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The star of the NPC season 2026 became Kyren Taumoefloau All black people-qualified in early October while he was busy breaking the Tasman single season record. However, Dave Rennie says he needs to see more of the all-around offense before picking a youngster in the league New Zealand squad.
Taumoefolau scored 19 tries in his 11 starts Tasman this season, also leading the competition in clear breaks, defenders beaten and meters made with the ball in hand.
The Makos were eventually sent home in the quarter-finals by eventual runners-up Northland, but the excitement that the 23-year-old former Tonga international generated created a lot of potential buzz All Blacks bolter.
However, when naming his All Blacks team for Nations Championship on Tuesday morning, Rennie revealed an outside back cohort consisting of Rieko Ioane, Chay Fihaki, Fehi Fineanganofo, Josh Moorby, Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett.
Asked about Taumoefolau’s omission from the team naming press conference in Auckland, Rennie said: “Yes, have a look, he came up in discussions. Obviously, he scored a goal a a lot of is trying and had a good Great season as good. I think about it he is Got a a little areas that focus on, in particular defensively. I so his business will to be that to have a really big Supper season next year, like a a lot of the rest guys, that apply a bit of pressure. But yes, we are Got some quite a bit good outside back at the moment.”
Also missing was Emoni Narawa, who has just four Tests to his name after three years in and out of the team.
“That was another conversation, not only among the selectors, but among the coaches. And you see, he has a lot of support within the group,” Rennie said.
“In the end we decided to take Chay (Fihaki); we liked what we saw of him. Him spending another four or five weeks in the group gave us a better understanding of where he is and what he needs to get to. He’s had a great super season. He played really well for Canterbury. Obviously, he got a cameo off the bench last week.
“And so yeah, it’s tough for him; Emoni’s a good player, but he’s got pretty clear messages around a couple of shifts that we want to see, and you know he’d be the next taxi out of the lineup if we got hurt.”
