@frank said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Happy for Narawa.
I had said to not forget him. Needs to avoid injuries.
@nepia said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Considering how Rennie turned Messam's game around as a 6, to the point where he filled in adequately for an absent Kaino for a season, I have some faith he can turn Blackadders busyness into a more effective busyness.
That's super optimistic of you, but that's a good comaprison. If he can make him effective instead of the headless chicken that doesn't actually affect much that will be a huge surprise. How many other coaches have tried and failed now?
Background info:
I wonder if Kirifi has an outclause in his contract that if he didn't get selected in the ABs for this tour, he can freely sign overseas? He couldn't have played any better in Super, but clearly the coaches don't see him in their plans. In cases like this, I feel NZ Rugby and the Canes should free him up to go.
Interesting, they listed Ioane as an outside back, Barrett as a first five and, to a lesser extent, Vaa'i as a lock. I can see all three getting no time in those positions.
@ghost678 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Seriously, what else other than not being a lineout option and only playing 7 is Dupes not in?
Theres a certain thing called size. It’s a little bit important at test level. You also said it, only plays 7.
@ghost678 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Seriously, what else other than not being a lineout option and only playing 7 is Dupes not in?
He's tiny, did nothing in black last year and was not as good in Super this year as he was last year
@frugby said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Only remaining question is whether we will see additional players as cover for likes of A Savea and C Taylor.
They’ve picked a thousand players already, surely they don’t need any more.
The likes of Lakai and Parker can start at 8 for the provincial games. ST or AA to start those games with Bell on the bench.
@landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@ghost678 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
Seriously, what else other than not being a lineout option and only playing 7 is Dupes not in?
Theres a certain thing called size. It’s a little bit important at test level. You also said it, only plays 7.
Yep size is the only reason Dupes misses out for me. If only he ate more weet-bix growing up.
In a surprise move, Ardie Savea linking up with an American sevens exhibition team on a two week deal.
Squad breakdown including province and super franchises:
Hookers
Asafo Aumua (29 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 22)
Codie Taylor (35 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 109)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (28 / Chiefs / Waikato / 44)
George Bell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 4)
Props
Ethan De Groot (27 / Highlanders / Southland / 43)
George Bower (34 / Crusaders / Otago / 26)
Xavier Numia (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 2)
Ollie Norris (26 / Chiefs / Waikato / 3)
Tyrel Lomax (30 / Hurricanes / Ta$man / 51)
Fletcher Newell (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 37)
Pasilio Tosi (27 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 17)
Siale Lauaki * (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0)
Locks
Tupou Vaa’i (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 47)
Patrick Tuipulotu (33 / Blues / Auckland / 57)
Josh Lord (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 15)
Sam Darry (26 / Blues / Canterbury / 10)
Fabian Holland (23 / Highlanders / Otago / 12)
Loose Forwards
Peter Lakai (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 10)
Simon Parker (26 / Chiefs / Northland / 8
Ethan Blackadder (31 / Crusaders / Ta$man / 14)
Luke Jacobson (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 27)
Anton Segner (25 / Blues / Auckland / 2)
Ardie Savea (32 / Moana Pasifika / Wellington / 109) (Captain)
Wallace Sititi (23 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 21)
Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa * (22 / Moana Pasifika / Southland / 0)
Backs (19)
Halfbacks
Cameron Roigard (25 / Hurricanes / Counties Manukau / 20)
Cortez Ratima (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 24)
Kyle Preston (26 / Crusaders / Wellington / 1)
First Five-Eighths
Ruben Love (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 8
Beauden Barrett (35 / Blues / Taranaki / 144)
Damian McKenzie (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 77)
Josh Jacomb * (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 0)
Midfielders
Jordie Barrett (29 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 81)
Quinn Tupaea (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 26)
Billy Proctor (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 13)
Anton Lienert-Brown (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 90)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (28 / Highlanders / Ta$man / 2)
Outside Backs
Caleb Clarke (27 / Blues / Auckland / 35)
Fehi Fineanganofo (23 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 1)
Leroy Carter (27 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 7)
Josh Moorby (28 / Hurricanes / Waikato / 2)
Will Jordan (28 / Crusaders / Ta$man / 57)
Rieko Ioane (29 / Blues / Auckland / 88)
Emoni Narawa (27 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 4)
@borderjb said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
With Jacomb called in, are they looking at BB for Fullback??
Quite possibly. They might want the second-string team to mirror the top team as closely as possible.
Only real surprise for me is Big Jim. But given he is a good leader, I think that counts for a long tour like this.
Looking forward to that first 23 being selected for the first provincial game. I’m picking Beaudie as captain.
Im glad the original 34 were retained too.
Just from a cohesion/Hokey Cokey point of view.
Some lads didnt know where they stood under Fozzie and Razor.
Morale should be good.
@kiwimurph maybe I'm mis-remembering, but I thought he was better this year than last year 
@jet said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:
@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.
There has been a Blackadder shaped hole in the squad for a long time.
I welcome the return of the Ruck Leper. Limbs everywhere.
Onya Ethan. Rip in.
I've been as scathing of Blackadder as anyone, but he actually had his best season last year and had clearly worked on his physical impact winning the collisions and putting in dominant tackles. I believe there were stats that indicated he was leading the way in that regard or close to it. I actually picked him in my original squad.