Tana Umaga has returned to the All Blacks set-up as defence coach under Dave Rennie, and he's been refreshingly candid about the state of the jersey: New Zealand has 'lost a bit of shine,' and restoring that fear factor is the mission. His read on Rennie centres on the new coach's ability to make players feel the weight of the legacy they're inheriting — not just passengers, but contributors to it. Umaga also singles out Ardie Savea as a critical bridge between management and a younger generation of players who don't always speak up, describing him as an empathetic voice who can translate the team's identity without imposing it. With France, Italy, Ireland and then four Tests against the Springboks on the horizon, the piece is a useful temperature check on All Blacks camp culture heading into a high-stakes season — and a reminder of exactly what the Boks will be facing on home soil.
Umaga wants the All Blacks feared again — and Rennie's the man to do it
Umaga admits the All Blacks have lost their shine and outlines how Rennie's leadership culture — and Savea's role as a players' voice — aims to restore it ahead of a season that ends with four Tests against the Springboks.
Barrett ruled out five months as back surgery wrecks All Blacks captaincy and Springboks tour plans
Scott Barrett requires back surgery and is ruled out for five months, missing the Nations Championship and the All Blacks' four-Test tour of South Africa, leaving Dave Rennie without his captain for the entire upcoming international programme.
Scott Barrett ruled out of South Africa tour with back injury requiring surgery
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett faces up to five months out after back surgery, ruling him out of New Zealand's four-test series against the Springboks in South Africa and the July Nations Championship tests, with his captaincy already under review following Dave Rennie's appointment as head coach.
Barrett ruled out of South Africa tour with back injury requiring surgery
Scott Barrett faces back surgery and is ruled out for up to five months, missing the four-Test series against the Springboks in August and September as well as the July Nations Championship Tests — with his All Blacks captaincy already under question ahead of Dave Rennie's first squad announcement.
Henry joins Rennie's selection panel as All Blacks build toward four-test Springbok series
Dave Rennie has appointed Graham Henry as an All Blacks selector, with the 2011 World Cup-winning coach joining a three-man panel alongside Rennie and Neil Barnes as New Zealand prepare for a four-test Rugby Championship series against the Springboks.
Henry joins All Blacks selection panel as Rennie builds for Springbok tour
Dave Rennie has added Graham Henry to the All Blacks selection panel ahead of a home test series and an eight-match South Africa tour, while confirming Richie Mo'unga is unlikely to be available for the Springbok tests due to his failure to commit to a new NZR contract.