All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026

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

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

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@Bones 182.2cm…..

In terms of possible additions for the AB squad, Kemara could be a smokey to make the squad. I think he is a better 1st 5 than Harkin, but Harmon does have that versatility.

Trouble with picking Kemara is would ( if Richie is somehow available) top heavy with tens. Maybe if injuries
Love
Dmac
BB
Moguna

That's 2 tens & 2 x 15s

Or 3 who play 10 and 15 .....

Only just reading this thread now, and who the fuck cares about what height the Tongan flake is? 196, 195, 193 doesn't matter, he's shit, and I'm starting the campaign for Dave's axing the moment he gets selected in the ABs.

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

Only just reading this thread now, and who the fuck cares about what height the Tongan flake is? 196, 195, 193 doesn't matter, he's shit, and I'm starting the campaign for Dave's axing the moment he gets selected in the ABs.

No doubt, physical size is all very good and well, but if you have a pea sized heart and play small it doesn't really work

I don't really like the current white collar. Not sure I like the black collar on that jersey either. Some people are just hard to please

It’s fine…just a bit polo shirt with the floppy collar

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

It’s fine…just a bit polo shirt with the floppy collar

My thoughts exactly. It's probably my least worse option compared to the current jersey. Adidas used the same collar on the French football jersey and it looks out of place there too

Interesting to hear Rennie say he's already picked his first 23 for Africa tour games 1 and 2 . thinking that's not good.

Rennie has just said Mounga can only join the SA tour squad as injury cover. As predicted by many, a nice loop hole

@Landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Rennie has just said Mounga can only join the SA tour squad as injury cover. As predicted by many, a nice loop hole

Time for Beaudy to get a tight hammy after landing.

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

@Landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Rennie has just said Mounga can only join the SA tour squad as injury cover. As predicted by many, a nice loop hole

Time for Beaudy to get a tight hammy after landing.

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

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

@Landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Rennie has just said Mounga can only join the SA tour squad as injury cover. As predicted by many, a nice loop hole

Time for Beaudy to get a tight hammy after landing.

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Disagree

“When Rennie was asked about players that hadn’t featured in the Nations Championship, he was fairly tight lipped on the likes of Barrett (Beauden) and Parker. But footage has emerged of Parker and plans leaked to the Herald to unleash him on the upcoming South African tour”

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

Interesting to hear Rennie say he's already picked his first 23 for Africa tour games 1 and 2 . thinking that's not good.

He said they have picked the squads for the first 4 games (game 4 is the 1st test), and that all players will get a run in the first two games. The coaches also want to use a 6:2 split in one of the provincial games.

As an aside, why does Rennie refer to South Africa as just Africa? If New Zealand were referred to as “the islands” by oppo coaches, wouldn’t that seem a bit lame? Or is it intended as some sort of boys own adventure into darkest Africa…?

@W32 im not sure its quite equitable as "africa" is at least in there...but i imagine just the common approach to shorten things....more akin of calling Australia Aussie...or Ireland Ireland rather the the Republic of Ireland or calling America America rather than the United States of America

I dont believe he would say they were playing "Africa" if they were playing Kenya for example

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

Interesting to hear Rennie say he's already picked his first 23 for Africa tour games 1 and 2 . thinking that's not good.

Didn't you think Rennie had locked in his 23 for the France test six weeks prior?

@W32 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

As an aside, why does Rennie refer to South Africa as just Africa? If New Zealand were referred to as “the islands” by oppo coaches, wouldn’t that seem a bit lame? Or is it intended as some sort of boys own adventure into darkest Africa…?

Is he referring to the team as Africa or saying, 'We're going to Africa'?

@ShaquilleOatmeal it's like when the B & I Lions called us NZ, cos they was scared of the All Blacks....mind games

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

Only just reading this thread now, and who the fuck cares about what height the Tongan flake is? 196, 195, 193 doesn't matter, he's shit, and I'm starting the campaign for Dave's axing the moment he gets selected in the ABs.

So, a month ago you were accusing me of trolling with Frizell and now you're thinking about pamphlet designs?

@Chris-B. said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

Only just reading this thread now, and who the fuck cares about what height the Tongan flake is? 196, 195, 193 doesn't matter, he's shit, and I'm starting the campaign for Dave's axing the moment he gets selected in the ABs.

So, a month ago you were accusing me of trolling with Frizell and now you're thinking about pamphlet designs?

Pamphlets? Sheesh, I knew time went slow in Ta$man-ia, but I at least thought you'd be in the digital campaign era.

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

Interesting to hear Rennie say he's already picked his first 23 for Africa tour games 1 and 2 . thinking that's not good.

Why exactly is that not good?

He's going to give all 44 players a run across the first 2 games (pending injury and say Ardie if he's a late arrival).

Forward planning makes total sense to me

@Nepia Just trying to tailor it for Hawkes Bay.

The Frizz isn't eligible for the initial squad, but he'll likely be on a plane with the first loose forward injury.

