover as well.”
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Host Kirstie Stanway also mentioned Crusaders outside back Chay Fihaki, who also finds himself in the 36 after impressing on debut against the Wallabies earlier this month.
“We’ve ignored that one haven’t we?” Donald responded. “Every time he goes out there now, he looks better and better. Athletically, he’s tall, strong, fast, elusive and if you watched the [NPC] final [between Canterbury and Northland] – that wonderful game of footy we saw on Monday – he can goal-kick and goal-kick under pressure.”
While that trio may struggled to make the 23 for the big games in November, Donald believes that All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has an opportunity to rotate against Wales.
“When we sat down and did that way too early season predictions of the All Black campaign, the next two games we said were gifts, and that might be getting a little bit carried away, but certainly the Welsh game will be a game that if they want to see someone on a Test match day, that will be the one they throw them out in,” he said.
“Some of them might even get sprinkled through the Scottish game.”