Five big questions about Dave Rennie’s first All Blacks team

It’s fair to say everybody who had a crack at picking the All Blacks team to face France in Christchurch on Saturday didn’t get it 100% right.

Let’s take a look at the five big questions from head coach Dave Rennie’s 23.

Did Rennie get the loose-forward trio right?

For years, Ardie Savea was considered the best openside flanker in the country, but he was forced to play number eight to accommodate for captain Sam Cane.

Now Ardie is back at number eight, with Luke Jacobson the big surprise on the openside flank.

The Chiefs captain has played there for most of the Super Rugby season, but has never worn the seven jersey for the All Blacks in his 24 tests so far.

Peter Lakai was incredible for the Hurricanes at number eight, but will play blindside flanker for the first time in his first-class career.

It doesn’t make much sense, but Rennie says “it's just numbers on backs for me” when it comes to loose-forwards.

We’ll have to wait and see.

Why is Damian McKenzie at fullback?

Will Jordan is the best fullback in New Zealand, if not the world, but he’s back on the right-wing.

Damian McKenzie played almost exclusively at first-five for the Chiefs this season, and apart from his shocker in the final, showed signs that he was maturing in the position.

But Rennie says he wants two fullbacks on the field against France, who are expected to employ a kick-heavy strategy.

The D Mac, Jordan, Caleb Clarke back-three is probably the strongest combination to deal with the high ball, which was a big issue for the All Blacks last year.

Beauden Barrett’s not in the 23, so expect McKenzie to move up to first-five at some point during the match, allowing Jordan to shift to fullback.

Is Ruben Love ready to start at first-five?

Hell yes, he is.

The public was demanding he start, and if not now, when?

Giving him the ten jersey the following week against Italy on his home ground in Wellington would’ve been a nice way to ease him in, but Love doesn’t need easing in.

He was criminally underused in the Scott Robertson era, and his form for the Super Rugby champion Hurricanes this season was just too good to ignore.

The 25-year-old oozes confidence, and with Cam Roigard and Jordie Barret on either side of him, Love is poised to have a big game under the roof.

Should more Hurricanes be starting?

The Hurricanes are coming off arguably the most dominant Super Rugby season of all-time, and after they obliterated the Chiefs in the final, you thought their entire team would look good in black.

But just four of them are starting the first test of the year: Love, Roigard, Lakai, and Jordie Barrett.

Fehi Fineanganofo can count himself the most unlucky not to be starting, but at least he’s on the bench, unlike Josh Moorby, who missed out on the 23 despite also breaking the Super Rugby try-scoring record.

Billy Proctor’s also in the reserves while the ‘Canes front-row of Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, and Tyrel Lomax are set to provide big impact from the pine.

Tighthead prop Pasilio Tosi wasn’t considered due to a niggle, but I’m pretty sure we’ll see him next weekend in the capital.

Is Codie Taylor lucky to be wearing the number two jersey?

Yes.

The 35-year-old didn’t have his best Super Rugby season with the Crusaders as Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and ‘Canes rake Aumua both had blinders.

Taylor is an important member of the squad, though, considered the next in line to captain the team if Ardie Savea is absent.

He’s one of only three Crusaders in the 23 playing on their home ground at Te Kaha.

Taylor needs a big performance to remind the public, more than the coaches, of just how good he can be.