All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026

@SecFid said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

I wonder whether the better way to think about this Greatest Rivalry tour is that there are 4 “midweek” games cleverly positioned by the Japies on Fridays, Tuesdays and a Saturday rather than midweek, with a three Test series in the republic where we don’t have enough time to truly acclimatize to altitude before the first test plus an exhibition match in the US.

It's awesome to help us build culture and resilience for the WC. But geez it'll be hard on the boys for the two months of the tour.

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@Jnr I really think the Baltimore game needs to be taken out of the equation when we talk about what a successful series result would look like. Losing the series 3–1 with the only win coming against a B team in a friendly would probably be seen as a poor result. Losing 3–1 but getting one of those wins in South Africa would be a much more respectable outcome. For me, a 2–1 series loss across the three tests in South Africa would be a satisfactory result.

yeah, the fourth game just feels out of place, technically part of the tour so we could win two in SA...and draw the tour...im coming around the tour but the game int he states is a bit lame

I haven't really made up my mind what a successful tour will look like. South Africa at home is the tour for any All blacks team, and playing 2 tests at Joburg at altitude? Tough I know but what excites me, incredibly hard tour, and a bloody great chance to mold a team/squad ahead of WC etc next year?

i think i would say a win in SA and respectable losses for the other 2 (no thrashings) should be the minimum

Baltimore is 50/50

also saw this, the Heritage "polo" looks more like a rugby jersey than the actual jersey

said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Rennie has just said Mounga can only join the SA tour squad as injury cover. As predicted by many, a nice loop hole

Love has had scans done. The nervous wait. If they play it right, there’s the loop hole they need to get Mounga in more or less straight away .

If Rennie is being truthful in saying that he knows who he is going to pick for the first four matches in SA could he also be planning to split the squad in two immediately after the Sharks game in Durban? By then sending the Test side onto Pretoria early to prepare to play the Blue Bulls those players would have plenty of time and preparation at altitude before the all important First Test a week later at Ellis Park (Joburg). The mid-weekers would stay at sea level and play the Stormers in Cape Town although that would only be 4 days later before they rejoin the full tour party. Then the midweekers stay in Johburg at altitude and play the Lions. Meanwhile the test squad heads down to sea level to prepare for the second test in Cape Town. That would be the first 4 matches completed - Sharks, Stormers Bulls, and SA.

@SecFid said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

If Rennie is being truthful in saying that he knows who he is going to pick for the first four matches in SA could he also be planning to split the squad in two immediately after the Sharks game in Durban? By then sending the Test side onto Pretoria early to prepare to play the Blue Bulls those players would have plenty of time and preparation at altitude before the all important First Test a week later at Ellis Park (Joburg). The mid-weekers would stay at sea level and play the Stormers in Cape Town although that would only be 4 days later before they rejoin the full tour party. Then the midweekers stay in Johburg at altitude and play the Lions. Meanwhile the test squad heads down to sea level to prepare for the second test in Cape Town. That would be the first 4 matches completed - Sharks, Stormers Bulls, and SA.

Don't think they would bother, to be honest.

Would mean splitting up the coaches, personnel, can't train together etc.

Yeah that sounds like an awful lot of disruption and ridiculous amount of planning for an extremely minimal gain (and not exactly a proven one).

Granted could prove disruptive but if being mildly innovative means winning the all important first test in South Africa could it be worth it? With a touring party of 44 players 2 x 22 squads and probably 16 coaches/ managers is it that hard?

Opposed training is part of any preparation.

Thank you. All 44 players are in Durban for the opener against the Sharks. There is only 4 days before the next match against the Stormers in Cape Town. How many opposed trainings would there actually be between those two games - maybe 2? Make do with your 23 or even some local players
Then the midweekers head up to Pretoria anyway. So in reality the tour party is only physically separated for 7-8 days

@kidcalder said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

One thing I know for sure the 9's touring will be
Cam
Ratima
Preston
Holtham
Any injuries to one of them and to me its a lottery who would be a back up
Likely.... Christie?

