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89-Test center Rieko Ioane is no longer a new face All black people environment, but the 29-year-old feels refreshed and excited under a new coaching group.
Ioane’s vacation in the 2026 season United Rugby Championship franchise Leinster showed a masterstroke in extending the All Blacks career of the outside back.
Under former head coach Scott Robertson, Ioane was often overlooked, but a refreshing season was far from over New Zealand The lights of rugby seem to have motivated him to return to his best.
Ioane missed out on initial selection for the All Blacks’ three Tests in July Nations Championship window but has been named in an extended 44-man squad for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour against South Africa.
The all-rounder No.13 has entered Dave Rennie’s thinking after multiple strong midweek performances against South African sides, showing the incredible speed he seems to have rediscovered.
As we discuss the upcoming All Blacks Bledisloe Cup series Sport Nation NZIoane explained how it felt to be back in the national team environment under Rennie.
“Yeah, I guess it was kind of, you know, the feeling and the excitement of coming back; it was like when I was first selected, and everything was new,” Ioane said Millsy & Guy he Sports Nation.
“Everything was new and there was freshness and excitement in the way, firstly, the boys played in Super Rugby and then how they played in the All Blacks.
Ioane compares the new feeling to his debut against him in 2016 Italy in Rome, admitting that before 2026 he may have felt “a little comfortable” in the environment.
“Again, it was those re-debut feelings and just that excitement. That’s how I felt coming in, and I was a little bit on edge and a little bit tired.”
“Whereas before I might have been a little comfortable, but yeah. Those were the feelings I had.”
Along with most, if not all, of the All Blacks backs, 2026 is the first time they have been coached by attack coach Mike Blair, and Ioane explained that Blair sees the game differently to most of the squad.
“But no, he’s a very big voice in this team, and he just looks at the game a little bit differently than, for example, I would see the attacking shape on the pitch.
“He looks at things differently, and that’s been so good for us. And I think you can tell by the way we’ve been attacking, that flair.”
“He wants to bring out the natural skills that we have as athletes on this team, and you know, combine that with a little bit of structure. That makes for such a promising future for this team.”
