All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026

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

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

picture him in red and black

are you aware he still plays for Canterbury? That's my boy but even I can admit that, for as exciting as he is, he's pretty raw around the edges for a guy being in test call-up discussions.

Yes, I was just helping @act-crusader conceptualise his Super form.

There's lots of raw around the edges players being discussed in the thread, especially in the bolter category.

Surely TKB and TJP ship has long sailed.

Smith was a level above them back then and likely still is now.

I wouldn't mind if Smith came on board if injury strikes

I reckon Harkin could also cover wing in a pinch too, well worth looking at.

Hutchinson just made great decisions for a young fella, as well as exciting running, more than capable kicking and solid defence. A lot to be enthusiast about.

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

Surely TKB and TJP ship has long sailed.

Smith was a level above them back then and likely still is now.

I wouldn't mind if Smith came on board if injury strikes

If we're bringing back any of those oldies (34, 35, 37) then we may as well bring back Ma'a too. What's Kaino doing these days?

I hope they pick Harkin, he has stepped up this year and at 28 he is at his peak. I think if they don't he will leave. I think he can be the replacement for BB now. 10/15 cover and probably a good bench player to cover those positions. Would like to see him play 15 against URC teams.

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

I hope they pick Harkin, he has stepped up this year and at 28 he is at his peak. I think if they don't he will leave. I think he can be the replacement for BB now. 10/15 cover and probably a good bench player to cover those positions. Would like to see him play 15 against URC teams.

eyeball test reckon he's the best under the high ball in the Canes too

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

I assume the overseas player was Aaron Smith?

There's at least one other ex AB 9 playing overseas, at the age of 35.

Edit: and a clue is he used to play for the Chiefs.

Double edit: I see I was beaten to it. Yup he's not Aaron Smith but he's also no Finlay Christie.

Your time is now, Augy

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

@african-monkey I though Hotham was good for ABs pre-injury last year but was surprised how poor he looked at times for the Crusaders this year - actually took notice of how bad his form was

Based on Rennie’s feedback on the halfbacks as relayed helpfully by @landers92, Hotham will always struggle to get a look in because of his poor passing game (which Rennie seems to agree is quite important for a halfback).

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

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

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

I assume the overseas player was Aaron Smith?

Close

TKB

TJP believe it or not

Hotham is a very slow clearer of the ball. And then the pass itself is slow.

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

Hotham is a very slow clearer of the ball. And then the pass itself is slow.

Reminds me of a young TJP, which makes it quite surprising DR isn't a fan after lander's news.

While I wasn't a fan of TJP in his latter years, even at his worst his pass was faster than the likes of Finlay Christie - and he has many other strengths to his bow. And Ratima has gone backwards since his debut. Still wouldn't want TJP back in the ABs.

Not sure in what capacity but Ma’a Nonu has joined the Sharks. Would be awesome if he lines up for them against the ABs.

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

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

Mo'unga has a calf issue. Unclear how bad.

Word from earlier this week is that they're still expecting him to be fit for Round 1 against Auckland, but who knows with calf niggles

I think it’s all precautionary at this stage. But yeah should be good to go next weekend.

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

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

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

picture him in red and black

are you aware he still plays for Canterbury? That's my boy but even I can admit that, for as exciting as he is, he's pretty raw around the edges for a guy being in test call-up discussions.

Yes, I was just helping @act-crusader conceptualise his Super form.

There's lots of raw around the edges players being discussed in the thread, especially in the bolter category.

I’ve seen him play at both levels and just don’t see it right now for a call up. Would take the Hurricanes kid or even JRK before even considering Hutchinson

@act-crusader said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

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

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

picture him in red and black

are you aware he still plays for Canterbury? That's my boy but even I can admit that, for as exciting as he is, he's pretty raw around the edges for a guy being in test call-up discussions.

Yes, I was just helping @act-crusader conceptualise his Super form.

There's lots of raw around the edges players being discussed in the thread, especially in the bolter category.

I’ve seen him play at both levels and just don’t see it right now for a call up. Would take the Hurricanes kid or even JRK before even considering Hutchinson

The kid from the Canes is closer to 30 than kid age, but wouldn't argue against him being a bolter, but JRK was cabbage this year.

Surely he's at least make "your" XV over those two, neither of them have played for Canterbury have they?

@nepia someone who is 28 is still a kid to me.

@act-crusader said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

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

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

picture him in red and black

are you aware he still plays for Canterbury? That's my boy but even I can admit that, for as exciting as he is, he's pretty raw around the edges for a guy being in test call-up discussions.

Yes, I was just helping @act-crusader conceptualise his Super form.

There's lots of raw around the edges players being discussed in the thread, especially in the bolter category.

I’ve seen him play at both levels and just don’t see it right now for a call up. Would take the Hurricanes kid or even JRK before even considering Hutchinson

I'd have him behind Harkin in the pecking order only because Harkin covers 10. Can't really fathom how you'd have JRK ahead of him though.

@canes4life said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Not sure in what capacity but Ma’a Nonu has joined the Sharks. Would be awesome if he lines up for them against the ABs.

Specialist coach with the midfield and outside backs, so not in any official playing capacity, sadly (but also can absolutely see him throwing on the boots at some point).

@mr-fish Hutchinson is injured anyway so he is out for 6/8 weeks. I would pick Harkin now as he is in form, covers 10/15 and is at the right age to be maturing into a fully fledged international. I could see him replacing BB in the squad if he was given a chance.

