“Another conversation, not just among the selectors but among the coaches and yeah, look, he’s got a lot of support within the group,” Rennie said of Narawa.
“We ended up deciding to take Chay. We like what we’ve seen in him, him spending another four or five weeks in the group will give us a better understanding of where he’s at and what he’s got to get to. But he’s had an excellent Super season, he’s played really well for Canterbury, obviously got a cameo off the bench last week [they played].
“It’s tough on Emoni, he’s a good player but he’s got pretty clear messages around the couple of shifts that we want to see and you know, he’d be next cab off the rank if we got an injury.”
Fihaki also got the nod ahead of Tasman’s Kyren Taumoefolau, who is now eligible for All Blacks selection after last playing for Tonga in 2023.
“He came up in discussions,” Rennie admitted of Taumoefolau.
“Obviously scored a lot of tries, had a good Super season as well. I think he’s got a few areas to focus on, especially defensively. So his job will be to have a really big Super season next year, like a lot of other guys, to apply a bit of pressure. We’ve got some pretty good outside backs at the moment.”
The group head to the UK on Thursday, meeting Scotland on November 8, Wales on November 15 and England on November 22, before the Nations Championship finals in London across the weekend of November 28-30.
The make-up of the match-day squad for the first test against Scotland could again see Damian McKenzie named at first five-eighths, with Richie Mo’unga already ruled out of contention for that test as he works back from a calf injury.
“He’s a good chance for Wales and so we made a decision that [it’s] better to bring him in,” Rennie said.
“He’s a strong chance, obviously, from a World Cup perspective and I think we’ve done a pretty good job around him. We took him to Sydney so our MedFit guys could spend a lot of time building him up.
“He’s run really well over the last week and will continue to build that when we get to Scotland but likely available for Wales.”
All Blacks 36-man squad for Northern Tour
Hookers: Codie Taylor (c), Asafo Aumua, George Bell
Loosehead props: Ethan de Groot, George Bower, Xavier Numia.
Tighthead props: Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Saula Ma’u (new test cap).
Locks: Scott Barrett, Josh Lord, Fabian Holland, Jamie Hannah, Tupou Vaa’i.
Loose forwards: Anton Segner, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi.
Halfbacks: Cam Roigard, Kyle Preston, Cortez Ratima.
First five-eighths: Richie Mo’unga, Damian McKenzie, Josh Jacomb (new test cap).
Midfielders: Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Outside backs: Rieko Ioane, Chay Fihaki, Fehi Fineanganofo, Josh Moorby, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett.
Unavailable: Samisoni Taukei’aho (calf), Shannon Frizell (knee), Tyrel Lomax (neck), Leroy Carter (ankle), Ruben Love (ankle), Ardie Savea (shoulder), Luke Jacobson (elbow), Caleb Clarke (shoulder), Ollie Norris (knee), Simon Parker (personal reasons).
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.