Fehi Fineanganofo Broke A Scoring Record, And The All Blacks Are Calling Him Up. This Squad Is Loaded.

Holy smokes, you guys! Dave Rennie just dropped his first All Blacks squad as head coach, and it is absolutely packed with wild news. The biggest one? Ardie Savea, the absolute legend, is officially the new captain for the inaugural Nations Championship! This is not a drill. He's stepping up big time, and the energy around this team just hit a whole new level.

Savea Takes the Helm As New Era Dawns

So, yeah, Ardie Savea is your new All Blacks captain. This is a massive honor, right? He's taking over because lock Scott Barrett, who captained the squad previously, is out injured. Barrett will miss those crucial Nations Championship games coming up against France, Italy, and Ireland in July. Tough break for him, but what an opportunity for Savea to lead. The good news is, his brothers Beauden and Jordie are both in the 34-man squad, so that family connection is still there. Savea’s got this incredible vision, too. He said, "To serve this team, its people and its fans is one of the greatest honours in sport," and that he believes the role is "about empowering everyone in the group to be the best that they can be." He’s ready to write the next chapter, and honestly, we're all here for it. This is exactly the kind of leadership you want.

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Four Rookies Ready to Make Noise But wait, there's more! Rennie isn't messing around with this new squad, because he's bringing in four potential debutants, and one of them is an absolute sensation. We’re talking about wing Fehi Fineanganofo, who just shattered the Super Rugby Pacific try-scoring record. He did that while the Hurricanes absolutely stomped the Chiefs in the final on Saturday. This dude is electric! And get this, he's heading to the Newcastle Red Bulls in the Gallagher Prem next season. Beyond him, we've got German-born back rower Anton Segner, another uncapped inclusion who sounds intriguing. Rounding out this fresh quartet are athletic Hurricanes prop Xavier Numia and his versatile club teammate, Josh Moorby. These guys are about to light it up!

What's Next for the All Blacks?

Look, this roster is buzzing with new energy and some serious talent, even with guys like prop Tamaiti Williams, lock Fabian Holland, and Leicester Fainga'anuku all unavailable due to injury or other reasons. The All Blacks kick off their busy international schedule against France on July 4th. That's gonna be a showdown! And later in the year, they've got a massive four-Test series against South Africa. So buckle up, rugby fans. This new era for the All Blacks, led by Ardie Savea and fueled by this fresh talent, is going to be unforgettable. Get ready!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.