The New Zealand All Blacks face a pressing leadership dilemma ahead of their fourth and final test against South Africa on Sunday at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium. With captain Scott Barrett sidelined for the season due to a back injury, and his immediate replacement Ardie Savea ruled out following a shoulder dislocation in the third test, the All Blacks are without their established leadership options as they seek to level the series.
Luke Jacobson, who assumed captaincy duties in the previous match in Soweto, is also unavailable for the Baltimore fixture, having suffered an elbow injury. This leaves head coach Dave Rennie with a difficult decision on who will lead the team in a crucial encounter against the Springboks.
Among potential candidates, hooker Codie Taylor stands out, having captained the side in a non-test match against the Bulls last month and frequently leading the haka. Taylor’s experience exceeds 100 tests, making him a seasoned choice. However, his recent exclusion from the starting lineup in favor of Asafo Aumua—who performed strongly at hooker—raises questions about whether Taylor is the best fit for this key role. The set pieces have been a point of concern throughout the series, adding an extra layer of scrutiny to the selection.
Another notable option is back Jordie Barrett, regarded as one of the world’s top players and a longstanding member of the All Blacks leadership group. A captaincy for Barrett would continue a family tradition, joining brothers Scott and Beauden Barrett as team leaders. Yet, appointing a back as captain remains uncommon for the All Blacks, with most previous leaders coming from the forward pack. While halfback Aaron Smith captained the team in 2021 and assistant coach Tana Umaga was a backline captain in earlier years, the role has predominantly rested with forwards.
Lock Tupou Vaa’i, seen as a natural leader and identified as a future captain prospect, is also under consideration. However, he lacks test-level captaincy experience, and questions remain about whether stepping up at this juncture is appropriate.
Patrick Tuipulotu emerges as another strong candidate. Observers regard him as potentially the best captain in the squad, although opinions vary on whether he is the best lock available.
Finally, scrum-half Cameron Roigard has been mentioned in the running. His vocal presence during matches, particularly at the scrum, invites comparisons to former captains like David Kirk and George Gregan. Despite this, Roigard has limited experience leading the team.
With the series tied and Sunday looming, Rennie’s choice will be pivotal in setting the tone for New Zealand’s response against a strong South African side on American soil.