Overview
- Coach Dave Rennie named the reworked matchday 23 on Thursday, making five changes to the starting XV for Saturday's Nations Championship test in Wellington.
- Tyrel Lomax will start at tighthead prop and play his 50th Test while Tupou Vaa'i returns to the second row after missing the France match with concussion.
- Anton Segner and Josh Moorby were named on the replacements and are both in line to earn first caps with Segner poised to be the first Germany-born All Black if he is used.
- Rennie retained the Roigard–Ruben Love halfback/playmaker combination and rotated the pack and backline to broaden the playing pool and test combinations.
- New Zealand have won all 17 previous tests against Italy and Rennie framed the selection as a response to Italy's improved Six Nations form, signaling a preparation-first approach rather than a routine lineup.