Josh Jacomb, Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa and Siale Lauaki named as bolters for All Blacks tour of South Africa
Monday, 27 July 2026
The All Blacks squad for the “Greatest Rivalry’’ tour of South Africa will be named at midday on Monday.
The 44-man squad will prepare for a seven-match tour of South Africa, followed by a fourth test against the Springboks in Baltimore.
All Blacks Dave Rennie, who guided the team to wins over France, Italy and Ireland in the Nations Championship, will have to expand his cohort after initially naming 34 players in his first squad of the year.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie will reveal his 44-man squad to travel to South Africa for the “Greatest Rivalry’’ tour at noon on Monday.
Stuff will have live coverage from 11am.
Having named 34 players for the Nations Championship tests against France, Italy and Ireland, Rennie will dig deeper into the well when he picks the men he wants to do a job for him in South Africa.
The All Blacks will play seven matches in South Africa, including three tests against the Springboks. That will be followed by a fourth test against the Springboks in Baltimore.
The first game of the tour will be against the Stormers in Cape Town on August 8. Other non-test fixtures will be against the Sharks, Bulls and Lions.
The first test against the Springboks will be played in Johannesburg on August 23.
Which players, who weren’t involved in the Nations Championship, will be included in the All Blacks squad?
Lock Fabian Holland should be a certainty.
He didn’t play any of the tests in July because he was still recovering from the serious shoulder injury that prevented him from representing the Highlanders in Super Rugby Pacific.
Holland made an appearance for Otago in their Ranfurly Shield defence against Mid Canterbury on Friday. He won’t be anywhere near his best yet, but he’s got to start from somewhere.
Rennie will be grateful to have Holland on board for the trip to the Republic.
Wing/centre Rieko Ioane is another who is at very short odds to be picked. The test veteran was invited to train as injury cover ahead of the third test against Ireland in Auckland.
A fourth halfback may be needed. Noah Hotham could get a reprieve after missing out to his Crusaders team-mate Kyle Preston. Although Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima were used in the three tests, Preston should be retained.
Crusaders hooker George Bell may be requested to join on board as the fourth hooker behind Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Asafo Aumua. Another option is the Chiefs’ Brodie McAlister, who was recently named captain of Canterbury.
Hurricanes co-captain and specialist openside flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi missed the cut for the Nations Championship, with the versatile Anton Segner being rewarded for his hot form at the Blues.
Kirifi would be be asset on a tour of this magnitude but Rennie may want bigger men who can cover several positions in the back row.
Which players won't be available because of injuries?
Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams are still recovering from back injuries.
There is also doubt as whether wing/flanker Leicester Fainga’anuku will be available.
He fractured the fibula bone when playing for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific semifinal against the Chiefs in June and was reported to be unavailable until late August at the earliest.
Which uncapped players could be included in the All Blacks squad?
Rennie will be sorely tempted to build on the “Four Deep’’ project instigated by his predecessor Scott Robertson ahead of the World Cup in Australia next year.
Loose forwards Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa (Moana Pasifika) and Lucas Casey (Highlanders) could be worth a look.
Promising prop Siale Lauaki has received plenty of welcome feedback from the Hurricanes fans and a long tour could be the ideal opportunity for scrum coach Jason Ryan to work with the young front rower.