All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026

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

A little bit of information I was passed this morning.

If Richie Mounga and Shannon Frizell signed 2 year deals they would have been selected for this South African tour. They signed 1 year deals so they weren’t.

NZR stood their ground.

Good, neither are needed. You make exceptions for the Carters, McCaws, even the Ardies, not for players that didn't push on in the next level.

I also think picking them would be disruptive to the current squad, smelling of special treatment.

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

It was mentioned that Mo'unga only signed an 18 month contract, and he knew the consequences of that decision.

Exactly. It was on NZR’s term and I actually applaud that. Nobody is bigger than the jersey.

I mentioned this in another thread the other day but that’s all well and good until you pick Fehi who was uncapped, leaving the country etc (as it stands). I’m not saying one is right or wrong but it does feel weird to have players who have committed to NZ Rugby (at least in short term) eligible but someone leaving and with no previous record behind them, able to be selected.

Confirming that Jacomb is in and just three halfbacks have been selected.

And only three new caps in the squad.

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

just three halfbacks have been selected.

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

Confirming that Jacomb is in and just three halfbacks have been selected.

I don't mind Jacomb over Harkin. He hasn't played very well this year, but he has played quite a bit more at 10 than Harkin has, and I think that's the position they are selecting, not 15.

Only 3 halfbacks is very interesting, I wouldn't have believed it but maybe they actually are getting some reps into Carter as emergency cover. That's a lot of eggs we are putting in young Pledger's injured and yet-to-debut basket, but he does look the part as much as anyone can at the lower level.

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

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

A little bit of information I was passed this morning.

If Richie Mounga and Shannon Frizell signed 2 year deals they would have been selected for this South African tour. They signed 1 year deals so they weren’t.

NZR stood their ground.

Good, neither are needed. You make exceptions for the Carters, McCaws, even the Ardies, not for players that didn't push on in the next level.

I also think picking them would be disruptive to the current squad, smelling of special treatment.

Even if there were gaps these players could fill, which might have been the case at first five before this year. But with Love looking promising and the move away from Barrett, Mo'unga is now nothing more than another squad member. Frizell was never all that good.

@mr-fish The whole squad or just the extra 10?

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

Confirming that Jacomb is in and just three halfbacks have been selected.

Ratima to get three test caps in South Africa with a total of nine minutes on the field.

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

@mr-fish The whole squad or just the extra 10?

Haven't heard but would imagine the whole squad.

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

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

Confirming that Jacomb is in and just three halfbacks have been selected.

Ratima to get three test caps in South Africa with a total of nine minutes on the field.

It does make me laugh how many single digit minute caps the guy gets. He'll get to 50 soon without us realising.

@african-monkey said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

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

Confirming that Jacomb is in and just three halfbacks have been selected.

Ratima to get three test caps in South Africa with a total of nine minutes on the field.

It does make me laugh how many single digit minute caps the guy gets. He'll get to 50 soon without us realising.

Only five of his 25 to date, to be fair.

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

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

@mr-fish The whole squad or just the extra 10?

Haven't heard but would imagine the whole squad.

Lauaki, STT, Jacomb.

What time is the squad named?

Big shout out to Smudge for getting the Lauaki oil early.

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

What time is the squad named?

12pm.

@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

It's been made clear RM is only eligible if injuries hit the initial 44.

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

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

Confirming that Jacomb is in and just three halfbacks have been selected.

Ratima to get three test caps in South Africa with a total of nine minutes on the field.

The Chiefs bias is pretty blatant and disgusting….

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

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

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

@mr-fish The whole squad or just the extra 10?

Haven't heard but would imagine the whole squad.

Lauaki, STT, Jacomb.

plus - Ollie Norris, George Bell, Fabian Holland, Ethan Blackadder, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane and Emoni Narawa.

There's your 10. Peston is the 3rd halfback.

@nogusta And this would explain why Johnny Lee is Ta$man captain.

Jacomb makes a great deal of sense, in that 10 remains a problem position, and we have a heap of capped fullback options.

If Love were to break his leg, we are back to Barrett, McKenzie and Mo'unga.

You can debate his form this year, but he is still the best of the rest.

So that would be a 6:4 split for the extra 10 players. This could be a missed opportunity to include a couple more debutants.

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

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

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

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

@mr-fish The whole squad or just the extra 10?

Haven't heard but would imagine the whole squad.

Lauaki, STT, Jacomb.

plus - Ollie Norris, George Bell, Fabian Holland, Ethan Blackadder, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane and Emoni Narawa.

There's your 10. Peston is the 3rd halfback.

Kirifi omission is the talking point here

@nogusta great snare

From my source as well

FYI Some real surprise names in the 10

Narawa back

Reiko Ioane

Siale Lauaki

Tupou-Ta’eiloa

Tavatavanawai

Jacomb

Holland

Blackadder

Norris

Bell

Blackadder and Bell real head scratchers. Is Blackadder going to be a midweek captain maybe?

Am a fan of Rennie's coaching style and his assistants. Not a fan of his conservative selections.

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

Am a fan of Rennie's coaching style and his assistants. Not a fan of his conservative selections.

I don’t think he’s been conservative at all. There are some statements being made. Taking 3 9’s is really pushing home that statement I posted yesterday regarding the halfbacks.

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

Blackadder and Bell real head scratchers. Is Blackadder going to be a midweek captain maybe?

“The franchise games will provide an opportunity for other leaders in the group to step in as Captain, before Ardie Savea arrives in South Africa ahead of the first Test match. Ardie has carried a massive workload in the last couple of years and we think it is best for him to have an extended break so he can come back ready to lead us into the Test series. We have a number of excellent leaders in our squad who will embrace the chance to captain the side.”

@nogusta That sounds like a different captain for each game.

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

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

Am a fan of Rennie's coaching style and his assistants. Not a fan of his conservative selections.

I don’t think he’s been conservative at all. There are some statements being made. Taking 3 9’s is really pushing home that statement I posted yesterday regarding the halfbacks.

Possibly partly true, although it may also be they don't feel a fourth halfback is actually needed. Roigard likely to play the majority of the test minutes.

Also hammers home that they feel there is a massive gap between #1 and #2.

@frankAfraid it is

@kirwan in what world is Bell a head scratcher

@youngwill89 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@kirwan in what world is Bell a head scratcher

In the world where throwing to a lineout is an important skill for a hooker.

There isnt really an obvious alternative to Bell. Taylor also struggles with lineouts and Oudenryn is extremely green. I'm not sure of Moananu's availability.

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

Blackadder and Bell real head scratchers. Is Blackadder going to be a midweek captain maybe?

Zero surprise with either for me.

Blackadder is the closest player to Jacobson, and regardless of what you think of his selection it would be hard to argue that he doesn't fit the Rennie work ethic criteria.

Bell's throwing is much improved, and he's very good around the park - I reckon he's clearly 4th.

The selection of Blackadder is clearly so we can have an injury to get Mounga in

@kirwan Bell threw at 85.2% to Aumua's 84.3% this year. Is Aumua a head scratcher?

McAlister being named as the Canterbury captain also pointed to him not being the fourth hooker.

And surely BB is the likely non-test captain if he plays.

@landers92 is it though?