@Landers92 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
Just posted this in the wrong thread lol.
Haven’t heard anything that leads me to believe any injuries were picked up over the last 2 days so will post the backline below.
- Roigard
- Love
- Carter
- Barrett
- Proctor
- Jordan
- McKenzie
Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Moorby
Will be interesting to see how Beaudy goes at 12.
I had a thought regarding Fehi....cap him, give him a taste and then leave him out in the cold?
I can't see DR being that petty though.
I can’t stress enough that this backline could be subject to change due to training sessions. I’m not too confident I will be updated if there are changes.
I will say this, info is a lot harder to get under this new regime. I know for a fact that a conscious effort has been made around it from management which i think is a good thing(not so good for us ferners). Getting late news/injury updates are going to be harder to come by.
@ShaquilleOatmeal Don’t worry. He’ll be Dirt Track Tony on the Boks tour. Perfect role for him.
@Landers92 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
I can’t stress enough that this backline could be subject to change due to training sessions. I’m not too confident I will be updated if there are changes.
I will say this, info is a lot harder to get under this new regime. I know for a fact that a conscious effort has been made around it from management which i think is a good thing(not so good for us ferners). Getting late news/injury updates are going to be harder to come by.
I'm picking BB either bench or fullback.
@upthelanders said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
Think Fehi must’ve picked up an injury, no way Rennie would be that harsh already. Especially with the game at his home stadium.
Fehi was clutching at the top of his arm/shoulder towards the end of the game againt France so maybe they don't want to risk anything.
Also, this game is officially SOLD OUT.
@canefan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@BerniesCorner said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
Just posted this in the wrong thread lol.
Haven’t heard anything that leads me to believe any injuries were picked up over the last 2 days so will post the backline below.
- Roigard
- Love
- Carter
- Barrett
- Proctor
- Jordan
- McKenzie
Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. MoorbyIs this backline better than the Canes?
WJ an upgrade. DMac playing well when he's not brainfarting. Carter<Fehi, ALB not an upgrade. It's a close one, but I'd say nah
As a child was your hair combed with a hammer? The addition of Jordan and McKenzie immediately make it better. By the length of the Flemington straight.
@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
I'm picking BB either bench or fullback.
Personally I loved his distribution as waterboy.
On the plus side the AB's may finally win in Wellington, and if they lose I'm going to take up lawn bowls.
The myths attempt. One of us has been sent the wrong info unless there are injury changes I’m not aware of. Guess we will find out tomorrow
@Landers92 i wouldn't hate most of that, LJ has another run at 7, QT gets another run at 13....more experience in those positions
@Kiwiwomble yeah, it tends to make more "sense" in the context of it all, apart from no Beauden and no Ioane of course.
I'd be surprised if Ratima and Proctor drop out of the 23 entirely, unless they're injured.
@ShaquilleOatmeal also good points
@Number-10 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
Team naming update
It’s getting later and later. All teams should be forced to announce their teams at the same time like Super IMO.
@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?
@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?
I thought it was 4pm last week. Anyway, should be announced on Wednesday’s. No need for it to be kept that long.
@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?
I thought it was 4pm last week. Anyway, should be announced on Wednesday’s. No need for it to be kept that long.
It was. In the above it mentions the team will be released at 3.30pm
@KiwiMurph you're more mature than i...i couldn't have helped myself opting for something more like "...and 3:30pm is earlier than 4pm....."
@Kiwiwomble said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@KiwiMurph you're more mature than i...i couldn't have helped myself opting for something more like "...and 3:30pm is earlier than 4pm....."
Apparently not.
@KiwiMurph said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?
I thought it was 4pm last week. Anyway, should be announced on Wednesday’s. No need for it to be kept that long.
It was. In the above it mentions the team will be released at 3.30pm
Poor ol' c4l and his struggles with time. Is it 2027 yet?
@antipodean said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kiwiwomble said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@KiwiMurph you're more mature than i...i couldn't have helped myself opting for something more like "...and 3:30pm is earlier than 4pm....."
Apparently not.
look at that you're right...i had no idea
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
I'd be surprised if Ratima and Proctor drop out of the 23 entirely, unless they're injured.
The team I was told has them included. Let’s see what gets announced tomorrow.
@Landers92 I'm with you . Still got Vaaii at 6 . Think he would have started there against France if available.
@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@KiwiMurph said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?
