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.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@george33 in thier opinion? We dont know what targets Rennie had for the centres, both had thier moments (good and bad) fitting into a new.offence.and defence line, not sure 2 tests is enough to cut them.
And Rennie chose not to select Ioane in his initial squad for whatever reason. He easily could have found a space for him if he wanted. He would have known Tupaea and Proctor were iffy on defence but may have either thought he could sort that out (but hasn’t had time yet only three tests in) or the upside was worth it.
@george33 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
I've heard Payton Spencer also potentially a bolter.
Dude are you trolling with all these Auckland long shots?
@george33 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Basically said the guy was just messed around under Razor.
I can not believe Razor was messing him around for several years before he even took over as coach smh
@shaquilleoatmeal I think Rennie wanted to give Rieko a rest after Leinster while also giving Proctor his shot..knowing he had Rieko to fall back on
I agree v SA Reiko is our current best 13 at least defensively.
Proctor would be out of his depth... IMO
@george33 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Just heard interview with Kevin Putt and another scribe from Rugby Pass .
Both said Reiko needs be starting centre.
Otherwise we will get ripped apart in Africa. Basically said the guy was just messed around under Razor.
Current centres tried don't cut it
Firstly, I agree RI was fucked around under Razor.
Secondly, as fanboi I have him 2nd behind Tupaea.
Thirdly, are you sure you're George? That post was coherent.
@upthelanders said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Does Tavatavanawi go to SA?
As much as I love him, I just can't see how he'd fit in with how Rennie's AB's wish to play.
@upthelanders said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Does Tavatavanawi go to SA?
Jim's problem is that he is a terrific rugby player. Whose skillset does not suit any one position. He csn jackel like a seven. Run in contact like an eight. Has nice touches like a 12. He used to have the acceleration to play on the wing.
It is just his unique skills can impact the flow of a team. He is also not as good at any one position as the specialists that play them.
Great footy player. No room for the nearly everything modern utility.
@bellsgeorg said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@george33 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Basically said the guy was just messed around under Razor.
I can not believe Razor was messing him around for several years before he even took over as coach smh
You clearly weren't around when he was appointed.
He was possessed of God-like properties according to his fanbois. Time travel would have been a doddle.
@pakman But @landers92 hasn’t posted the team yet…
@southernmann said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@upthelanders said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Does Tavatavanawi go to SA?
Jim's problem is that he is a terrific rugby player. Whose skillset does not suit any one position. He csn jackel like a seven. Run in contact like an eight. Has nice touches like a 12. He used to have the acceleration to play on the wing.
It is just his unique skills can impact the flow of a team. He is also not as good at any one position as the specialists that play them.
Great footy player. No room for the nearly everything modern utility.
Sounds a bit like Leicester....
@kiwimurph Believe Jacomb is in the 44. Suggests RM might not be fit to play as Rennie was hoping for and so he needs 10 cover rather than 15 cover. Love and Jacomb as 10’s and DMac and BB as experienced 15’s
@secfid said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@kiwimurph Believe Jacomb is in the 44. Suggests RM might not be fit to play as Rennie was hoping for and so he needs 10 cover rather than 15 cover. Love and Jacomb as 10’s and DMac and BB as experienced 15’s
Source?
@zinnyzinzin said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@canefan nah - LF has been good for the All Blacks - he is a level above Jim
He's done okay. Just commenting on the description
@secfid said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@frankA NPC player recounting what his coach had told him. The player claims his coach knew on Thursday
Ah fuck.
Hope it isn't true
@southernmann said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@upthelanders said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Does Tavatavanawi go to SA?
Jim's problem is that he is a terrific rugby player. Whose skillset does not suit any one position. He csn jackel like a seven. Run in contact like an eight. Has nice touches like a 12. He used to have the acceleration to play on the wing.
It is just his unique skills can impact the flow of a team. He is also not as good at any one position as the specialists that play them.
Great footy player. No room for the nearly everything modern utility.
Reminds me of Levani Botia.