Portugal Colonial - Fly-half Love ready for All Blacks role: Hurricanes coach Laidlaw

Love has been influential in a dominant Super Rugby campaign for the Hurricanes, who are guaranteed to take the top seeding into the play-offs after beating Otago Highlanders 45-28 on Saturday.

The Hurricanes' seven tries included a brilliant solo score from Love and took their total to 84 tries in 13 games, 18 more than any other team this season.

Love's distribution and running game have pushed his claim for Test selection ahead of veterans Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie who were favoured by Scott Robertson, the previous All Blacks coach.

Robertson was sacked at the end of 2025 after two years in charge with Love gaining only five Test caps in that period, with two starts in his less-favoured fullback role.

Laidlaw said the 25-year-old had proved he could play fly-half for the first All Blacks Tests under new coach Dave Rennie, starting against France in Christchurch on July 4.

"He's an outstanding professional both physically and mentally," Laidlaw said after the Hurricanes' 11th win of the season on Saturday.

"He does his homework, he's always the first to have some thoughts around how we want to play.

"So yeah, he's definitely maturing into a top-class (fly-half). But we all know that (Test rugby) is a different level so it's not really for me to worry about.

"We're just enjoying what he's doing."

Under New Zealand Rugby regulations, Rennie is unable to select Richie Mo'unga when the experienced fly-half returns to New Zealand next month after three seasons playing club rugby in Japan.

Mo'unga has committed to the All Blacks through to next year's World Cup but must first play at provincial level before being cleared for Test duty.

H.Portela--PC