James Parsons believes the upcoming Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney is the perfect opportunity for Timoci Tavatavanawai to be included in the All Blacks’ matchday squad.
New Zealand and Australia are set to face off at the Accor Stadium on Saturday after the men in black clinched an emphatic 50-19 triumph in the corresponding fixture at Eden Park last weekend.
However, that win proved costly as All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie was forced to make some alterations to his squad after Asafo Aumua, Anton Segner, Leroy Carter and Ethan Blackadder withdrew with injury.
Quartet called up to All Blacks squad
Rennie has subsequently called up George Bell, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Jamie Hannah and Anton Lienert-Brown to the All Blacks squad as injury cover.
While appearing on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, the show’s host Ross Karl asked Parsons for his thoughts on those selection changes which Rennie made, particularly regarding the loose forwards and locks, and he said: “I’d love to see a few guys get an opportunity (in the Test squad). Jamie Hannah’s been called in.
“He’s superseded Sam Darry; I probably wouldn’t have thought (that would happen), after Sam’s July series and the opportunities he had in South Africa.
“He’s been really strong, but it shows what he’s (Hannah) shown at training for them to sort of bring him in over Sam. So, maybe he gets an opportunity.”
However, the player who Parsons said he would like to see included in the All Blacks matchday squad against the Wallabies is Tavatavanawai, who is yet to represent New Zealand at Test level in 2026.
In fact, the 28-year-old centre, who can also play on the wing, has won only two Tests caps for the All Blacks since his international debut in 2025.
Shone in midweek games during South African tour
Tavatavanawai shone in the All Blacks’ midweek matches against South Africa’s United Rugby Championship during the men in black’s recent Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour and last week Parsons called for the burly utility back to be included in Rennie’s matchday squad for the opening Bledisloe Cup Test.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
That did not happen and the former All Blacks hooker feels Carter’s injury presents an opportunity to Tavatavanawai to make his Test return.
“I’m going to go there again, Tavatavanawai, I just want to see it,” said Parsons.
“Quinn Tupaea and Jordie Barrett are definitely the number one (centre) pairing. They work so well together. Like when Barrett sprints back and absolutely belts the Wallaby player from behind, I can’t remember who it was, and Tupaea gets on the ball, I was just like, man, ‘that is impressive’. Jordie was just a man possessed.
But I think a bench spot for Tavatavanawai, now that Leroy Carter’s out, Rieko (Ioane) can cover wing, I’d love to see him (Tavatavanawai) get a crack on, on the bench.”