Codie Taylor will captain the All Blacks for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup tests against Australia, stepping in while Ardie Savea remains sidelined by a shoulder injury. The 34-man squad features the returns of lock Scott Barrett and loose forward Shannon Frizell, alongside squad changes prompted by injuries to Ruben Love and Patrick Tuipulotu.
Codie Taylor Steps In as Captain Amid Ardie Savea’s Absence
With Ardie Savea facing an extended spell on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury, Codie Taylor has been named captain for the two Bledisloe Cup tests. Taylor previously led the team during the fourth test against South Africa in Baltimore after Savea departed the tour. Having missed out on the pivotal third test between the Springboks and All Blacks in Soweto, the 35-year-old was reinstated to the captaincy a week later in Baltimore when Savea’s shoulder injury forced him to exit the tour.
Coach Dave Rennie praised the leadership qualities of the new skipper ahead of the series opener. Codie is a top man who has huge mana,
Rennie said, noting that his role as tour captain during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry established his readiness to lead the side in Savea’s absence, and adding, His leadership as tour captain was important for us during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, so we know he will do an outstanding job in Ardie’s absence.
Ruben Love Ruled Out as Injury List Mounts for New Zealand
The squad announcement brought significant personnel setbacks, highlighted by Ruben Love being ruled out of the fixtures due to an ankle ligament injury. The 25-year-old playmaker had established himself as a viable option at number 10 during the recent four-test series against South Africa, starting the opening three matches before Richie Mo’unga returned to the starting side for the final encounter. The official squad announcement confirmed Love has joined the All Blacks’ growing injury list, and his injury is still being assessed, with no return-to-play timeframe yet confirmed.
Love’s absence leaves Mo’unga and uncapped Josh Jacomb as the specialist first five-eighths named in the 34-man group, with Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie serving as additional options if required. Alongside Love, lock Patrick Tuipulotu has been ruled out with a calf strain, joining a growing injury list that includes Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, and Ollie Norris.
Scott Barrett and Shannon Frizell Return to the Fold
In contrast to the mounting casualties, the All Blacks welcome back two senior figures who missed significant portions of recent international action. Former captain Scott Barrett returns to the squad after spending most of 2026 on the sidelines recovering from a back injury following his return to the Hilux NPC with Taranaki, taking the place of the injured Tuipulotu while Sam Darry drops out of the selection. This marks his initial appearance for the All Blacks since he relinquished the captaincy following the departure of Scott Robertson at the beginning of the year.
Shannon Frizell also makes his first appearance in the black jersey since 2023. Following a contract to join Japanese side Toshiba Brave Lupus signed at the end of 2022 that paused his time in the black jersey—a fact lamented by All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan—Frizell’s time in Japan concluded earlier this year. Following a comeback to New Zealand rugby with Tasman in the NPC, the 32-year-old has now been welcomed back into the All Blacks with open arms.
Dave Rennie, All Blacks Coach
Rennie noted that Frizell remains a primary contender to lock down the problematic number six jersey, a position that saw three different players rotate across the four tests on the All Blacks’ Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa. Rennie stated of Frizell, It’s awesome to have him back – and he’s got better,
and added, “He played 40 minutes and looked pretty shattered in his first effort, it’s just been time on the grass for him. We’re obviously going to let him play again this Saturday to get more footy into him. But he’s certainly having a big impact on the game physically, he’s got soft touches and he’s very experienced.” Frizell’s physical presence and experience are expected to bolster the loose forwards as the team prepares to defend a trophy they have held since 2003.
Bledisloe Cup Schedule and Squad Lineup
The Bledisloe Cup series opens at Eden Park on October 10, before heading across the Tasman Sea for the return fixture at Sydney’s Accor Stadium seven days later. Rennie emphasized that the team anticipates a stern test from an established Australian side following a demanding travel schedule.
“It’s now a very experienced Wallabies side who have played a lot of Test footy together. After eight games on the road, we’re excited to start this series in front of our home crowd at Eden Park.”
Dave Rennie, All Blacks Coach
Except for the enforced changes, the 34-man selection contains 32 players who travelled to South Africa and Baltimore for the Greatest Rivalry Series.
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