New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie has recalled former captain Scott Barrett and loose forward Shannon Frizell in his 34-man squad named on September 28, 2026, ahead of the Bledisloe Cup series against the Wallabies starting at Eden Park in Auckland.
Scott Barrett and Shannon Frizell Return from Sidelines
Barrett spent most of 2026 sidelined with a back injury, making his comeback with 50 minutes for Taranaki on Sunday. He takes the place of the injured Patrick Tuipulotu, who suffered a calf injury, while Blues lock Sam Darry has been dropped from the setup.
Shannon Frizell is back in the black jersey for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final. After playing in Japan for Toshiba Brave Lupus, Frizell returned to New Zealand to play for Tasman in the NPC. A hamstring injury temporarily stalled his progress, but an 80-minute performance against Bay of Plenty last Thursday convinced Rennie to hand him a contender’s jersey for the problematic No 6 role, according to reporting by NZ Herald sports journalist Alex Powell.
Codie Taylor Takes Over Captaincy Amid Injury Crisis
With regular skipper Ardie Savea facing an extended spell on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury sustained during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, hooker Codie Taylor will captain the side for the two Bledisloe tests. Taylor, 35, was dropped for the decisive third test against the Springboks in Soweto but returned as tour captain one week later in Baltimore when Savea exited.
“Codie is a top man who has huge mana.”
The squad features 32 players who traveled to South Africa and Baltimore. However, a mounting injury list has ruled out several key personnel. Alongside Savea and Tuipulotu, the unavailable list includes Ruben Love with an ankle ligament injury, Luke Jacobson with an elbow issue, Anton Lienert-Brown with a knee problem, Billy Proctor and Caleb Clarke with shoulder injuries, and Ollie Norris with a knee injury.
Complete Bledisloe Cup Squad Details
To cover the absences, players like halfback Kyle Preston have retained their spots after featuring across all eight games of the recent tour, edging out Crusaders teammate Noah Hotham. Josh Jacomb and Richie Mo’unga join Beauden Barrett as first-five options, though Beauden Barrett is listed among the outside backs.
Full 34-Man Squad:
The team assembles in Auckland on Sunday ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup test on October 10. New Zealand has held the trophy since 2003.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Squad
Who is the new All Blacks captain for the Bledisloe Cup?
Codie Taylor will captain the side in the absence of the injured Ardie Savea.
Why was Scott Barrett out of the team?
Scott Barrett spent most of 2026 recovering from a back injury before making his return for Taranaki.
When was Shannon Frizell’s last test match?
Frizell last played for the All Blacks during the 2023 World Cup final before stints in Japan and playing for Tasman in the NPC.
Which players are unavailable due to injury?
The injured absentees are Ardie Savea, Ruben Love, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Jacobson, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, and Ollie Norris.
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