With Super Rugby Pacific fast approaching its business end and Dave Rennie confirmed as the All Blacks’ new head coach, Planet Rugby identifies five uncapped players who could be on Rennie’s radar for Test call-ups.
Caleb Tangitau, Highlanders
Although the Highlanders have once again been New Zealand‘s worst performing team in Super Rugby Pacific, Tangitau has arguably been their best player in this year’s competition as he hit the ground running at the start of the Dunedin-based franchise’s season and played consistently well throughout their campaign.
After initially shining for New Zealand’s U20 and sevens national sides, the speedster spent two years at the Blues but with established All Blacks like Caleb Clarke and Mark Tele’a ahead of him in the pecking order, he made the move to the Highlanders in 2025. After showing glimpses of his potential last season, he has kicked on and become more consistent during the current campaign.
It’s therefore not a surprise that the 23-year-old is among the leaders in several Super Rugby attacking statistics as he is joint second-highest for clean breaks (15), joint fifth-highest for defenders beaten (29), sixth highest for metres gained (558) and joint-fourth highest for tries scored (6) in the tournament.
Anton Segner, Blues
The 24-year-old back-rower has been one of the most improved players in Super Rugby Pacific this season and after being on the fringes of the Blues’ matchday squad in previous campaigns, he has cemented his place in the Auckland-based franchise’s starting line-up with several explosive performances this year.
Equally at home on the openside or blindside flank, Segner has become the Blues’ first choice selection in the latter position and combined brilliantly in the back-row with more established players in All Blacks duo Hoskins Sotutu and Dalton Papali’i, who will both be leaving the 2024 champions at the end of the current campaign.
Segner has showed that he has the full package as a loose forward this year. He has shone with ball in hand, been a nuisance at the breakdowns, has a high work-rate on defence and also won his fair share of lineout balls at the back of the set-piece. A senior All Blacks call-up will be a significant achievement for the former New Zealand U20 representative as it will mean he becomes the first German-born player to represent the men in black.
Devan Flanders, Hurricanes
Another loose forward who has caught the eye in 2026 is Hurricanes bruiser Flanders who has come to the fore with numerous impressive displays at the coalface of his team’s efforts in the forwards.
Flanders has been ever-present in the Hurricanes’ matchday squads during in Super Rugby Pacific this year and the hard running loose forward has been one of the Wellington-based outfit’s standout performers in their run to the top of the table.
The 26-year-old, who has previously represented the New Zealand U20 and All Blacks XV teams, has made his mark in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign at number eight and on the blindside flank. He has displayed great physicality on attack and defence while also efficient at the breakdown and a handy option at the back of the lineout.
Josh Jacomb, Chiefs
Although the former New Zealand U20 star has not been in the Chiefs’ starting line-up in recent weeks, up-and-coming playmaker Jacomb is highly rated in New Zealand as he has put in several outstanding performances for the Hamilton-based outfit this year.
With Damian McKenzie rested during the earlier rounds of Super Rugby Pacific, Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes put his faith in Jacomb who did not disappoint as he pulled the strings superbly on attack during his side’s first three matches against the Blues, Highlanders and Crusaders.
McKenzie eventually made his first appearance of the year for the Chiefs in a round four clash with Moana Pasifika and although Jacomb has played mostly off the replacements bench as the experienced All Black’s back-up in recent weeks, the 24-year-old’s game management, goal-kicking and playmaking skills have caught the eye and should give him an outside chance of earning a Test call-up.
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Adam Lennox, Highlanders
At 22 years of age, Lennox is the youngest player in this group of players and also the least experienced in terms of Super Rugby appearances but he has been one of the Highlanders’ best players this year especially in recent weeks.
Like all the other potential All Blacks debutants, the young scrum-half is also a former New Zealand U20 representative and he only made his debut for the Highlanders last year. However, he has made full use of his opportunity, and his excellent form means he is keeping All Blacks number nine Folau Fakatava out of the men from Dunedin’s run-on side.
Blessed with an excellent pass, quick feet and a keen eye for a gap, Lennox has been superb on attack of late and showed his class by scoring a brace of tries in a losing cause against the Blues before also crossing the whitewash in a win over Moana Pasifika on Sunday. If he continues in that vein, Rennie could reward him with an All Blacks call-up.