All Blacks Squad: Greatest Rivalry Tour of South Africa Analysed

Dave Rennie has named his All Blacks squad for the Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa, and having spent a chunk of my career trying to stop teams like this, I can tell you right now — this is a serious group. Forty-four men, three uncapped players, and a four-Test series against a Springbok side that is equally unbeaten after the Nations Championship. This is not a development tour. This is a statement of intent.

The headline detail is that all 34 players who went unbeaten through the Nations Championship campaign against Ireland, Italy and France have been retained. Rennie has not tinkered for the sake of it. He has added depth in the right places and given himself options across a brutal seven-week schedule. My read: this squad is built to peak in the Tests, not just survive the warm-up matches.

Savea Leads, Barrett Waits

Scott Barrett remains sidelined through injury, and with Tamaiti Williams and Leicester Fainga'anuku also unavailable, Ardie Savea continues as captain. As a former No. 8 and captain myself, I understand what it means to carry that armband into a series of this magnitude. Savea is not a stand-in — he is the heartbeat of this forward pack, and Rennie is right to trust him with the full series captaincy. The wrinkle is that Savea has been granted an extended break and will miss the opening three tour matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls before returning for the first Test at Ellis Park on 22 August. That is smart man-management on a tour Rennie himself described as arguably the toughest in rugby.

The New Blood Worth Watching

The three uncapped players are the names I want your eyes on. Hurricanes prop Siale Lauaki, Moana Pasifika No. 8 Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa and Chiefs utility back Josh Jacomb have all earned their call-ups on form and Rennie is giving them a genuine stage. As someone who made his international debut under pressure and had to prove himself fast, I know those three will be desperate to make an impression in the provincial matches early in the tour. Tupou Ta'eiloa at No. 8 is the one I am most curious about — playing in my old position against South African opposition will tell you everything about where his game is at.

Experience Bolted On at the Right Moment

The recalls are equally considered. Rieko Ioane and Fabian Holland — the latter returning from a dislocated shoulder that cost him the entire Super Rugby season — bring proven Test quality to a squad that will need rotation across eight matches in six weeks. Ethan Blackadder, Ollie Norris, George Bell, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Emoni Narawa are all back in the mix for good reason. This is not padding the squad — this is Rennie covering every base on a tour where fatigue and injury will inevitably bite. The depth in the loose forwards and midfield in particular looks strong.

What Actually Decides This Series

Both sides arrive unbeaten after the Nations Championship. Both have momentum and genuine belief. The tour opens against the Stormers in Cape Town on 7 August, moves to the Sharks and Bulls, and then the Tests begin at Ellis Park on 22 August before Cape Town Stadium and FNB Stadium host the next two, with the series concluding in Baltimore. Rennie put it plainly: eight matches in six weeks, four Tests against the Springboks, the toughest tour in rugby. He is not wrong. From where I sit, the series will be decided by who manages bodies better in weeks three and four, and whether the All Blacks' uncapped players step up early enough to give the Test squad genuine confidence. Siya Kolisi, capped 103 times, leads the Springboks into this — and that experience at the top will be the benchmark every young All Black is measured against. I cannot wait.

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