With Chay Fihaki, Josh Jacomb, and Saula Ma’u waiting in the wings for their chance on the All Blacks‘ Nations Championship Northern Tour, head coach Dave Rennie explained the challenge facing the trio as they wait for an opportunity in the remaining two Tests of 2026.

Many believed the Nations Championship contest against Wales was a chance to give Josh Jacomb a first Test start, while Fihaki and Ma’u remain as depth options heading into the final two weeks of the four-Test tour.

Jacomb started for the All Blacks in their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry midweek match against the Bulls in Pretoria, and featured off the bench against both the Lions and the Sharks.

The new Highlanders recruit currently sits behind Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie, and Richie Mo’unga in the pecking order, while experienced veteran Beauden Barrett is also an option in the No.10 jersey.

For Ma’u, he had one appearance off the bench in the All Blacks’ 41-35 victory over the Lions in Johannesburg, but is stuck behind both Fletcher Newell and Pasilio Tosi on the end-of-year tour.

Fihaki, who made his Test debut off the bench at Sydney’s Accor Stadium in the 2026 Bledisloe Cup Test match against Australia, could come into the selection picture against England with Will Jordan nursing a hamstring tear, but seems unlikely.

When asked about why the trio didn’t feature in the 23-man squad for the Wales Test match in Cardiff, Rennie outlined his reasoning.

“There are no guarantees. We talk a lot about earning the right to play, and all three of the guys who missed out in selection in the first two weeks have all played in the jersey before,” Rennie said in Cardiff.

“Obviously, Chay got a Test debut in Sydney, and the other two boys played in Africa. So, doesn’t mean that they won’t get an opportunity on this tour. But yeah, based on, you know, obviously Richie coming back, that made sense.

“Some, you know, we were keen to have, obviously, Beauden in the mix as well, and he can cover 10 so look, certainly the three boys who haven’t stripped yet are determined, and their jobs to continue to train well and apply pressure.

“We just decided in the end it will give us a little bit more experience. I mean, if we got under pressure with so many guys lacking experience, it could put us under a bit of pressure.

“We want to pay respect to Wales too. We‘ve picked a side that we think will show some respect for them.”

Rennie provided an update on the fitness of Jordan, who is touch and go for the Nations Championship finals weekend after picking up a minor “hamstring tear” against Scotland.

“Yeah, no, he’s a chance to be available in the last week,” the All Blacks coach said.

“He’s got boxes to tick along the way, so he’s been doing a little bit of strength work over the last couple of days, and the plan is to run him Saturday, I think.

“And if he has any setbacks amongst that, then he’s likely to return home. But at this stage, he’s a chance to play in that final week, so he’ll remain in camp.”