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:
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.
Start Lomax or he isn't in the 23. He was poor against France and looks like a player who hasn't played much.
@pakman said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew I expect three or four. BB to get a start at 15.
Because he gets paid too much not to be on the field or because Love needs the extra challenge of Barrett being unable to resist getting in the way?
I don't care if I'm being biased, the forecast for Saturday is wind and rain so I'd like to see as many Canes in the side as a possible. The Italians won't know what hit them.
I'd go:
I want minimal changes as they need time to build the combinations, so only where better players are now fit should they come into the 23.
Having said that, time to put the pressure on Proctor to step up. Tupaea is not a centre.
And earlier use of the bench. Italy got done by Japan. The game should be over by halftime.
@Canes4life I'd be happy with that if they start ST
I think we'll see only a few changes to the starting side - Aumua at hooker, Parker on the flank, Proctor in the midfield and Fineanganofo on the wing.
Otherwise, Tosi, Vaa'i, Moorby to come onto the bench.
I don't think we'll see every player get minutes during these three Tests. Bower, Preston, Carter, Segner and potentially even Beauden Barrett might not take the field.
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
I am hoping we will see the same intensity but less helter skelter.
One thing I saw, haven't seen specifically commented on but I've skipped a fair amount, was our propensity to pass to a player, slightly wider in midfield, who received ball and defender at the same time. Led to a lot of dropped ball. An example being Lakai to Groot near the posts.
Seemed a deliberate tactic to challenge the D, but needs a tweak to make it work.
@Bones said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Canes4life I'd be happy with that if they start ST
Yeah wouldn't mind starting ST. But either way, I feel like one of them needs to be on the bench for impact.
@pakman said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew I expect three or four. BB to get a start at 15.
Minimal changes 9-12. Ditto 15. Think they should give Love and DMac more time together as well. Proctor at 13. - and give QT game time at 12.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@pakman said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew I expect three or four. BB to get a start at 15.
Minimal changes 9-12. Ditto 15. Think they should give Love and DMac more time together as well. Proctor at 13. - and give QT game time at 12.
I actually like your thinking around giving Tupaea and Proctor a run together.
Start the Hurricanes front row with Tosi starting or on bench. Vaai replaces Lord. Taukei'aho on the bench. Segner on the bench. Might need to manage Savea's minutes, so 6-2 split?
Wouldn't be surprised if Clarke picked up an injury before being subbed against France.
@Tim said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
Start the Hurricanes front row with Tosi starting or on bench. Vaai replaces Lord. Taukei'aho on the bench. Segner on the bench. Might need to manage Savea's minutes, so 6-2 split?
Wouldn't be surprised if Clarke picked up an injury before being subbed against France.
Clarke continues to be very underwhelming; he just looks like a player very low on confidence. Hopefully he can find it again because he can be very devastating. Maybe a hangover from the Blues environment.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Tim said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
Start the Hurricanes front row with Tosi starting or on bench. Vaai replaces Lord. Taukei'aho on the bench. Segner on the bench. Might need to manage Savea's minutes, so 6-2 split?
Wouldn't be surprised if Clarke picked up an injury before being subbed against France.
Clarke continues to be very underwhelming; he just looks like a player very low on confidence. Hopefully he can find it again because he can be very devastating. Maybe a hangover from the Blues environment.
He wasn't close to being that bad. He had a solid game.
@SouthernMann He played well. I'd like to see the Hurricanes front row (with Tosi) in action though. He'd still be in the 23 for Italy.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
@Tim The left edge was exposed more and Clarke often defended narrow but didn't tackle anyone in those French tries.
That's a function of being tied to the people inside him. The line doesn't come up quickly enough and they can' cut off the quick hands.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
Clarke looked lost on defence.
Agreed, he was found out far too often. It goes back to confidence for me. He just doesn't look confident out there. When he runs, he doesn't smash through players like he used to. Naturally, he's a soft sort of character so whatever we need to do to fire him up every game, let's make sure we do that.
the French obviously identified something given they seemed to attack through thier right side alot more than the left.
@Tim said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:
Start the Hurricanes front row with Tosi starting or on bench. Vaai replaces Lord. Taukei'aho on the bench. Segner on the bench. Might need to manage Savea's minutes, so 6-2 split?
Wouldn't be surprised if Clarke picked up an injury before being subbed against France.
Think we'll see minimal changes in the starting XV. But maybe quite a few on the bench. Preston in for Ratima.
Who captains if RD is subbed? Jordie?
I know De Groot hasn't played much recently but that may have been a serious gash. Give him a rest or at least some bench time.
Is Tosi fit? I'd also play him.
Didn't really notice Lomax much but he did a fine cold shoulder to Jailbait (I refuse to spell that correctly, he looks like a talented branleur to me).