Sadly for us Finlay-heads, he’s got an injury and I think is out for the entire NPC.
I suspect they’d call over Lennox if needed.

@SecFid said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Granted could prove disruptive but if being mildly innovative means winning the all important first test in South Africa could it be worth it? With a touring party of 44 players 2 x 22 squads and probably 16 coaches/ managers is it that hard?

I think they'd gain more for the WC by keeping them together and building their culture

@Jnr said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@kidcalder said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Over the 3 tests I only see us winning 1

3-1 would be expected.

2-2 would be a solid tour, we'd take that in a heartbeat - and the Bokke would be a bit nervy going forward.

1-3 with the ABs would be a ridiculous result

I would be gutted if we lost all 4

My head agrees with you...but my instinct tells me the Boks are ripe for an upset in our favour. They will be under more pressure than us and, though early days, we look to be on the rise with no expectations to manage

I think people overrate the Boks due to their depth.

They can only have 15 players on the field at any time and I think our top 15 can hold it's own with theirs.

They lost to both Australia and us last year.

Home advantage will be helpful for them, but having a cohesive game plan and buy in from players will help us.

I'm hopeful for a hard fought 2-2 but can easily see it as 1-3 or 3-1.

I believe their fatties are vulnerable at altitude.

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@Jnr I really think the Baltimore game needs to be taken out of the equation when we talk about what a successful series result would look like. Losing the series 3–1 with the only win coming against a B team in a friendly would probably be seen as a poor result. Losing 3–1 but getting one of those wins in South Africa would be a much more respectable outcome. For me, a 2–1 series loss across the three tests in South Africa would be a satisfactory result.

Losing 2-1 to Springboks would be a most unsatisfactory result. That said, I shouldn't be jumping out a window if it does occur.
I'd be surprised if at least one test doesn't come down to a controversial reffing decision.

@pakman Looking at where the team was six months ago, losing the series 2–1 (with the losses being competitive) would represent a huge improvement. The 2025 team looked like they were on course for a Wellington-esque thrashing in all three tests.

@ShaquilleOatmeal I'll grant you that.

In fact, David Kirk might even describe it as a changed trajectory.

Like all AB fans I would like a 2-1 series win in SA. If we lost 1-2 but we were competitive in the 2 losses ,we showed heart and implemented our gameplan with boldness but they were better in the end I could live with that. But I am hopeful for especially the 2 tests at altitude where the hard, fast pitches might suit our players better especially our forwards who are more mobile and perhaps might handle the altitude better than the likes of Wilco Louw and Boan Venter.

I reckon all AB fans would far prefer a 3-0 win.

Winning the last one to take series 2-1 would be satisfactory in my book.

Let's not kid ourselves about how hard this tour will be. It's the toughest assignment in the game.

Winning a Test in Africa will be a great achievement. Winning the series in their back yard would be outstanding.

Are the refs confirmed yet? Guessing it’s Gus, Pearce and then roll the dice with some frog again.

@chimoaus said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

I am just stoked we are going on an old fashioned tour. I remember the 96 tour fondly with Fitzpatricks side getting the first series win in SA.

I also have fond memories as a kid following the tours up north playing all the midweek games etc. I used to keep a journal of all the games with who scored etc. I would then go to school and give a blow by blow recount of what happened.

All I can hope for is we get another video like The Good, the Bad and the Rugby, that was an instant classic.

I found a good documentary about the 1992 tour. @21 mins Earle Kirton demonstrates French passing techniques to young Herschelle Gibbs who accompanied the All Blacks for a few days (pre-knee injury which led to him focusing on cricket). It starts off with Bob Scott, Kevin Skinner and Ken Gray talking about earlier tours.

@game_film said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Are the refs confirmed yet? Guessing it’s Gus, Pearce and then roll the dice with some frog again.

Not according to the World Rugby site.

Two refs at the very top of the list that I hope don’t get appointed tests or even mid-weekers - Brousset or Amashukeli

@Chris-B.

Beast - I hate that nickname.
Teichman.
Skinstad
There are more - they are born elsewhere and schooled on SA.

