Barnes hints standout All Blacks performers could still miss Italy Test in Wellington

All Blacks senior assistant Neil Barnes has signalled that selection surprises could be coming for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test against Italy in Wellington, even for players who impressed in last week’s win over France in Christchurch.

New Zealand defeated Fabien Galthié’s France at One New Zealand Stadium to open their Nations Championship campaign, but Barnes made clear on Monday that a strong individual performance is no guarantee of a starting berth against the Italians.

“There’s been a lot of debate in our coach’s circle, to be honest, and selectors as well, showing respect for Italy because they’re actually a very good side now,” Barnes told media in Auckland. “There’s some people that went all right last week that might not be in there, but there were also some really, really good performances that I think are going to be rewarded.”

The balancing act, Barnes explained, is between giving fringe players the chance to stake a claim and treating the Test with the seriousness it demands. “We’ve got a little eye on making sure we respect it’s a test match, and it’s got to be one won well,” he said. “But at the same time letting some other players probably have a chance to make their case as well.”

Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy have never beaten the All Blacks, but arrive in Wellington with genuine credentials. They beat England for the first time in Six Nations history and followed that with a victory over Scotland in the 2026 edition of the tournament, results that have firmly established them as a side capable of upsets.

Italy were beaten by Japan in their Nations Championship opener, and Barnes acknowledged the Azzurri will be motivated to respond.

One player whose involvement is under scrutiny is captain Ardie Savea. With an 18-month stretch ahead that includes a Greatest Rivalry Tour to South Africa and a Rugby World Cup in Australia, there is a case for managing his workload. Savea has come off a long season with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan, following a demanding 2025 campaign with Moana Pasifika and the All Blacks under former head coach Scott Robertson.

Barnes declined to confirm whether Savea was specifically earmarked for a rest. “He’s one of many that we discussed, but it’s considered across every position,” the former Italy assistant coach said. “He has had a long 18 months, but so have the Super Rugby boys, to be fair.”

The All Blacks coaching staff, it seems, are intent on using the Italy fixture to gather information about their wider squad depth without losing sight of the result.