Much as I hate to make a cheap Ethan Blackadder joke, Dave may be keen enough to expedite Shannon that he'll play the Narawa at RWC 2023 card.

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

@W32 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

As an aside, why does Rennie refer to South Africa as just Africa? If New Zealand were referred to as “the islands” by oppo coaches, wouldn’t that seem a bit lame? Or is it intended as some sort of boys own adventure into darkest Africa…?

Is he referring to the team as Africa or saying, 'We're going to Africa'?

“In Africa”

@W32 Realistically, is there anyone in Africa outside South Africa who would be good enough to make the Springboks?

If not, Dave might as well try to beat the continent as the country!

No idea about his phrasing really.

@W32 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

@W32 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

As an aside, why does Rennie refer to South Africa as just Africa? If New Zealand were referred to as “the islands” by oppo coaches, wouldn’t that seem a bit lame? Or is it intended as some sort of boys own adventure into darkest Africa…?

Is he referring to the team as Africa or saying, 'We're going to Africa'?

“In Africa”

That’s not so bad, I guess. It’s kind of like saying ‘in Europe’ when going to play France. Referring to the South African team as ‘Africa’ would simply be incorrect.

@Landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Rennie has just said Mounga can only join the SA tour squad as injury cover. As predicted by many, a nice loop hole

Did he give a little smirk and a wink when he answered the question!?

@W32 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

As an aside, why does Rennie refer to South Africa as just Africa? If New Zealand were referred to as “the islands” by oppo coaches, wouldn’t that seem a bit lame? Or is it intended as some sort of boys own adventure into darkest Africa…?

Dr Livingstone i presume?

@Chris-B. The Tshituka brothers are both from Congo and Vintcent is in the squad

Anyone heard how Emoni Narawa's foot is?

@Chris-B. said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

@W32 Realistically, is there anyone in Africa outside South Africa who would be good enough to make the Springboks?

Probably, but they would generally play for France or England. There's been a number of very good rugby players from places like Morocco (Abdelatif Benazzi for example) and lots of Nigerian origin who would qualify to play for Nigeria (Maro Itoje, Martin Offiah).

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

@Landers92 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

Rennie has just said Mounga can only join the SA tour squad as injury cover. As predicted by many, a nice loop hole

Did he give a little smirk and a wink when he answered the question!?

No mate, and he actually backed it up by saying it had to be 10 who got injured ie Love ,DMac or BB of the squad at moment.

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

@W32 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

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

@W32 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

As an aside, why does Rennie refer to South Africa as just Africa? If New Zealand were referred to as “the islands” by oppo coaches, wouldn’t that seem a bit lame? Or is it intended as some sort of boys own adventure into darkest Africa…?

Is he referring to the team as Africa or saying, 'We're going to Africa'?

“In Africa”

That’s not so bad, I guess. It’s kind of like saying ‘in Europe’ when going to play France. Referring to the South African team as ‘Africa’ would simply be incorrect.

Yep it's like saying America instead of USA which a lot do. It's not right or wrong really.

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

@W32 said in All Blacks Tour of South Africa 2026:

As an aside, why does Rennie refer to South Africa as just Africa? If New Zealand were referred to as “the islands” by oppo coaches, wouldn’t that seem a bit lame? Or is it intended as some sort of boys own adventure into darkest Africa…?

Is he referring to the team as Africa or saying, 'We're going to Africa'?

He says while we are in Africa.

Paul Cully pushing for STT to make the touring squad. I want to see him within a NZ franchise (preferably mine) and have another barnsotming season. Ideally as a 2028 debut.

Don’t mind it.

So all eyes are now on which 10 players they add.

The balance of this remains up in there.

The leftovers last night were:

1. Bower
2. Taukei’aho
3. Tosi
4. Darry
6. Parker
8. Sititi
9. Preston
10. B Barrett
11. Fineanganofo
12. Proctor
13. Ioane
14. Carter

That’s 11 gaps for 9 spots (assuming they take the current 34 + Ioane.)

I think you can then shave off one outside back, and potentially a midfielder.

The possible add-ons: Norris, T Mafileo, G Bell, Hannah, Holland, Kirifi, Lio-Willie, Hotham… and the last one has me stumped.

If DMac is their top pick at fullback, then they may want another 10 to be in the mix for the midweek games… would this be Josh Jacomb?

I see them stacking this squad with forwards, because I don’t think they will want their forwards to backup… and they may even consider a 6-2 split I wouldn’t be surprised.

They will also presumably take cover for Codie Taylor. I think this will be Brodie McAllister

Harkin played well during SR. CN play 15 and 10. I'd take Oudenryn if they take another hooker on top of Taylor, Samisoni, or Aumua

Most are expecting a 7:3 split for the extra 10 players. I think that BB will be playing 1st 5 in the midweek games, so Harkin probably makes sense as 10 cover but playing at fullback. Some test players will need to be in the reserves at least for the provincial games.

Has Rennie ruled out selecting outgoing players like Flanders?