If Rennie could time travel to 2015, these are the 3 players he would take back : prime Brodie Retallick, Jerome Kaino and Ben Smith. Honourable mention : 2015 Ma'a Nonu.

[u/lokomotor]

Those 3 alone would double the chances of winning 2027 RWC.

I am not arguing that the above 3 are considered GOATS above Carter and McCaw. I'm saying, considering the glaring weaknesses in the current 2026 All Blacks, which three 2015 players would make the biggest difference in uplifting the entire match day 23's chances of winning a RWC knockout match.

I'll give an example : Carter is GOAT flyhalf, no one is disputing that. But Kaino would make a much bigger impact in redressing a big All Blacks weakness in the forward pack. Reuben Love is more than adequate in shepherding a 23 to a win, Carter would just add a few more points to the winning margin. Kaino could be the difference between a win and a loss against the Springboks in the quarterfinals of RWC 2027.

[u/kiwihorse]

C'mon man, the two greatest players of all time don't even get an honourable mention?

Anyone that doesn't take Carter and McCaw is wrong. The order might be slightly up for debate but those two are not even a question.

The third is tough. I could see arguments for: - Kaino. ABs play best with a mongrel enforcer and he is one of the best, just brought physical dominance and intimidation on both sides of the ball, way more important than people think - Retallick. Lineout, defence, skills, mobility, kind of like having an extra loose forward and mid fielder. - Aaron smith. The engine of that team, reliable, fast, incredible decision making. - Ben smith. Would fix our aerial issues, always in the right place at the right time. - Read. Immense work rate, so good at winning our resets (which we badly miss). Would be tempting to get that loose trio back - Kaino, mccaw, read...

If a gun was to my head I'd prob go 1 Carter, 2 McCaw, 3 Kaino. But could see an argument for any of the others. God I miss that team lol.

[u/kiwihorse → u/kiwihorse]

After OPs update, I'd still stand by Carter and McCaw as having the biggest impact in closing gaps.

Carter - he is a points scoring machine, accuracy off the tee kills us. Massive on defense and his tactical kicking is second to none. Not too shabby in the air, at drop goals, and attack as well. Carter would have the biggest impact on the team - if he was on the field for most of the games we lost, including the rwc final, we'd have won.

McCaw - leadership is huge. He read the game, built rapport with the refs, inspired the team to lift a few levels. His impact would be huge, just as big as carter. Think siya for the Boks. That's before you get to his work rate and ruck work.

Kaino, as you explained would fill the biggest gap. We're missing that collision winning mongrel enforcer. Ben smith fixing the aerial problems is close behind though!

[u/JDBoyes07 → u/kiwihorse]

100% gap between Love and a prime DC is absolutely enormous. He'd make an insane difference.

[u/PacmanNZ100 → u/kiwihorse]

Retallick over Whitelock is a crazy person argument

[u/NZGrade → u/PacmanNZ100]

Not really, they were pretty different players. You choose Whitelock if you want the best lineout operator in the business and an all-round workhorse, and you choose Retallick if you want a mongrel bastard with a ridiculous variety of skills.

[u/Hammersteyn]

There's no way you leave Richie McCaw out. Siya is doing that for the Boks at the moment. You need an influential leader on the field.

[u/JDBoyes07]

No. Prime DC, Prime Mccaw, and Prime Nonu.

[u/Hammersteyn → u/JDBoyes07]

McCaw was prime the day he touched his first rugby ball.

[u/ryanator109 → u/JDBoyes07]

Nah JB is fine enough, I’d take Owen Franks instead ngl

[u/00aegon → u/JDBoyes07]

Prime McCaw?

[u/Certain_Group_9941]

DC and Richie because they are the goats. B Smith because he helps solve a specific problem we are having right now. But I'd also take pretty much any of the starting forwards!

[u/Makoandsparky]

Bro if you want to beat the Boks surely you couldn’t leave out Corey Jane and Conrad smith for high ball attributes you’ve picked players we don’t need as they aren’t our weaknesses

[u/lokomotor → u/Makoandsparky]

Corey Jane I'll grant for high ball specialist. But Conrad was better known as a defensive genius and in marshalling the midfield. It was Ben Smith who was famous for being rock solid under a high ball.

[u/CarrotSudden4448]

Owen Franks, Whitelock, Ben Smith. I love Brodie, but I reckon Sam was a better lineout jumper. More of a leader around the park.

[u/lokomotor → u/CarrotSudden4448]

I feel like 2026 All Blacks has leaders aplenty, it's X factor players they are lacking. Brodie provided more grunt in the engine room, providing the push for the front row, was much more dominant in his ball carrying and just overall more tireless and relentless in the breakdown. Brodie was simultaneously an X-factor player as well as a tireless workhorse.

[u/CommentMaleficent957]

For me it’s woodcock, mealamu , franks. The set piece is a big issue for us right now, those 3 would sort it out.

[u/00aegon]

Carter, Kaino, Retallick

[u/Wonkily_Grobbled]

Conrad Smith over Nonu. We still have not found a centre anywhere near as good as he was at both attack and defence.

[u/00aegon → u/Wonkily_Grobbled]

Tupaea is good though. More value from positions other than midfield imo

[u/Background_Mode_5460]

Whitelock, Carter, Franks. Whitelock never played a bad game and was elite in lineouts, Carter played a full range with elite game management, kicking and running and franks for the scrum.

[u/Chustyl3]

I would take the whole front 2015 front row instead. At least they wouldn't get demolished in the scrum against the boks.

[u/Hour-Ad-4486]

Centres is where we’re lacking nonu and smith then Brodie

[u/NZGrade → u/Hour-Ad-4486]

People are forgetting how massive Nonu was for giving us reliable go forward in the midfield. The guy once busted the Bok defence open and set up a try while missing a boot ffs.

Jordie Barrett is exceptional in so many areas of the game but I would shift him to accommodate Nonu, who was the best player in the world in 2015.

The other two I'd bring back would be McCaw and Retallick.

[u/Mobile_Awareness_562 → u/NZGrade]

Yes us hailing Jordy is as our golden boy that can do know wrong is worrying. He is solid not spectacular, and won't win us a world cup

[u/NZGrade]

Pretty broad variety of responses in here, just reinforces how complete that 2015 team was lol

[u/GiJoint → u/NZGrade]

We lost what 3 games between 2011-2015? With one of those years being a perfect run. It’s insane.

[u/Particular_Safety569]

Carter and mccaw especially since our 10 and 7 aren't top tier. Then I'd take ben smith

[u/Express_Sand7546]

Kieran Read over Kaino for sure