Note: Saturday kickoff is 5.10pm not 7.10pm
NC: All Blacks
Match thread
Italy
It will be interesting how Rennie and co use the rest of the squad for this test.
Arguably the easiest of the 3 tests but on their day can cause a few issues if you don’t execute.
What I would like to see:
- Love start at 10: he should be given all 3 tests to start.
- Segner to get a run even if it’s off the bench
- Vaa’i to return: would like to have him back and match fit for Ireland
- LJ to start: if this is his time, then keep it going.
- Darry to start
What I think may happen, DMac or Jordan will not play. Barrett as a bench option. Same midfield to start
Agreed LJ needs proper time but he has also had a heavy season and concussion scares-don't play him for 80 IMO.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
It will be interesting how Rennie and co use the rest of the squad for this test.
Arguably the easiest of the 3 tests but on their day can cause a few issues if you don’t execute.
What I would like to see:
- Love start at 10: he should be given all 3 tests to start.
- Segner to get a run even if it’s off the bench
- Vaa’i to return: would like to have him back and match fit for Ireland
- LJ to start: if this is his time, then keep it going.
- Darry to start
What I think may happen, DMac or Jordan will not play. Barrett as a bench option. Same midfield to start
Would like to see QT & Proctor in midfield at some stage. Sub Jordie & move QT to 12 if things are going well.
Hopefully, they don’t decide to run out a full B team. They need to find their best lineup and give it time together.
Aside from changes aimed at finding that top team, I’d only rest players they know are a burnout risk. With players returning from injury and some necessary tinkering, I wouldn’t make more than a couple of changes each to the forwards and backs.
Team I would like to see:
- Numia
- Samisoni.
- Tosi
- Vaai
- Darry
- Parker
- LJ
- Ardie
- Roigard
- Love
- Fehi
- Jordi
- Tupaea
- Moorby
- Jordan
Bench. Bouwer, Taylor, Lomax , Tuipulutu, Segner, Preston, BB, Proctor
Goal to give a few other guys a run in the squad (rest a few) while strengthening new partnerships like 8,9,10,12,13 combo with the view of running the strongest team against Ireland next week ahead of Bok tour. A would expect a few tweaks from France game based on the form of the first 2 tests.
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
I'd like to see Savea come on as impact sub at 50 mins.
Starters LJ 7, Sititi 6 and Lakai 8
I would be tempted to bet my house against the new coach benching his new captain in only the second game in charge, coming off a win against one of the best teams in the world (without something catastrophic having happened).
I’d like to see bolder use of the bench, bringing replacements on earlier. The first substitutions weren’t made until 54 minutes on the weekend and the last made at 76 minutes - they don’t trust Ratima at all. They could easily replace the front row at or even before half time and do the same with others if they’re worried about some players playing too many minutes.
@Bones said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
I'd like to see Savea come on as impact sub at 50 mins.
Starters LJ 7, Sititi 6 and Lakai 8I would be tempted to bet my house against the new coach benching his new captain in only the second game in charge, coming off a win against one of the best teams in the world (without something catastrophic having happened).
So you're saying Rennie will take a conservative approach?
IF TWM wish to give everyone else a run against Italy, that could be achieved with a team like the following:
EDG/Taylor/Tosi/Darry/Vaa'i/Parker/LukeJ/RD/Roigard/Love/Clarke/Jordie/ALB/Moorby/BB
Bench:
Bower/SamiT/Lomax/PattyT/Segner/Preston/Proctor/Carter
The back three probably changes too much to make it useful gauge (or to be contemplated), but everywhere else the impact of the variations would provide valuable information for the Ireland test.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
I'd like to see Savea come on as impact sub at 50 mins.
Starters LJ 7, Sititi 6 and Lakai 8I would be tempted to bet my house against the new coach benching his new captain in only the second game in charge, coming off a win against one of the best teams in the world (without something catastrophic having happened).
So you're saying Rennie will take a conservative approach?
No.
Would you have bet your house on him being immensely idiotic enough to start Beauden Barrett?
@Bones said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
I'd like to see Savea come on as impact sub at 50 mins.
Starters LJ 7, Sititi 6 and Lakai 8I would be tempted to bet my house against the new coach benching his new captain in only the second game in charge, coming off a win against one of the best teams in the world (without something catastrophic having happened).
So you're saying Rennie will take a conservative approach?
No.
I agree. It would be un-conservative for Rennie to bench his new captain in only the second game in charge....
@ploughboy said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
hopefully the goal is to have best team ready for SA 1st test not just giving everyone a run. changes to achieve that not
Needs to balance the two things, but my guess is he'll be conservative and make minimal change to the starting XV.
@Victor-Meldrew I expect three or four. BB to get a start at 15.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
I'd like to see Savea come on as impact sub at 50 mins.
Starters LJ 7, Sititi 6 and Lakai 8I would be tempted to bet my house against the new coach benching his new captain in only the second game in charge, coming off a win against one of the best teams in the world (without something catastrophic having happened).
So you're saying Rennie will take a conservative approach?
No.
I agree. It would be un-conservative for Rennie to bench his new captain in only the second game in charge....
No, it would be idiotic, much like selecting a handbrake at ten and trying to brand it as being conservative. Or at least expecting a good coach to try it on. I know it hurts he wasn't a moron as you expected, but you can drop it now.