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

@mr-fish Hutchinson is injured anyway so he is out for 6/8 weeks. I would pick Harkin now as he is in form, covers 10/15 and is at the right age to be maturing into a fully fledged international. I could see him replacing BB in the squad if he was given a chance.

Taking a big chance there.

What if it's 7.

Paul Cully is picking Jacomb ahead of Harkin. Jacomb hasn't impressed as a fullback so doesn't have the same utility value as Harkin.

In his (Cully's) 44 man squad he has six players who can play fullback. In Love, Dmac, Moorby, Jordie, Jordan and Barrett. Five of which will be in the test 23.

We either need a mid-week fullback or 10 to be added. With Barrett filling the other role. Will depend which player the selectors want to look at to decide who will fill that role. Then work out who will be the bits and pieces bench utility too.

No need to have Jacomb there with all the 10/15 cover we have, he still developing as a 10 and maybe his time will come later. See how he goes driving the Highlanders around first.

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

No need to have Jacomb there with all the 10/15 cover we have, he still developing as a 10 and maybe his time will come later. See how he goes driving the Highlanders around first.

Due to the players who cover 10/15. We need at least one more. Potentially two. Which could be any of guys like Spencer, Jacomb, JRK, Harkin, Fihaki.

The majority of our 10s/15s are lining up for the big games. There are holes in the dirt tracker teams.

I'd think Leroy Carter may be at risk of missing the cut to add extra mid-week capability at 10/15. Josh Moorby's growth as a test player has probably caused some issues. Intially he would have probably been a lock as a mid-week fullback. Now he is in the 23. Either as a starter or on the bench.

@southernmann Yeah, a better way to look at the squad makeup is to name the top 23 first, then see what’s needed for the midweek/B team. It’s not just about having a certain number of players in each position.

There are only two mid-week matches and only the Lions game will impact the test selection. But having some versatility amongst the tour squad will be important to rotate players.

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

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

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

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

I assume the overseas player was Aaron Smith?

Close

TKB

TJP believe it or not

I'd rather not

Imagine this is what the Test/mid-week teams will look like (using the widely predicted extra squaddies). Not too big a risk playing Segner and Lienert-Brown in both matches as there's ample cover in their positions (or in Segner's case, ample lock coverage to allow for a different bench-split).

@mr-fish said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Imagine this is what the Test/mid-week teams will look like (using the widely predicted extra squaddies). Not too big a risk playing Segner and Lienert-Brown in both matches as there's ample cover in their positions (or in Segner's case, ample lock coverage to allow for a different bench-split).

	Test team	Mid-week team
1	De Groot	Bower
2	Taylor	Taukei'aho
3	Lomax	Lauaki
4	Tuipulotu	Darry
5	Lord	Holland
6	Vaa'i	Parker
7	Jacobson	Segner*
8	Savea	Sititi
9	Roigard	Preston
10	Love	Barrett
11	Moorby	Carter
12	Barrett	Lienert-Brown*
13	Tupaea	Ioane
14	Jordan	Fineanganofo
15	McKenzie	Harkin
16	Aumua	Bell
17	Numia	Norris
18	Newell	Newell*
19	Segner	Hannah
20	Lakai	Tupou Ta'eiloa
21	Ratima	Hotham
22	Lienert-Brown	Proctor
23	Clarke	Narawa
		New squad members
		*Players who have to double up

You missed Tosi so Newell will not have to double up

@mr-fish Definitely something like that. There’ll be some risk and players doubling up will have predetermined minutes. It would be easier with two full teams.

It might be prudent to give Carter a little midweek time at 13.

@nostrildamus perhaps Carter covers halfback as well. Maybe they won't take a fourth halfback.

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

Paul Cully is picking Jacomb ahead of Harkin. Jacomb hasn't impressed as a fullback so doesn't have the same utility value as Harkin.

Cully tends to have a Highlanders bias so need to factor that in

Personally i'd take Harkin and groom him as a the backup 15 to DMac

@george33 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@nostrildamus perhaps Carter covers halfback as well. Maybe they won't take a fourth halfback.

Could there be any more proof Rennie thinks the halfback options are useless?

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

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

Paul Cully is picking Jacomb ahead of Harkin. Jacomb hasn't impressed as a fullback so doesn't have the same utility value as Harkin.

Cully tends to have a Highlanders bias so need to factor that in

Personally i'd take Harkin and groom him as a the backup 15 to DMac

It also seems like his thinking is lagging a bit behind. Jacomb was in the conversation a year or so ago but fell off this year. He needs to perform in Super Rugby next year to be in with a shot.

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

No need to have Jacomb there with all the 10/15 cover we have, he still developing as a 10 and maybe his time will come later. See how he goes driving the Highlanders around first.

If Jacomb is in I would like to go full hypocrite and withdraw my belief in following NZR rules and let Rennie take Mo.

I'd say Jacomb has been regressing as a 10 rather than developing.

@george33 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@nostrildamus perhaps Carter covers halfback as well. Maybe they won't take a fourth halfback.

It would be great if he has decent impact /backup value there but as a 9 even in an ABs midweek that would be ballsy...

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

@george33 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@nostrildamus perhaps Carter covers halfback as well. Maybe they won't take a fourth halfback.

Could there be any more proof Rennie thinks the halfback options are useless?

It would be a giant trout slap in the face alright.