Nations Championship: Dave Rennie’s Tupou Vaa’i experiment comes up trumps for All Blacks

Saturday, 18 July 2026

ANALYSIS: Dave Rennie brought the intent with his selections this week against Ireland, and his All Blacks delivered splendidly in their best performance of the new era. None more so than that long streak of intensity that is Tupou Vaa’i.

Vaa’i was Rennie’s surprise, back-to-the-future selection on the blindside flank, where he’s been tried twice before by two different All Blacks coaches, without what you would call resounding success. Seems like third time might have been a charm, if Saturday’s streak-extending 40-21 victory over Ireland at Eden Park was anything to go by.

Vaa’i’s imprint was all over a standout All Blacks forward performance in the first half that built a 28-7, four tries to one, lead, despite them spending 10 minutes down a man with Luke Jacobson in the bin for a dangerous ruck cleanout. It was always going to be too far back from there, for all the pluck of this Irish outfit.

Rennie’s theory in shifting his athletic, mobile lock on to the side of the scrum had been to add size and power up front, and, all going to plan, Vaai’s long-striding ability on the carry might become a factor too. “It gives us a bigger lineout, a bigger pack. We feel he’s got a skillset that suits what we want and we’re keen to give him another crack there,” explained the coach in the lead-in.

It was a decision undoubtedly made with an eye on what lies ahead, with those four looming tests against the Springboks, but it applied equally to a tough, well-organised Irish outfit that leans heavily on the physical dominance of its pack.

It seemed to work well too. Vaa’i coped splendidly with the shift to No 6, enjoyed the extra freedom to float to the sideline on occasion, was an additional threat at the lineout and, most importantly, the home forwards edged the physical battle as they powered to a six tries to three victory.

Not coincidentally, this was their most complete performance of the trio of July Nations Championship tests, with the All Blacks absorbing some second-half pressure from the Irish before hitting back themselves with more than a hint of a game-changing effort from their bench.

Vaa’i should be pleased with his night’s work. He made 32 metres on 12 carries, beat a couple of defenders and made 12 tackles. It’s likely Rennie won’t be going too far from this philosophy as he heads to South Africa.

Other Rennie calls came up trumps too. Vaai’s shift to No 6 allowed the coach to bring Patrick Tuipulotu into his second row, and the local hero’s physicality on the carry was a big factor, as he crossed for a try and made a real impact around the ruck. He brought intent and purpose in the tough stuff, and it was much needed. He too looks a keeper.

“I thought Patrick was excellent,” noted the coach post-game. “He hasnt had a lot of footy in him. I’m really rapt we made a call last week to give him one more week. He’s stronger, and his ability to carry and get two shoulders through … he was really physical defensively, and gives our scrum a real edge too. He’s probably short of a gallop, and was starting to struggle a bit before we took him off.

“Tupes (Vaa’i) just highlighted he’s very comfortable. He can pay on the edge or can play through the middle, and gives us another genuine lineout option.”

In terms of what lies ahead?

“We’ll play guys based on what we think we need. We’ve got sm genuine athletes. I thought Anton [Segner] was really good off the bench. Pete [Lakai] didn’t get a lot of time, but we’ve got good options.”

Rennie has also been steadfast that Ruben Love and Damian McKenzie were his men at 10 and 15, respectively, this series. And this also paid dividends as the duo finished the July series strongly. McKenzie, with a team-best 80 metres on the carry and 8 defenders beaten, was especially impressive on Saturday night with a man-of-the-match display at the back where he unleashed the package of skills we all know lies within.

He, too, looks set for an extended stay in the backfield.

Josh Moorby, too, justified his coach’s faith to reward him with his first test start, on the left wing, with another busy and energetic display that underlined his value in a back three brimming with multi-faceted skills. And you had to admire Caleb Clarke’s impact off the pine late, too, in a display that will have given the coach plenty to think about as he refines his bench unit. Dynamic hooker Asafo Aumua also did not miss a trick on his early introduction with Codie Taylor’s calf injury.

The new coach needed this display from his All Blacks. There had been too much mediocrity through the first two victories. To many misfires. Too many lapses. But this was more like it, against a side that brought plenty, but was never in the race. This was the All Blacks taking a major stride back towards their menacing best.

The Rennie era is well and truly on its way. So too, maybe, the Tupou Vaa’i one at No 6.