Rennie explains why Barrett and three others miss second All Blacks Test against Italy

Beauden Barrett remains on the sidelines as All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie named five changes to his starting XV for the second Test against Italy in Wellington, with Ruben Love again preferred at first five-eighth.

Barrett, 35, is just six Tests away from becoming only the fourth player in rugby history to reach 150 caps — and the first back to do so — but a difficult Blues season has left him fighting for his place in training rather than on the field. Rennie told reporters in Wellington that the veteran was performing well at the training ground, yet confirmed that his selection panel was “not necessarily” targeting game time for every squad member during the July window.

“Beauden’s been excellent. He’s contributing really well, training really well. He carved us up a handful of times today,” Rennie said. “But I gave Ruben his first Test at 10 last week, he played really well, and now he’s back at home with the connection with these guys. So we’re keen to play him again.”

Joining Barrett in missing both opening Tests are halfback Kyle Preston, flanker Simon Parker and lock Patrick Tuipulotu. Rennie offered specific reasoning for each omission. Tuipulotu, he explained, had been managing niggles throughout the season and was never fully fit during his appearances. “We’re thinking we’ll leave him for another week and are confident that he’ll be 100 per cent,” the coach said.

On Preston, Rennie revealed the selectors had genuinely considered placing him on the bench behind Cam Roigard, but the way last week’s Test unfolded — with Cortez Ratima restricted to just five minutes — prompted them to give Ratima more opportunity this time around. Ratima is the only bench player retained from the first Test.

Simon Parker, meanwhile, has yet to feature in either match despite impressing in training. “Simon’s been great; we’ve got unbelievable depth in that loose forward group. His time will come,” Rennie said, pointing to 17 Tests remaining in the year, including a significant run of fixtures in Africa.

With 30 of the 34 squad members already named across the two Tests, Rennie indicated selection priorities would be reassessed after the Wellington fixture, with Ireland next on the schedule.