Rennie explains Will Jordan's captaincy as All Blacks leadership group is revealed

Dave Rennie confirmed on Monday in Auckland that Will Jordan took over the All Blacks captaincy late in their Test against Italy in Wellington because every other member of the side’s six-man leadership group had already left the field.

Jordan, who became the All Blacks’ all-time leading try-scorer in Test matches with his 50th during the same game, inherited the armband from Ardie Savea after the captain was substituted before the 65th minute. Hooker Codie Taylor and midfielder Jordie Barrett were also removed before that point, while loose-forward Luke Jacobson had been replaced at half-time due to calf tightness. Scrumhalf Cameron Roigard was the fifth leader withdrawn, leaving Jordan as the sole remaining member of the group.

“I don’t really have a vice captain. We have a captain, and then we’ve got five other leaders,” Rennie said. “He was skipper on the weekend because we subbed all the other leaders off — Luke Jacobson, Jordie Barrett, obviously Ardie had gone off, and Codie had gone off. Cameron Roigard had gone off too. So Will was the last man standing, but he’s smart, he’s got a really good rugby IQ, and he’d already scored three tries at that stage so we thought we would cap it off by making him captain.”

Rennie also shed light on Jordan’s broader leadership role within the squad, revealing that the winger heads up the All Blacks’ counterattack unit — a group the coaching staff call the Tamahi Tua Tahi — which oversees turnover attack, quick taps, and first-phase decision-making.

“He’s got an unbelievable anticipation, and then genuine gas to get himself in positions to take passes, off-line breaks, and so on,” Rennie said. “Ardie talked about his rugby IQ; he’s smart, really understands the game well. He’s having a massive impact in that area too.”

The All Blacks had dominated the third quarter against Italy, scoring four tries in quick succession after half-time before Rennie’s staff began rotating the squad, bringing on two debutants alongside the remaining bench players. The result left New Zealand’s leadership structure briefly in the hands of one of their most in-form attacking threats — a situation Rennie appeared comfortable with.