The All Blacks’ depth will be tested when Dave Rennie names his 36-man squad on Tuesday morning NZT for the upcoming Nations Championship fixtures against Scotland, Wales, England, and a yet-to-be-determined opponent in the inaugural Finals Weekend at Twickenham.
Rennie’s side enter the final four Tests of the season after two convincing wins over trans-Tasman rivals Australia, but they will head north without some of their most influential players as their injury list continues to grow.
Long-term absences
Captain Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, Ruben Love, Tyrel Lomax, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Shannon Frizell, Tamaiti Williams, Billy Proctor, Leroy Carter, Ollie Norris, and Caleb Clarke are all ruled out for the remainder of 2026. Several other players sit on the “doubtful” list.
Mo’unga and Fineanganofo
Richie Mo’unga and Fehi Fineanganofo were both sidelined during the Bledisloe Cup series, but neither has been officially ruled out. Fineanganofo, the electric Hurricanes winger, is most likely to return. He dealt with a concussion and a calf injury that held him back, but he has a chance to feature in Tuesday’s squad.
Rennie has said Mo’unga could be fit and available for the final two Tests of the Northern Tour. That leaves question marks, however, around picking a player who can only play limited game time.
Barrett, Blackadder and Tuipulotu
Jordie Barrett was pulled from the match-day 23 in Sydney with calf tightness, but he is not expected to miss any time. Ethan Blackadder picked up a calf injury during the warm-up at Eden Park just over two weeks ago. His timeline is unknown, but he would likely join the squad if he is fit and available.
Patrick Tuipulotu also missed the two Wallabies Tests with a calf injury. His four-to-six-week timeline would see him available for the final three matches of the tour.
Fainga’anuku’s return
Versatile Crusader Leicester Fainga’anuku pulled out of Tasman’s Hilux NPC quarter-final against Northland due to concussion protocols, but he should recover before the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour. Rennie has hinted at his return for the final four Tests of the year after he missed out on the Bledisloe Cup squad. The head coach wants more game time from the 27-year-old.
Selection squeeze in the outside backs
The outside backs will be tightly contested. Rennie has the option of one-Test winger Chay Fihaki, Emoni Narawa, now-eligible Kyren Taumoefolau, and Fainga’anuku, if the All Blacks see him as a winger.
Locking group
With Barrett, Holland, Vaa’i, and Lord seemingly the first-choice locking group, Rennie will have to select only one of Jamie Hannah or Sam Darry. Recent squads suggest Hannah has the inside running after his call-up over Darry for the Bledisloe Cup squad. Darry, however, was a standout over the course of July’s Tests and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
Possible bolters
Possible bolters include Taumoefolau, Highlanders loose forward Lucas Casey, and Blues and Tasman hooker Eli Oudenryn. Otago captain Christian Lio-Willie could also feature if Blackadder remains sidelined.
Predicted 36-man squad
Forwards: Ethan de Groot, George Bower, Xavier Numia, Codie Taylor (captain), Asafo Aumua, George Bell, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Siale Lauaki, Fabian Holland, Scott Barrett, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu*, Peter Lakai, Anton Segner, Wallace Sititi, Simon Parker, Ethan Blackadder*.
Backs: Cameron Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Kyle Preston, Damian McKenzie, Josh Jacomb, Beauden Barrett, Josh Moorby, Fehi Fineanganofo*, Jordie Barrett, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Quinn Tupaea, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Will Jordan, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Chay Fihaki.