All Blacks name 44-man squad for South Africa tour, three uncapped players included
Squad selection and new additions
The All Blacks have announced a 44-man squad for their upcoming seven-week tour of South Africa. The squad includes all 34 players from the recent Nations Championship Southern Series, with an additional ten players joining the touring group. Head Coach Dave Rennie, alongside selectors Sir Graham Henry and Neil Barnes, confirmed the selections.
Three uncapped players have been named in the squad: prop Siale Lauaki from the Hurricanes, loose forward Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa from Moana Pasifika, and first five-eighth Josh Jacomb from the Chiefs. These players are joined by seven returning All Blacks, including prop Ollie Norris, hooker George Bell, lock Fabian Holland, flanker Ethan Blackadder, midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai, and outside backs Rieko Ioane and Emoni Narawa.
Rennie highlighted the blend of experienced Test players and younger talent, stating that all 44 players would be required to contribute during the tour. He noted the tour’s intensity, with eight matches scheduled over six weeks, including a four-Test series against the Springboks.
Captaincy and tour schedule
Captain Ardie Savea will miss the initial three non-Test matches of the tour, joining the squad before the first Test. This decision was made to provide Savea with an extended break after a significant workload in recent years. During his absence, other leaders within the squad will have the opportunity to captain the side.
The tour will commence in Cape Town on 8 August (NZT) with a match against the Stormers. The All Blacks will then face the Sharks in Durban four days later, followed by a game against the Bulls in Pretoria on 15 August. The first Test against the Springboks is scheduled for 22 August at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Following the first Test, the All Blacks will play the Lions on 25 August at the same venue. The second and third Tests against the Springboks will take place at DHL Stadium in Cape Town and FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, respectively. The tour concludes with a fourth and final Test against the Springboks in Baltimore, Maryland, marking the first time the rivals will play each other on US soil.
Player details and tour significance
The squad comprises 25 forwards and 19 backs. Notable players include hookers Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, and Samisoni Taukei’aho. In the props, Ethan De Groot, George Bower, and Tyrel Lomax are among those selected. Locks include Tupou Vaa’i and Patrick Tuipulotu, while loose forwards feature Peter Lakai, Luke Jacobson, and captain Ardie Savea.
The backs include halfbacks Cameron Roigard and Cortez Ratima, first five-eighths Ruben Love, Beauden Barrett, and Damian McKenzie. Midfielders such as Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, and Anton Lienert-Brown have been named. Outside backs include Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, and Rieko Ioane. Players unavailable due to injury are Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, and Leicester Fainga’anuku.
Rennie believes this tour will be crucial for the All Blacks’ preparations for the Rugby World Cup in 2027. The tour is described as a significant event for both rugby nations, being the first full-scale, old-style tour in 30 years since the 1996 series win in South Africa.
The tour is set to begin on 8 August (NZT) against the Stormers in Cape Town.
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Source: allblacks.com
