New captain Ardie Savea said he would "embrace the challenge" of leading the All Blacks in the Dave Rennie era, after taking on the job with a little over a year to go until the Rugby World Cup.

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.

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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.

The All Blacks open Rennie’s tenure against France in Christchurch on July 4.

June 22 : New Zealand rugby coach Dave Rennie named Ardie Savea as captain of his first squad which features four uncapped players for the inaugural Nations Championship tests…

Savea will stand-in as skipper with Scott Barrett absent

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

Ardie Savea never campaigned to be All Blacks captain. In fact, it was his reticence that convinced coach Dave Rennie he'd made the right choice.

New captain Ardie Savea said he would "embrace the challenge" of leading the All Blacks in the Dave Rennie era, after taking on the job with a little over a year to go until the…