All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026

Victor Meldrew

@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

booboo

@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.

Landers92

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.

Landers92

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

Thanks for the updates - bloody good result.

At the time of that high ball challenge I was hoping Love was acting in order to get the TMO involved, glad see nothing serious came of it.

Israel Leota NZR wanted him .

Possible he's a chance .

Blackadder probably goes covers 6,7,8,

ACT Crusader

@southernmann Mid Canterbury by 5….

Will be good to see the big man back in action.

CLW a possible squad spot, although if the noise about Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa has legs, he’s a similar yet younger type of player.

OomPB

The players released to their franchises, meanwhile, will also have an opportunity to face the All Blacks in their respective midweek games if they are selected, which will be invaluable for them once we decide on the final squad for RGR, so we see this as a win-win situation for the team and players.”

Players released to play for their franchises in RGR:

Forwards: Ntuthuko Mchunu, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter (all DHL Stormers).

Backs: Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls).

Standby: Ruben van Heerden (Montpellier).

ShaquilleOatmeal

@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

I guess they'll have to find another way to sneak Mo'unga in. Maybe one of those halfbacks they don't use will slip getting off the plane.

Dan54

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

@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

I guess they'll have to find another way to sneak Mo'unga in. Maybe one of those halfbacks they don't use will slip getting off the plane.

I was pretty sure I heard Rennie say they could only do it if a 10 was injured, and mentioned Love,BB and Dmac as examples.

Regardless of who it is, I would be pissed if someone was just thrown out to get RMo in.

You either have rules or you don't

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

@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

I guess they'll have to find another way to sneak Mo'unga in. Maybe one of those halfbacks they don't use will slip getting off the plane.

Imagine having to find ways to get around our own ridiculous, self-imposed restrictions. NZR have done a lot of good things this year, but this isn't one of them.

Frank

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

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

@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

I guess they'll have to find another way to sneak Mo'unga in. Maybe one of those halfbacks they don't use will slip getting off the plane.

Could just select Parker

You mean Ethan Blackadder

ShaquilleOatmeal

@dan54 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

I guess they'll have to find another way to sneak Mo'unga in. Maybe one of those halfbacks they don't use will slip getting off the plane.

I was pretty sure I heard Rennie say they could only do it if a 10 was injured, and mentioned Love,BB and Dmac as examples.

Regardless of who it is, I would be pissed if someone was just thrown out to get RMo in.

You either have rules or you don't

How’d you feel about the Narawa/Blackadder situation at the World Cup?

@dan54 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

I guess they'll have to find another way to sneak Mo'unga in. Maybe one of those halfbacks they don't use will slip getting off the plane.

I was pretty sure I heard Rennie say they could only do it if a 10 was injured, and mentioned Love,BB and Dmac as examples.

Regardless of who it is, I would be pissed if someone was just thrown out to get RMo in.

You either have rules or you don't

I cant believe that would be the case Dan. That is far too restrictive and a case of admin overstepping their reach in team selection. What you are describing goes beyond eligibility and dictates team selection policy

taniwharugby

@dagrubster pretty sure the rules are similar for Super in that for them to go outside the squad you need to have specific positional injuries or a number of them...seems daft I know, but it isnt a new rule.

Dan54

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

@dan54 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

I guess they'll have to find another way to sneak Mo'unga in. Maybe one of those halfbacks they don't use will slip getting off the plane.

I was pretty sure I heard Rennie say they could only do it if a 10 was injured, and mentioned Love,BB and Dmac as examples.

Regardless of who it is, I would be pissed if someone was just thrown out to get RMo in.

You either have rules or you don't

I cant believe that would be the case Dan. That is far too restrictive and a case of admin overstepping their reach in team selection. What you are describing goes beyond eligibility and dictates team selection policy

That's what he said at media conference last week I don't think anyone overstepping anything, the rules are the rules, and RMo had every chance to get around them by signing long er than just for WC next year. He chose not to. It is just eligibility and I would be pissed with trying to get around them by making other players sacrificial lambs.

Mind you could be just how Rennie and co are taking it too, which is good.

Dan54

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

@dan54 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

I guess they'll have to find another way to sneak Mo'unga in. Maybe one of those halfbacks they don't use will slip getting off the plane.

I was pretty sure I heard Rennie say they could only do it if a 10 was injured, and mentioned Love,BB and Dmac as examples.

Regardless of who it is, I would be pissed if someone was just thrown out to get RMo in.

You either have rules or you don't

How’d you feel about the Narawa/Blackadder situation at the World Cup?

I not sure what you talking about mate, I not aware of Blackadder or Nawara playing overseas before any WC?

Dan54

@akan004 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

I guess they'll have to find another way to sneak Mo'unga in. Maybe one of those halfbacks they don't use will slip getting off the plane.

Imagine having to find ways to get around our own ridiculous, self-imposed restrictions. NZR have done a lot of good things this year, but this isn't one of them.

Well as it been a rule for a long time, I not sure why you think it only this year.

ShaquilleOatmeal

@dan54 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

@dan54 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

I guess they'll have to find another way to sneak Mo'unga in. Maybe one of those halfbacks they don't use will slip getting off the plane.

I was pretty sure I heard Rennie say they could only do it if a 10 was injured, and mentioned Love,BB and Dmac as examples.

Regardless of who it is, I would be pissed if someone was just thrown out to get RMo in.

You either have rules or you don't

How’d you feel about the Narawa/Blackadder situation at the World Cup?

I not sure what you talking about mate, I not aware of Blackadder or Nawara playing overseas before any WC?

Narawa was named in squad for the World Cup despite carrying an injury that had already ruled him out of the warm-up match against South Africa. Shortly after the tournament began, he was ruled out and replaced by Blackadder. A wing replaced with a loose forward.

I'm not fussed on Mo'unga getting to go on tour but I don't think it's as big a deal as you're making out. Mo'unga has to play NPC to become available but the squad is named before he'll be able to do that. If there's an injury, a spot becomes available to fill however they choose. And I don't think there are or should be rules about replacing like for like - it's not a tournament situation and the initial squad makeup can take whatever shape Rennie likes.