Posted in the ABs thread, but will also post it here. Clubrugby.co.nz are reporting that Kirifi will be on the plane next week. One more player from Wellington will apparently be involved. Either Siale Lauaki or Callum Harkin is my guess.

@Canes4life smokey on Delaney. If Vaai is a hardworking 6, then I reckon he fits the mould nicely.

@Bones said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@Canes4life smokey on Delaney. If Vaai is a hardworking 6, then I reckon he fits the mould nicely.

If you want a lock/loosie coming on late in a match he wouldn’t let the jersey down. Ah Koui is probably the other that fits that bill.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Posted in the ABs thread, but will also post it here. Clubrugby.co.nz are reporting that Kirifi will be on the plane next week. One more player from Wellington will apparently be involved. Either Siale Lauaki or Callum Harkin is my guess.

Mafileo?

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@game_film said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Are the refs confirmed yet? Guessing it’s Gus, Pearce and then roll the dice with some frog again.

Not according to the World Rugby site.

Two refs at the very top of the list that I hope don’t get appointed tests or even mid-weekers - Brousset or Amashukeli

Based on his last outing you don’t want Gardner anywhere near it either

@pakman said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@Jnr said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@kidcalder said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Over the 3 tests I only see us winning 1

3-1 would be expected.

2-2 would be a solid tour, we'd take that in a heartbeat - and the Bokke would be a bit nervy going forward.

1-3 with the ABs would be a ridiculous result

I would be gutted if we lost all 4

My head agrees with you...but my instinct tells me the Boks are ripe for an upset in our favour. They will be under more pressure than us and, though early days, we look to be on the rise with no expectations to manage

I think people overrate the Boks due to their depth.

They can only have 15 players on the field at any time and I think our top 15 can hold it's own with theirs.

They lost to both Australia and us last year.

Home advantage will be helpful for them, but having a cohesive game plan and buy in from players will help us.

I'm hopeful for a hard fought 2-2 but can easily see it as 1-3 or 3-1.

I believe their fatties are vulnerable at altitude.

If the tactical stoppages are policed.

At the end of the day if we can hold them in the scrums we will go a long way to beating them.
I saw ABs v SA at Twickenham 2023. We were screwed because we couldn't compete with their scrum.

On a positive note we have probably our best:
Front row for a decade
Best hookers for a decade
Best aggregate locks for a decade
Best 9-10 combo for a decade,
Best wingers for a decade and
possibly Best coach for a decade

@Canes4life said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@Bones said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@Canes4life smokey on Delaney. If Vaai is a hardworking 6, then I reckon he fits the mould nicely.

If you want a lock/loosie coming on late in a match he wouldn’t let the jersey down. Ah Koui is probably the other that fits that bill.

Didn't think he was with the lions anymore...

@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

I saw ABs v SA at Twickenham 2023. We were screwed because we couldn't compete with their scrum.

That's because Foster refused to pick Roigard at tighthead.

@game_film said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Are the refs confirmed yet? Guessing it’s Gus, Pearce and then roll the dice with some frog again.

I don't know who Gus is, generally side with Referees, but after watching the Argie-Pom game, I want Gardner on another continent.

@BerniesCorner that's alot of exaggeration from 3 games. Compared to the 2023 final, front row is the same, only hooker change is Auma for Coles. Lock is good in squad selection but we had worlds best pair with support from SB.
9 and 10 could be but love is settling into the role nicely but a way to go before having the best in a decade tag and wings are still Jordan and Clarke or moorby compared to telea who played some great rugby

The coach certainly has shown enough to be the best choice in the decade but let him and the team perform more before announcing them as the best

@Frank said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Which of our games against them counts towards the Nation's championship or do none of them?

Nations Champ is Northern (Euro) Pool v Southern (Rest of the World) Pool.

We don't play each other.

Not hearing a lot so far this week.

Still waiting to hear anything about Ruben Loves scans. Leads me to assume nothing major which is good.

There is a bit of chat around Semisi Tupou Ta’eilo. Could be the name to watch for next Monday.

UPDATE: Just had a message saying scans came back fine on Love and nothing to worry about. Great result.