I thought it was 4pm last week. Anyway, should be announced on Wednesday’s. No need for it to be kept that long.
It was. In the above it mentions the team will be released at 3.30pm
Poor ol' c4l and his struggles with time. Is it 2027 yet?
Who reads the fine print. And bring on the WC already. I think I'm getting to the stage that i might need glasses.
@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@KiwiMurph said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?
I thought it was 4pm last week. Anyway, should be announced on Wednesday’s. No need for it to be kept that long.
It was. In the above it mentions the team will be released at 3.30pm
Poor ol' c4l and his struggles with time. Is it 2027 yet?
Who reads the fine print. And bring on the WC already. I think I'm getting to the stage that i might need glasses.
If you could just go ahead and let us know the winner, that would be great.
@Landers92 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Jnr that’s what you would do or that’s what you think happens?
I think they'll want to see what he's like outside the Auckland environment.
In theory Rennie's style suits him and he's said how impressive he's been at training.
If he can recapture form with the new style, great.
If he can't move on from his Super form that would enable them to make a call before SA to bring Mo'unga and maybe Harkin in and phase him out.
@Jnr it’s not just this year or the Blues environment where Barrett’s been poor and I wouldn’t say he'd recaptured his 2017 form based on a one-off performance against Italy.
I don’t want him playing any more test rugby at all but I’m a little curious to see if he can make it through a game against quality opposition without letting loose with a dozen useless chip kicks.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Jnr it’s not just this year or the Blues environment where Barrett’s been poor and I wouldn’t say he'd recaptured his 2017 form based on a one-off performance against Italy.
I don’t want him playing any more test rugby at all but I’m a little curious to see if he can make it through a game against quality opposition without letting loose with a dozen useless chip kicks.
Curiosity killed the cat.
I don’t want to see BB in a test team again
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Jnr it’s not just this year or the Blues environment where Barrett’s been poor and I wouldn’t say he'd recaptured his 2017 form based on a one-off performance against Italy.
I don’t want him playing any more test rugby at all but I’m a little curious to see if he can make it through a game against quality opposition without letting loose with a dozen useless chip kicks.
Yep mate but there is the problem, it's not whether you or I want him yo play test rugby, or in fact if he plays how we want. It's if he plays how Rennie and co want, and gives them what they think the team needs, more than the others in his position.
@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Landers92 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Jnr that’s what you would do or that’s what you think happens?
I think they'll want to see what he's like outside the Auckland environment.
In theory Rennie's style suits him and he's said how impressive he's been at training.
If he can recapture form with the new style, great.
If he can't move on from his Super form that would enable them to make a call before SA to bring Mo'unga and maybe Harkin in and phase him out.
Ok. But do you think he’s playing this weekend or is that would you would do is what I was asking.
Gregor Paul has a punt:
The selectors will likely want to keep a few combinations together this week, most notably the playmaking duo of Cam Roigard and Ruben Love, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Barrett selected at fullback in a new-look back three alongside Josh Moorby and Fehi Fineanganofo.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Dan54 You’re kidding. I genuinely thought that by posting my opinion here, the All Blacks coaching staff would follow my advice.
Lol mate, I have heard on grapevine form an acquaintance (well an internet one) who lives in Outer Mongolia, that it well known over there that apparently this coaching group only read TSF on months starting with M,S or O.
@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
In theory Rennie's style suits him
Rennie's style suits 2016 BB. I don't think it suits 2026 BB.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:
@Jnr it’s not just this year or the Blues environment where Barrett’s been poor and I wouldn’t say he'd recaptured his 2017 form based on a one-off performance against Italy.
I don’t want him playing any more test rugby at all but I’m a little curious to see if he can make it through a game against quality opposition without letting loose with a dozen useless chip kicks.
We can agree to disagree on whether he's been poor and for how long. It's pretty clear if you don't value his previous games even another motm against Italy won't change your mind.
The fact is Rennie is the latest AB coach to pick him and he's not only in the squad but impressing Rennie.
So, following your approach he would stay in the squad and go to SA regardless, or following my suggestion Rennie can try him in the current environment and make an educated decision before the SA tour.
If he doesn’t have it, cut him loose and bring in Harkin/Mo'unga. But if he does have it then Rennie will have options.
The chip kicks were a team tactic, BB did them, Dmac did them, hell even Havili used to. I think everyone is happy they're on the way out.
