All Blacks coach Dave Rennie's unhappy homecoming as star winger suffers season-ending injury
Last weekend's Super Rugby local derbies were supposed to confirm some initial feelings for Dave Rennie ahead of July's three home Nations Championship Tests and next year's World Cup.
Instead, the new All Blacks coach will have felt glum after witnessing one likely Test rookie's year end early and watching several other stars struggle.
Rennie, who was back in New Zealand for a quick spell before returning to finish his three-season tenure with Kobe in Japan's League One competition, was back in his old stomping ground in Hamilton when Caleb Tangitau went down with a season-ending Achilles injury.
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Caleb Tangitau of the Highlanders leaves the field injured. Getty
The 23-year-old winger tried to attack the Chiefs' line in stoppage time but fell into contact after injuring his Achilles.
It didn't take long for people to recognise that it was a bad injury, with Tangitau banging the field in anger. Rubbing salt into the wound, the Chiefs scored minutes later to seal the 42-12 win.
"I've just found out, it looks like he's ruptured his Achilles," Joseph said.
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"It's really disappointing for him, a young winger playing really good rugby, scoring awesome tries.
"He's young, so that's on his side, and the surgeons these days are pretty good, so he'll be back."
The Highlanders confirmed the season-ending rupture on Sunday.
Caleb Tangitau of the Highlanders evades Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of the NSW Waratahs. Getty
Tangitau later added: "Not the way I wanted to finish the year but that's footy man. Thanks to everyone who's messaged your support means everything."
While the Highlanders were set to miss the finals, Tangitau was shaping as a certainty in Rennie's first All Blacks squad after being one of the standout wingers in Super Rugby.
Indeed, only a week ago Tangitau had carved up Wallabies superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii during the Highlanders' vital win over the Waratahs in Dunedin.
The winger, who crossed the white line six times this year, sliced past Suaalii in defence to help the Highlanders make a flying start under the roof.
It was those kind of moments that led to World Cup-winner Stephen Donald saying Tangitau's injury was a massive blow for Rennie's All Blacks.
"You can't help but feel for the young man who has been absolutely outstanding this year," Donald said in commentary for Sky Sport.
"He knows it's a serious injury. Your heart goes out for Caleb Tangitau, who you would have imagined would have been crowned an All Black in a couple of weeks."
After the All Blacks wingers underwhelmed in 2025, Tangitau was likely competing with Chiefs flyer and fellow former sevens back Leroy Carter for the No.14 jersey.
But the injury could see All Blacks regular Sevu Reece also return to the Test picture despite falling down the pecking order over the past 12 months.
Will Jordan, the excellent Crusaders fullback, could also be considered as a wing option, especially if Rennie considers playing Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie in the same side.
With Super Rugby Pacific reaching the pointy end of the season, anticipation is quickly building around Rennie's first Test squad.
The All Blacks will open their Test campaign against France in Christchurch on July 4, with the No.10 jersey still one of the most debated positions in New Zealand.
Although Barrett and McKenzie were the two main figures in the No.10 jersey under former coach Scott Robertson, the looming return of Richie Mo'unga from Japan and the rise of Hurricanes star Ruben Love have left many questioning just who will start against Les Bleus.
Adding to Rennie's looming selection headache is that McKenzie was forced off against the Highlanders with another concussion, while Barrett struggled in the Blues' heavy home loss to the Hurricanes.
Barrett, who will turn 35 later this month, was charged down by Warner Dearns with a clearing kick ahead of the opening try, while his passing game struggled.
Love, meanwhile, has led the Hurricanes to the top of the Super Rugby standings and outplayed Barrett during their comprehensive 47-24 takedown of the Blues on Saturday.
