Rennie’s call marks a shift from Scott Barrett and a bid to rebuild aura.

Dave Rennie has picked Ardie Savea to captain his first All Blacks squad selected for Nations Championship tests against France, Italy and Ireland next month.

New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie on Monday named Ardie Savea as captain, promising "optimistic" rugby ahead of July Nations Championship Tests against France, Italy and Ireland.

Savea will stand-in as skipper with Scott Barrett absent