Blair confirms Barrett still in contention as Love cements All Blacks No. 10 role

Ruben Love has started both of New Zealand’s Tests this July, with assistant coach Mike Blair praising the 25-year-old’s composure while reaffirming that Beauden Barrett has not been dropped from All Blacks contention.

Love earned the starting No. 10 jersey on the back of a Player of the Final performance in the Super Rugby Pacific decider, and has since played the full 80 minutes in each of New Zealand’s opening Nations Championship wins — including a 47-17 demolition of Italy in Wellington, where he contributed 12 points. He has started alongside Hurricanes halves partner Cam Roigard in both matches, with Damian McKenzie providing playmaker cover from fullback.

Barrett, a 145-Test veteran and 2015 World Cup winner, has been absent from both squads — a run of omissions that has ended a decade-long streak of featuring in the All Blacks’ first Test of the year. He also risks missing all three July matches for the first time in a non-Rugby World Cup year, territory he has never entered before.

“When you watch him train, that’s not a surprise. Some of his short-game touches, his vision, his composure, you can see exactly why he’s got those caps,” Blair told reporters. “It’s been a difficult period for him, for sure, seeing Ruben come in but I think he’ll understand that as well. Ruben is a young 10 coming through, it’s important to give him a couple of games to steady his feet, to allow him to learn. But Beauden’s still very much in the picture.”

Barrett did not play for the Crusaders at all during the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, taking an extended sabbatical following the 2025 international campaign. He had previously helped the Blues reach the semi-finals of the 2025 edition, playing the full 80 as a fullback in their defeat to the Hurricanes — the same Canes side Love inspired to a drought-breaking title the following weekend.

Love’s introduction to Test rugby was not without turbulence. He was shown a yellow card just minutes into his first start against France in Christchurch, yet recovered to produce a composed performance. He followed that with another assured display against Italy.

“Been really pleased with Ruben. It’s difficult coming in as a 10 and leading the team as a young player but he’s done that on the back of a brilliant season with the Hurricanes,” Blair said. “He hasn’t skipped a beat all week. Throughout the campaign he’s been a really impressive young man and I think what he’s shown on the pitch has been impressive as well.”

New Zealand sit second in the Nations Championship standings after their 2-0 start, with a third July Test still to come.