Rennie reveals Barrett was 'reluctant captain' as All Blacks lock returns without armband

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has described Scott Barrett as a “reluctant captain” after naming the 89-Test lock in New Zealand’s 34-man squad for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series against Australia, with Ardie Savea confirmed as the side’s captain.

Barrett returns to the All Blacks fold for the first time in 2026 alongside Shannon Frizell, having missed a significant stretch of rugby through injury. His inclusion came at a cost to Blues lock Sam Darry, who was squeezed out of the squad, while Patrick Tuipulotu was also absent — though through injury rather than selection.

Speaking to New Zealand media while in Australia, Rennie detailed the frank discussions he held with Barrett at the start of the international season, before the captaincy decision was finalised.

“I think when I got appointed, I spoke a lot to Scooter, and it was more around how he found the captaincy, the leadership group, and lots of things around that,” Rennie said. “I think he was a bit of a reluctant captain, very proud to do that for his country, and obviously with an injury he ended up having that he wasn’t available to play anyway. So, even when I was having conversations with Scooter, I hadn’t told him that Ardie would be the captain or anything, and we made that appointment quite late.”

Rennie was keen to emphasise how much Barrett’s return means to the squad, pointing to the lock’s determination to get his body right after a period that included stints in rugby league and Australian rules football.

“He’s obviously excited to be back in the mix, and he’s worked incredibly hard. It’s been frustrating for him because he had a bit of a sabbatical to try and get the body right, and he went away and did different things in league and AFL,” Rennie said. “Then obviously had an issue that set him back a few months, so we’re rapt to have him back in. He brings a lot of experience, and he’s an excellent player — one of the best locks in the world.”

Despite stepping back from the captaincy role, Barrett is expected to remain a central figure in the All Blacks’ leadership structure. “While he won’t captain the side, he’ll be an important part from a leadership perspective for us,” Rennie added.

The Bledisloe Cup series represents Barrett’s opportunity to re-establish himself as a cornerstone of the All Blacks pack after what has been a stop-start return to full fitness.